How the James Madison Basketball Team Can Survive in a Football Town
1. Forgive and forget. JMU just built their football program a brand new, 25,000 seat stadium. Meanwhile, the schlubs in the basketball program are stuck playing in an arena that shares time with track and field practices, cheerleading tryouts and department luncheons. It’s not the school’s fault though that basketball makes them no money.
2. Aim low. Expectations must be lowered. Schools in football towns don’t recruit basketball players from the upper echelon. The one thing James Madison has going for it is that its basketball program is a level above football. While the Dukes battle it out in the FCS for football, they are a legitimate division one basketball team in the CAA conference. This should not sway them from lowered expectations however. A mid-major basketball program can still be second class to an FCS football team.
3. Forget about selling out games. This goes hand in hand with lowering expectations. The Dukes will not sell out basketball games no matter the opponent. This should not be a goal of the program. Occasionally being outsold by the women’s program is not the best sign, yet it can be forgiven if the men’s program doesn’t worry about things it can’t control. Instead it should be applauded that the women’s team keeps winning their conference and making the NCAA tournament.
4. Get that one difference maker. In basketball, especially college basketball, especially in a conference like the CAA, one player can make all the difference. Just ask Charles Jenkins and Hofstra. He led the conference in both scoring and assists, nearly single-handedly carrying the Pride all year long.
5. Don’t make mistakes. A basketball team in a football town who plays in a competitive conference cannot afford to make mental or physical errors during play. This comes down to part coaching, part focus and part luck. A well-oiled machine of a team can overcome more talented foes, prey on weaker competition and never beat themselves. These factors ultimately lead to the final step to survive as a basketball team at a football school.
6. Win. Winning breeds confidence which breeds more winning. Consistently high levels of play bring fans to the arena, aiding whatever home court advantage that might exist. Winning also spawns talk and news. Getting people talking about your program is better than flying under the radar when your goal is exposure and gaining popularity. It is often a chicken or the egg argument as to whether winning brings popularity or does popularity bring winning. The better players come to schools that win. Schools that win can get better players. One step must come before the other. It is up to the Dukes to win first.
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