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Back in the “Bank” Women’s returning five
Talking transfers Off the court
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It’s Time
JMU basketball welcomes normalcy back in 2021
Thursday, November 4, 2021
By SAVANNAH REGER The Breeze The impact of the last two seasons of JMU basketball started with the closing of the Convocation Center and its 40-year history with streamers flying over the heads of players, coaches and fans to create a purple and gold oasis. JMU women’s basketball defeated Delaware, and the team made streamer snow angels after the win. Cut to March — JMU men’s basketball’s headed to the conference tournament, hosted at the $86.7 million Atlantic Union Bank Center (AUBC), ready to welcome back limited fans and show off “The Bank” to the CAA and the world of college basketball. However, this ending wasn’t celebratory; it was instead a somber close as the Dukes fell to Elon. Now, there’s a mix of hope from two years ago combined with the potential and excitement that’’s been carried over from last season. JMU basketball opens the AUBC to full capacity for fans, two March Madnesscontending programs and a feeling of normalcy that’s been missing since 2019. “I used this analogy a lot last year … To me, [last year] was like, ‘I got a brand new Ferrari and I got no gas,” JMU women’s basketball head coach Sean O’Regan said. “To do all this stuff that we do and not be rewarded with the community support, I think, is just a sad thing. I couldn’t be more excited to get fans in here.” O’Regan said that last year, the benches
couldn’t be together and that he was coaching in a mask. COVID-19 protocols separated the team, but now that there’s some normalcy in the locker room and on the court, O’Regan said he couldn’t be more excited for the 2021-22 season. “I just want us to play and have fun,” O’Regan said. “I think you can enjoy it more now because it’s been taken away.” When the AUBC opened in 2020, it couldn’t be used at its fullest potential due to the pandemic’s shutdown of the sports world. Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Kevin Warner said ahead of the 2020-21 season that several features in the arena were designed for fan interaction, and O’Regan added that without those fans, “it felt like nobody was there.” Junior guard Kiki Jefferson agreed that it felt like there were no fans in attendance. Last year, the All-CAA First Team player said that while she brings energy herself, she also feeds on the crowd noise. The Dukes took notice of the lack of fan noise. Heading into this season, Jefferson said it feels like 2019. “That’s the word: excitement,” Jefferson
said. “I’m just ready to put a show on for the fans. We missed them a lot last year, [and] we’re ready to bring and be able to hear them.” Something else that contributed to the lack of noise and excitement in the arena: the absence of the JMU Pep Band. In the Convocation Center, the Pep Band sat behind a basket and provided both programs with pregame, halftime and postgame music. In addition, the band booed the other team, cheered for the Dukes and attempted to intimidate the opponent at the free-throw line. O’Regan is a JMU 2003 alumnus and was a student manager during his time as an undergraduate, serving as head manager for three years. Last year, O’Regan said the band was a part of JMU’s signature and that the programs are built by the band. The Pep Band has been a constant during his time at JMU, and he said he’s excited about this season — he’s loved the band for as long as he’s been here. JMU women’s basketball is a team filled with familiar faces. The coaching
“We’ve got a beautiful arena, one of the nicest in the country. But now, we need an environment.” Mark Byington
JMU men’s basketball head coach
staff transitioned from the Convocation Center to AUBC and, in a time filled with change, the Dukes’ program’s personnel stayed the same. For JMU men’s basketball, the situation couldn’t be more different — 2020 marked the beginning of the Mark Byington era. Fans may already know the story. Men’s basketball changed completely from 2019-20 to 2020-21. Multiple players transferred out at the conclusion of the 2020 CAA tournament, and previous head coach Louis Rowe parted ways with the school after four seasons. That year, the Dukes finished next to last in the standings. In 2021, JMU won the CAA regular season championship. However, the team was composed of freshmen and a coaching staff new to Harrisonburg. Byington came to JMU after spending the last seven seasons at Georgia Southern. “We haven’t used [the AUBC] for homecourt advantage yet,” Byington said. “The environment comes from the fans and the people. I know people are excited to come in here, cheer for us, and we’re excited to have them — it’s going to be completely different from last year.” Byington said he expects JMU to come alive in the men’s opener against Carlow University, and after the success the team had last season, he said he believes this is the next step for the program. “We’ve been able to use this arena for recruiting,” Byington said. “We’ve got a beautiful arena, one of the nicest in the country. But now, we need an environment.”
