Dukes Fall to Indiana in NCAA Tournament
JMU is no longer dancing. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Dukes 83-62 today in the NCAA tournament. Indiana came out of the gates red hot and built up a big lead. JMU got it down to 14 late in the first half, but then the Hoosiers rattled off 9 straight and it was never really close after that. The Dukes stood tall and played them pretty even in the second half. Freshmen Andre Nation and Charles Cooke were real bright spots, with each of them scoring career highs. Nation poured in 24 points and Cooke added 18.
This is probably one of those things lots of people don’t want to hear, but I was just happy to be there. Sorry, but it’s true. It’s been 19 very long years since JMU got to the Big Dance. I’m not happy they lost. I really thought they could win. Losing sucks. But there’s no shame in it. Indiana is a hell of a team. They were just better than JMU today. They’d be better than JMU most days. So what? It doesn’t make me like the Dukes any less. It doesn’t detract from all the fun I had watching this team play this season. And I had a lot of fun watching this team all year.
Devon Moore, A.J. Davis, Rayshawn Goins, Alione Diouf, and Gene Swindle are all graduating. Andrey Semenov might be. It’s going to be tough to see those guys go. Swindle battled back from what many thought was a career ending injury to play 2 more years. Goins was a scrapper and a banger. Diouf had sneaky explosiveness who fit just about any role the coaches asked him to play. We sometimes wondered if “it” would ever click with A.J., but it finally did and it was amazing. And Devon was pretty much everything we could ask for in a guy representing our school. But it’s time to turn the page.
So now we move on. And we move on with some spectacular pieces in place. Andre Nation, Charles Cooke, Ron Curry, and Taylor Bessick form a pretty solid core. Nation and Cooke did not look phased in the slightest tonight. They went toe to toe with the Hoosiers and didn’t give up an inch. Getting back to the dance was a big step forward, but it’s not the goal. The goal is to get there consistently and to win games. And for the first time in decades, the goal seems achievable. Provided there’s a man to lead them of course. Coach Brady sure seems to be that man. Open up the checkbook and pay the man Bourne. He’s earned it.
Tough way to end an otherwise memorable and enjoyable season. These guys, especially the seniors, represented the university well. The future does look bright with this freshman class, and it would be great to get one more season from Semenov. So now it’s all up to Bourne to do what is right and extend Brady. Don’t screw this up Bourne, or this will be the last straw for you. And while you are at it, do everything you can to get JMU into the league formerly known as the Big East. It’s time for JMU to go big time!!
It was tough to watch the Dukes get hammered, but all in all a decent season. Enjoyed the CAA tourney, and wish the best for the graduating seniors. Go Dukes!!
Good coverage this season, guys. You make following JMU sports better.
Appreciate you saying that Jamie.
Nation and Cooke have game and some swagger to go along with it. I’m really looking forward to the future with those two.
Bessick has potential. He needs to get stronger in the offseason.
Curry needs to step up his game. He doesn’t have to be the best player on the floor, because with Nation and Cooke we have two guys that can make plays. But he needs to become a better decision maker and floor leader. His decision making is baffling at times.
Nation, Bessick, Cooke are all either legit.
Curry shows flashes of brilliance but isn’t consistent.
All-in-all, this is the brightest future JMU has had in 20 years. I’m actually planning on watching basketball games next year because I don’t have to worry about the team embarassing me.
The most exiting part of this whole thing has been the realization that our little cinderella run was NOT made by a bunch of 4-year starters who are leaving, but really by a bunch of freshmen (plus AJ and Devon). I saw AJ Davis as out best player, but I think NAtion is more than capable of taking his place. Devon Moore was the floor general and a vedry mature leader…. I really hope someone can step up and fill that spot.
Also- I really hope Matt Brady offers JMU a contract extension. GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS, BOURNE/KING/ALGER
A great season by the DUKES. Way to make JMU basketball relevant once again. There is a great core group of freshmen coming back; hopefully Semenov gets a 6th year; and we have 5 scholarships to give. The future looks bright.
GOALS:
1. Get the Brady contract done ASAP!!!!!
2. See if there are any JUCOs out there that could help us right now, especially with beef inside.
3. Get us the hell out of the CAA. We should be burning up the phones trying to get an invite to the A-10 for everything but football. We can figure out football later, but #1 priority is to get out of the CAA – it is a dying conference and JMU does not want to be the last school left to turn out the lights as they continue to monitor the situation.
This silence from JMU on Brady is troublesome.