McSports Report

Bittersweet Showing

2009-09-12T20:18:00.001-07:00

After a week of reflecting on exactly what Maryland's opening-game beat-down meant for James Madison, the answer was bittersweet for Dukes fans.

Yes, JMU could compete with a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-AA). And yes, JMU would suffer the latest in a series of heartbreaking losses for the program, which has been on the cusp of greatness since its 2004 I-AA national championship.

After taking an untimely exit in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals last year with a 35-27 loss to Montana, the Dukes impressed in their 2009 season opener, but lost in overtime 38-35 in College Park.

Starting with possession in overtime, JMU moved only one yard in three downs and was forced to attempt a 41-yard field goal. Dixon Wright missed wide right, and Maryland capitalized on the ensuing possession with a 26-yard field goal to win the game.

JMU quarterback Drew Dudzik went 9-of-15 for 141 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 112 yards and another score. Jamal Sullivan rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Da'Rel Scott, the Terps' leading rusher, had only 13 yards on the ground.

Maryland quarterback Chris Turner went 25-of-38 for 236 yards and a touchdown, also grabbing one on the ground, and helped his team escape from being the latest ACC team to falter against the Colonial Athletic Association.

Penalties were costly for JMU, which racked up 11 for a total of 105 yards.

A Familiar Foe

2009-09-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

While the fallout from the CAA's recent surge against the ACC has drawn significant attention going into Saturday's matchup between JMU and Maryland, there is another notable storyline that has been in the works the entire offseason.

The Terps' defense, which got drubbed 52-13 at Cal, was recently taken over by former Massachusetts coach Don Brown. Brown has gone 5-2 against Matthews in CAA play, dating back to Brown's days as coach at Northeastern.

In this Daily News-Record article, Mike Barber talks about how despite last week's upsets, Maryland is still poised to rebound from its shellacking at Cal.

Brown brought with him a repertoire of blitzing schemes that attracted positive attention in the preseason, but while Cal is a national championship contender in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A), I would say the Terps should still be wary going into their matchup with JMU, a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) opponent.

Terps in Trouble

2009-09-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

In today's Washington Post Maryland football video feature, by Eric Prisbell, the following was said regarding Saturday's game between Maryland and JMU: "We're getting ready for a James Madison game where it can't get much worse for Maryland after last weekend."

Well, actually, it could.

If you consider losing to a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team worse than losing to Cal, one of the top teams in the Pac-10, then Maryland actually should be concerned.

Whereas Maryland's defense has been exposed as a weakness, instead of the dynamic force it was billed as in the preseason, JMU's defense is its strength.

With Maryland experiencing offensive line woes on top of it all, look for JMU's front four to cause serious trouble for the Terps this weekend.

$5,200 A Week — Not Bad

2009-09-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

In the latest development of former JMU defensive lineman J.D. Skolnitsky's saga, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound tackle has signed to the Redskins practice squad.

His reward? $5,200 a week.

Skolnitsky will not attend games with the Redskins while he's on the practice squad — something I'm sure he would enjoy — but a little over a grand a day isn't bad recompense.

This, all according to a Daily News-Record article on the subject.

After having his final year of collegiate eligibility stripped by the NCAA because of a failed drug test, Skolnitsky continues to impress at the next level.

Q&A Greatness

2009-09-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

So, in Googling the term "ACC vs. CAA," I have come across the funniest blog post I've seen in recent memory.

Desmond Conner publishes a blog about Connecticut football, and in his question and answer feature, he had to answer the following question: "Should ACC Be Concerned About CAA Taking Its BCS Bid?"

Wow. Hilarious.

John Feinstein wrote a scathing article about the ACC's abysmal showing last weekend, in which he lampoons the conference's addition of Miami and Virginia Tech a few years back. He calls it the "now infamous football expansion of 2005."

I'm not sure where I stand on the issue. The ACC is clearly a lower-tier BCS conference, but I'm waiting to see how Miami and Virginia Tech's seasons play out before I indict the ACC as a whole.

What do you think?

CAA fells ACC

2009-09-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

OK, so only two teams from the CAA did this.

But they were the only two teams to play against ACC competition, and it says something about the toughness of the Colonial Athletic Association, a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) conference. Villanova also beat Temple on Thursday, the first of the CAA's three wins against major conference schools.

Of course, I'm speaking of Richmond's 24-16 win at Duke and William & Mary's 26-14 upset at Virginia, games that were scheduled by the major conference schools as easy wins.

Hank Kurz Jr. of the Associated Press wrote an interesting article about this phenomenon, in which he diagrams the fallout from Duke and Virginia's losses.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a similar article about the weekend's action, but focused solely on Richmond's perspective.

The RTD's main point was that 2000 was the last time the CAA had three wins against Football Bowl Subdivision teams, and one of those wins was against Connecticut, a transitionaI I-A program at the time.

So now, the question becomes: Is the CAA good for a fourth? James Madison travels to Maryland for its season debut against the Terrapins, who lost 52-13 at California on Saturday. Stay tuned.

Photoshop Endeavors

2009-09-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

This week marked the publishing of my feature on Bridgewater College football players making the journey from Hampton Roads to the Shenandoah Valley. I put together the photo illustration above for the story, which made the cover of the Shenandoah Journal.

My editor pitched me the idea about a month ago, and we decided to run it before the first football game of the season, which BC won last night, 44-34 over Averett.

Two of the player photos were contributed from the Bridgewater athletic department, and the rest of the photos were taken by me.

So, I'm looking for some feedback. Any suggestions on photo placement within the illustration, and what could have been altered to bring out the character of the feature?

Party Like it's 1986?

2009-09-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

Well, at least for the Tribe.

The 2009 offseason was filled with anticipation for Virginia football fans with the installment of a new offensive scheme, along with hopes that senior Vic Hall would quarterback the Cavaliers to a lights-out offensive attack.

And from anticipation we move to panic.

The Cavaliers lost to a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team for the first time since a 1986 loss to William & Mary, losing 26-14 Saturday at Scott Stadium.

The Daily Progress used the David and Goliath analogy in describing the upset. However you look at it, Virginia has fallen a long way with this loss.

Thanks, Hollywood Gossip

2009-09-04T19:04:00.000-07:00

We've all seen post-game riots between archrivals, but Thursday night's outburst by Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount was the most blatant violation I've ever seen broadcast.

Blount threw a punch after receiving words from Boise State's Byron Hout following the Broncos' 19-8 dispatching of the Ducks.

As you would expect, media outlets across the country are condemning this act with words of profound remorse.

And in part, we have The Hollywood Gossip to thank.

THG had this to say about Blount's outburst: "Dude had to be restrained."

This is far from the first such outburst to take place, just the most visible. It's a shame such a careless act captured the country's attention on opening day.

Schlereth Outdoes Himself

2009-09-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Mark Schlereth got a little out of hand today when he was talking about how sneaky Eric Mangini is on SportsCenter.

He said Mangini gets frightened when he looks at himself in the mirror, because he doesn't even know what he's going to do next.

The comment came during a discussion of the quarterback controversy in Cleveland, where Derek Anderson is battling Brady Quinn for the starting job.

What's more ridiculous, the drawn-out saga between those two or Mark Schlereth's recent antics?

SEC vs. ACC: Gamecocks Win

2009-09-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

For the second straight year, South Carolina handed N.C. State an opening-game loss, this time a 7-3 defeat in Raleigh, N.C.

It's hard to put a game like this in perspective, especially when it's the first of the college football regular season.

Considering that neither team is expected to make much noise in the Top 25, it may be largely consequential. But it is an early check mark for the the SEC against the ACC after a 2008 season in which the latter dominated in its bowl games.

Oregon, Boise State Marquee Matchup

2009-09-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today marks the beginning of the college football season, and to recognize that, I'd like to draw your attention to one of the greatest broadcast concepts ESPN ever came up with.

Lou Holtz's pep talks.

If you click on the above, you'll see unbridled passion bordering on crazed lunacy. But above all, you'll see brilliance.

After you've indulged in that, check out this list of nine college football games being played tonight. Among them is a 7 p.m. matchup between South Carolina — where Lou Holtz once coached — and NC State on ESPN.

After that game is over, at 10:15 p.m., ESPN is broadcasting a doozy: No. 16 Oregon plays at No. 14 Boise State in perhaps the toughest ticket of the week. This article from The Oregonian talks about how unique this matchup is. Boise is favored, but the game should be hotly contested.

Serena Sizzling

2009-09-02T19:36:00.001-07:00

No. 1 seed Serena Williams just cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win over unranked Melinda Czink in the third round of the U.S. Open — and the commentators are fixating on how embarrassed Czink must be.

Guys, come on, this is Serena Williams. She has her own HP commercials. Take it easy on Czink, she's not the first.

ESPN interviewed Common and Jeremy Piven in the grandstands late in the match, and I guess Common and Serena are dating? That's news to me.

Piven and Common were separated by only a few seats; I wonder if Turtle is booking Common's next record deal.

Holloman On Hold

2008-09-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

After rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown against North Carolina Central University on Saturday, JMU senior tailback Eugene Holloman is being withheld from practice this week due to a quadricep injury.

Apparently, Holloman injured his quad at Duke but neglected to alert the JMU coaching staff. After struggling to maintain stride in the open field against NCCU, Holloman told his coaches what was bothering him.

JMU coach Mickey Matthews said he couldn't estimate when Holloman will begin practicing again, or if he will be able to play Saturday in Madison's conference opener against Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, sophomore tailback Jamal Sullivan met with a doctor today to have an apparatus attached to his left thumb, which he injured in August. Sullivan may be able to make his season debut Saturday, but the coaching staff will evaluate his status in the coming days as well.

With Madison's top two running backs both day-to-day for Saturday's game, JMU's chances are hanging in the balance.

Nats What I'm Talking About

2008-08-03T21:51:00.000-07:00

After being disappointed by Ken Griffey Jr.'s absence this weekend at Nationals Park, I witnessed a pleasant surprise Saturday: a 10-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

The Nationals won for the second time in 11 games while I was in attendance Saturday, after they broke a nine-game losing streak Friday. On Sunday, the Nats completed their first sweep since June 13-15 with a 4-2 win. June 15 is also my birthday; would you call that a coincidence, or am I just good luck?

I also saw the Nats win earlier this season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, May 4. The Nats went on to lose their next five of six, but are 2-0 while I'm in attendance this season. They should have acquired me before the trade deadline.

What's Good for Ken Griffey Jr. isn't for Me

2008-07-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

My weekend visit to Nationals Park was destined to be historic, despite the abysmal team that calls it home.

I was going to Saturday's game between the Washington Nationals and the Cincinnati Reds, with Reds star Ken Griffey Jr. one home run away from tying Sammy Sosa for fifth all-time at 609.

But then a blockbuster deal happened.

Griffey approved a trade to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday before the 4 p.m. trade deadline, meaning another missed milestone for me. I had the opportunity to spend about six weeks in Spain this summer, and I enjoyed soaking in the glory of Spain's run to the EuroCup championship. There was only one problem: my flight home was scheduled for the day of the Euro 2008 championship game between Spain and Germany. The hassle of re-scheduling wasn't worth it to me — but I missed Spain's first EuroCup title since 1964, in the most popular European sport.