5 “We missed [the fans] a lot last year, [and] we’re ready to bring and be able to hear them.”
KiKi Jefferson
JMU women’s basketball junior guard
Bringing the AUBC to its full form this season isn’t just about the programs themselves but the ability to show both the arena and JMU Athletics as a whole off to the world. Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said he’s excited to bring in more in-state games, the CAA tournament for the women’s team and more TV deals for JMU. “I think this year’s slate [of in-state games] is terrific,” Bourne said. “It’s really strong, and that’s what your public wants to be. It’s a great opportunity for us. We’ve got so many good schools in the state of Virginia — to be able to capitalize and play regional peers is very important to us.” U. Va, the 2019 national champion, comes to Harrisonburg on Dec. 7, and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. In addition, JMU men’s basketball has three games on CBS Sports Network and six games on NBC Sports Washington. JMU women’s basketball has six games on NBC Sports Washington, one on ACC Network and one on ESPN+. “I think that [media deals are] one of those line items in our budget that as we grow that item, that line item in our budget is going to grow,” Bourne said.
2021 is JMU’s chance to “restart” at the AUBC. O’Regan said he senses a pressure to perform well with all the expectations on the Dukes’ back, but in comparison with last year, the team is excited to get going. Last year, Jefferson said that while the team is “locked in,” they still notice the little things that weren’t there that will be welcomed back with open arms. She said they’ve felt the lack of team spirit, the quietness without the Pep Band and the crowd yelling “three” as a 3-point shot slides through the net. Jefferson, O’Regan and Byington all had the same thing to say about the return of fans — this is what the program’s been waiting for, and that opening week, it’ll be a time to remember. “I’m definitely going to look into the crowd knowing they’re there, they’re screaming,” Jefferson said. “We’re going to use [the crowd] a lot. We’re going to make our own energy at the beginning of the game, [but] once the crowd’s into it … We’re going to feed off of them.” CONTACT Savannah Reger at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @ TheBreezeSports.
Junior guard Kiki Jefferson celebrates against George Mason last season. Breeze File Photo
Thursday, November 4, 2021
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End of an era JMU men’s basketball enters life without Matt Lewis Morse said Lewis made him a better scorer and more confident on the offensive end. “Lewis kind of helped me because the attention was primarily on him early in the season, and then he kind of made me get involved,” Morse said. “He knew what I could do on the offensive end, I can create off the dribble and create for him as well. It was kind of like a ‘one-two punch’ with me and him — it was great.” Even though Lewis is no longer physically in the locker room, both Morse and Strickland said his presence will still be apparent there. “His presence will still be felt because everyone can see if you come to the CAA, you can make it,” Morse said. “He’s like my big brother; he calls me everyday, and he just gives me tips and advice, you know, to keep the guys going.” Byington said the Dukes’ focus is ahead of them and what they have now instead of what they lost. “Our roster is so much different [from last year],” Byington said. “Very rarely do we even talk about last season; it’s this team, it’s this identity, it’s this journey with this team, and that’s what’s gonna make it fun.” CONTACT Joshua Gingrich at gingrihj@dukes.jmu. edu. For more basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
e dy / The Breez
JMU entered a new era of men’s basketball last season. The Dukes opened the Atlantic Union Bank Center and played their first season under head coach Mark Byington. This season, JMU steps into another new era — the first full season without star guard Matt Lewis, who graduated and now plays professionally in the NBA G League. “I think people don’t understand everything Matt Lewis brought to the table,” head coach Mark Byington said. “What we got from Matt Lewis is intangibles, the leadership; we got plenty of guys who can score the basketball on this team and plenty of guys who can play and are talented, but [the intangibles] are the main thing we need to replace with him.” Lewis established himself as one of the most successful players in program history during his time in Harrisonburg. He finished third in JMU history in points and eighth in assists, and he was the first JMU player to ever be named All-CAA in three different seasons. He also won the CAA Player of the Year award as a senior. JMU got a taste of what the post-Lewis era would be like at the end of the season, when he took an injury versus Hofstra on Feb. 14 and had to miss the final two games of the year. Despite the fact that JMU lost both games, Byington said he saw positives from that short span of time that can translate to this season. “We lost both those games, so that wasn’t good, but at the same time, we were highly competitive and could’ve won both of them,” Byington said. “We got a chance to look at some things, see how some guys were.” For Byington and many of the returning players from last year, they got to be with Lewis for just one season. Despite this short time together, redshirt junior
