Losing Neil is a HUGE loss to this program.

Happy for Coach Neil and wondering who takes his place. Will Kayla move up, or will someone else come in?

I doubt that Ksyusha will leave either, her major is International Business and she also seems to have found a home of sorts here. I could be wrong though. Tynes seems to want to stay too, but she's had so much of the injury bug these past two years.
The thing about "true" PGs is that they are few and far between and most of the ones in the portal are grad transfers. Look at Raoul's blog https://wbbblog.com/ if you don't believe me. Do we *really* want to go through that all over again? I also suspect that Jamia is not so much in the doghouse as potentially doing a lot of learning on the bench. That may be why she was doing some PG duty. You don't know (and neither do I, really, just guessing from what I have heard around and about) whether she is learning more about coaching, which is what she specifically said she wants to do.

You want a PG? Here's one for ya. Denim DeSheilds (Diamond's baby sister) is in the portal out of UAB. Betting she just might go to Tennessee though, since Diamond did. She's good. However, there are two from App State available since Angel Elderkin stepped down, both sophomores, Lexi Grant and Chaé Harris. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of them in purple. (Half her team has bailed since she announced her resignation.) I remember Harris being decent. There's an ankle-biter from Clemson, Nya Valentine, all of 5'3 but a Jr, so experienced. Or Laycee Drake from UMBC or Jala Bannerman from UMES, Masyn Marchbanks from Samford, or Nikola Zdenkova from Siena via the Czech Republic, or Samyha Suffren from VA Tech. All of these have a couple of years at least of eligibility. Oh, and if he wants to replace Bristow, Hennie Van Schaick is on the market out of Louisville....that would be a fair trade for Kiki, I would think.

(03-27-2024 01:40 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  Losing Neil is a HUGE loss to this program.

agree. I don't know anything but it sure felt like our conference championship last season was due in a big way to Neil joining the staff

(03-27-2024 09:11 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2024 01:40 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  Losing Neil is a HUGE loss to this program.

agree. I don't know anything but it sure felt like our conference championship last season was due in a big way to Neil joining the staff

Guess what, Steph is leaving us! Has shw graduated early, or will she graduate this summer? Anyone know?

That is a bit of a bummer. Would assume that she has graduated as she has made Deans/Presidents list multiple times the last few years. Her major, biophysical chemistry, takes a lot of work. Not knowing and just speculating here I think she might be leaving for a grad program as JMU does not have any grad programs in chemistry, I believe, except for education majors. If so that is a good move for her and I wish her the best and would like to offer her thanks for all she has done playing for the Dukes the last 4 years.

Brian

Yeah, I think this is an academic move and she’s keeping her basketball options open. Makes sense to me. Did she get recognized on senior night?

That is a bummer. Always liked having a local girl on the team that was a contributor. Best of luck to her wherever she lands.

Her announcement does say grad transfer.

(04-01-2024 12:19 PM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  

(03-27-2024 09:11 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2024 01:40 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  Losing Neil is a HUGE loss to this program.

agree. I don't know anything but it sure felt like our conference championship last season was due in a big way to Neil joining the staff

Guess what, Steph is leaving us! Has shw graduated early, or will she graduate this summer? Anyone know?

For those trying to piece these posts together and figure out:

(04-01-2024 02:24 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  That is a bit of a bummer. Would assume that she has graduated as she has made Deans?Presidents list multiple times the last few years. Her major, biophysical chemistry, takes a lot of work. Not knowing and just speculating here I think she might be leaving for a grad program as JMU does not have any grad programs in chemistry, I believe, except for education majors. If so that is a good move for her and I wish her the best and would like to offer her thanks for all she has done playing for the Dukes the last 4 years.

Brian

Not that big of a deal really and I think Coach O needs to have less players in his rotation. IMO he struggled with trying to find playing time for too many players this past season at times. I think some addition by subtraction could be good for Coach O and the program.

PS Not implying anything negative about those leaving, just fewer chess pieces might be good for Coach O

(04-02-2024 11:02 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 02:24 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  That is a bit of a bummer. Would assume that she has graduated as she has made Deans?Presidents list multiple times the last few years. Her major, biophysical chemistry, takes a lot of work. Not knowing and just speculating here I think she might be leaving for a grad program as JMU does not have any grad programs in chemistry, I believe, except for education majors. If so that is a good move for her and I wish her the best and would like to offer her thanks for all she has done playing for the Dukes the last 4 years.

Brian

Not that big of a deal really and I think Coach O needs to have less players in his rotation. IMO he struggled with trying to find playing time for too many players this past season at times. I think some addition by subtraction could be good for Coach O and the program.

PS Not implying anything negative about those leaving, just fewer chess pieces might be good for Coach O

I'm not sure that was the problem this year.
While I have criticized Coach O in the past, I really do appreciate his honesty. My big issue with this season was a common phrase he used "I don't know". As a coach I think it is up to him/her job to "know". I expect 'I don't know' as an answer early in the season. I think it took too long for this team to develop.
Regardless of how many players he plays, I think there needs to be more consistency. There were many times where the team had control of a game and made mistakes and let the other team back into it. Some of that should be on the coach, but the players also need to take responsibility for that as well.

FYI, Rayne Tucker is grad transferring from Temple. Speaking of all around the clock.

Rayne had a good season with Temple but this will be her fourth team now. talk about moving around.

Still do not understand why she left the Dukes to go to Towson. Thought she was playing well for the Dukes and would be an integral part moving forward.

Anyone have any idea why she went to Towson? Just curious.

Brian

(04-03-2024 02:01 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  Rayne had a good season with Temple but this will be her fourth team now. talk about moving around.

Still do not understand why she left the Dukes to go to Towson. Thought she was playing well for the Dukes and would be an integral part moving forward.

Anyone have any idea why she went to Tpwson? Just curious.

Brian

Didn’t she go to Towson to be closer to home? Then she followed her HC from Towson to Temple.

(04-03-2024 02:42 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 02:01 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  Rayne had a good season with Temple but this will be her fourth team now. talk about moving around.

Still do not understand why she left the Dukes to go to Towson. Thought she was playing well for the Dukes and would be an integral part moving forward.

Anyone have any idea why she went to Tpwson? Just curious.

Brian

Didn’t she go to Towson to be closer to home? Then she followed her HC from Towson to Temple.

It isn't worth it to know what the motivation may have been at the time.....4 stops in 4 years tells me a lot....and none of it particularly good.

If you have the need to transfer that much, look in the mirror....it is not the coach nor school issue.

(04-01-2024 05:51 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 12:19 PM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  

(03-27-2024 09:11 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2024 01:40 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  Losing Neil is a HUGE loss to this program.

agree. I don't know anything but it sure felt like our conference championship last season was due in a big way to Neil joining the staff

Guess what, Steph is leaving us! Has shw graduated early, or will she graduate this summer? Anyone know?

For those trying to piece these posts together and figure out:

Next chapter is Richmond…

(04-18-2024 09:50 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 05:51 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(04-01-2024 12:19 PM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  

(03-27-2024 09:11 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(03-27-2024 01:40 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  Losing Neil is a HUGE loss to this program.

agree. I don't know anything but it sure felt like our conference championship last season was due in a big way to Neil joining the staff

Guess what, Steph is leaving us! Has shw graduated early, or will she graduate this summer? Anyone know?

For those trying to piece these posts together and figure out:

Next chapter is Richmond…

Hyper is not going to be happy.

Anyone feel the women's program is trending up?