Downtown showdown
Posey’s performance off the bench provides spark for the Dukes
By Caroline Morris, staff writer
Posted on November 30, 2006

If you attended a JMU men’s basketball game last year, you may not have seen much of Joe Posey. This year, it’s an entirely different scene in the Colonial Athletic Association and a whole new ball game for Posey.

“I averaged maybe three minutes last year,” the sophomore shooting guard said. “My work ethic is a little bit different and my relationship with the coaches is a lot different, so I would say that I’m in a better place where I can be able to do a little bit more.”

Posey is now averaging 33 minutes a game off the bench — more than any other player on the team. He’s also making that time count, as he’s averaging 57 percent from the floor and leading the team from 3-point range, making 59 percent of his shots.

“There is no sixth man award in the CAA like there is in the NBA, but in that league they don’t give a third, fourth or fifth-man award,” JMU coach Dean Keener said. “There’s real value in having somebody come off the bench that can give you a spark at either or both ends. Joe’s playing starter minutes. He’s getting starter shots.”

Tuesday night, Posey contributed 17 points in 29 minutes to the Dukes’ effort against Eastern Kentucky. All of his points came in the second half, including five 3-pointers — the third time he’s hit that many this season.

“I think he found several of his looks in transition defense where we just didn’t locate him quickly enough,” Eastern Kentucky coach Jeff Neubauer said. “Part of that is that they’re just so fast pushing the ball down the court. Curtis is so fast getting it down on you that there’s no time to match up. That’s where he got a few of his looks.”

Posey also makes sure his teammates get plenty of looks. He had three assists for the fourth time this season against EKU. But as happy as everyone else is with Posey’s performance, he isn’t always satisfied. He wants to be known for being as big a threat on defense as he is on offense.

“I’m my own worst critic,” Posey said. “I feel like, as a player, I need to get better on defense. Those are the things I’m concentrating on. Those are the things that are going to win the game.”

Posey has worked hard to try to evolve into a complete player. He says he spends extra time running, shooting jumpers and doing extra workouts in the morning with the trainer.

“I haven’t seen everybody, but Joe right now is clearly the best shooter in the CAA statistically,” Keener said. “That speaks for itself. He had the most attempts tonight, but credit him for not taking any bad shots. He really hasn’t taken any bad shots in the first five games. We’ve got to continue to find ways to get him opportunities from both three and really different places on the court.”