guard Vado Morse and redshirt freshman guard Terell Strickland said Lewis’ impact was apparent both on and off the court. “Matt is pretty much an everyday guy — in practice, he brings it every day,” Morse said. “We just need someone who can bring that type of energy towards that, and hopefully that’ll be me.” But a team’s are more than its star player; several other players stepped up to help propel the Dukes to their first regular season CAA championship since 2015. JMU gained a big addition from its bench, which was responsible for around 30% of the scoring last year. “Obviously, [Lewis] is a big hole to fill, but it’s not going to be one person,” Strickland said. “It’s just going to be our whole group of guys just filling in, everybody taking from every aspect of what he did and putting it all together.” The Dukes got a big boost from their freshman class in 202021. Strickland made a splash in his collegiate debut, breaking the JMU and CAA record with 10 steals, and he provided key defensive energy throughout the year. Guard/forward Terrence Edwards became one of the most complete players for JMU. Other than Lewis, Edwards was the only Duke to score at least 100 points, collect at least 80 rebounds and dish out 30 assists last season. Forward Justin Amadi also became a high-flyer for the Dukes, who will provide a physical paint presence for JMU in the future. “I think one of the things I’ve grown with is just maturing,” Strickland said. “I think toward the end of the year, people could see I slowed down. I figured out the pace of the game, and I just look to build on that this year.” With Lewis gone, JMU will need to replace its go-to scorer for the past couple of seasons, and statistically, Morse seems like a likely candidate to fill that spot. In the two games without Lewis last season, Morse scored 46 points.
Christine Bra
Thursday, November 4, 2021
By JOSHUA GINGRICH The Breeze
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JMU women’s basketball thrives on returning starters By CRAIG MATHIAS The Breeze
JMU women’s basketball journeys toward another campaign while returning a majority of the contributing pieces from last season. The combination of faces, such as junior guard Kiki Jefferson, sophomore guard Peyton McDaniel and head coach Sean O’Regan in his sixth season, give JMU confidence to pose a threat for a CAA title run. Ultimately, the Dukes came up short in an overtime loss in last season’s CAA semifinals. The upside to this, McDaniel said, is that the team can build off the uncharacteristically hectic season as they begin a new one with many of the same pieces. “We’re super excited with all of our chemistry,” McDaniel said. “I feel like last year was kind of weird. We couldn’t even fully practice together, so I feel like it was almost a trial run. So this year, we’re super excited to have everyone back fully practicing, and I think it’s been really beneficial.” In her freshman season, McDaniel solidified her role for the team, and was honored as a member of the CAA All-Rookie Team and won CAA Rookie of the Year. In her second go-around with JMU, she said the prior
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season allowed everyone to learn how they can help each other reach their full potential. “I feel like we know each other a lot better,” McDaniel said. “I think even just playing [last season], we know what our strengths are, what our weaknesses are and being able to build off each other.” Jefferson also attests to the team’s chemistry. A part of the All-CAA First Team from a season ago, Jefferson said understanding how each player operates is critical to achieving the team’s goals. “Knowing what a player can do and what they can’t do [is important],” Jefferson said, “just knowing how if their shots aren’t falling, how can I help the game become easier [for them].” Jefferson enters this year on the preseason watch list for the 2022 Becky Hammon MidMajor Player of the Year Award. Players are eligible for the award if they’re at one of the 26 schools categorized as a “Mid-Major.” The honors, however, have no bearing on the players’ standings with each other, Jefferson said. The depth on the team, Jefferson said, is what sets them apart from some teams. “I think once we sub [players] in, it’s just the same,” Jefferson said. “[Being a starter] doesn’t mean anything. It’s just about what you do on the court.” Racking up a 116-39 (72-13 CAA) record through five seasons, O’Regan enters his first full season since 2018-19, with the last two seasons seeing change due to COVID-19. He said that in such a season, he made the decision to play his freshmen and that it’ll help the team when they begin this season against U. Va. on Nov. 9.