So missing Griffey is just another walk in the park. Unfortunately, I won't see his 609th home run leave the park — that historic shot will happen in a White Sox uniform.

Stormy Results for Lacrosse Team

2008-04-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

In a game JMU needed to qualify for its conference tournament, last second heroics in the first half didn't provide enough momentum for the Dukes to beat George Mason for the fourth Colonial Athletic Association spot.

With three seconds left in the first half, sophomore midfielder Kim Griffin passed from behind the goal to senior attacker Emily Haller, who stuck it in for an 8-7 JMU lead. Haller's score came after three failed JMU attempts in the final minute, in a display JMU lacrosse coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe pointed to as a sign of progress.

But after a lightning storm delayed the game for about an hour and a half with the score tied at eight, JMU never captured the lead against George Mason, which qualified for the CAA tournament with an 11-10 victory.

"In the beginning of the year, we struggled to get one shot," Klaes-Bawcombe said with 22:56 left in the second half, before walking to the Festival Ballroom where both teams waited out the storm. "The fact that we were able to get four shots in the last minute and 30 seconds shows our progress."

But GMU scored three straight goals after play resumed, and the Patriots improved to 12-4 overall, 5-2 in the CAA with the win. JMU (8-9, 3-4) fell to sixth place in the CAA with the loss, when it needed to finish in the top four to qualify for the conference tournament.

Young Realizes Dream

2008-04-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

After breaking school and conference scoring records, Tamera Young has made her mark again.

Young was projected to go in the first round of the 2008 WNBA Draft, and Wednesday she was taken eighth overall by the Atlanta Dream, an expansion franchise. She is the first JMU player taken since the WNBA was started in 1997. Read about her selection here.

Young gave a press conference in Atlanta today, along with three players from the Dream. She is scheduled to return to Harrisonburg on Friday, and is currently finalizing her contract with an agent.

Young Prepped for Draft Lottery

2008-04-08T21:06:00.000-07:00

Laney High School coach Sherri Tynes thought Tamera Young's decision to attend James Madison was "terrific" when she found out. Not surprising, considering Tynes was once former JMU coach Shelia Moorman's assistant.

But what is surprising is that Young actually chose JMU over high-profile schools. Her talent has always been apparent, and now WNBA officials are on the verge of affirming those skills. Young is slated to go in the first round of the 2008 WNBA Draft on Wednesday.

This prediction posted on the WNBA website Monday projects Young to go 11th overall. She would be the first JMU player to play in the WNBA. Meredith Alexis signed a contract with the Washington Mystics last year, but was cut before the season began. She now plays in France.

The first round of the draft (picks 1-14) will be televised Wednesday on ESPN2 starting at 1 p.m. Young said she's prepared to go anywhere, but would prefer to stay on the east coast.

Wildcats Oust Madison in WNIT

2008-03-27T10:51:00.001-07:00

Its season is over, but the JMU women’s basketball team made a statement this season by winning its first postseason games in eight years.

James Madison (24-10) lost 84-76 at Kentucky in the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday, but not before history was made. Tamera Young broke the Colonial Athletic Association scoring record and set the new mark at 2,121.

The senior forward needed 20 points to break the record, and she scored 28 to enter the CAA record books. The previous record of 2,112 points was held by Celeste Hill, who played at Old Dominion from 1990-94.

While Young set another record, freshman point guard Dawn Evans tied her school record of seven 3-pointers in a game as she scored 23 points, and senior forward Jennifer Brown scored 10 and had eight rebounds. Young chipped in 17 rebounds to go along with her record-breaking point total.

After beating Radford and Indiana in the first two rounds of the WNIT, Madison lost to a Kentucky team ranked No. 65 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). The Wildcats improved their record to 17-15, but they have a schedule ranked 14th in difficulty nationwide.

Senior Leader not Going Lightly

2008-03-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

Tamera Young stepped to the free throw line unsure why she was taking the technical shots.

The senior forward didn’t realize that JMU coach Kenny Brooks chose her over point guard Dawn Evans – who usually takes technical shots – because Young was on the cusp of another JMU scoring record.

“When coach made me shoot the technical foul I was kind of surprised being with my free throw percentage that he told me to ‘shoot ’em,’” Young said. “Everybody was celebrating and I’m like, ‘what are they celebrating for?’”

While she only averages 64.8 percent from the stripe, Brooks chose her because she was one point from breaking JMU’s former scoring record of 35 points in a game. After Young made both technical shots and another free throw, she set the new mark at 38 in Madison’s 80-58 win over Radford in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

“We didn’t want to sacrifice sportsmanship to try to get her the record, but the way that it happened it was beautiful,” Brooks said. “And she had no idea.”

With the win, Madison (23-9) advances to play Indiana on Saturday. In addition to her scoring outburst, Young had 14 rebounds and 5 assists against Radford while she made 14-of-24 shots. She didn’t realize what she had accomplished until after the crowd of 2,109 erupted when she made the record-setting technical shot. Point guard Dawn Evans relayed the news.

But Radford coach Jeri Porter was surprised by something else.

“I didn’t realize she was as good a rebounder as she is,” Porter said. “We knew they were a great rebounding team, we had talked about that. She’s a heck of a rebounder though; does a great job. Just has a nose for the ball, which most great players do.”

Radford (23-12) was led in scoring by freshman guard Taleia Moton, who got eight of her 14 points from the free throw line. Senior center Kelli Darden and senior forward Corrie Fertitta had 11 and 10, respectively. Radford shot only 30 percent in the game.

The win was JMU’s first postseason victory in eight years, a possibility Brooks made clear before the game by writing in on a whiteboard in their locker room.

“These kids, they listen,” Brooks said. “It’s funny to hear them up here and listen to them talk, because they sound just like me. …They know what the task is, they know what we have to do to become successful.”

Young was joined in double figures by senior forward Jennifer Brown and junior forward Kisha Stokes, who scored 11 and 9 points, respectively. Brown also chipped in 11 rebounds and Stokes had 10, as JMU out-rebounded Radford 54-37.

The Dukes travel to Indiana tomorrow for a Saturday game against the Hoosiers in the second round of the NIT. Indiana (18-14) had a first-round bye as one of the region’s top four seeds.

Three and Out

2008-03-15T18:47:00.001-07:00

James Madison was bounced from the 2008 CAA Women's Basketball Championship tournament Saturday, losing 69-60 to Virginia Commonwealth.

The loss means JMU won't get a third meeting with Old Dominion, the conference's 16-time defending champion. ODU beat Towson 74-51 in the other CAA semifinal game.

VCU senior guard Krystal Vaughn had 19 points to lead all scorers, and JMU senior forward Tamera Young led the Dukes with 16 points. Despite out-rebounding the Rams 40-25, JMU lost for the third time in as many meetings with VCU this season.

The early exit means JMU will have to rely on an at-large bid to qualify for the NCAA tournament. JMU is ranked 44 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), which takes into account a team’s winning percentage, its opponents’ winning percentage and the winning percentage of those opponents’ opponents.

The Dukes have wins over nationally-ranked George Washington and Old Dominion this season, but failing to beat VCU could prove costly.

One More Chance

2008-03-14T17:21:00.001-07:00

The JMU women's basketball team will have another shot at Virginia Commonwealth. Both teams escaped with narrow victories in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship quarterfinals Friday.

William & Mary had a 26-20 lead at halftime against the Dukes, but JMU fought back to win 53-46 in the teams' third meeting of the season. JMU completed the season sweep by outrebounding the Tribe 39-22, while senior forward Tamera Young led the Dukes in scoring and rebounding with 12 and 10, respectively.

Tribe senior forward Kyra Kaylor had a game-high 16 points and led her team with seven rebounds. William & Mary got to the free throw line only six times to Madison's 16 attempts.

Young, the 2008 CAA Player of the Year, will lead the Dukes in their third meeting with VCU in the CAA Championship semifinals Saturday. JMU lost at home in overtime 61-60 on Jan. 21, and lost 62-56 on Feb. 28.

The Waiting Game

2008-03-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

After James Madison lost Friday to Northeastern 73-55, the Dean Keener era is officially over at JMU. Read more about the game here.

But while the Dukes await the announcement of a new coach, Virginia Commonwealth is now in postseason tournament limbo. The Rams lost Sunday to William & Mary 56-54 in the first semifinal matchup of the CAA Championship tournament, bringing their record to 24-7 overall, 15-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

VCU has quality non-conference wins against Houston and Maryland, but an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament might be elusive for the Rams after losing to a team with an RPI of 181 in the conference semis. At the post-game press conference, VCU coach Anthony Grant wouldn't speculate, saying it would be a waste of anyone's time to hear him form a judgment.

William & Mary will play the winner of Sunday's UNC-Wilmington-George Mason game Monday in the CAA championship. And while VCU's loss jeopardizes its NCAA tournament eligibility, the slip also makes it possible that the CAA will place two teams in the NCAA tournament for the third straight year.

Keener's Countdown

2008-03-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

Coach Dean Keener's leadership of JMU is nearing a close, as he will step down following Madison's involvement in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.

With three out of four opening round games in the books, JMU plays Northeastern in Friday's last matchup for the right to face George Mason in the quarterfinals. Madison and Northeastern both have 13-16 records, but the Huskies have nine conference wins to Madison's five.

It's anybody's guess how JMU will respond to the situation, but the Dukes won 68-65 at Northeastern in their first conference game of the season Dec. 1.

Ironically, the song "The Final Countdown" by the 80s band Europe started playing before player introductions began. Is that a coincidence or a tribute to JMU's lame duck coach?

Winding Down, Towson Wins

2008-03-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

Hofstra just forced a timeout with its full court press, after senior guard Antoine Agudio made two free throws to bring the Pride within five points. With just over five minutes remaining, Towson leads 55-50.

Agudio was called for a foul as the shot clock wound down for the Tigers, sending Thornton to the free throw line.

Durant just threw down a slam dunk as Towson broke Hofstra's press and extended the Tigers' lead to eight. That gives him 12 points. Towson's really trying to extend the game, moving the ball inside, outside, and all around the perimeter.

After a Hofstra shot got lodged between the rim and the backboard, the possession arrow gave the Tigers the ball. Things are really going their way.

With just under two minutes left, Durant has scored 16 points and Towson leads 68-55. Hofstra resorted to fouling already, fouling C.C. Williams in the backcourt and sending him to the free throw line.

First Team All-CAA guard Antoine Agudio may have taken his last shot with just over a minute left, as he spotted up five feet beyond the arc. But no, the senior got another one with 2.7 seconds remaining, and this one was a swish. Towson wins 81-66.

Tony the Tiger: Live Blog

2008-03-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

My colleague Tim Chapman asked me the question, 'Is Kevin Durant in the house?," after we sat down for the second half of Hofstra's game against Towson. Kevin's older brother Tony is a junior forward for the Tigers, but he's just their sixth-leading scorer.

Kevin plays for the Seattle Supersonics, who are actually in Philadelphia for a 7:00 p.m. game against the 76ers. This game should end at about 2:00 p.m., but it's a four and a half hour drive to Philly from Richmond, where the Colonial Athletic Association tourmament is taking place. That would give Kevin half an hour to get ready for his game.

While it's unlikely that he's even here, he would need a private jet to make the about 250 mile trip in time for game preparations.

