JMU Drops First Conference Game

A bummer for sure, one that stings. We left a lot on the table and probably played one of our worst games of the year. No joke, I don't remember the last time we went 36.4% from the floor this year. To say we played poor is an understatement. This was an anomaly, plain and simple and a wake up call.

I would love to say that those looking at us on the national scale would brush over this loss, but the fact is, many at the top will use this as an excuse to keep JMU out of the tournament if we were to lose in the CAA tournament. Maybe that perception will change if we come out blazing on Sunday. You got to hope, right?

But remember, Gonzaga had a bad loss last week verses BYU and yet they still managed to stay in the top 25 and the projected #6 seed in the NCAAT. They certainly have more exposure, but if they do punish JMU for this loss, shame on them. Every team can have a bad loss. St. John's who we beat have had several bad loses and yet, they are placed higher in Charlie Cremes bracketology.

You have to ask yourself, why is it that those teams can suffer bad loses, but it doesn't affect them all that much, but if JMU loses, it cost them dearly? Whatever happens, JMU IS a TOP 25 team and today's loss does NOT change that. 

To be honest, a loss isn't always a bad thing, personally, I see this as a wake up call for the team, to get it out of the system and know how a loss feels. Now it will be fresh on their minds to never let that happen again. Now they are ready to win it all!

I tweeted this to the JMU WBB team after their loss: This is how character is built, how one finds strength. Will a loss define you? Will you give up? Let it not be so! Winners rise above defeat, losers stay down and begin to make excuses. But we are winners and we will rise above and win. And because we are winners, we have set the course to become champions, proving we are the best and that we belong! Go Dukes!

Game stats: http://www.jmusports.com/fls/14400/stats/wbasketball/2014/jmu0227.htm

P.S. Get to Sunday's game verse William and Mary to celebrate two outstanding seniors in Kirby Burkholder and Nikki Newman. Game is at 2 p.m.. Email me at southernliberty@aol.com if you need tickets. I have 10 left to give away. 

Break the WBB game attendance record, which sits at 6,500.