9 “I think our dynamic is very different from last year, which is a good thing. We’ve got experience, and we made the conscious choice last year to play our freshmen, so that’s a huge step up for us.” Sean O’Regan
Dukes to three consecutive regular season CAA championships, and then last season, they fell in overtime to Drexel in the CAA semifinals. Despite these finishes, O’Regan said he has a good feeling about their chances this time around. “[Winning the CAA] is always the goal,” O’Regan said. “I do think we have a really good chance at [winning] it. I think if you look at us on paper, you might think we’re not as talented. But to me, we have enough talent, and we’ll be as together as a team as I’ve ever had.” The Dukes begin their trek to attempt to win the CAA when they host their first game with fans against U. Va. on Nov. 9.
Breez e File
“I think our dynamic is very different from last year, which is a good thing,” O’Regan said. “We’ve got experience now, and we made a conscious choice last year to play our freshmen, so that’s a huge step up for us.” Alongside McDaniel, sophomore forwards Claire Neff, Annalicia Goodman and Steph Ouderkirk, along with sophomore guard Jamia Hazell, all saw the court in some capacity last season. O’Regan said growing pains accompany a court filled by freshmen, but it’s worth it not only for the team but for their growth as players. “[The freshmen] had some tough times,” O’Regan said. “But having that experience now is going to really benefit them. I just think that’s how you continue to grow, and that’s something I’ll push for everybody here.” From 2017-18 to 2019-20, O’Regan led the
Photo
JMU women’s basketball head coach
CONTACT Craig Mathias at mathiack@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more women’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on twitter @TheBreezeSports.
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11 Graduate guard Takal Molson (left) dribbles against redshirt junior Vado Morse in practice. Courtesy of JMU Athletics
“EXPECT
BIG
THINGS”
Meet JMU men’s basketball’s graduate transfers and what they bring By GRANT JOHNSON The Breeze
Byington said Amadi is a “different player” going into year two. Sule and Amadi, both 6-foot-7-inch forwards, have competed against each other day in and day out at practice this preseason, Byington said. He said he’s looking forward to the two taking their respective wraths out on other teams rather than versus each other when the season begins. “Some days, it’s been really highly competitive in practice,” Byington said. “When you got [Sule] and Justin Amadi out there going against each other, it is ferocious sometimes, and I worry they’re going to rip each other’s heads off.” Amadi, who said he’s been working on being more of a threat shooting off the dribble and catch this year, said he respects Sule’s game, calling his practice competitor a “great player” and “great dude” who competes and plays hard every day. Amadi said he and Sule will complement each other well on the court despite their similar playing styles because they’re both “dogs.” However, the teammates have a slight disagreement — over who the better dunker is. “Probably me,” Amadi said. “I’ve got more tricks in the bag.” In response, Sule said to “just wait” and that he’s got some “tricks in the bag” as well. Fans will get to watch both Sule and Amadi throw down dunks inside Atlantic Union Bank Center (AUBC) at full capacity Nov. 10 versus Carlow (Pa.). Amadi said he’s most excited about the atmosphere a packed AUBC will bring. Sule, on the other hand, said he’s thrilled