But after holding a 31-13 lead at halftime, Tony and the Tigers are only up 41-33 with just over 12 minutes left. Towson calls a 30 second timeout, after its lead is cut to less than 10 for the first time since the opening period.

Dukes Eke it Out

2008-02-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

James Madison improved to 19-7 overall, 12-3 in the conference with a 64-55 win over Delaware (7-20, 6-9). The Blue Hens didn't score in the last four minutes, as JMU broke away with four players reaching double figures.

Only eight players saw action for the Dukes, and the status of senior forward Jennifer Brown is unknown.

At the post-game press conference, Delaware coach Tina Martin calls it a "disappointing loss" and says that Tamera Young took over the game offensively with her rebounding. Young finished with 14 rebounds.

Martin refers to Brown and says she's unsure of that situation, and that the trio of her, Young, and Lawrence has carried JMU this year. Eight freshmen and sophomores are playing consistently for Delaware, according to Martin. Interestingly enough, JMU has only played eight in the last two games.

Keeping it Close

2008-02-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

Madison is holding on to a 43-41 lead with 10:01 left, as Brooks calls a timeout. Delaware senior guard Kyle DeHaven has made six of 14 shots, and leads all scorers. Evans has 12, all from 3-pointers.

Young is shooting just 3-of-14, but has 10 points and 10 rebounds. Don't ever doubt her ability to get a double-double, even when she's off.

I just talked with Coach Brooks' wife, and she says she can't tell me why Brown is missing, other than for "personal reasons." We'll see how much Brooks divulges at the press conference, but Brown also missed Thursday's game at Hofstra. In the last game she played, Brown shot 0-of-5 against Drexel on Feb. 17.

Where's Brown?

2008-02-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

The JMU women's basketball team leads Delaware 27-24 at halftime, in the Dukes' second to last home game.

Delaware is playing suffocating zone defense, and no player has reached double figures in the game. JMU freshman point guard Dawn Evans leads all scorers with 9 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Actually, she hasn't taken any other shots, but that's no surprise: Coming into the game, almost two thirds of her shots (157-of-247) were from 3-point range.

JMU senior forward Jennifer Brown's absence is glaring, and helps explain why the Dukes (18-7 overall, 11-3 in the conference) hold only a slim lead over Delaware (7-19, 6-8). I'm not sure why she's out, but Brown isn't even on the bench. Hope it's nothing serious.

Post-game Press Conference

2008-02-23T13:09:00.000-08:00

One of Morehead State's assistant coaches found out about JMU coach Dean Keener's resignation while he was on his computer last night, and gave the Eagles head coach a heads up. His response was straightforward.

"That's either bad for us or good for us, and usually it's bad," MSU coach Donnie Tyndall said.

He analogized Keener's resignation to John Brady's firing at LSU, where Tyndall coached as an assistant from 1997-2001.

Tyndall called the performance a "tribute to Dean and his staff" but acknowledged that the Eagles did a poor job of defending Swanston early.

"I thought about four of the six [3-pointers] he made were uncontested and we did a poor job guarding him," Tyndall said.

He also recognized JMU's solid defensive performance and said that aspects of it caught the Eagles off guard. The MSU coaching staff had observed that JMU usually drops into zone defense out of the 1-2-2 three quarter court press, but today they dropped into man-to-man.

Keener emphasized the resiliency of his team after losing big to Old Dominion on Wednesday; he didn't think the Dukes' performance had anything to do with any attempts to support their coach.

"You know when you're embarrased; when you just dont have it," Keener said, referring to the loss against ODU. "I think they knew it, and they were ready to come back and prove themselves."

Hot shooting paved the way for Madison to set its press, and it paid dividends.

"When you're making shots you're not in transition defense," Keener said. "It allows you to 'jump into your defense.'"

Keener also talked about having pride in your job, and said that coaching a day after his resignation didn't affect him in any significant way.

"It is what it is, so let's continue to look forward," he said.

Second half

2008-02-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

MSU starts out with the ball in the second half, and junior forward Leon Buchanan scores a layup early. Buchanan dishes to forward Kenneth Faried on the Eagles' next possession for another layup.

Jalloh gets fouled on a runner and hits two free throws, 41-33 JMU. Next possession, Jalloh hits a 3-pointer and reaches double figures with 11 points.

Carter gets fouled and hits a circus shot runner in the lane that must have gone as high as the shot clock above the backboard — ridiculous arc, and he hits the free throw.

With 16:38 left JMU forces a 10 seconds call with its three quarter court press, as MSU fails to advance the ball past halfcourt with at least 25 seconds left on the shot clock.

Now it's Curtis's turn to hit a crazy runner in the lane, and he increases his point total to six. Jalloh is called for a foul on the ensuing possession as Madison's press nearly forces another Eagle turnover.

James gets fouled and crashes into the student section seating, and winds up sitting next to a cheerleader. Nice gesture. Swanston and Jalloh both miss 3-pointers, and Jalloh is called for an offensive foul on a baseline runner off the inbounds play. That's his third of the game with 14:45 remaining.

Swanston has lost his touch — he misses another 3-pointer. JMU calls a timeout after MSU scores a layup.

MSU senior guard Jamyron Steward hits a 3-pointer to bring the Eagles within 13, but Ratner responds with his second 3-pointer on JMU's next possession.

Curtis uses a nice crossover to create some space and hit a jumper from the left elbow, and JMU forces another turnover with its press, as Swanston swipes the ball away from MSU and dishes to James for a two-handed slam. 67-44 JMU with under seven minutes remaining.

Jalloh hits a 3-pointer with 4:49 left, increasing his point total to 16. He still trails Swanston, who has 19. Thornton hits his fourth layup and makes it 79-51 JMU. The crowd responds particularly well when he scores, as he provides a glimmer of hope that the two words "post presence" and JMU could somehow be associated.

Thornton comes out of the game with 3:17 remaining, to a modest applause. Curtis hits a 3-pointer with 2:31 remaining as the shot clock winds down. He's been holding back from those until now, opting instead to penetrate and shoot floaters. Curtis and Carter sub out with 2:17 left.

Keener seems relaxed in Madison's first game since his resignation was announced. He's been sitting for most of the game, as opposed to pacing the sideline and throwing up his arms like he was last Saturday in a loss to Hofstra.

Assistant coach Jon Babul trots alongside Keener as they walk off the court and gives him a congratulatory pat. 89-57 JMU.

Live Blog: JMU vs. Morehead State

2008-02-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

I'm going to do something different today, given this is a special occasion.

JMU released a statement yesterday that confirmed basketball coach Dean Keener's resignation, saying that he will coach the remainder of the season.

Junior forward Kyle Swanston hits the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer from the left side of the arc. He falls down after he shoots it, a common occurrence, but the referee isn't buying it.

Morehead State counters with two easy layups, and then Swanston hits his second 3-pointer, this time from the middle.

On JMU's next possession, what would you expect? Swanston hits a 3-pointer from the right side.

Morehead State misses a shot, JMU junior forward Juwann James grabs the rebound and junior guard Abdulai Jalloh hits a 3-pointer to make it a 12-4 JMU lead. MSU calls a timeout.

MSU gets nothing out of the timeout, and on JMU's next possession Swanston is looking for his shot but he's blanketed by two defenders. Madison turns it over on a three second call.

JMU freshman guard Heiden Ratner comes in for Jalloh and JMU runs the 2-2-1 three quarter court press, forcing a turnover the first time they show that pressure. JMU senior forward Terrance Carter scores a layup, and Madison sets the press again. It doesn't work this time, but JMU counters with another Swanston 3-pointer: 4-of-4 from beyond the arc so far.

JMU freshman point guard Pierre Curtis gets a steal and takes it the length for a layup, but he gets fouled and shoots free throws instead. Swanston and Curtis sub out after the free throws with 13:16 left in the half.

After JMU senior center Gabriel Chami blocks a shot with 11:48 left, there's another timeout. Freshman guard Ben Louis comes in for Ratner after the timeout, but Louis and Chami are replaced by Curtis and James with under 11 minutes remaining.

Jalloh gets fouled on a 3-pointer and hits all three free throws. After a missed MSU shot, JMU takes the ball in transition and Jalloh kicks it out to Swanston on the right wing for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. JMU:25 MSU:11 Swanston: 15.

James forces a pass across the pait on JMU's next possession and MSU steals it, only to throw up an airball from behind the arc. Curtis gets fouled on a baseline runner, hits it and makes the free throw.

MSU throws an errant pass out of bounds, the second or third time they've done that. Curtis gets the ball on the baseline again but can't hit.

Swanston has the ball on the right wing again, but he's covered closely. Almost immediately after he passes inside to James, he gets double-teamed on the baseline. On JMU's next possession though, Swanston gets the ball on the right wing and hits his sixth 3-pointer, passing his career high of five last Saturday against Hofstra. In that game he was 5-of-9 from behind the arc.

With the score at 35-21 JMU, Swanston picks up his dribble near the Duke paw behind the arc, but holds the trigger. JMU gets the ball back and Curtis throws a lob to Swanston, who grabs rim but can't push it through.

There's a timeout on the floor with 3:54 left and the score at 37-21 JMU, and both teams go to their huddles. MSU huddles on the left wing of the court — I don't know how many times I've seen that. Not too many.

At this point Swanston leads all scorers with 18, and MSU doesn't have anyone on the floor with more than four points. Swanston misses his first shot with 2:30 left, a 3-point attempt, to the dismay of the belligerent fans sitting in the front row behind me.

With 1:41 left, the score is 37-27 JMU. It seems like Madison should have a larger lead at this point with Swanston's hot hand and MSU's turnovers.

JMU sophomore forward Matt Parker heaves up a 3-pointer as the clock runs out before halftime, and Swanston grabs the rim as he tries to follow but the ball bounces elsewhere. 39-29 JMU.

Evans Back in Starting Lineup

2008-02-15T15:05:00.000-08:00

Thursday night against William and Mary, JMU freshman point guard Dawn Evans made her first start since a Jan. 13 game at Old Dominion.

She missed the next four contests after that game with a stress fracture in her left foot, and including her Jan. 31 return from that injury against George Mason, she came off the bench four straight games leading up to Thursday’s matchup.

Evans said she felt 85 percent against the Tribe, but her long-range prowess continued as she connected on four of eight 3-pointers. She scored 14 points and had a game-high five assists, and her chemistry with freshman guard Courtney Hamner was impressive.

“Courtney runs the floor extremely well, so it’s easy to get the ball to her because she’s out there in front of everybody,” Evans said. “I just give it to her because she’s out there.”

That chemistry bodes well for the future of the team. The Dukes are riding a season-high seven game win streak, their best of the season, and are 17-6 overall, 10-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Will Pierre be Back Saturday?

2008-02-14T18:58:00.000-08:00

If urgency is a factor for James Madison, one would think so.

JMU sophomore point guard Pierre Curtis, who has a sprain and a bone bruise in his left knee, was warming up Wednesday before the game at VCU. Unfortunately for the Dukes, his injury bothered him enough that he sat out his third straight contest.

“Being on the road without our starting point guard, we knew we would have to do an awful lot right,” JMU coach Dean Keener said. “Unfortunately we didn’t there in the first half where we had some critical turnovers, as well as allowing four offensive rebounds that really got them going.”

