JMU responds to ODU, VCU moves
Statement from James Madison University On athletic conference affiliation:
In recent days, the Colonial Athletic Association has been notified of the departure of two member institutions. Both Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University have made decisions to join other conferences. Read more
CAA, NBC reach deal on TV rights for basketball, football
The Colonial Athletic Association has reached five-year agreements with the NBC Sports Group that will provide the most extensive and comprehensive exposure of the conference in its history with coverage on NBC Sports Network and across the group’s regional sports networks.
The agreements, which begin with the 2012-13 season and runs through 2016-17, will provide national television coverage of CAA men’s basketball and football games on the NBC Sports Network, regional television coverage of CAA men’s and women’s basketball and football through the Comcast SportsNet regional networks and coverage of a variety of other CAA sports through NBCSports.com. The CAA is the first collegiate athletic conference to sign a broadcast agreement with the NBC Sports Network, which launched on January 2, 2012. Read more
Mid-majors announce BracketBusters schedule
Three CAA teams were selected for televised games in the 10th annual Sears BracketBusters, which will be held Feb. 17-18, 2012. The CAA had the second-most teams chosen for televised games of any of the participating 16 conferences, trailing only the Missouri Valley.
It’s the fifth time in the past six years that at least three CAA teams were chosen for televised matchups in the event, which provides programs a chance to face top non-conference opponents about three weeks before Selection Sunday. The CAA has posted an impressive 16-10 record in televised games over the past seven years, including a 4-1 mark last season. Read more
Matthews: We play for championships
A reporter once asked the legendary Bear Bryant, So, Coach, you’re not playing well. Is there any controversy on your team?
“And he said, Well, if there’s not, I’m going to cause some,” James Madison University football coach Mickey Matthews continued the story. “You asked me, Have I noticed if there’s more motivation after 6-5? And I would answer that, If there’s not, I’m going to cause some.”
The bad news is the Dukes were 6-5 in 2009, a year after reaching the national semifinals and sending already high expectations through the roof for the ’09 campaign. The good news, if there can be good news with a 6-5 finish, is that JMU won its final four to get to 6-5.
“That was huge for us,” senior quarterback Drew Dudzik, who entered camp as the starter after a spring that Matthews said left it clear who his #1 guy should be. Dudzik said a group of senior leaders on the team met in January to talk about the ’09 season and set goals for ’10 and set their teammates on the path to working hard to avoid a repeat of the pain of last season. Read more
JMU’s Munson honored after big week
Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
James Madison junior closer Kevin Munson (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) was named Colonial Athletic Association Co-Pitcher of the Week after a week that included a pair of key league wins along with being listed on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Midseason Watch List for the National Stopper of the Year award. Read more
Hofstra knocks off JMU women
JMU men upset W&M
Staff Report
JMU sports: www.jmusports.com
Senior guard Sam Brigham (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) scored 19 points, including two layups at the end of regulation to tie the game, as Hofstra (11-9, 4-4) defeated James Madison (15-4, 5-3) 69-62 in overtime in Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball Thursday evening at the JMU Convocation Center.
Hofstra outscored JMU 13-6 in overtime and never trailed in the period. Redshirt sophomore guard Candice Bellocchio (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter’s) opened the period with a three-pointer at 4:28. Freshman guard Candace Bond (Fort Washington, Md./Riverdale Baptist) scored Hofstra’s next three points, all at the foul line, to put the Pride up 62-56 at 2:26.
After a JMU basket on a putback by junior center Lauren Jimenez (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) at 2:02, Hofstra scored six straight points to pull ahead by 10, 68-58, with 44.5 seconds to go. Bond hit a 10-foot jumper on the right baseline at 1:39, Brigham knocked down two free throws with 55.7 seconds to go, and Bond converted two foul shots to push the lead to 10. Read more
JMU holds off Radford
Staff Report
JMU sports: www.jmusports.com
Senior guard Pierre Curtis (Denver, Colo./East) and freshman guard Darren White (Danville, Va./Dan River) hit four free throws in the final 16 seconds to push James Madison past Radford 67-63 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Monday evening at the Convocation Center.
JMU snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 9-11 for the season. RU dropped to 10-9. The contest was originally slated for Dec. 19 but was postponed due to a severe winter storm.
The Dukes trailed 55-54 with 3:12 to go before reeling off a 9-0 run to take their largest lead of the night at 63-55 with 49 seconds remaining. However, the lead vanished in 32 seconds thanks to an 8-0 spurt by the Highlanders. Read more
