Season hinges on development

Coach hopes veterans will give leadership to talented freshmen

Patience has taken on a whole new meaning for coach Kenny Brooks.

Entering his first full season as the women's basketball coach, Brooks does not have the luxury of relying on a group of savvy veterans — Jess Cichowicz ('03), Nadine Morgan ('03) and Shanna Price ('03) all graduated. The Dukes also lost a fourth starter in Lynn Liburd, who left school to return home for personal reasons.

Instead, coach Brooks must rely on four returning players, six freshmen and a player who missed all of last season with a serious knee injury.

"It's almost like a whole overhaul," coach Brooks said. "I've had to be a lot more patient than I anticipated just so we can teach fundamentals and philosophy and the way we want things done. It's taken a bit longer than I expected."

Through it all, coach Brooks said he has remained positive. "It's a whole new look, but we're excited," he said. "Some people say it's a rebuilding year — I look at it as a reloading year."

With half the team never having played a regular season collegiate game, coach Brooks said this season will be a great learning experience for his younger players, and a great step in building the program under his wings.

"I think for building the program, this is going to be a fantastic year because these freshmen are going to have to learn by throwing them to the wolves," coach Brooks said. "But, at the same time, it's going to be very exciting because the quicker they learn, the better off the program is going to be in the future. You also have to be excited about the fact that we will be returning the same team [next year], with the exception of [red-shirt senior guard] Jody LeRose, and adding a few recruits. It has to bode well for your program, but, for instant success, I don't know if this is the exact formula."

JMU's success and development could hinge on how much tutelage the returning players provide. LeRose and junior center Krystal Brooks hopefully will fill that roll, according to coach Brooks. LeRose, the lone senior, missed two seasons with back surgery before returning last season to score 8.8 points a game. She was able to regain a fourth year of eligibility, something coach Brooks said was important for the team.

"It was huge getting her back because you just don't understand the experience until you don't have it out there on the floor," coach Brooks said of LeRose.

However, being a leader is a much different role for LeRose.

"I've never been a real vocal person," she said. "It's been a huge change, but I like it and it's a challenge for me. Hopefully I'll be able to fill the shoes of what Shanna, Nadine and Jess did last year."

Coach Brooks agreed. "It's a new role for Jody because she is the kind of player that just fits in and never was a vocal leader, and never had to stand in the forefront," he said. "But, she's going to have to take on that role this year, and she's doing a good job so far."

Brooks said she was excited to become a leader this season. "Last year, I was a starter, and I was only a sophomore, but we had all of those seniors," Brooks said. "There were times where I would try to speak up, but this year I will be able to and show my talent and hopefully bring out other teammates' talents. I look forward to setting an example and being a leader."

In the post
For the Dukes, with a new look comes a new strategy — an emphasis on the inside game.

"I'm going to expect a lot more of a presence than last year," coach Brooks said. "We were a guard-oriented team with a few good post games sprinkled in there. Krystal had a couple of good games. We just need more consistency."

At 6 feet 3 inches, Brooks will be counted on heavily to provide inside scoring, as well as rebounding. Last season, she averaged 7.4 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game. Those numbers need to increase, according to coach Brooks, and Brooks said she has worked hard in the offseason to improve. If JMU's preseason exhibition game against WBC Ilirija-Slovenia is any indication, Brooks has done that. In that game, she scored 17 points and blocked two shots.

The Dukes also return another experienced player in the post. Sophomore center Denae Dobbins, at 6 feet 5 inches, provides another force in the paint. While she only averaged about 2 points and 2.6 rebounds a game, Dobbins has the ability to alter or block opponents' shots. Last year, Dobbins recorded 22 blocks, earning her a place on the conference all-rookie team. If she accomplishes the same feat, she would move herself into the top 10 in team history only in two seasons. However, Dobbins will begin the year on the bench, recovering from a stress fracture in her foot.

One freshman who has been an instant impact is 6-foot-2-inch forward Meredith Alexis. A 2003 McDonald's All-America honorable mention, Alexis averaged 34.1 points per game for Bishop Hoban High School in Hanover Township, Pa., last season. In JMU's exhibition with WBC Ilirija-Slovenia, Alexis racked up 17 points and nine rebounds.

Coach Brooks said Alexis is a talented freshman who scored most of her points in high school because of her "pure athleticism." However, coach Brooks said, "I think she is going to be a very good player for us here in the future."

The Dukes also will await the full return of red-shirt junior forward Mindy Sywassink, who missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and meniscus. Sywassink played 10 minutes in the Dukes' exhibition game, but is not back at full strength yet.

"It doesn't hurt anymore," Sywassink said of her knee. "That's a big thing. Right now I'm just trying to get back in shape and get my speed and endurance back to be an asset to the team."

Sophomore forward Jess Whitaker will not join the team until second semester at the earliest, according to coach Brooks. Whitaker had to leave school for the semester for medical reasons.

Guard play
With Cichowicz gone, the Dukes will rely on two freshmen to run the point guard position — Shameena Felix and Andrea Benvenuto. Felix started in the exhibition game, but Benvenuto played more minutes. The two will share the duties to start the season. Felix provides the Dukes with quickness — something the team will need on defense. Benvenuto, who handed out five assists in the exhibition, is a true point guard, according to coach Brooks.

At shooting guard, LeRose will provide a 3-point threat on the perimeter that the Dukes desperately need, according to coach Brooks. However, LeRose will need the inside game to manufacture points in order to giver her open looks outside.

Red-shirt junior guard Mary Beth Culbertson will see time at shooting guard, as well as on the wing. Culbertson saw little playing time during the regular season last year, but came off the bench to help the Dukes down the stretch.

"I think Mary Beth was a wild card for us last year and came on toward the end of the season, played well and had some big games," coach Brooks said. "She is capable of having games like that — she is just going to have to be more consistent."

On the wings, the Dukes have a handfull of freshmen guards who will contribute. Leslie Dickinson, Shirley McCall and LeVonne Thomas should add some scoring into the mix, as well as rebounding. Dickinson scored 9 points in JMU's exhibition game, and McCall grabbed nine rebounds.

"You look at our team on paper, and they are very talented freshmen," coach Brooks said. "It's just that they have to learn to pick up the intensity because last year, they were playing girls' basketball and this year, they are playing women's basketball. They are going to have to pick the intensity up and be more physical."

With not a lot of experience at the guard position, coach Brooks just expects them to be consistent.

"That's the only thing I can expect from them right now," coach Brooks said. "Jody is going to have to lead that group and lead by example because she has been there and she has done that. Mary Beth, as well, is going to have to lead."

Competing in the conference
The Dukes were picked to finish fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll by other CAA coaches. However, coach Brooks said he does not take a lot of stock in preseason polls.

"If you ask me after a bad practice, I probably wouldn't say that high," he said. "But if I had to say something, the fact that they picked us that high after losing as much as we lost [last year] shows you that the other coaches have a lot of respect for the young players we brought in. Anytime you lose Shanna, Nadine and Jess off one team and with only four people returning, I thought it was actually higher than what they would have picked us."

Despite the roster overhaul, coach Brooks said the goal is the same — win the conference title.

"Can we do it? I think it's possible," he said. "We just have to gel really early, and the younger players are going to have to grow up in a hurry, and our older players are going to have to step up and play roles that they haven't had to play in the past."

LeRose said the Dukes have the potential to be a factor in the league.

"I heard someone say that we're one of the sleeper teams in the CAA," she said. "I think we have a lot of talent and I think we'll surprise a lot of people this year."

JMU will get that chance when it opens the season at home against Jacksonville State University Nov. 23.