Curtis leads the team in free throw percentage and averages 10.7 points and a team-high 4.2 assists per game. Without him, JMU struggled to run its half-court offense at VCU.

“Ben [Louis] and Abdulai [Jalloh] really had some key turnovers in the first half that were live-ball and led to some run-outs and transition baskets for them, and then that allowed them again to set their defense,” Keener said.

JMU (11-13 overall, 4-10 in the conference) will regroup and prepare for a home game Saturday against Hofstra (8-16, 5-9), one of four conference games left for the Dukes. Keener said Curtis might be back for that game, but indicated that the situation is day-to-day.

Treys key Tribe Victory

2008-01-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

James Madison lost its fifth straight game of the season and its eighth consecutive matchup with William & Mary, as the Tribe shot 10-of-15 on 3-pointers and Madison couldn't hit one to tie the game as time ran out Thursday night.

Junior guard Abdulai Jalloh led JMU with 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting, but also turned the ball over nine times. Jalloh and junior forward Juwann James tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.

William & Mary senior guard Nathan Mann led the Tribe with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting. His 3-pointer with 2:15 left in the game put W&M up 57-52 and stymied JMU's comeback for good.

JMU fell to 10-10 overall, 3-7 in the Colonial Athletic Association, and the Tribe improved to 11-9, 7-3. Madison has eight games left to pick up the pieces before the CAA tournament starts in early March.

Young Makes History, Finds Stroke

2008-01-24T21:02:00.000-08:00

Tamera Young through 15 games: 2-of-35 on 3-point attempts.

James Madison's all-time leading scorer in her last two games: 4-of-5.

While the overall percentage is still a meager 15 percent, Young has shown marked improvement in her last two games — just in time for a crucial road game at Towson (14-3 overall, 5-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association).

Madison (11-6, 4-2) rebounded from an overtime loss against Virginia Commonwealth by beating Hofstra 80-64 on Thursday night. Early in the game, Young connected from long distance and passed Meredith Alexis' mark of 1,760 points, claiming the JMU record.

The senior forward hit her second 3-pointer as she was fouled just 3 minutes, 12 seconds into the contest. After a timeout was called by JMU coach Kenny Brooks, Young hit the free throw for a 4-point play. But before the timeout she pointed to someone in the audience.

“It was funny because the football academic advisor, Justin Ruffin, I met with him a couple days ago and he was like ‘I want you to shoot all 3-pointers until you get it.’”

While Young said she didn’t expect to break the record that way, Brooks called it a “perfect scenario” to call a timeout and make the significance clear to the crowd of 1,706 at the Convocation Center.

Now the question is: will her hot streak carry the Dukes past Towson, one of two undefeated CAA teams?

Adapting to New Roles

2008-01-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

Two seasons ago, JMU guard Lesley Dickinson suffered a season-ending injury four days before the start of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament and the Dukes were forced to play without one of their most dynamic players.

But Madison advanced to the CAA women’s basketball final for the first time since 2001 with a buzzer-beater shot by Jasmin Lawrence with 1.9 seconds left for a 61-59 win over Delaware on March 10, 2006.

The senior guard is being asked to step up for a depleted roster once again, and what the women’s basketball team does in the absence of game-changing freshman point guard Dawn Evans will determine the direction its season goes throughout conference play.

“We don’t want to totally get away from what we are,” JMU coach Kenny Brooks said Monday at his weekly press conference. “What we are is a fast breaking team where we get a lot of easy transition baskets in the fast break, so we don’t have to go toe-to-toe so to speak against someone’s set defense.”

James Madison (10-6 overall, 3-2 CAA) responded to the loss of four starters from last season’s team by establishing a potent offense run by a freshman point guard. But Evans is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in her left foot, and Brooks now has to rely on natural shooting guards to step into a point guard role at times.

In addition to Lawrence and freshman guard Courtney Hamner, Brooks said that Young will also bring the ball up the court at times, something she did in spot duty against VCU.

“I thought she did a great job [Sunday] of taking some of the pressure off of [Lawrence] and Courtney, and Tamera has a small forward guarding her — she can bring the ball up very effectively.”

With Young on the verge of breaking Meredith Alexis' school record for points scored — she needs six points to surpass Alexis' total of 1760 — how dominant a performance will the Dukes turn in after a disappointing loss to Virginia Commonwealth?

Dukes Search for Swagger

2008-01-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

On the ride home from Old Dominion, JMU women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks received text messages from members of his team apologizing for their most disappointing performance of the season. But he’s convinced that his squad is ready to rebound at George Mason today.

“They’ve all been texting me, they’ve been apologizing to me,” Brooks said Monday at his weekly press conference. “But they don’t need to apologize to me, because they’re the ones that had to suffer through it. I think they’ll be able to bounce back.”

George Mason is the second of three opponents Madison faces on the road in January, and JMU is still searching for its first road victory against a team with at least a .500 record.

“We haven’t won some of the bigger games away from the Convocation Center that we need to win,” Brooks said. “We talk about the swagger, we have to have the swagger.”

Usually, Brooks uses Mondays to wind down and focus on personal things. This past Monday morning he was already watching film of GMU. His motivation?

“I want to get back out there to erase the [ODU] memory,” Brooks said.

JMU (9-5 overall, 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association) beat George Mason twice last year by a combined 58 points, but both teams have changed significantly. GMU (7-7, 1-2) is only one win shy of its total from last season, and has a 6-2 record at home. Brooks said he’s glad JMU has a chance to bounce back on the road.

“Our goals are much higher than just to be a good team at home,” Brooks said. “We want to be able to be one of the upper-echelon teams.”

Madison may not be the only team trying to regain confidence today. While the Patriots started the season 5-0 at home, they have gone 1-2 in their last three home games.

GMU has also dropped two straight games by at least 15 points. The Patriots lost 69-54 on Tuesday at Liberty, a team that beat JMU 79-66 earlier this season in Lynchburg.

“We’re coming off a loss to Liberty that I felt we played very well at their place,” GMU coach Debbie Taneyhill said in a phone interview. “I know our kids are glad to be back home and get into being able to concentrate on our CAA schedule.”

GMU senior guard Lateisha Wade leads the Patriots in scoring, averaging 14.6 points. Wade is the only GMU player averaging double figures, but the Patriots have managed to improve on last year’s season with a focus on defense.

“We’ve really made that an emphasis for our team this year,” Taneyhill said. “On nights when your offense may not be going well, if you have that solid defense you can still manage to win some games, and that’s what we’re trying to instill with our team.”

The Patriots will need that focus on defense to hang with a JMU team hungry for redemption.

The Aftermath

2008-01-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

Following an 82-57 pounding at Old Dominion, the James Madison women's basketball team is anxious to redeem itself. In fact, various members of the team sent text messages to Coach Kenny Brooks apologizing for their performance on the ride home.

Brooks is a Dallas Cowboys fan, so it was a rough weekend for him. In case you're wondering, he doesn't blame Tony Romo for the Cowboys' early exit.

Madison (9-5 overall, 2-1 Colonial Athletic Association) will play for its first road conference win Thursday at George Mason. The Patriots (7-6, 1-2) lost to Drexel 62-42 on Sunday, only their second loss at home. GMU is 6-2 at home this season.

When asked about point guard Dawn Evans' recent struggles, Brooks defended her and pointed out that many of her missed 3-pointers have been in games where JMU trails by a lot and needs to get back in the game. He called last game her worst performance of the season, but also said that she is ahead of where Andrea Benvenuto (JMU '07) was as a freshman. Last year Benvenuto was named to the All-CAA third team.

It's clear that this team, while young, is emerging as a CAA contender. The next step is to win conference games on the road.

Brooks: No Excuses

2008-01-10T18:54:00.000-08:00

James Madison coach Kenny Brooks said his team is done with excuses. The women's basketball team rolled to a 93-49 victory over Georgia State on Thursday night with two upperclassmen feeling ill and seemed to prove him right.

"No excuses." Two very strong words, especially considering the next game on Madison's schedule: Old Dominion.

"We have no excuses," Brooks said. "The kids come down, if they're a little bit sick or they don't really feel like practicing, that's not an excuse. ...We've kind of adopted that the last couple of days you know, no excuses let's go out, you're feet hurt it doesn't matter you can play through it we need to get tough and do that."

Madison (9-4 overall, 2-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association) won its third straight after losing four in a row in December. Tamera Young, the CAA's leading scorer and rebounder, was one rebound short of her sixth double-double this season. She scored 18 points to go along with nine rebounds against the Panthers. While Young is the only returning starter from last season's team, Georgia State coach Lea Henry said not to overlook the effect of her experience.

"Experience helps them, with the way Young understands what it takes to win and you've got a couple other upperclassmen that have been around a lot of success," Henry said. "I just like the way they have so much energy, the way they get after it."

Those other upperclassmen Henry was talking about? Two of them were not at full strength. Senior forward Jennifer Brown and junior forward Kisha Stokes who were both feeling ill, and played less than normal minutes. Brown is suffering from a slight case of bronchitis, and Stokes has been diagnosed with "partial pneumonia."

Freshman Lauren Jimenez stepped up for the Dukes with 15 points and eight rebounds. The 6-foot-4 center created a mismatch for Georgia State and scored double digits for the second time in a row and this season.

"We were a little bit sluggish in the beginning, but we've got some kids who are under the weather," Brooks said. "Jennifer Brown's under the weather, Kisha Stokes [is] under the weather, that's why they were limited so much especially in the second half."

That's where Jiminez showed why Brooks intended for her to be Meredith Alexis' successor, scoring nine of her 15 points in the second half. Alexis graduated in spring 2007 as JMU's all-time leading scorer, and many expected JMU to be in a rebuilding phase this season as a result.

Georgia State's efforts to negate the size advantage failed more and more as the game went on.

"The first half we were kind of dead and not fightin' and playin as hard we usually do," Young said. "The second half we picked it up and we started fighting' for loose balls and rebounding more. ...they're just a run and gun team, they don't really set up plays that much, so we knew that from the beginning that that's what they wanted to do."

Madison plays at ODU on Sunday, the first meeting of the teams since ODU beat JMU to claim its 16th straight CAA Championship last season. The Monarchs (11-3, 2-0) are second place in the CAA, behind Virginia Commonwealth (12-1, 2-0).

Panthers up Next

2008-01-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

After losing four straight games in December, the women’s team has won two straight by a combined 92 points. The Dukes routed Wagner 100-48 on Dec. 31 and beat UNC Wilmington 79-39 in their first January game Sunday.

Madison (8-4 overall, 1-0 CAA) faces Georgia State tonight at 7 p.m. The Panthers (3-9, 0-1) have lost two straight, including their conference opener against No. 23 Old Dominion.

Senior forward Tamera Young leads JMU with 20.9 points a game and 9.6 rebounds a contest. Freshman point guard Dawn Evans is the only other player averaging double figures with 12.8 points a game.

Domination

2008-01-06T23:10:00.000-08:00

Did I say the women's basketball team hit their stride?

Another solid performance from senior forward Tamera Young led to a 79-39 rout of UNC Wilmington. Young scored 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, and also tallied nine rebounds and six assists. Maybe her most impressive performance of the season, all things considered.