to contribute to a team that’s the CAA’s reigning first place regular season finisher — he’s so excited, in fact, that he said the word “excited” three times in five seconds during an interview with The Breeze. “I just want to win because I want to get to the [NCAA] tournament, man,” Sule said. “That’s a huge goal of mine.” Reaching the NCAA Tournament comes with different expectations this season — this time, the Dukes are the hunted instead of the hunters that they were last season coming off a last-place CAA finish in 201920. However, Byington said expectations don’t mean anything to JMU and that the team doesn’t care where they’re projected to finish, whether high or low. “It’s a long journey in college basketball,” Byington said. “You might be one team in November and a completely different team in March. This is going to be a good group to go on the journey with.” The roles for each player on JMU’s roster might change throughout the team’s journey this season, but one role will likely stay the same: Sule’s contribution of effort plays, Byington said, and the transfer’s commitment to “bring it” every day in practice and when the regular season begins. “I can’t wait,” Sule said. “Expect big things.” CONTACT Grant Johnson at breezecopy@ gmail.com. For more men’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
JMU men’s basketball’s newest player is also one of the team’s oldest. But, he provides a youthful exuberance that head coach Mark Byington calls unmatched. This is Alonzo Sule — a 6-foot-7-inch, highflying forward and graduate transfer from Texas State who likes to exploit mismatches and play “all over the place,” as Sule said. Sule averaged 7.8 points per game and started all 25 games for the Sun Belt regular season champion Bobcats last season. “He changes the game with what he does,” Byington said, “just his constant energy and how hard he plays.” The Houston, Texas, native said Byington’s fast-paced philosophy provides a better fit to his game — one that goes “up and down” the court, Sule said — than Texas State did. Sule said he was already accustomed to the style brought by Byington — formerly the Georgia Southern head coach from 2013-20 — and his coaching staff with the Eagles through playing them each year in the Sun Belt, and that connection led him to JMU. “I felt like it was going to be a perfect fit for me,” Sule said. “This [playing style] is going to help me thrive a lot more.” Byington said that Sule caught his eye when he was coaching at Georgia Southern and he knew Sule would be a good fit in his system. But what’s since caught his eye after Sule’s arrival in Harrisonburg, Byington said, is his off-the-court persona. “I didn’t know he was this high of character
and this great of a person,” Byington said. “Just having him in the locker room brightens up my day and brightens up everybody’s day.” Sule isn’t JMU’s only incoming transfer: Winthrop transfer guard Charles “Chuck” Falden is “going to be vital” to the Dukes’ success this season because of his experience in big moments, toughness and ability to shoot, Byington said. Falden averaged 10.1 points in 20.8 minutes per game last season at Winthrop and is the oldest player on the team agewise. Regarding transfers, Byington said college basketball is evolving, and he has to be willing to mold the best team possible regardless of if they’ve been developed through his program or not. Last season, there were eight newcomers in JMU’s program, and this year there are seven — three being transfers, with the addition of Seton Hall transfer guard Takal Molson. Byington predicts those numbers will be “higher than normal” compared to future years. All transfers are tasked with adjusting to their new location and surroundings — Sule said the hills on JMU’s campus are “definitely different” than his former central Texas campus experience. Moreover, he said he anticipates winters being “a lot colder” in Harrisonburg, but he said his teammates are making the scenery change more bearable. One of those teammates is redshirt freshman Justin Amadi — a player who closely resembles Sule with the rim-rocking dunks and athleticism he displayed during his freshman campaign, where he averaged 9.1 points and five rebounds per game.
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BACK IN ACTION New coaching staff adds fresh perspective for JMU women’s basketball By COURTNEY RYDER The Breeze
SEAN O’REGAN
HEAD COACH
O’Regan, the head coach, recently expanded the staff. Photos courtesy of JMU Athletics
KACHINE
ALEXANDER A S S I S TA N T C O A C H
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Alexander was added to the staff by O’Regan and serves as assistant coach.
