Dukes Let One Slip Away Against Hofstra
Unstoppable, so give him the ball!
Tonight’s game was one of those that makes you question your belief in the basketball gods. I don’t even know where to begin. The game has been over for hours, but I still am at a total loss. I have no clue what I can say about this one, so let’s just start with the basics. JMU lost to Hofstra in overtime 92-90.
If you missed the game it basically went like this. JMU started slow. Hofstra couldn’t stop Denzel. JMU went on a run. JMU built up a 17 point lead. Hofstra couldn’t stop Denzel. JMU calmly held the lead. Hofstra stormed back to take the lead, but still couldn’t stop Denzel. JMU almost fell apart, but Hofstra couldn’t stop Denzel. JMU regained its composure on offense, but played no defense. None. JMU had an inexplicable lane violation! Hofstra somehow still put JMU in position to win it on the last possession. JMU neglected to give Denzel the ball on that last possession. Hofstra won it in OT.
I’m leaving out the part about Charles Jenkins picking up where Cam Long left off, but the point is JMU gave this one away. And they did it because as talented as the Dukes are, they still play without any identity. It’s something the announcer said tonight and it’s absolutely correct. This team is still finding itself and learning how to win. As a result, they don’t know what to do, or who to go to when the game is on the line. It seems pretty obvious to me that you give the ball to Denzel down low in those situations, but apparently not everyone agrees with me. And thus, when the Dukes are in position to beat the top team in the CAA on the road simply by scoring one bucket on the final possession, they decline to let Denzel take a shot.
So now the Dukes have lost 3 in a row by a combined 10 points. Each of the 3 losses has been progressively more depressing. The loss to ODU didn’t really bother me much. It was just a road loss to a tough rival. The loss to Mason was frustrating because it could have been a breakthrough win. Tonight’s loss had me screaming at the television. It was just painful. And the worst part is that there were moments that had me thrilled. Moments where it looked like this team was ready to turn the corner. Julius stepping up and hitting a mid-range jumper to stop a Hofstra run. Devon taking the ball to the hole agressively. The bizarre Denzel-Semenov 4 point play combo. Chad Jackson coming off the bench to stop Jenkins on a key OT possession. Then the bad stuff happened. A lane violation that took a point off the board. A forced shot from the wrong guy. Stupid fouls. Did I mention the lane violation?
OMG!!!!!!!! I couldn’t even get to sleep last night after the game. I can’t believe how it ended. Let’s hope a lesson was taught and learned on offense AND defense last night. JUM was schooled!
Opps! I meant JMU.
Watched the game. At halftime (up 12 or 13) I told my son that Hofstra is a good team and that we’d figure out a way to lose. We did. This team has no heart, no identity and we simply will not beat these better CAA teams unless and until we figure those things out.
Wells is a complete liability on defense. I’d bench him unless we’re down 20+.
And although we’ll cut him some slack because of the Moscow bombing (and hence I assume his head was firmly planted in his posterior), I hope Semenov is still running windsprints for that boneheaded lane violation. That, and his last shot at the end, were the types of plays losing teams find a way to pull out of their arse when all the chips are on the table.
Just disgusted right now. Denzel deserves better. The frustration on his face down the stretch was evident.
At least next year we can go back to being CAA bottom feeders with no expectations. Hence, no disappointment.