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LOCATION: Harrisonburg, VA
CONFERENCE: Colonial Athletic Association
LAST SEASON: 16-11 (.592)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 9-7 (t-4th)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 2/3
NICKNAME: Dukes
COLORS: Purple & Gold
HOMECOURT: JMU Convocation Center (7,612
COACH: Sherman Dillard (JMU '78)
record at school 27-27 (2 years)
career record 56-79 (5 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Kenny Brooks (JMU '92)
Dean Keener (Davidson '88)
Bill Old (Randolph-Macon '94)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 16-10-16-11-16
RPI (last 5 years) 168-204-129-197-178
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference first round.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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There's no guesswork involved anymore. When someone sees the James Madison basketball team, they will know it is a basketball team. "In one year, we've improved our size tremendously," said Kenny Brooks, who will begin his second year at his alma mater as an assistant to head coach Sherman Dillard. "We walk through airports now, we look like a basketball team. Recruiting size was a priority. One of our weaknesses was we didn't have a lot of depth inside. We were a little on the small side. Eugene Atkinson, who was 6-5 and maybe 190 soaking wet, was our power forward most of the year. "We're glad we got those kids. Coach Dillard has the kind of system where he's going to play as many as 10 people; there are some minutes for them to get." If JMU's new inside crew combines with two veteran inside players and becomes a factor, the Dukes could end up being awfully good. They have a solid backcourt in place. Returning to start in the backcourt are 6-0 senior point guard Jabari Outtz (15 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.0 apg) and 6-4 senior Jamar Perry (12.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg). Junior-college transfer Mickey Dennis (Williston (N.D.) Community College/Hot Springs, S.D.) and freshman David Fanning (Western Branch HS/Chesapeake, Va.) give the Dukes good depth. Outtz was second-team All-CAA a year ago and can be a first-team player this season. The ability is there, but he needs to continue to show more discipline with his shot selection. Brooks said Outtz was rusty last year after transferring from Howard and waiting a year to play. Perry has developed into a scorer and a leader. He was thrust into a bigger role two years ago when now-departed Chatney Howard was hurt. He didn't disappoint.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH B-
FRONTCOURT C INTANGIBLES C
One sequence from last season says a lot about James Madison. The Dukes were faced with a 22-point deficit early in the second half at home against Virginia Commonwealth. They chipped away and chipped away and got it down to a workable margin late. Chatney Howard, the Dukes' most explosive player, got hot and hit a couple of three-point shots in the final minute. Suddenly, it was a five-point game. JMU came down and point guard Jabari Outtz threw up a wild three-point shot. Eugene Atkinson got the rebound, glared at Outtz and fired it back out to Howard. He promptly hit another three-pointer. The Dukes ended up losing. Those few wasted seconds when Outtz shot might have made a difference. The point is this: Outtz is an excellent player and a very capable scorer. This year, with Howard and Atkinson gone, it will be incumbent on him to do more. However, if he is to become more of a true point guard and can better recognize the right time to shoot and pass, JMU will be much better. Outtz and Jamar Perry give JMU a backcourt that comes close to matching that of Virginia Commonwealth. Up front, things are very spotty. Senior Rob Strickland, he of the great body and often misplaced game, could really help his team by developing just a smidgen of consistency in his final season. Sophomore Tim Lyle would benefit. He wore down last season. JMU knew it needed size and recruited accordingly. Now, a couple of those new faces have to come through. And Outtz has to come through with the ball. |
"I think last year served as a 'getting-used-to-the-game-again' year for Jabari," Brooks said. "No matter how much you play in the summer, it isn't the same. We're expecting a good year from him. Once he becomes consistent, he can be as good as there is in the league. Jamar just does so many things for us. With Chatney gone, I think he's ready to step into that leadership role. He's a great young man." The 6-3 Dennis "is a very good shooter," Brooks said. "He did some wonderful things at Williston and hopefully he can fill some of the void that Chatney left with his experience." The 6-0 Fanning was his team's MVP in the state high school all-star game. "He's just a court-smart young man and we see him fitting in perfectly with our group," Brooks said. Freshman Charlie Hatter (Stuarts Draft HS/Lyndhurst, Va.) is a swingman who could be an interesting story for the Dukes as well as a good player. The 6-4 Hatter is in his second year at JMU. He couldn't play last year because he injured his arm while still in high school. Diving to save a loose ball, Hatter crashed into a door with a glass top and badly cut himself. He needed more than 100 stitches. Brooks said Hatter remains a hustler. "Sometimes kids get an injury and they have a fear of doing it again," Brooks said. "Charlie will still dive. He's a tough kid." Up front, JMU desperately needs some extra toughness to help 6-10 senior Rob Strickland and 6-8 sophomore Tim Lyle. Strickland is an enigma, plain and simple. A 285-pounder, he averaged 5.7 points and 6.7 reboundds last season. He can marvel and dismay his coaches in the same game. "That's a puzzle we haven't solved yet," Brooks said. "You've got to stick with him. It's our job as coaches to get it out of him. As he goes, we'll go. When he's getting a double-double, it makes you a pretty good basketball team. I still think the sky is the limit for him and I think he really wants it this year." Lyle is basically a returning starter, even though he isn't listed as one. He started 19 times a year ago and averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds. He shot .573 but didn't take enough shots to qualify for the league rankings. He wore down toward the end of the season and wasn't able to play as much. JMU thinks a few less minutes will mean much more production for Lyle. "Timmy gives 100 percent all the time and is probably the hardest worker I've ever seen," Brooks said. "There's a lot more wear and tear in the college game. The new young men coming in will really help him." The biggest of the new bunch is 6-10, 245-pound freshman Ian Caskill (Frank Cox HS/Virginia Beach, Va.). Other big recruits are 6-7, 230-pound freshman Pat Mitchell (Gonzaga HS/Washington, D.C.) and 6-8, 205-pound freshman Jerian Younger (George Washington HS/Danville, Va.). Younger was the Virginia Group AAA player of the year last season. "Ian has a lot of ability, Pat is a bruiser," Brooks said. "That's what we needed, some guys who can bang a little inside. Jerian is a more athletic type. He won't overpower you but he can help you in a lot of ways. And he comes from a great program. He knows how to play." JMU's other players are 6-3 junior guard Dwayne Braxton (2.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg), 5-10 junior Mark DiCicco (2.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg) and 6-6 senior Kevan Johnson (2.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Johnson has the best chance of assuming a bigger role. "He showed a lot of promise and improvement toward the end of last year and we think he can contribute this year," Brooks said. "He's a late bloomer, is still learning the game."
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