Huskies shoot down Madison
Opening round loss in CAA tourney bounces JMU
Posted on March 8, 2008
RICHMOND - Coach Dean Keener’s stay at James Madison expired Friday in Richmond, but he was still focused on the future of the program.
“We didn’t accomplish everything we wanted to this year, but I think that there’s been some foundation put in place,” Keener said. “And I think these guys recognize that, so they can move forward in a positive manner and have a real chance for success in the future.”
That future will involve a coach to be determined, as Keener announced his resignation Feb. 22, effective at the end of the season. For the No. 11 seed Dukes, that time has come after finding themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard against No. 6 seed Northeastern.
Madison exited the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship tournament in Friday’s last game, losing 73-55 to Northeastern after struggling with fouls and falling victim to clutch shooting by unforeseen sharpshooters.
Northeastern freshman guard Chaisson Allen nailed a 3-pointer after JMU came within three points of the Huskies’ lead in the second half, and that marked the end of Madison’s run. The dagger shot came from an unexpected culprit, though. Allen was voted to the CAA All-Rookie Team, but he came into the game averaging only 22 percent from beyond-the-arc.
Huskies coach Bill Coen called a timeout when JMU brought the score to 49-46 in Northeastern’s favor, and after Allen’s 3-pointer sophomore guard Baptiste Bataille hit another 3-pointer on NU’s next possession to give the Huskies a 55-46 advantage with under nine minutes remaining.
About a minute later, JMU junior forward Juwann James fouled out on a charging call after playing only 21 minutes and notching just seven points and one rebound. After the game he reflected on the magnitude of the loss of his coach.
“That’s like losing a family member,” James said. “He’s been my coach for three years. He’s the guy who recruited me and taught me what it was to be a young man.”
James wasn’t the Dukes’ only player who struggled with fouls, as junior guard Abdulai Jalloh, freshman guard Heiden Ratner, and senior forward Terrance Carter each had three fouls with 13 minutes left in the game.
Carter finished with 15 points and six rebounds in his last game at JMU, while Jalloh contributed 13 points and three rebounds. Sophomore point guard Pierre Curtis had 12 points, three rebounds and four assists.
Madison went into halftime down 38-25 after being down just 21-20 with 5:55 remaining in the period. Northeastern struggled to score early in the second half until Allen triggered a response to JMU’s surge, and Coen attributed that run to a smaller lineup.
“We had a couple of possessions where we got deep into the shot clock and tried to force the ball toward the basket without positive results,” Coen said. “Then we came back with that smaller lineup and luckily [Allen] hit a three and Baptiste [did too]. Back-to-back threes kind of opened the game back up for us.”
But Northeastern 3-pointers closed a chapter in Dean Keener’s career, a future he won’t dwell on after Madison’s loss. He just hopes the program continues to move in the right direction.
