Young Dukes must grow up fast
Team’s core made up of freshmen and sophomores
By Tim Chapman, contributing writer
Posted on October 26, 2006

Shouts of “go up strong” and “take care of the ball” can be heard echoing through the halls of the Convocation Center. It is the voices of third-year coach Dean Keener and his assistants, giving their young JMU men’s basketball team a steady combination of criticism and encouragement.

With the additions of five freshmen and three transfers, the staff hopes to improve on a 5-23 season that saw the Dukes finish at the bottom of the Colonial Athletic Association with only two conference victories. Keener is looking to his five returning sophomores and junior center Gabriel Chami to be leaders for each other and the unfamiliar faces.

“If you’re in coaching long enough, you’ll have young teams like this,” Keener said. “It places a little more pressure for the guys to mature quicker.”

One returning player Madison will need to be a leader on and off the court is sophomore forward Juwann James. As the CAA Rookie of the Year, Virginia’s top rookie, and Freshman All-America (Collegeinsider.com), James led the team in scoring (12.7) and rebounding (7.1). Such accolades make James a marked man and he understands the importance of being able to handle the pressure and double-teams.

“I’d expect people to know more about me, but I went to camps and did a lot of shooting drills to improve,” James said. “I’m going to continue working on reading defenses and know my teammates will help with what I can’t see.”

JMU’s transfers include junior forward Terrence Carter from Southeastern Community College in Iowa, Dazzmond Thornton from Texas Tech and Abdulai Jalloh from St. Joseph’s. Carter is the only one eligible this season, and his experience will be vital for the young squad. Jalloh was a second team All-A-10 selection last year, leading the Hawks in scoring (15 ppg).

“It’s a little early to tell who will make an immediate impact,” Keener said. “But I like Terrence’s JUCO experience and he has a very mature and savvy game.”

Finding the starting five is an on-going process, but the freshman making an early impression is Pierre Curtis. Curtis, a guard from Denver, Colo., is sure to be a consideration as the coaches tweak the lineup.

“Pierre is a real mature player and understands the system,” sophomore guard Kyle Swanston said.

Understanding the system is top priority for the Dukes if they are going to bounce back from a five-win season.

The CAA has grown tougher in recent years and last year received two NCAA bids for the first time. George Mason shocked the country by advancing to the Final Four and the conference finished with four 24-plus win teams, more than any other conference.

“Winning starts with defense,” James said. “We have the weapons to score, but we need to communicate better and trust our coaching staff to lead us on and off the court.”

The season opens Nov.11 at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons finished last in the Atlantic Coast Conference and also will be looking to turn things around. Other notable matchups include Georgetown University (Dec. 5) and the conference opener against the University of Delaware (Jan. 3).