A new chapter is set to begin this week for the JMU men?s basketball team. The team is gearing up for the start of the 2016 season under JMU alumnus (?95) and new head coach Louis Rowe.
Following a 21-11 (11-7 Colonial Athletic Association) regular season and a first round exit in the CAA tournament last year, the Dukes will look to find their identity through an offseason full of change. Despite the new staff, JMU has seven returning seniors, including four starters, making them one of the most experienced teams in the country. Rowe expects his seniors to be leaders, but doesn?t want them to play beyond their means.
?We do have seven seniors, but I don?t want them to put pressure on themselves to be anything other than the best them,? Rowe said. ?Let?s maximize who we are and what we can be as a team and we will see what happens.?
Leading the senior class is guard Shakir Brown and forward Yohanny Dalembert, who both earned preseason accolades. Brown was named preseason second team all-CAA, while Dalembert garnered an honorable mention. While the recognition is validating, both realize that there?s work to be done in order to meet those expectations.
?It?s a blessing to be up there, but my goal is to make the team win as many games as possible,? Dalembert said. ?I?ve gotten CAA recognitions before and I don?t think it?s a big deal, because we?ve always gotten stuck at the bump in the playoffs.?
The heart and soul of the Dukes? frontcourt last season was senior forward Tom Vodanovich. Dalembert cites that he ?can?t score? on him in practice, which is high praise coming from his own teammate. Dalembert feels that Vodanovich is going to thrive under the guidance of the new coaching staff.
?The thing with Tom is that his game was restricted by the coaches before,? Dalembert said. ?Hopefully now the coaches are going to be giving him more freedom ? expect to see some different stuff from Tom this year.?
On top of the changes to the coaching staff, there are several new faces that joined the team via transfer. Guards Stuckey Mosley, Terrence Johnson and Vince Holmes transferred to JMU during the offseason from the University of Toledo, South Mountain Community College and Otero Junior College, respectively. Forward Gerron Scissum joins the team following one season at Virginia Commonwealth University. Mosley and Scissum will be forced to redshirt this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
After several weeks of practice with their new teammates, the transfers have quickly found out what life at JMU is all about. Senior guard Jackson Kent feels that his new teammates have acclimated well to their new surroundings.
?Really excited to play with Terrence and V.J.,? Kent said. ?They?re all great guys though and we enjoying have them around.?
The Dukes were picked to finish fifth in the CAA this season and will kick off the 2016 campaign on the road this Friday against Old Dominion University. The team will return home on Nov. 13 for its season opener against Rice University at the Convocation Center.
Rowe is excited to unveil his team and hopes to generate some excitement around the men?s basketball program this season.
?I want people to come here and say that this team is working hard, they are playing hard, they play together, there is some discipline, there is some accountability, and it?s a fun team to watch,? Rowe said.
Following a 21-11 (11-7 Colonial Athletic Association) regular season and a first round exit in the CAA tournament last year, the Dukes will look to find their identity through an offseason full of change. Despite the new staff, JMU has seven returning seniors, including four starters, making them one of the most experienced teams in the country. Rowe expects his seniors to be leaders, but doesn?t want them to play beyond their means.
?We do have seven seniors, but I don?t want them to put pressure on themselves to be anything other than the best them,? Rowe said. ?Let?s maximize who we are and what we can be as a team and we will see what happens.?
Leading the senior class is guard Shakir Brown and forward Yohanny Dalembert, who both earned preseason accolades. Brown was named preseason second team all-CAA, while Dalembert garnered an honorable mention. While the recognition is validating, both realize that there?s work to be done in order to meet those expectations.
?It?s a blessing to be up there, but my goal is to make the team win as many games as possible,? Dalembert said. ?I?ve gotten CAA recognitions before and I don?t think it?s a big deal, because we?ve always gotten stuck at the bump in the playoffs.?
The heart and soul of the Dukes? frontcourt last season was senior forward Tom Vodanovich. Dalembert cites that he ?can?t score? on him in practice, which is high praise coming from his own teammate. Dalembert feels that Vodanovich is going to thrive under the guidance of the new coaching staff.
?The thing with Tom is that his game was restricted by the coaches before,? Dalembert said. ?Hopefully now the coaches are going to be giving him more freedom ? expect to see some different stuff from Tom this year.?
On top of the changes to the coaching staff, there are several new faces that joined the team via transfer. Guards Stuckey Mosley, Terrence Johnson and Vince Holmes transferred to JMU during the offseason from the University of Toledo, South Mountain Community College and Otero Junior College, respectively. Forward Gerron Scissum joins the team following one season at Virginia Commonwealth University. Mosley and Scissum will be forced to redshirt this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
After several weeks of practice with their new teammates, the transfers have quickly found out what life at JMU is all about. Senior guard Jackson Kent feels that his new teammates have acclimated well to their new surroundings.
?Really excited to play with Terrence and V.J.,? Kent said. ?They?re all great guys though and we enjoying have them around.?
The Dukes were picked to finish fifth in the CAA this season and will kick off the 2016 campaign on the road this Friday against Old Dominion University. The team will return home on Nov. 13 for its season opener against Rice University at the Convocation Center.
Rowe is excited to unveil his team and hopes to generate some excitement around the men?s basketball program this season.
?I want people to come here and say that this team is working hard, they are playing hard, they play together, there is some discipline, there is some accountability, and it?s a fun team to watch,? Rowe said.
