(03-20-2020 09:34 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Just keep in mind-No matter who the hire was there was always going to be someone who didn’t have all great things to say about them. At least he has a track record and is more
Proven as a head coach ( more than any of our last hires post Lefty have been). The Ga Southern poster said after 7 years and 20 win seasons he couldn’t get over the jump- hate to make an excuse but who’s to say this year wouldn’t have been the year. His team was in the semi- finals of the Sun Belt before the season was cancelled and then who knows maybe he’s out of our league.

(03-20-2020 06:48 PM)Duke It Out Wrote:  

(03-20-2020 02:31 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(03-20-2020 02:15 PM)Duke It Out Wrote:  Byington's alma mater is UNCW. Do we know if he interviewed for that job?

No reports of him interviewing at UNCW, and it was rumored we never really had much interest in hiring him, for whatever reason.

Nation, were UNCW fans hoping that Byington would be an option for the job?

(03-20-2020 08:05 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  Crazy thought I realize, but play along...

...I know Bobby Cremins. And, I'm proud to say he knows me. Great guy. Hell of a coach. Just for me and not expecting anybody else to agree or care, but knowing he comes from Bobby's coaching tree does my heart good.

Now, the crazy thought...

...Byington is tied to Cremins. Bobby still is very close to GT. GT has 3 guys who have entered the transfer portal. One is 6'9" power forward, Evan Cole, who signed with UNCW out of HS but got out of his LOI and went to GT when Keatts decided to head to NC State. Give him a call. He'd be an immediate difference maker for the JMU program. Will have 1 year of eligibility left. He may have his eyes set for bigger programs, but he's leaving GT in hopes of being a starter and 35 mpg kind of guy.

The other 2 guys in the portal from GT are Asanti Price, 6'3" shooting guard, who was a freshman this past season and Kristan Sjolund, 6'8" stretch 4, who redshirted this past season and will also have 3 years of eligibility remaining. I doubt any of these are legit options, but wouldn't mind seeing Byington attract a guy or two out of the transfer portal with any ties he might have.

(03-20-2020 08:12 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-20-2020 08:01 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(03-20-2020 08:00 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(03-20-2020 06:56 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(03-20-2020 06:44 PM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  Please explain.

Ga southern might have been in worse shape than our program when he took over. He turned them around quickly in a very tough place to win. No ncaas since 1992 at Gsu. Wasn’t exactly a perennial ncaa team there.

His teams routinely are near top in scoring in ncaas. He will bring an exciting style. For real though. Not just talk like with rowe. He’s shown it already.

He had recruited top players. And to a place with no history and a worse arena than the convo.

Their fans seem disappointed he’s leaving. That’s a good sign. Remember Marist couldn’t wait to be rid of Brady, that was a red flag.

Which candidate out there was better? Mike jones? You guys ever wonder why jones hasn’t gotten a better head gig than Radford ? He’s 54 years old now, and the Radford gig is where he’s gone so far. I have no idea why. Never met the guy or paid much attention, but that to me is a concern.

I’m not sure where you came up with that idea about MB. Marist wanted to “be rid of Brady” so much they sued JMU over his departure (and after Marist had just extended his contract.

Marist fans.

Prove it. I’m pretty aware of these things. I didn’t read any Marist fan expressing displeasure with MB other than he jilted them for more money and a better school/conference after renegotiating his contract and promising he was committed to Marist. That’s not fan displeasure over MB’s performance as a coach, indeed it’s the exact opposite.

(03-20-2020 10:34 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  

(03-20-2020 08:05 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  Crazy thought I realize, but play along...

...I know Bobby Cremins. And, I'm proud to say he knows me. Great guy. Hell of a coach. Just for me and not expecting anybody else to agree or care, but knowing he comes from Bobby's coaching tree does my heart good.

Now, the crazy thought...

...Byington is tied to Cremins. Bobby still is very close to GT. GT has 3 guys who have entered the transfer portal. One is 6'9" power forward, Evan Cole, who signed with UNCW out of HS but got out of his LOI and went to GT when Keatts decided to head to NC State. Give him a call. He'd be an immediate difference maker for the JMU program. Will have 1 year of eligibility left. He may have his eyes set for bigger programs, but he's leaving GT in hopes of being a starter and 35 mpg kind of guy.

The other 2 guys in the portal from GT are Asanti Price, 6'3" shooting guard, who was a freshman this past season and Kristan Sjolund, 6'8" stretch 4, who redshirted this past season and will also have 3 years of eligibility remaining. I doubt any of these are legit options, but wouldn't mind seeing Byington attract a guy or two out of the transfer portal with any ties he might have.

Unless we usher out a handful of Rowe's shooting guards that can't actually shoot, the only scholarship we have is from Pinkard's departure.

(03-21-2020 12:59 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  Just some observations on Byington.

1. A lot of his success was probably tied to Tookie Brown, a standout 5-11 guard that initially committed to Miss State. He last played in the Belgian league. Brown, if I'm recalling correctly, was mentioned in Bourne's release.
2. If you look at Kenpom, his best year was in top 105 or so and he has several top 150 finishes in quickly going thru it. Year Brady was fired JMU was in top 90 or so.
3. GA Southern is known more for football, of course, but they do have 24,000 students approximately.
4. Sun Belt this past year was a couple of notches above the CAA.
5. If you look at the VC site, his most recent team was filled with JUCOs. Geographically most of his roster comes from the SE. Byington is going to have to establish recruiting ties to the mid Atlantic.
6. Shooting percentages for his most recent team reminded me of JMU, unfortunately. Poor at all three levels.
7. Hire is based on his growth and potential going forward, as things seemed to have stalled out in Statesboro. Would have liked to have seen NCAA/NIT appearances.
8. Brady on paper certainly had a superior background coming in. I agree with Hart on that.
9. After the dismal basketball we just sat through (the worst I've ever seen), this guy is going to look like the Second Coming!

(03-20-2020 08:50 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  So I guess we have 6 years of Hart undercutting the new coach and hankering for Matt Brady to look forward to?

(03-21-2020 12:13 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  I told you guys you would be underwhelmed but you just kept living in dreamland with Pitino and JT III. There was no way JMU was making a splash hire. I am grateful they at least went the experienced head coach route.

I think a bunch of guys transfer. Lewis is dating Oppenheimer's daughter. Oppenheimer wanted the job. JMU passed on him. Lewis might leave with future father in law.

If Banks leaves, I am cool with it. He only shoots well when the game is already decided. He plays poor defense and disappears late in games.

If Wilson leaves, I don’t care either. He is one dimensional on offense and plays little defense.

Jacobs won’t leave. Mom and Dad are grads and live in Richmond. He is a good student and won’t be playing pro ball anywhere. He finishes his education at JMU.

Flowers will get run off due to inability to play due to health issues.

Will be interesting to see what happens but my money is on 2-4 transfers and guys taken out of the portal to take their spots.

I am okay with the hire. He was the top assistant at COC under Cremins. Has had success at a program known to stink at basketball. He is from Virginia and values defense. He was the Virginia state player of the year in high school. Had a successful college career in the CAA. While nothing on his resume jumps off the page at me, his experience seems to say solid coach who could take the next step in the right environment. This guy seems like he will fit well at JMU.

I have no confidence in this administrations ability to spot basketball coaching talent. I am pissed that they threw away four years of my basketball fandom by hiring an unqualified head coach in Lou Rowe. They should have kept Brady if Rowe was the best they could do and I love Rowe as a person.

I pray this guy can lift the program beyond what Brady could do. If he embraces Harrisonburg and makes JMU competitive again, people will buy tickets.