RAVEN JAMES
After a standout inaugural season in the Atlantic Union Bank Center (AUBC), JMU women’s basketball’s season came to an end in an overtime loss to Drexel in the CAA semifinals. Head coach Sean O’Regan said after the game that the loss was a “hard pill to swallow,” but the Dukes could find new momentum with the addition of Kachine Alexander and Raven James to the coaching staff. O’Regan and the Dukes wasted no time getting to work during the offseason. After an unusual season in a new, but empty, arena, the future looked bright when it was announced that fans would be allowed at full capacity this season. “To do all this stuff that we do and not be rewarded with the community support, I think it’s just a sad thing,” O’Regan said. “I’m really, really excited.” Alongside a new arena, O’Regan — known as Coach O. to the players — revamped his coaching staff, bringing on graduate assistant Raven James and assistant coach Kachine Alexander. Other recent hires include assistant coach Samantha Prahalis-Holmes, who joined the staff in April 2020, and Kayla Cooper Williams — a former player who joined the program as a graduate assistant in 2020 and was promoted to director of player development and recruiting in July 2021. Alexander, known as Coach Kash, joined the coaching staff in July 2021. Before her arrival at JMU, Alexander served as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University, North Dakota State University and Concordia-St. Paul. Prior to coaching, Alexander played at the University of Iowa and was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in the third round of the 2011 draft. “Coming here and bringing a lot of energy is, I think, one of the biggest reasons [O’Regan] wanted me to be a part of the program,” Alexander said. “I think I coach just like I played — with a lot of passion and a lot of heart and a lot of love for the game.” O’Regan announced James’s addition
Oct. 1. James, a 2021 graduate, is new to the coaching world after a playing career at Villanova. She excelled on the court, racking up 83 assists with a career-high average of 3.77 assists per game her senior season. “I still had the [COVID-19] year for eligibility, and I had to get surgery on my back, so after that recovery, I knew I wanted to stay close to basketball,” James said. “I just really wanted to get back in some part of basketball [and] stay connected, and I thought coaching was the best way to go.” James may be new to the world of coaching, but she doesn’t lack experience with JMU’s program. During her time at Villanova, James and the Wildcats faced off against the Dukes twice — she played against Cooper Williams and thenfreshman Kiki Jefferson. “It’s awesome — it’s definitely a great icebreaker,” James said. “Just talking about the differences and the dynamics and really using that to come together, it’s actually been a thing that’s worked really well for both of us.” Cooper Williams, a four-year starter for the Dukes, played from 2015-20 and set records left and right. Starting in her freshman season, Cooper Williams set the single-season blocked shots record with 71. She tied that record as a redshirt sophomore and solidified her place in JMU’s record books in her redshirt junior and senior campaigns. “I had an amazing time as a player here,” Cooper Williams said. “Coach O. is amazing, and Coach [Caskill] — they’re like my extended family, so it only made sense when Coach O. offered ... for me to stay.” James has a long-standing relationship with O’Regan — before she joined his coaching staff, he was a family friend. She said she’s always had a good relationship with him which influenced her decision to start her coaching career in Harrisonburg. “He really cares about the development of the players, as well as the staff, so I thought that he’d be a great mentor,” James said. “I know he runs a winning program, and that was something I wanted to be a part of.”
G R A D U AT E A S S I S TA N T “I think I coach just like I played —
with a lot of passion and a lot of heart and a lot of love for the game.”
James played at Villanova prior to being selected as a graduate assistant.
Kachine Alexander
JMU women’s basketball assistant coach
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Only 1/2 mile South of JMU on Main St.