Senior forward Jennifer Brown grabbed 10 rebounds to lead JMU, as the Dukes out-rebounded the Seahawks 42-24. Defense was also a key factor, as UNCW had 23 turnovers and JMU had only 11.

With seven more conference games in January, don't discount the importance of an emphatic start.

Conference Play Begins Sunday

2008-01-03T15:08:00.000-08:00

James Madison is back on track.

The entire starting lineup of the women's basketball team reached double figures and JMU broke out of its four game losing streak with a 100-48 drubbing of Wagner (2-9) earlier this week. But conference play begins Sunday against UNC Wilmington, the second place team in the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Seahawks (9-2) have two players that rank in the top 10 in CAA scoring, freshman forward Brittany Blackwell and junior forward Sasha Taylor. Blackwell has earned CAA Rookie of the Week recognition twice this season and is coming off her strongest performance of the year, scoring a career high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting in a 90-88 overtime win against Western Carolina (8-5).

But the Seahawks lost at Radford 77-46 five days before facing Western Carolina, and Madison should be able to compete with them.

Sunday's game against UNCW is the first of eight conference games this month for JMU. After compiling a 1-4 record in December, the Dukes will look to prove their character against CAA competition in January.

Dukes Lose Fourth Straight

2007-12-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

So the slide continues.

Once 6-0, James Madison fell to 6-4 after a 69-61 loss to Pittsburgh at Staten Island, N.Y. Madison senior forward Tamera Young had her best game of the year with 32 points on 12-20 shooting, but JMU was 0-12 on 3-pointers and freshman point guard Dawn Evans continued her slump with only eight points on 2-16 shooting.

Nine of her misses were from behind the arc.

Madison took a 35-33 lead into halftime in the Wagner Holiday Classic, but the Panthers fought back and took the lead for good with seven minutes, nine seconds left in the game. There were 13 ties and 10 lead changes in the rematch of JMU's 2007 NCAA tournament game at Pittsburgh.

JMU plays against Wagner on Monday in the final game of the Holiday Classic, which is hosted by Wagner. The Seahawks (2-7) play Pittsburgh tomorrow and are looking to break a seven-game losing streak.

It looks as if relief is finally in the forecast for JMU.

Trying to Recover

2007-12-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

While losing in overtime at Seton Hall must have been tough for the James Madison men's basketball team, for the women their recent fortunes have been even tougher.

Madison began the season 6-0 with four freshman starting, and their surprising start included a win over then-No. 14 George Washington. It was JMU's first win over a ranked opponent since the 1991 NCAA tournament, and extended the Dukes' NCAA-leading home win streak to 29.

Since that game JMU is 1-3, and has lost three straight. Two of those losses were on the road.

The Dukes play their next game at Pittsburgh (8-3), the team that knocked JMU out of the NCAA tournament last year in Pittsburgh. With such a young, inexperienced squad, how would you assess their chances of breaking out of a slump?

Looking for Recognition

2007-12-25T18:42:00.000-08:00

While the James Madison basketball squads enjoy their time off for the holidays, you should be asking yourself where they stand as the new year approaches.

The men's team (7-2) gears up for a game Saturday against South Carolina State at Jim 'N Nick's Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C. South Carolina State (4-8) shouldn't present too much of a challenge, and if Madison wins it will advance to play the winner of CofC vs. Mercer the next day. There is also a consolation game between losers Sunday.

I would be surprised if the Dukes aren't 9-2 heading into their second conference game against Virginia Commonwealth (8-3). The Rams are tied for second place in the Colonial Athletic Association behind JMU, and are ranked 11th in the CollegeInsider.com mid-major top 25 poll.

Meanwhile, Madison has yet to crack the same poll. The Dukes received 37 points are are fifth among teams not in the top 25, as far as votes in the Dec. 24 poll. The voting panel consists of 31 mid-major coaches and can be accessed here.

I'll get to the women's team tomorrow but right now ask yourself if you think the men are being overlooked by the college basketball media.

Win Slips Away at Seton Hall

2007-12-22T15:59:00.000-08:00

James Madison missed its chance to surpass last year's win total, and fell 112-110 in overtime to Big East opponent Seton Hall on Saturday.

Turnovers plagued Madison (7-2) at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. — Seton Hall forced 33 — but the Dukes' entire starting lineup reached double figures and had JMU leading for most of the game.

Point guard Pierre Curtis led the Dukes with 26 points as he shot 9-of-9 on free throws. Madison led Seton Hall (8-2) in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, and assists, but a late 13-4 run by the Pirates sent the game into overtime. The game's leading scorer Eugene Harvey hit the go-ahead shot for Seton Hall and finished with 27 points.

Seton Hall beat Virginia 74-60 on Nov. 24, and the Pirates represent the only "major" conference opponent on JMU's schedule this season. Even though the Dukes let opportunity slip away, contending on the road with a team like Seton Hall has to instill confidence heading into nine conference games in January.

The Streak Ends at 30

2007-12-21T15:44:00.000-08:00

Senior forward Tamera Young notched her highest point total since James Madison's season opener against Harvard, but her 28-point performance wasn't enough to extend JMU's 30-game home winning streak against No. 5 Maryland as the Terrapins won 71-65 Thursday.

The Terrapins improved their record to 14-1, while JMU fell to 6-3. After starting the season 6-0, the Dukes have lost three straight games.

The game was tied at halftime, but Madison scored the first seven points of the second period and led by as many as 10. With four freshman starting this season for the Dukes, their recent slide isn't too surprising. But the play of one freshman in particular surprises me.

Point guard Dawn Evans was named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week three of the first four weeks this season, and the only week she didn't receive the award JMU didn't play a game. During that stretch, Evans shot 46% on field goals and JMU was 6-0.

Since a Nov. 30 game against Savannah State, Evans is shooting 26% from the field. For Madison to be successful, she has to break out of that slump.

Maryland beat JMU thanks to 49% field goal shooting and 40 rebounds, but if Evans was on her game its likely the outcome would have been different.

Another Comeback Win

2007-12-18T21:54:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year James Madison beat the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers 85-73 at the JMU Convocation Center. The final score was 85-73, and the Dukes held only a two-point lead at halftime (40-38).

After an 0-4 start, Mount St. Mary's has won six straight and sits in first place in the Northeast Conference at 6-4 (2-0 in the NEC).

The Radford Highlanders came into Harrisonburg with a 4-7 record, 1-6 on the road. So after JMU beat them by a deceiving 85-74 final score, the question is how were the Highlanders winning 37-32 at halftime?

A 12-day break for exams can take some of the credit, but JMU has a habit of playing down to competition it seems so far this year. But with a 7-1 record (1-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association), JMU has matched its highest win total in Keener's reign. Will the comebacks keep coming?

Mountaineers Make History, Fans React

2007-12-15T16:07:00.001-08:00

Appalachian State became the first team in FCS football history to win three consecutive national championships with a 49-21 win over Delaware last night.

Quarterback Armanti Edwards threw three touchdowns on 9-of-15 passing, compiling 198 yards. Edwards also rushed for 89 yards, before senior backup QB Tyler Elder came in and rushed 53 yards for a touchdown with 3 minutes, 29 seconds left.

Elder drew a flag for celebration after scoring the Mountaineers' last touchdown, and the fans were standing on the sideline shortly thereafter. They remained there for the last few minutes, getting autographs from Appalachian players and encroaching on the field of play.

The question is: Should fans be allowed access to the sidelines with more than a couple minutes left in the game?

Make it Three for App. State

2007-12-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

At the end of three quarters, Appalachian State leads Delaware 35-14 in the Football Champion Subdivision title game.

James Madison was the only team that held the Mountaineers under 30 points this season, and I can only imagine what it must feel like for JMU players to watch Appalachian march towards its third straight NCAA championship.

Appalachian quarterback Armanti Edwards has three passing touchdowns through as many quarters, but surprisingly hasn't rushed for a TD. He appears headed towards another 100-yard rushing performance though, as he has 82 yards on 16 carries with a quarter left.

While Madison fans can only wonder what could have been, Armanti Edwards is attracting Heisman attention for next season. That's right, Edwards will be a junior in 2008, and this Sports Illustrated article by Stewart Mandel points out that three I-AA players have finished in the top 10 of Heisman voting since the I-A/I-AA distinction was established in 1978. Among them: Jerry Rice.

Just something else to think about, other than what Madison could have accomplished if not for a failed fourth-down attempt at its own 32-yard line and a fumble inside the Appalachian 10-yard line with 25 seconds left.

BCS Champion vs. Dolphins

2007-12-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

It's exam week, and JMU athletes are busy...so today I'm going to talk about my idea for a college football playoff system.

Because the bowl system won't be revised anytime soon, I suggest having the winner of LSU-Ohio State play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, January 13. That gives the BCS champion almost a week to prepare, and the Dolphins will have sat for two weeks.

The Dolphins play against Baltimore this week, at New England after that, and against Cincinnati on Dec. 30. It's possible they could get a win in there, but its hard to choose between Baltimore or Cincinnati. Whatever happens, Armando Salguero at the "DOLPHINS IN DEPTH" blog says that coach Cam Cameron has alienated veteran players, and that's been a large part of his failure as a coach.

Back to the point — most people would give Miami an edge over any college team, but I'd like to know by how much. Let me know what you think.

Sub-30

2007-12-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

JMU shot a season-low 29.1 percent at Clemson and the Madison women's basketball team lost its second straight game, falling to 6-2.

Clemson (6-5) lost at JMU last year, 85-72, and shouldn't have presented much of a problem for a JMU squad that recently defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since 1991 in George Washington.

I would say the Dukes just need more experience in road games to avoid these losses. With four freshman starting, that's an easy explanation — but could it be anything else?

Dukes Spear Lancers

2007-12-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

James Madison notched its fourth straight win, beating Longwood 84-52 on 57% shooting Wednesday night.

The Dukes (6-1, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association) were led by guard Abdulai Jalloh with 23 points, and Madison led 46-26 at halftime. The dominating performance was expected against the Lancers (2-8), but JMU fans take nothing for granted — the team is one win short of its 2006-07 win total, as mediocrity has been the norm in recent years.

Jalloh has been heralded as the player who will bring the Dukes success, and the blueprint is working so far. Dazzmond Thornton is another transfer who has made an immediate impact. The 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 7 points and 3.2 rebounds a game, in only 13.7 minutes a game.

JMU's next contest is Dec. 17 when Radford (3-6) comes to Harrisonburg, but the game after that will be a true barometer. The Dukes play at Seton Hall (7-1) on Dec. 22. The Pirates boast a November win over Virginia, and will be heavy favorites at home.

First Loss for Women's Basketball

2007-12-04T23:51:00.000-08:00

James Madison women's basketball fell to 6-1 after losing at Liberty on Tuesday night, 79-66. The closest JMU got in the second half was 59-54 with nine minutes, 51 seconds remaining.

A telling statistic: JMU made only four of 22 three pointers, and freshman point guard Dawn Evans made just one of 12 attempts from behind the arc. The Dukes made 36.1% of their field goal attempts, while Liberty made 52.8%. For more on the game, read this article from the Daily News-Record.

Dawn Evans was just named Colonial Athletic Assocation Rookie of the Week for the third time in four weeks, but it's safe to say somebody else will get the award after this week.

