Dec 2 / Rob

Suspension of A.J. Davis Overshadows JMU Win

The JMU Dukes picked up their second win of the season with a 71-61 defeat of Winthrop. After a back and forth first half that saw Winthrop lead for a stretch, JMU took over in the second half and cruised to a double-digit win. After Wednesday’s performance agains George Washington, we were touting Andre Nation and the younger Dukes. Yesterday however, it was the seniors who stepped up and led the way. Andrey Semenov returned from a back injury that had kept him out since the opener and was his typical scrappy, long-distance shooting, loose ball getting, high-energy self. Andrey finished with 17 points and Rayshawn Goins had a team high 19 on 6 or 9 shooting. The big story of the day came before tipoff however, when JMU announced that senior A.J. Davis had been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team standards.

First up, it was nice to get a win. Semenov has always brought a ton of energy to the game and he made a difference yesterday. Combine his scrappy and effective play, with the enthusiasm the freshmen bring and this Dukes team can actually dictate tempo for stretches. It’s still a pretty raw team and there are plenty of holes to fill though. As yesterday showed, they’re prone to stretches where things get away from them and their opponents go on runs. They also can go on bursts where they briefly take over. It’s not always pretty, but it gives them a shot every game. Andre Nation and the rest of the young guys have plenty of upside, but they’re freshman. They need an experienced player to match their enthusiasm, but steady the ship at times. When healthy, Semenov can be that player.

The big news of the day was clearly Davis’ suspension. No real details were provided, so all we know is that he is suspended indefinitely for violating team standards, not team rules. My assumption is that this is somehow related to his attitude or refusal to buy into the coaching staff’s strategy. That’s pure conjecture on my part though. Maybe their not releasing details to protect his privacy or maybe they just don’t want to get into it. In any case, it’s unfortunately not very surprising. Davis has tremendous talent, but he’s never really been able to maximize it in a Dukes uniform. He was JMU’s leading returner scorer and a preseason pick for the All CAA second team. Maybe this suspension will turn things around, but I’ve got to think there is a very real chance we’ve seen the last of him on the court. I hope I’m wrong though.

4 Comments

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  1. Tamara / Dec 2 2012

    I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at this morning’s meeting with AJ. It was encouraging to hear Brady’s spin on it in the post-game press.
    Hope he comes back, but if it’s with a bad attitude, I’d rather he didn’t. I like these freshmen a lot, as well as the oder guys, and they don’t need a toxic influence. Enjoyed the win, and hoping for another on Wednesday. Makes going to the games a little more fun, and I think the best thing for those kids right now is some dubs.

  2. Rob / Dec 2 2012

    Yeah, it’s incredibly disappointing, but if Davis really does have as bad an attitude as they depict him to have, I’d prefer to keep him away from the younger players. Hopefully it’s a wake up call and A.J. bounces back. The CAA is wide open this year and he could be a difference maker.

  3. Shady_P / Dec 2 2012

    I called it last week on 2 counts.
    1. AJ is the JT of the basketball team. I was apparent last year that he does not take criticism or coaching. AJ does what AJ wants on the court and really presents an attitude that he could care less what folks think. I applaud Brady stepping up and doing what others would not – remove a toxic influence from the scene. There are too many freshman on this team that are working, buying in, and playing hard for the playing time. It is much better to not have AJ around them. With Semenov coming back it made it much easier to do. I am done with AJ, he is a senior with a bad attitude – I was just assume not see him back in a uniform. Hopefully he is at least taking advantage of his scholarship and on course to a degree.

    2. Semenov is key to the success of this team. Lets not get crazy this team is not going to win 20 games, but with Semenov/Goings/Moore providing senior leadership this team could be in most games and have a legit shot to be .500. Which given past seasons would be a step forward with a core group of solid young players.

    GO DUKES!!!!

    Lets get another ‘W’ against ETSU on Wed night.

  4. Sri Bhagavan / Dec 4 2012

    Has anybody considered it might be the coach with the bad attitude? How many players has this guy driven away now?

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