(10-29-2022 04:16 PM)Dukes94 Wrote:  This was always the case back in the day when JMU was a solid mid-major. I think we played Tech once or twice early in Lefty’s tenure and went 1-1.

Yep, 89-90 and 90-91 seasons... we won in 89-90 just a few games after the King Rice debacle

Richmond Times says we lost to Richmond by 11 in the scrimmage. Per John O’Connor their beat writer. I find that a little disappointing since they lost a ton and we have a bunch of experience.

(10-30-2022 06:19 PM)Dukesfan71 Wrote:  Richmond Times says we lost to Richmond by 11 in the scrimmage. Per John O’Connor their beat writer. I find that a little disappointing since they lost a ton and we have a bunch of experience.

I'm disappointed too. Sure it would nice to have a win, but I'm guessing since we have MANY possible lineup combinations, Byington might still be experimenting to see what works. There are many times when a team has a clear starting 5 and plays them accordingly. I think ours is still a work in progress because we have so many options. I felt last season (when everyone was still healthy) that we had much less drop off than other teams when we went to our bench. Really came at our opponents in waves. Fortunately, we have so many cupcakes on the early schedule to fine tune our rotation.

Coach says that he may not have an established starting 5 this year. That concerns me some because you have to make choices on who the best players are and give them more playing time if you expect to max wins. He really only had to evaluate the 2 transfers and 1 big Freshman (don’t think the other 2 Freshmen will earn PT based on his comments). All the others he has had for 2 or 3 seasons.

Unless something weird happens, we should see the same pressing defense from last year and add 2 more bigs who hopefully can rebound and defend the paint. JMU was woeful in those 2 areas last year.

As for the scheduling, the only Virginia teams that were willing to play were UVA (already contracted for an away game), Hampton, and Liberty who couldn’t agree on a date. Not sure if all CAA teams were contacted, but that is the next question. Seems like his ties to UNCW and Charleston would bear fruit, but it didn’t.

Thinking about the 2023-2024 schedule , there aren’t any great return games at JMU.
Buffalo, Howard, and Coppin State. Yeesh
Getting back to a worthy home OOC schedule at the AUBC is going to take a much better effort than what was shown this year. Would be nice if JMU penciled in a series with UConn as part of the home-away agreement for football.

(10-30-2022 06:19 PM)Dukesfan71 Wrote:  Richmond Times says we lost to Richmond by 11 in the scrimmage. Per John O’Connor their beat writer. I find that a little disappointing since they lost a ton and we have a bunch of experience.

I put zero weight on this because Byington wasn't trying to beat RU. He was getting a look at his players and how they respond in certain situations. This stuff is basically preseason football. Hell, it's split-squad games in spring training.

Just an FYI, Richmond add three impactful transfers to its roster with mid-major guys from Wofford, the Citadel and Lafayette. I read one A-10 preview with them smack in the middle, saying it wouldn't surprise them if they finished in top 4 or 5 because of those transfers. That notwithstanding, it is a barometer of where JMU is right now and disappointing given how experienced the team is. If you listen to the Purple and Bold podcast, Shane Mettlen thinks highly of freshman Brycen Blaine, saying he's always shown well in practices he's attended. That's a player to keep an eye on going forward.

(10-30-2022 09:12 PM)Dukes94 Wrote:  

(10-30-2022 06:19 PM)Dukesfan71 Wrote:  Richmond Times says we lost to Richmond by 11 in the scrimmage. Per John O’Connor their beat writer. I find that a little disappointing since they lost a ton and we have a bunch of experience.

I put zero weight on this because Byington wasn't trying to beat RU. He was getting a look at his players and how they respond in certain situations. This stuff is basically preseason football. Hell, it's split-squad games in spring training.

Agree. I wouldn't put W/Ls in scrimmages as any indication for what this season will or won't be.
No idea who was/wasn't playing, what they were/weren't working on, etc. Perhaps they put players in situations to see how they react or perhaps not.
Scrimmages don't count for a reason.
I remember hearing about positive results from scrimmages in years we would rather forget.

(10-31-2022 10:18 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(10-30-2022 09:12 PM)Dukes94 Wrote:  

(10-30-2022 06:19 PM)Dukesfan71 Wrote:  Richmond Times says we lost to Richmond by 11 in the scrimmage. Per John O’Connor their beat writer. I find that a little disappointing since they lost a ton and we have a bunch of experience.

I put zero weight on this because Byington wasn't trying to beat RU. He was getting a look at his players and how they respond in certain situations. This stuff is basically preseason football. Hell, it's split-squad games in spring training.

Agree. I wouldn't put W/Ls in scrimmages as any indication for what this season will or won't be.
No idea who was/wasn't playing, what they were/weren't working on, etc. Perhaps they put players in situations to see how they react or perhaps not.
Scrimmages don't count for a reason.
I remember hearing about positive results from scrimmages in years we would rather forget.

Pre-season scrimmages mean absolutely nothing. They should help the coaches determine what adjustments may be needed, what player combos work, etc.

I am looking forward to this year and I think we have a chance to be really, really good.

while i dont want to put too much stock in a scrimmage, i do want JMU to win at everything ever, so i am sad we didnt beat poormond.

The most interesting thing is that we couldn’t get a game with Richmond, but could get a scrimmage. Something smells like fish

(10-31-2022 11:25 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  The most interesting thing is that we couldn’t get a game with Richmond, but could get a scrimmage. Something smells like fish

If the last few posts have taught anything, it's this:
scrimmages are not games.

If there's any weight to the A-10 saying no teams scheduling the Sun Belt, I doubt they are telling teams they cannot play scrimmages with Sun Belt teams. Hence why we got a scrimmage with Richmond and not a game.
Or.... there was a scheduling conflict. Or... they couldn't agree to terms. Or.... fill in the blank.

Scheduling a regular season game is not even in the same hemisphere as scheduling a scrimmage.

The answer is, Richmond refused to play JMU. The only teams in Virginia that said yes were Hampton, UVA (return game), and Liberty. The other 11 Virginia teams said no.

(10-31-2022 11:25 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  The most interesting thing is that we couldn’t get a game with Richmond, but could get a scrimmage. Something smells like fish

More like chicken.

Fishy chicken?

Like Long John Silvers. Everything is cooked in the same 2 year old grease and tastes the same.

(10-31-2022 06:04 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Fishy chicken?

Like Long John Silvers. Everything is cooked in the same 2 year old grease and tastes the same.

I kind of like their chicken planks.
And their hush puppies are pretty damn good.

Long John Silvers is better when its an old dirty restaurant with food made by employees that don't use gloves.

(11-01-2022 09:05 AM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  an old dirty restaurant with food made by employees that don't use gloves.

What is D-Hall circa 1992, Alex?

(11-01-2022 09:35 AM)Dukes94 Wrote:  

(11-01-2022 09:05 AM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  an old dirty restaurant with food made by employees that don't use gloves.

What is D-Hall circa 1992, Alex?

That was still at thing well after '92!

(11-01-2022 09:44 AM)PolishFalconDuke Wrote:  

(11-01-2022 09:35 AM)Dukes94 Wrote:  

(11-01-2022 09:05 AM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  an old dirty restaurant with food made by employees that don't use gloves.

What is D-Hall circa 1992, Alex?

That was still at thing well after '92!

....and well before!