BCS Situation: LSU vs. Ohio State

2007-12-03T23:58:00.000-08:00

SEC champions vs. Big 10 champions.

I've been saying for years that the Big 10 is overrated, and teams from that conference load their schedules with easy games that lead to inflated records. At 11-1, the Buckeyes have a sterling record, but I think there are more deserving teams for the championship.

Here's an opposing opinion, from David McKinney's Ohio State blog. Big surprise he favors the Buckeyes in the title game.

I don't know many people that support the BCS system, but let's go straight to the matchup. Who honestly thinks Ohio State stands a chance, especially right in LSU's backyard (New Orleans)?

Basketball Looking Good

2007-12-02T23:15:00.000-08:00

James Madison has two strong basketball teams this year, instead of just one. Maybe it's too early to call the men's team "strong," but after a Colonial Athletic Association win on the road, speculation is sure to begin.

The men (5-1 overall, 1-0 in the conference) don't play any more CAA games until January, and the women (6-0 overall, 0-0 in the conference) play their first conference games in the same month. The win over George Washington validated their success so far, though.

When the NCAA makes its selections for the Big Dance, early season success often has less influence than quality of play down the stretch. Should it be that way?

Bowl Season!

2007-11-30T12:13:00.000-08:00

Louisville did something James Madison couldn't do last week and kicked a game-winning field goal, becoming bowl eligible after a 41-38 win over Rutgers on Thursday night.

The Cardinals finished 6-6 overall, 3-4 in the conference, salvaging a disappointing season with their win and becoming bowl eligible. Rutgers (7-5, 3-4) also had a bit of a letdown year after finishing 10-2 in the regular season last year.

Bowl season is about to begin, and I want to hear all your complaints about it — I know you have plenty.

Men Handle Colonels

2007-11-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

JMU senior forward Terrance Carter led the Dukes with 17 points and five JMU players reached double figures in an 82-71 victory for the men's basketball team Wednesday at Eastern Kentucky.

Madison (4-1) overcame an early 18-7 deficit and led the Colonels 37-32 at halftime. The Dukes shot an impressive 27-34 in free throws, as Carter shot 9-9 from the line.

The Dukes face a tough task Friday at Northeastern (2-3). Despite their 13-19 record in 2006, the Huskies were 10-2 at home with victories over Hofstra and George Mason — here's their schedule from last year. If JMU improves to 5-1, is it time to expect double-digit wins this season?

JMU 5-0

2007-11-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

James Madison senior forward Tamera Young scored 20 points and freshman point guard Dawn Evans added 19 as the women’s basketball team defeated No. 15 George Washington 80-55, continuing to silence any talk of a “rebuilding” year.

Madison (5-0) last beat a ranked opponent March 16, 1991 at No. 1 Penn State, and coach Kenny Brooks was a senior on the JMU men’s basketball team that year.

JMU more than doubled No. 15 George Washington’s rebound total Tuesday night as JMU extended its home winning streak to 29 games, the longest active streak in Division I. JMU grabbed 53 rebounds and GW (5-2) had only 26, as Young led the Dukes with 14.

Madison plays Savannah State (2-1) on Friday at the JMU Convocation Center. The Dukes won 77-48 in last year’s contest, which was also played in Harrisonburg. How many games will the Dukes go unbeaten?

Preserving First Place?

2007-11-26T20:44:00.000-08:00

James Madison women's basketball returns from its seven-day layoff against No. 15 George Washington at the JMU Convocation Center on Tuesday.

The Dukes (4-0) are tied with UNC-Wilmington and Virginia Commonwealth for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association, and face a GW team that has only lost to No. 7 Rutgers. The Colonials (5-1) won 68-56 over JMU last year in Washington, D.C.

Madison has the longest active home winning streak in Division I women's basketball with 28 straight wins. The last JMU victory was Nov. 18 against Wake Forest (5-1).

JMU senior guard Tamera Young leads the Dukes in scoring with 20.0 ppg, and junior forward Kisha Stokes leads the conference with 10.5 rpg. Freshman guard Dawn Evans leads the team with 5.3 apg, and recently earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors. Can Young and the new supporting cast upset the Colonials and preserve the nation's best home winning streak?

Men's Basketball Gets Third Win

2007-11-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

The James Madison men's basketball team rebounded from Wednesday's loss at VMI with an 85-73 win over Mount St. Mary's on Saturday at the JMU Convocation Center.

JMU (3-1) was 79% in free throws on 30-38 shooting after going 38% from the stripe Wednesday. Madison led by two at the half and outscored the Mount St. Mary's 45-35 in the second period, as the Mountaineers fell to 0-3 this season.

Madison plays at Eastern Kentucky (2-3) on Wednesday, and EKU defeated Madison 70-66 last year in Harrisonburg. With the Colonels coming off a 78-43 thrashing at No. 10 Duke, do you think Madison can hand EKU its third straight loss?

Madison Fumbles Away Victory

2007-11-24T22:15:00.000-08:00

With less than 30 seconds left in the football game, James Madison trailed Appalachian State 28-27 at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, N.C.

On the ASU 9-yard line, JMU chose to execute a rushing play on second down instead of a field goal, and redshirt freshman tailback Jamal Sullivan fumbled the ball that ASU recovered to seal its victory.

A similar situation occurred three weeks ago when redshirt freshman tailback Griff Yancey fumbled with two minutes, 15 seconds remaining at Delaware. The Dukes were down by three and in Delaware territory, and that fumble was on JMU's last real drive.

These circumstances call for one question: If Eugene Holloman didn't injure his knee against New Hampshire and played the entire season, what kind of success would JMU have had in the playoffs?

Delaware Cruises into Quarters

2007-11-23T14:17:00.000-08:00

The NCAA Football Championships started today as Delaware won 44-7 over Delaware State in the only Friday matchup, televised on ESPN2.

Senior tailback Omar Cuff carried the ball 38 times for 288 yards and four touchdowns for the Blue Hens.

Cuff was one of six Delaware players named All-CAA First Team, and was joined by senior quarterback Joe Flacco and junior receier Aaron Love. Delaware will face Northern Iowa or New Hampshire in the second round.

James Madison plays Appalachian State at noon Saturday, and a victory would bring McNeese State or Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals for the Dukes.

...Not for Long

2007-11-21T22:04:00.001-08:00

VMI guard Reggie Williams scored 30 points and VMI handed James Madison its first loss, a 90-83 defeat.

JMU (2-1) lost to VMI (2-2) for the first time in nine matchups, and fell into a tie for fourth place in the conference with Towson.

Bad timing for a misstep.

JMU No. 2 in CAA basketball

2007-11-21T16:03:00.000-08:00

After Drexel lost at Virginia 72-58 last night, James Madison is one of only two unbeaten Colonial Athletic Association teams. JMU (2-0) trails only George Mason (3-0), who plays at No. 22 Kansas State in a Thanksgiving matchup.

JMU's third game is just underway in Lexington, Va. as JMU looks to remain one of the top two teams in the conference. VMI is the second worst team in the Big South conference at 1-2.

The Dukes play winless Mount St. Mary's (0-2) in Harrisonburg on Saturday. Next four opponents: Eastern Kentucky (2-1), Northeastern (1-2), Longwood (2-3), and Radford (1-4). In their first eight games, do you think the Dukes can match their win total of seven from last season?

Fast-paced Foray

2007-11-19T22:49:00.000-08:00

Madison travels to Lexington for its second road game Wednesday, and the backcourt will be tested by VMI in a high-scoring affair.

Last season, the Dukes won 89-87 and attempted 48 free throws in the contest.

Junior transfer Abdulai Jalloh leads JMU in scoring with 18.5 points a game, and is averaging 86.7% from the free-throw line. If Jalloh and the Dukes can sustain their improved free-throw shooting in Lexington, JMU will likely improve to 3-0 this season.

Here's an article from the Daily News-Record that examines Madison's "free throw ladder." If JMU doesn't shoot well from the stripe, three-point shooting by last year's highest-scoring Division I offense (100.9 ppg) will make things interesting.

Sooners Suffer QB Injury

2007-11-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford left the game with a concussion after the Sooners' second possession, and Texas Tech outscored Oklahoma 24-3 in the remainder of the first half on its way to a 34-27 upset of the then fourth-ranked Sooners.

No. 10 Oklahoma (9-2 overall, 5-2 in the Big 12) fell into a tie with No. 13 Texas (9-2, 5-2) for the Big 12 South title, and the Sooners' loss is No. 5 Ohio State's gain.

No. 2 Kansas plays No. 4 Missouri on Saturday, and the winner of that game will play either Oklahoma or Texas in the Big 12 championship. If the Big 12 North champion loses in the title game, Ohio State could rise to No. 2 in the BCS. A loss by No. 3 West Virginia would be the last domino that needs to fall for the Buckeyes to make the BCS title game.

Purple Over Green

2007-11-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

The James Madison men's basketball team avenged a 74-70 loss last season and won 72-57 over Dartmouth in the Big Green's 2007-08 home opener. JMU junior transfer Abdulai Jalloh scored early in his second game with the Dukes as he tallied 22 points Saturday, 13 in the first half.

Madison (2-0) won its first road game of the season, and travels again for a contest at Virginia Military Institute on Wednesday. The Keydets run a fast-paced offense and led the nation in scoring for the 2006-07 season with 100.9 points a game.

JMU should win its third game in Lexington, Va., but the real question is: playing at such a high tempo, will Jalloh elevate his point total to 30 points or more?

Buckeyes Eye Rose Bowl

2007-11-17T14:13:00.000-08:00

No. 7 Ohio State rebounded from a 28-21 loss to Illinois, and No. 21 Michigan's season ended right where it started: in disappointment.

After losing its first two games and then putting together an eight-game win streak, Michigan closed out regular-season play with two straight losses. The Wolverines (8-4, 6-2) lost their chance to play in the Rose Bowl, and coach Lloyd Carr fell to 1-6 against Ohio State coach Jim Tressel.

The Buckeyes (11-1, 7-1) have a slim chance of making the BCS Championship Game, but must rely on four teams ahead of them losing first. The most likely scenario puts Ohio State in the Rose Bowl against another BCS conference winner.

One of the teams that must lose for Ohio State to have a shot at the national championship is No. 6 West Virginia, which plays at No. 22 Cincinnati tonight. Will the Buckeyes like the result?

Leader of the Ducks

2007-11-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

No. 2 Oregon plays at Arizona tonight (9 pm., ESPN) and looks to move into a tie with No. 8 Arizona State for first place in the Pac-10 conference.

Oregon (8-1 overall, 5-1 in the conference) is led by quarterback and Heisman candidate Dennis Dixon, who has thrown for 20 touchdowns and rushed for eight this season.

Arizona (4-6, 3-4) appears on its way to its ninth straight losing season, and hasn't played a bowl game since 1998. The Wildcats had a bye last week, which gives them two significant advantages in the Thursday night game (the other being home field).

Arizona State (9-1, 6-1) has a bye in Week 12, and plays in the featured Week 13 Thursday night game against USC in Sun Devil Stadium.

NCAA Tournament Special

2007-11-12T22:31:00.000-08:00

The JMU women's soccer team qualified for the NCAA tournament today in a delayed announcement. ESPNews sponsored the event, but waited until 8:22 to announce the matchups when it was scheduled for 8:00-8:30.

