RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison wasn’t likely to surprise too many people at the CAA Tournament. Talented though they are, the feeling among many was that the Dukes could just as easily win the tournament as they could lose on Friday night. Sure enough, one of those results came as they were eliminated on Friday night by William & Mary.
There were some high expectations for this team, and to a degree they were understandable. The Dukes brought back the conference’s best post player in Denzel Bowles and also got Devon Moore and Andrey Semenov back after they had to redshirt last season. Add in a few others who were young last year, as well as newcomers that would raise the talent level like Akron transfer Humpty Hitchens and Cincinnati State transfer Rayshawn Goins, and you can see why some thought this team could contend if it all came together. But head coach Matt Brady knows one reason why it was hardly a given that this team would be that good.
“I don’t know where the expectations come from,” said the third-year head coach. “I never said we were going to be great. I recognize we have a talented group, but we’re a young team in so many respects.”
Brady said he felt the team lost its fair share of games because of their immaturity, and it showed up at times on Friday night. This team also had the challenge of integrating the aforementioned transfers into the lineup, which doesn’t come easy no matter how talented they are or how great their character may be.
The Dukes got off to a good start, as they lost just twice in non-conference play. One loss came at Kansas State, which is hardly a bad loss, and the other was at Marshall. They lost their CAA opener at Georgia State in the midst of it, and while it surprised those who had this team as a contender for the top four spots in the conference, it was still a road game.
James Madison also started well in CAA play, but in retrospect they probably benefited in part from having four of their first five and six of the first nine in January at home. They won five in a row, then lost three straight and started February by losing three of four.
With that, as well as the personnel, the Dukes were a dangerous team, but also one that could go down quickly. In losing to William & Mary, the defense, at times a strong point and always something Brady emphasizes, let them down in a couple of ways. They let the Tribe get to the foul line 36 times (the Dukes only got there 17 times) and were victimized constantly by Quinn McDowell, who set a tournament record with 35 points on 10-12 shooting in a tremendous ballgame. McDowell scored 15 of his points in the final 10:01 of the game.
Brady was understandably optimistic about where the program is headed. While the Dukes will lose their best player in Denzel Bowles, they lose only one other player and bring everyone else back. They aren’t lacking talent, and should be a more mature team next season. The younger players may also get another chance to grow this season, as the Dukes’ 20-11 mark could get them into a postseason tournament. The NIT seems unlikely, especially as more regular season conference champions go down and thus snag NIT bids, but the CBI or CIT could come calling.
“I’m excited about where the program is headed,” Brady said. “We love where it’s going.”
