Dukes progressing, surpass 2006 win total
Young team shows promise for the future
By Tim Chapman, staff writer
Posted on January 25, 2007

Two straight wins may not exactly sound like progress, but for JMU men’s basketball coach Dean Keener, it’s close.

In Keener’s three seasons as JMU coach, the 43-year-old has never had a three-game winning streak. With a win at Northeastern, the Dukes could see that happen for the first time since February of the 2003-’04 season.

“It would be nice to continue to build on the momentum,” Keener said.  “We are still a work in progress and the kids know we haven’t arrived just yet.”

In the last two games, wins at home over Old Dominion on Jan. 17 and at Georgia State last Saturday, the Dukes have improved on the two things that have plagued them the most throughout the season: defense and rebounding.

While primarily playing an active 2-3 matchup zone, Madison (6-12 overall, 3-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association) was able to out-rebound its last two conference foes 73-45. The Dukes still rank last in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense, but have begun to limit second-chance points and held the Monarchs and Panthers to a combined 13 in that category.

“If you have players who fit the matchup, it works,” Keener said. “We’re mobile and have guys who can play all four positions on the outside of the zone.”

On the offensive end, Madison has found a new scoring option in junior forward Terrence Carter. The Southeastern Community College transfer scored career highs of 20 in each of the last two games, while ripping down 11 boards against ODU and nine at GSU. At 6-foot-5, Carter is undersized at the four position in the CAA and was having to alter his shots against taller defenders. His recent success has been a result of utilizing athleticism with shot fakes and offensive put-backs to the opposite side of the rim.

“Coach has been setting out challenges, like in the ODU game,” Carter said. “I’m just finally settling in and being comfortable.”

Carter’s newfound game has also helped open up the low post for sophomore forward and 2006 CAA Rookie of the Year Juwann James. Having another scorer down on the block keeps the double-teams away from James, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds against GSU.

“I’m still probably going to get doubled, but [Carter’s] just another offensive threat [opponents are] going to have to look for,” James said.

Saturday’s win marked the Dukes’ first win on the road this season and their third two-game win streak. The main difference in this latest run is that it was against two conference teams.

Heading into a winnable game in Boston against Northeastern last night, the Dukes looked to continue their surge in hopes of not only gaining more respect in the conference, but also bringing that respect home to the Convocation Center. On Saturday, they will host last year’s Cinderella Final Four team, George Mason.   

“To come home Saturday with a win, it will help attendance at the Convo, which will help the guys,” Keener said. “It’s all connected.”