Years ago, the NCAA sponsored the announcement and devoted a full half-hour show to it. Women's soccer is approaching the level of basketball at the collegiate level, so why would ESPN relegate the selection show to this level?

Madison plays Pennsylvania University at Morgantown, W.va., on Friday. The Dukes started out their season with a scrimmage at West Virginia and lost. In the first round of the NCAA tournament, don't expect a lackluster performance.

Showdown Set for Nov. 24

2007-11-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

With victories by Virginia and Virginia Tech Saturday, the stage is set for both teams' last regular season game in Charlottesville. The winner will play in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game — it's that simple.

UVA has a bye in week 12, and the Hokies play against Miami at Lane Stadium. I was impressed by my experience at the Boston College game three weeks ago, and I expect Virginia Tech fans will show no mercy to a Hurricane squad that suffered a 48-0 loss to UVA in its last game at the historic Orange Bowl.

Virginia Tech's 40-21 rout of Florida State was not as staggering as the score suggests, but coach Beamer notched his first win against the Seminoles nonetheless. He is now 1-7 against Florida State.

I'm a bit confused though — with Virginia a half game ahead of the Hokies in the ACC Coastal Division and overall, why is VT four spots ahead of the Cavaliers in the BCS standings?

White Burns Louisville

2007-11-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

The Big East has finally whittled its list of likely BCS contenders down to two.

West Virginia quarterback Pat White's 50-yard touchdown run with 1:36 left against Louisville gave the Mountaineers a 38-31 lead and their eighth win. WVU (8-1 overall, 3-1 in the Big East) now trails only Connecticut (8-1, 4-0), who is set to play at Cincinnati (7-2, 2-2) on Saturday.

Last year's Lou Groza award winner, Louisville kicker Art Carmody, tied the game with 3:05 left - but WVU's multifaceted attack struck right back. White exploited a seam in the Cardinal defense for the games' longest touchdown.

James Madison's option offense has often been compared to WVU's attack. The question is, will Madison be able to avoid the costly turnovers that have plagued them two games in a row when it travels to Willam & Mary?

Gettin' Back on the Ball

2007-11-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

The official temperature was 45 degrees for JMU's first round Colonial Athletic Association tournament game against George Mason. It felt like it was cold enough for snow.

James Madison battled GMU for a 2-1 victory, and advanced to the semifinal round in Virginia Beach, Va. I stood on the sideline for the entire game, because the metal benches were absolutely freezing.

Coach Lombardo notched his 300th win thanks to goals by senior forward Annie Lowry and junior forward Megan Deaver. When asked to evaluate the team's performance, Lowry said "We're finally getting back on the ball, playing the offense we can," but also gave GMU senior goalkeeper Kasey Davenport credit for her seven saves.

Madison plays Hofstra on Friday in the CAA semifinals, and if it wins JMU would play the winner of VCU/ODU on Sunday. How would you evaluate their chances to win the conference tournament?

On the Edge

2007-11-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

James Madison fell to No. 16 in The Sports Network's poll following a 37-34 loss at Delaware in Colonial Athletic Association play. The Dukes had two running backs with 171 yards rushing or better, and still lost to their CAA South Division rivals.

JMU entered the game in a three-way tie with Delaware and Richmond for the South Division lead, but fell to third place with a record of 6-3 overall, 4-2 in the conference. No. 9-ranked Richmond and No. 6-ranked Delaware are set for another showdown Saturday at Richmond; both teams are 5-1 in the CAA.

Madison travels to William and Mary on Saturday and will look for its fourth straight win in the series. With two games left, the Dukes must win both to gain playoff consideration. Only 16 teams make the playoffs — eight automatic bids and eight at-large bids. Will finishing 8-3 be enough to earn Madison a playoff game?

Mikell Makes it Five

2007-11-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

Virginia made history Saturday when it won 17-16 over Wake Forest, notching the Cavaliers' fifth win of the season by two points or less. Mikell Simpson's 1-yard rushing touchdown with 2:18 left in the game was enough to salvage a win against the Demon Deacons (6-2 overall, 4-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference).

Columbia previously held the NCAA record with four such wins in 1971. The Lions finished 5-4-1 that year, which is referenced in this article.

Walking on Alderman Road before the game, there were scalpers offering tickets for 10 dollars. I'd say anyone who invested in those got their money's worth.

The Cavaliers (8-2 overall, 5-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) are now back in the Coastal Division lead, a half game ahead of Virginia Tech. If Virginia wins its season finale against the Hokies on Nov. 24, it will play in the ACC championship game. Will home-field advantage be enough to advance?

Magic Marker Man

2007-11-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

Quarterback Sean Glennon led Virginia Tech to a 27-3 bounce-back win at Georgia Tech on Thursday night, completing 22 of 32 passing attempts for 297 yards and two touchdowns. Glennon was one of four players who had their jersey stolen, but he shrugged it off and led the Hokies to their highest offensive output of the season.

With his name written on the back of a replacement jersey in magic marker, Glennon led Virginia Tech to 481 total yards, their highest total of the season.

Virginia Tech kicker Jud Dunleavy tricked the Yellow Jackets with an onside kick after the Hokies' first score, and they capitalized on the recovery. Glennon rushed for a two-yard score on that drive early in the second quarter, putting the Hokies ahead for good at 10-3.

The win improved Virginia Tech's road record to 14-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference since beginning ACC play in 2004.

A classic example of Beamer Ball, but I have to ask: what happens if Georgia Tech makes that recovery?

Hoo's Wearing a Costume?

2007-10-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

When the Virginia football team lost to North Carolina State on Saturday, UVA's seven-game winning streak ended and the Wahoos left Virginia Tech hot on their heels in the Coastal Division.

With a win against NC State, the worst team in the Atlantic Division, UVA would have advanced its record to 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hokies would be 1.5 games behind with a 3-1 record.

Because it lost, No. 23 Virginia is only half a game ahead of the Hokies, and faces a challenge in No. 24 Wake Forest on Saturday at Scott Stadium. While Virginia has home-field advantage, I'm wondering — will UVA throw on a Halloween costume and win by more than five points?

An article here talks about how Virginia doesn't have a bye week until the 12th week of the season. The Cavaliers have had substantial running back injuries this year, and even with Mikell Simpson stepping up, you have to wonder how well the offense can perform down the stretch.

Madison Falls to No. 12

2007-10-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Following a 17-16 loss to then No. 14-ranked Richmond, James Madison fell six spots to No. 12 in The Sports Network's poll. Saturday's Homecoming game was a defensive battle, with Madison totaling only 256 yards on offense and Richmond compiling 245.

Richmond rose to No. 11, and No. 7 Delaware awaits Madison in Newark on Saturday. Tailback Eugene Holloman's absence becomes more glaring every week, and the inexperience of JMU's skill position players is manifesting itself in costly turnovers. Two fumbles against Richmond gave the Spiders the deciding score.

Delaware defeated Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Navy on Saturday, 59-52. Madison sits in a three-way tie with Richmond and Delaware for first place in the CAA South Division. How would you evaluate JMU's chances to keep a share of the top spot Saturday?

Lane Stadium Holds its Breath

2007-10-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

When Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan threw his second touchdown of the game with 11 seconds left in regulation, he gave the Eagles a 14-10 lead and left Lane Stadium silent. Hokie fans held their breath, waiting for a flag to be thrown. However, there was no holding this time, and Ryan's scrambling throw across his body was the final score.

The atmosphere at Lane Stadium was electric. The Hokies didn't accomplish much offensively, but their defense was stout for most of the game and provided reason to make noise. The capacity crowd of 66,233 did all it could to establish home field advantage throughout the game.

Boston College extended their record away from home to 21-8 since 2003, the fifth-best mark in that category, as pointed out in this article. The Eagles will likely remain the No. 2-ranked team in the BCS, but do they really deserve it after such a shaky performance?

Quarterback Situation

2007-10-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

While Virginia Tech fans wonder who will start at quarterback for the Hokies on Thursday, Boston College Heisman candidate Matt Ryan aims for his 18th touchdown of the season. Working in his favor is the fact that he and 16 of his teammates are graduate students.

That's right, and 12 of them are starters. Half of Boston College's starting roster comply with NCAA rules by taking night classes. College football coaches are limited to 20 hours of practice and meeting time a week, but when half of your team has a free schedule every day of the week, voluntary workouts are easier for athletes to coordinate.

ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel has more on this topic at at his weekly column I-Formation.

Boston College and Virginia Tech are coming off of bye weeks, so both will be well-rested. The offensive (BC) vs. defensive (VT) matchup should provide for some big plays, and oh yea, there are also BCS implications. Enjoy the Atlantic Coast Conference showdown.

Movin' On Up

2007-10-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

Following a bye week, James Madison moved up to No. 6 in both The Sports Network and FCS Coaches polls following losses by Appalachian State and Wofford. While the same five teams are ahead of JMU in both polls, there is some debate as to whether or not Montana deserves to be one of them. The Grizzlies play in a conference with no teams ranked in the top 25, other than themselves.

Colin O'Keefe at The Grizzoulian said, "The Griz racked up an impressive 627 yards and 52 points in their dominant win over Northern Colorado but who really knows what that means ... the next two games should be a better indicator than this win over a team that hasn't beat a Division I team since moving up."

Montana plays at Big Sky rival Northern Arizona on Oct. 27, the second-place team in the conference. Meanwhile, Madison faces a challenge in No. 14 Richmond at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday.

The Spiders trounced Rhode Island 38-6 over the weekend, continuing to rebound from an Oct. 6 upset at the last place team in the CAA South Division, Towson. However, Richmond is a top-15 opponent. If JMU and Montana both win Saturday, who deserves to be ranked higher?

Scarlet Knights Surprise Bulls

2007-10-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

In a game dominated by Rutgers tailback Ray Rice, the Scarlet Knights relied on a trick play to edge second-ranked South Florida, 30-27. I picked South Florida to win the game, but I'm not shocked by the upset — Rutgers upset a No. 3 ranked Louisville team last year, also on a Thursday.

However, I am surprised by the trick plays executed by Rutgers. In the third quarter, third-string quarterback Andrew DePaola acted as holder on an apparent field goal attempt, but rolled to his right and completed a 15-yard touchdown pass instead. Rutgers kicker Jeremy Ito also delivered a 36-yard pass on a fake punt in Rutgers' first possession, which ended in a field goal.

This game was almost as wacky as last Thursday's featured game, Florida State vs. Wake Forest. I'm left wondering — could Rutgers have beaten South Florida without the two unorthodox plays?

Big East Showdown- Sort Of

2007-10-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

Four years ago, three Big East football teams agreed to abandon the league to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, which at the time was considered a growing football power. Miami and Virginia Tech received invitations to the ACC in June 2003, while Boston College got its invitation four months later. The three teams began ACC play in 2005.

Fast forward to 2007, and the traditional ACC powers have fallen, while its two best teams face off one week from now, Oct. 25. Those two teams are No. 3 Boston College and No. 11 Virginia Tech, and I find it ironic that BC is dominating in only its second season of ACC play.

