{"id":6031,"date":"2013-09-30T22:35:47","date_gmt":"2013-10-01T02:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6031"},"modified":"2013-09-30T22:35:47","modified_gmt":"2013-10-01T02:35:47","slug":"nation-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6031","title":{"rendered":"Nation Shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"KCZXVXGJUAVHCYO.20130321024437\"<\/a>JMU Men’s Hoops, fresh off their first CAA title and NCAA tourney berth in two decades, loaded with four stud sophomores and a couple of highly regarded new freshmen, has already suffered its first huge setback on the second day of practice today. \u00a0Athletic Director Jeff Bourne announced that star guard and electrifying defender and playmaker Andre Nation, he of the surge-to-fame in last year’s postseason and breathtaking athleticism, was suspended for the first 15 games<\/a> of the season today due to a violation of JMU athletic department policy.<\/p>\n

This means Nation will miss the entire out of conference schedule and the CAA opener before being eligible to return January 7th against College of Charleston. This obviously means he’ll miss what should have been, and may still be, a very exciting season-opening game at UVA.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, it hasn’t been a great 48 hours for JMU athletics. \u00a0The details of the cause of the suspension have not been released, though 15 games is a half-season suspension according to Daily-News Record hoops beat writer Mark Selig and one of the internal JMU reasons for a 1\/2 season suspension is a second failed drug test. \u00a0Rob and I, both of whom have jobs directly or indirectly dependent on our elected leaders not acting like a certain petulant, ranting conference commissioner as they are right now, really don’t have much patience on a personal front for the type of incompetence and immaturity we’ve seen out of JMU the last couple of days. \u00a0Nonetheless, if you want to bash Andre, Coach Brady, \u00a0or even JB on this one without knowing the facts or acknowledging that there but for the grace went most of us as Dukes sophomores, please take it over to the message boards at the Dukes Domain on this one. \u00a0Whatever the cause, this presents an enormous opportunity for other young players to step up and most of all, we sincerely hope Andre gains a new focus on his priorities and is ready to re-engage as a more mature player and student when January 7 arrives.<\/p>\n

Also, we really need Semenov’s back to hold up.<\/p>\n