1476 South Main Street. Lorem Ipsum Harrisonburg, VA 22801
O’Regan (right) talks with former JMU associate head coach Ashley Langford following a win against UNCW at the AUBC. Trevor Cockburn / The Breeze
from being a player to a coach, especially since she’s coaching former teammates. “Taking myself out of the role of a player and being more behind-the-scenes … it’s a big difference when you’re on the court and on the sideline,” Cooper Williams said. “I didn’t realize how much was actually being done.” Alexander is entering her ninth year of coaching. She’s a seasoned coach, but she said she still pulls from her experiences as a player in her coaching style. “I understand what the players are going through on an everyday basis,” Alexander said. “Catering my coaching to that and being able to read players … I credit that [from] being a player.” With a diverse coaching staff brimming with skill and experience, O’Regan has all the tools for a successful season. The Dukes are predicted to finish third in the CAA, with Jefferson and sophomore guard Peyton McDaniel both earning preseason All-CAA honors. JMU’s season kicks off Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. when the Dukes welcome U. Va to the AUBC. “I couldn’t be more excited,” O’Regan said. “I think you can enjoy it more now because it’s been taken away.” CONTACT Courtney Ryder at ryderce@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Alexander, James and Cooper Williams all bring playing experience to the table as coaches. Their experiences with their respective teams — and Alexander’s experience coaching at other schools — bring a unique set of perspectives and ideas, O’Regan said. “Our staff has good cohesion,” O’Regan said. “We all fill a different role, and I’m excited about that for this year.” Alexander’s role, O’Regan said, is to provide energy to the coaching staff. Cooper Williams has a unique perspective from being on the other side of O’Regan’s coaching style — O’Regan said it’s nice having someone who knows him so well and knows what he’s looking for. Cooper Williams also said she has strong relationships with the players as their former teammate. “It was a little bit difficult last year as a [graduate assistant] … especially because our team has always been so close, just, like, understanding I’m no longer in that position, that I’m in a professional role,” Cooper Williams said. “I also think it helps because I already have that relationship with them — when I’m saying things to them, they receive it as ‘I’m here for your best interests.’” While James and Cooper Williams’ recent playing careers brought a fresh set of eyes to the program, their arrival didn’t come without adjustments. Cooper Williams said there’s a shift in mentality when one goes
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reunited
Thursday, November 4, 2021
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NOTHING SHORT OF STELLAR
Analysis | What do the best JMU men’s and women’s basketball players bring to the season? By GRAHAM SKINKER contributing writer
VADO MORSE
A-
JMU returns its second-leading scorer from last year in redshirt junior guard Vado Morse. Appearing in 18 games and starting 15 of them, Morse averaged 14.4 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds. Look for Morse to step up and likely lead the team in scoring during the 2021-22 campaign. Christine Brady / The Breeze
Another player to look out for on the men’s team this season is redshirt freshman forward Justin Amadi. As a true freshman last year, Amadi played in 20 games, making 16 starts and averaging 9.1 points and 5 assists. Amadi is a prime candidate for a breakout season this year. Christine Brady / The Breeze
ALONZO SULE
B
Courtesy of Texas State Athletics
Christine Brady / The Breeze
B
B
Texas State graduate transfer forward Alonzo Sule is another name to watch for the Dukes. Last season with Texas State, Sule started all 25 games while averaging 7.8 points and 3.2 rebounds on 48.1% shooting from the field. Look for Sule to help solidify the front court in the upcoming campaign.
The JMU women’s team returns last season’s star player in junior guard Kiki Jefferson. Selected to the All-CAA First Team, Jefferson averaged 16.2 points, 2.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds on 44% shooting from the field. Look for Jefferson to lead the Dukes once again in the upcoming season.
JAMIA HAZELL
JUSTIN AMADI
KIKI JEFFERSON
A
Sophomore guard Jamia Hazell is another name to watch this year. Named to the CAA All-Rookie team, Hazell averaged 9.9 points, 2.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds while appearing in 24 games. Look for Hazell and Jefferson to head up a dynamic backcourt for the Dukes in the looming campaign. Christine Brady / The Breeze
Breeze File Photo
MADISON GREEN
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Read the full story at breezejmu.org CONTACT Graham Skinker at skinkegm@dukes. jmu.edu. For more basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Senior guard Madison Green helps the Dukes stretch the floor, as she’s a sniper from behind the arc. As a junior, Green averaged 7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 41% from three — second in the CAA. Look for Green to continue to space the floor through her excellent three-point shooting in the 2021-22 season.
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