Boston College, Syracuse, and Miami were all included in the ACC's initial expansion plan before the conference voted down BC and Syracuse in favor of Virginia Tech. The Eagles eventually received an invitation, and they have made the most of it.

UVA Hands Connecticut First Loss

2007-10-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

Talk to coaches about the main difference between the Football Championship Subdivision and the Football Bowl Subdivision, and they will tell you that size is the principal distinction. Athleticism is prevalent in both, but FCS players are generally smaller.

The same could be said about stadiums. I drove to Charlottesville on Saturday for the Virginia football game against Connecticut, where attendance at Scott Stadium was just above 60,000. James Madison usually surpasses Bridgeforth Stadium's official capacity of 14,513, but only by a few hundred.

Bridgeforth Stadium is considered one of the toughest places to play in the Colonial Athletic Association, but it doesn't come close to the atmosphere at Scott Stadium. Walking into the facility, the sea of orange impresses me every time.

UVA relied on its defense to win Saturday, when it recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter that led to the go-ahead field goal. The Cavaliers D is led by senior defensive end Chris Long, who is number four on Mel Kiper's Big Board, which ranks the top 25 college seniors.

Virginia Tech plays against Boston College at home Thursday, October 25, and I've got tickets. Should I expect Lane Stadium to live up to its hype?

Shoddy Officiating

2007-10-11T16:59:00.001-07:00

The McSports Report is going to do something new tonight and examine Football Bowl Subdivision play.

In the Thursday night game on ESPN, Florida State and Wake Forest got off to a slow start following the Seminoles' first three plays and subsequent punt. It took 10-15 minutes for the referees to determine that an illegal block in the back by Wake Forest gave FSU the first down their offensive team couldn't produce.

The 'Noles were called for illegal procedure on their first punt and had to assess a five-yard penalty and repeat the fourth down. They punted a second time, and Wake Forest was called for an illegal block in the back, a 10-yard penalty. Initially, the referees announced that the penalty would be assessed 10 yards from where the block occurred and Wake Forest would get possession.

However, events that happened shortly after the illegal block complicated the situation. The punt landed, bounced off the helmet of a Demon Deacon special teams player and was recovered by an FSU player. The referees made three conflicting announcements before they declared an official review of the play.

The referees came to the conclusion that even before the ball bounced off the helment of a Wake Forest player, it had grazed an FSU player, effectively making the ball dead at the point he touched the ball. Subsequently, Florida State was given the option to accept the 10-yard penalty. They did accept, and it gave them a first down — the 'Noles went back to work on offense after all that. Fittingly, Florida State went three-and-out and punted the ball to about the same spot their original punt had landed.

Tell me if you've seen anything more ridiculous — the officials should have gone to instant replay right from the start.

Rhode Island Preview

2007-10-09T16:21:00.001-07:00

Football practice was very animated today, as JMU offensive coordinator Jeff Durden was cheering for the defensive unit during drills. It seems unusual to me that an offensive coach would cheer for the defense.

James Madison relied on its defense to clinch a victory last week at Northeastern, when senior strong safety Nick Adams caught his second interception of the season with 36 seconds left in the game to halt a Northeastern drive into Madison territory. However, the Dukes were disappointed with their performance. Northeastern accumulated 207 rushing yards in the game, the highest total allowed by Madison's defense all season. The previous high was against VMI on Sept. 15, when JMU allowed 151 yards rushing.

Madison's defensive unit must step up Saturday against the wishbone attack that the University of Rhode Island employs. URI's wishbone is well suited for quarterback option plays and resembles the offensive scheme VMI runs.

“The fact that we have some practice time against it I think helps,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “But it’s a double-edged sword, because [Rhode Island] has seen how we line up against it."

Expect Rhode Island to be more effective than the Keydets were with their rushing attack. In URI's last game on Sept. 29, junior quarterback Derek Cassidy led the team with 22 rushes for 119 yards, and the Rams also had two running backs with over 100 yards rushing. JMU has the fourth-ranked rushing defense in the Colonial Athletic Association through six games — we'll see where they stand after Saturday.

JMU senior defensive tackle John Baranowsky assessed last week's performance and said, "We just didn't fly to the ball as much — people were doing their jobs, it's just you need all 11 guys running. There was a little bit of lackluster effort there, and that's gonna get cleared up real fast."

If Madison can contain Rhode Island's multi-faceted rushing attack, the Dukes will certainly put themselves in a position to win. URI has the 11th-ranked pass offense in the CAA, and without a successful running game the Rams should struggle to put up points.

South Division Leaders

2007-10-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

JMU won 21-14 over Northeastern on Saturday in the lowest scoring Colonial Athletic Association football game of week six. With the win, the Dukes (5-1 overall, 3-0 in the conference) ascend to first place in the CAA South Division, while Delaware fell to second place with a 35-30 loss at New Hampshire.

Northeastern ran 83 plays to Madison's 52, a week after Villanova only had 48 plays to JMU's 82. The most plays Madison had allowed until Saturday's game was against New Hampshire on Sept. 8, when the Wilcats ran 72 plays to Madison's 75.

JMU coach Mickey Matthews explained the discrepancy and said, "[Northeastern's] best defense was their offense. They just kept the ball away from us — we had three possessions in the first half, and we scored two of 'em. We take the second half kickoff, go down and score to get the lead, and then from that period on offensively we didn't play very well."

Madison's defense struggled to contain Northeastern running back Maurice Murray, who rushed 32 times for 184 yards, an average of 5.7 yards per carry. The 230-pound senior was unlike any running back the Dukes practice against.

"We don't really have any big backs; the biggest back we have is Rodney [Landers], and he weighs 220 pounds," Matthews said. "In our scrimmages, we never tackle a big back, so I thought that really surprised us."

It's just a little bit ironic that Matthews considers his quarterback to be Madison's biggest running back. However, it's true — none of Madison's running backs are listed at more than 205 pounds. And after all, Landers does lead JMU with 90 rushing attempts for 512 yards. That ties him with University of Rhode Island running back Joe Casey for sixth place in the conference. More on that later.

Northeastern Preview

2007-10-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Just talked with Rocky Hager, head coach of the Northeastern football team. Entering Saturday's game, the Huskies are 1-3 overall, 0-1 in the CAA. Northeastern had a bye and didn't play Saturday — that might help them with some injuries.

Coach Hager offered his perspective and said, "With the Football Championship Subdivision, there are some inherent challenges that we all face because of limitations in scholarships. When you get a period of time with which you can give certain folks an opportunity to rest and recuperate, thats a bonus."

Scholarships aren't the only resource FCS schools have less of than their Football Bowl Subdivision counterparts. Low attendance and modest stadiums are an issue as well, and Northeastern's Parsons Field highlights this topic of debate. Average home attendance for the Huskies this season is 2,689 in two games at Brookline, Mass.

The quality of their facilities reflects their attendance, which is the lowest in the CAA. However, JMU coach Mickey Matthews emphasized the importance of not underestimating a team because of their facilities.

"Anytime you visit with any of the coaches in the CAA, they always talk about [how] Northeastern has the biggest home field advantage in the league." Matthews said. "It's such a shock when kids go in there ... you have such a letdown, and you really have to guard against that."

JMU stands second in the CAA South Division (4-1 overall, 2-0 CAA), and travels over 550 miles to Northeastern Saturday. The Huskies will try to contain the ever-improving JMU quarterback Rodney Landers, who was named CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week for producing 370 yards of total offense against Villanova. He has passed for more than 240 yards in both of his first two CAA games, and hasn't passed for more than 163 yards against either of Madison's three other opponents.

Senior tailback Eugene Holloman is expected to sit out the remainder of the season after his arthroscopic knee surgery, and his absence has translated to less big play potential for JMU. Senior tailback Antoinne Bolton provides leadership for the Dukes, and the next three running backs on the depth chart are redshirt freshmen Jamal Sullivan and Griff Yancey, and sophomore Reggie Hicks.

"I was surprised when I saw the yards after the game, because other than the reverse we didn't really have a big play," Matthews said. "When your home run threat's over there on crutches, that's not gonna go away all year."

Madison produced 507 yards of total offense against Villanova, and had more receiving yards than rushing yards for the first time this season. With 300 passing yards and 207 rushing yards, the Dukes utilized short screen passes to exploit the bunched-in Villanova defensive front. At this point, opposing teams must pick their poison: focus on Rodney Landers the rushing threat, or focus on his accuracy through the air.

Weekend Preview

2007-09-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, and that means JMU sports are busy. The 7-1 women's soccer team has a home game at 7 p.m. against Georgia State. It's their first Colonial Athletic Association game of the season, and they play their second CAA game against UNC-Wilmington Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Madison field hockey team travels to Philadelphia for its third CAA game. The Dukes play against Drexel today, and move to Hempstead, N.Y. for their fourth CAA game Sunday against Hofstra. JMU is ranked seventh nationally, and has sole possession of first place in the conference standings at 2-0.

JMU volleyball has won seven out of its last eight matches and looks to extend a three-game winning streak today. The Dukes play their second and third CAA matches this weekend at home, starting with a 7 p.m. match against Towson at Sinclair Gymnasium (located in Godwin Hall). Sunday brings Delaware to Sinclair Gymnasium in another 7 p.m. match. Madison is 9-5 overall, and currently tied with Delaware and Hofstra for first in the conference at 1-0 in CAA play.

Women's cross country competes in the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. today, an event they tied for 11th last year in a 35-team field. Reigning CAA champion and senior Dena Spickard finished 10th individually in the race in 2006, and leads a young JMU squad. Freshmen and sophomores make up 17 members of this year’s team, while there are only seven juniors and seniors combined. The Paul Short is one of four races left before the CAA Championships take place Friday, Oct. 26.

The JMU men's tennis team competes in the Virginia Open Friday through Saturday. Two weeks ago, the Dukes compiled a score of 2-11 in the UVA Fall Classic. The Virginia Open is Madison's second tournament of the season, and also their second trip to Charlottesville. Eleven teams are competing in the tournament this weekend, including CAA foes George Mason, Virginia Commonwealth, and William & Mary.

The Madison football team plays its second conference game Saturday against a surging Villanova squad. The Wildcats have won five straight CAA games dating back to a victory at William & Mary on October 28, 2006. Both JMU and Villanova are riding three-game winning streaks, and the only loss for each squad was to an ACC opponent in week 1 (Sept. 1). The Dukes lost at North Carolina 37-14, and the Wildcats lost at Maryland 31-14.

Last year, Villanova handed then fourth-ranked JMU its first CAA loss by one point (21-20), and broke a seven-game Madison winning streak. The Dukes went on to thrash Towson 38-3 in their last regular season game, but the loss to Villanova cost them a top-four seed in the 16-team NCAA playoffs and a home playoff game. Instead, the sixth-ranked Dukes traveled to fifth-ranked Youngstown State and lost in a controversial match-up 35-31.

However, Saturday's game is much more than a grudge match; a win would give Madison sole possession of second place in the CAA South Division. JMU is tied with Villanova in the division at 3-1 overall, 1-0 conference. After they play Villanova, Madison faces two teams with a combined one win (through four games) when they play at Northeastern on Nov. 6 and at Rhode Island on Nov. 13. Villanova will look to play spoiler once again during JMU's Family Weekend, as both teams chase undefeated Delaware in the CAA South Division.