Loss of Moore Leaves Questions in Backcourt

November 13, 2009 • By Tim Chapman, The Breeze
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The JMU men’s basketball team needs to quickly find answers to the loss of Devon Moore.

The point guard and co-captain blew out his knee in a closed scrimmage against Hampton University last

Sunday and the impact was immediately felt in Thursday’s 72-44 loss to No. 16 Ohio State. The Dukes turned the ball over 16 times, doled out only six assists and came up with just three steals.

“He really is a terrific, terrific player,” JMU coach Matt Brady said. “One of the five best players in our league, in my opinion… I’m disappointed that he didn’t play tonight, I’m disappointed that he’s not going to be able to play next weekend, I’m really disappointed he’s not gonna play this season.”

Moore’s only action came in an earlier scrimmage against Philadelphia University on Halloween. He played 16 minutes in the 92-71 win, handing out four assists to go along with three steals.

Starting two freshmen and two sophomores against a Big Ten power in the season’s first game didn’t exactly spell victory for the Dukes and Brady was aware of his opponents’ superiority.

“Obviously, Ohio State is a much better basketball team than we are,” Brady said. “… Certainly, I don’t think we were meant to win the game; Ohio State was clearly going to win the game.”

But Moore’s leadership and savvy would have offered things JMU didn’t exhibit. A Columbus, Ohio, native, Moore had spent months anticipating a spirited showing in his hometown.

Senior and co-captain Pierre Curtis moved back to the point guard position he played in his first two seasons. Curtis had his best season last year playing off the ball. The Denver native had his lowest scoring average of his career at 9.3 points-per-game but shot more efficiently at 50 percent from the field, while averaging a solid 4.2 rebounds.

Curtis led the Dukes with nine points and two assists Thursday and said he feels comfortable with the ball in his hands but acknowledged the adjustment moving back to point guard.

“Just having the ball so much, it’s been awhile since I’ve had the ball in my hands for 40 minutes,” Curtis said. “I haven’t had to play 38 minutes or 36 minutes in a game since my freshman or sophomore year, so that’s gonna take a little of getting used to.”

Junior guard Ben Louis played backup to Curtis but looked far from natural at the position, committing three turnovers in 13 minutes.

Freshmen Darren White and Alioune Diouf played 35 and 13 minutes, respectively, on the perimeter. Neither played poorly, but they failed to apply significant pressure on defense and seldom drove the lane, both staples of Moore’s game.

“I just got to coach ’em every day in practice,” Moore said. “Everybody’s gonna make mistakes. Me, Pierre and all the other guards too are gonna make mistakes. I think you just gotta coach ’em and just tell ’em the change is gonna come but you just gotta relax and play.”

The lack of a natural point guard also led to players being out of position with the ball. Sophomore swingman Andrey Semenov had a team-high of five turnovers.

Diouf and White will need to mature quickly in order to take pressure off Curtis. Moore should factor greatly into that maturation as he has already shifted his mindset to that of a coach. The dreadlocked, wiry leader, likened by much of campus to Lil’ Wayne, could be seen scouring over the stat sheets throughout the game.

“Darren was just asking what was he doing wrong on a play, and Alioune asked a couple times too,” Moore said. “… I think they’re all learning, but it’s gonna take a little longer than me or Julius [Wells] or Andrey had last year.”

The Dukes have a week to address their guard play before playing Murray State on Nov. 20 at Florida International University in the 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.

contact Tim Chapman at chapmatp@jmu.edu

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