{"id":6185,"date":"2013-11-07T11:07:56","date_gmt":"2013-11-07T16:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6185"},"modified":"2013-11-08T07:09:12","modified_gmt":"2013-11-08T12:09:12","slug":"jmu-hoops-kicks-off-at-uva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6185","title":{"rendered":"JMU Hoops Kicks Off at UVA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"andrey<\/a>We’re a week into November which means it’s time for college basketball to start. Wait, what? That’s right, college basketball now begins prior to football even hitting the homestretch. Depending on your perspective, hat’s either another example of the over expansion of sports in general or a delicious treat. In any case, the season is here and both the JMU men and women get going tonight with games against UVA. The women, who are the favorites to win the CAA, play at home at 7:00. Head on over to the Convo if you’re in the ‘burg, listen to the Pep Band, and give Kenny Brooks and the ladies some support. They’re sure to be very good this year and have their sights set on returning to the Big Dance.<\/p>\n

As for the men, they open tonight on the road in Charlottesville against a dangerous UVA team. Matt Brady and the boys cut down the nets last year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost two decades. The result was that Brady got himself off the hot seat and earned a contract extension. Now the Dukes are in the unique position of defending their title while sort of rebuilding at the exact same time. That’s not to say that Brady doesn’t have things pointed in the right direction or that he hasn’t assembled a talented roster. It’s just that this is very, very young team.<\/p>\n

Devon Moore, Rayshawn Goins, A.J. Davis, Alioune Diouf, and Gene Swindle are all gone. Tonight’s starting lineup will feature exactly zero players who started the CAA Championship game against Northeastern last Spring. It’s basically Andre Semenov and a bunch of very young, but talented, players. Thankfully sophomores Andre Nation, Ron Curry, Charles Cooke, and Taylor Bessick all saw a lot minutes last year and all displayed tremendous upside. They’ll be forced to grow up fast though with a roster featuring seven freshmen.\u00a0And with Andre Nation suspended until January, at least one of those freshmen will be pushed into a starting role each game. This could set the Dukes up to contend next year and beyond, but there might be some growing pains this season.<\/p>\n

Growing pains or not, I’m excited to watch this team. About the only thing that disappointed me related to the Dukes going dancing last season, was the fact that Semenov didn’t get to play in the tourney. Injuries kept him off the court for almost all of the season, but the silver lining is that he was granted a sixth year of eligibility. This is his team now. And while he’s a player other CAA fans love to hate, he could be just the sort of example the young Dukes need. He’s not exactly the sort of player who loafs it or doesn’t max out on both ends of the court. And he can light it up from three. This was going to be his team anyway, but he’s really going to need to step up in Nation’s absence.<\/p>\n

The Dukes were picked to finish 7th in the preseason polls. There’s no telling how things will play out, but if a few players elevate their games when Nation’s out and he quickly integrates himself back into the squad in January, the Dukes could surprise folks. Maybe last year’s conference title took the edge off, but I’m not overly concerned with the Dukes repeating this year. Obviously, I’d love them to. It’s just that with a roster this young, I’m almost more excited to watch guys develop and improve. Youth, height, and athleticism are abound on the Dukes roster. They could definitely be a tough out come March. Perhaps just as importantly, if the entire roster progresses at the pace last year’s freshmen did, they could set themselves up to win multiple CAA titles in the next few year.<\/p>\n