Georgia State will start another five-day CAA road trip of planes, hotels, and buses as they travel to Virginia to play at James Madison on Thursday and then VCU on Sunday. The Panthers have three of these five-day journeys during the CAA season.
This game was moved to a 5 p.m. start a few months ago when the James Madison's men's team's game was moved from Wednesday to Thursday at 8 p.m. for television.
The young Panthers' five-member freshmen class has seen extensive time, playing 1,224 combined minutes as GSU fights through a six-game losing streak and the youngsters learn to adjust to the college game. GSU has just one senior, forward Chan Harris, who averages 9.9 points and 8.0 rebounds to go with 31 blocked shots. Sophomore guard Kendra Long is the team's leading scorer, meaning many games GSU has started three freshmen and a sophomore.
This is a re-match game as JMU is one of those six losses in the current streak as a result of the Dukes 62-50 win in Atlanta on Jan. 8. That defensive-minded game saw GSU shoot just 30% and JMU hit just 31% of their shots. GSU had 16 steals and forced 22 turnovers, while JMU had nine steals and forced 19 GSU turnovers. JMU's 50-34 rebound advantage and 24 offensive rebounds made the difference.
James Madison's 14-4 mark includes a 6-1 home record as the Dukes' 17-game homewin streak was ended Jan. 12 by Drexel, but the home court advantage has seen the Dukes win 18 of the last 19 games now as they rebounded with a win over Towson.
Georgia State's 6-12 record has seen the Panthers already play seven top 50 RPI teams (0-7) and eight top 100 teams (0-9) this season. This week's road trip continues with that same mode as James Madison's RPI is No. 28 and VCU's RPI is No. 96. That schedule would be challenging for a veteran team and is more so with the young team.
A GLANCE AT JAMES MADISON
The Dukes are the two-time defending CAA Tournament champs and with their 14-4 start are looking to challenge for a third one. At 5-2, they are tied for third place.
JMU's defense allows just 55.9 point per game, tied for second in the CAA, and is No. 51 in the NCAA. They allow opponents to make just 35.0% ,.001 off CAA leader Delaware, and No. 35 in the NCAA. The Dukes have a +6.5 rebound advantage to rank No. 67 in th NCAA. Their defense held William & Mary to a season-low 40 points Sunday and just 25.8% field goal shooting.
Located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia on I-81, James Madison University has almost 20,000 students. It is named for the fourth president, James Madison, also know as the Father of the Constitution.
Coach Kenny Brooks, 43, is in his 10th season at JMU since graduating from there in 1992 as a men's player for Coach "Lefty" Driesell.
Guard Tarik Hislop, a 5-7 sophomore guard, leads JMU in scoring with 15.0 points per game, even though she makes just 31% of her shots (87-276) and just 21% of her three-point attempts (10-47). Boston College transfer Jasmine Gill adds another 11.6 points a game, while six-foot Kirby Burkholder leads the Dukes with 34 three-point baskets.
Inside, senior Lauren Whitehurst averages 7.2 rebounds, has 28 blocks and averages 8.9 points, while six-foot-two junior Nikki Newman leads with 7.7 rebounds and has 23 blocked shots.
FEELING REJECTED- THE SWAT TEAM
GSU leads the CAA and has blocked 94 shots in the 18 games (5.2 per game) with The Swat Team of Harris and Paul accounting for 63 of those 94 rejections. The 5.2 blocks per game ranks No. 26 in the NCAA this season.
Last year, Georgia State finished No. 33 in the NCAA last season in blocked shots with 144 (4.6 per game).
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH LINEUP
Georgia State has started two 18-year old guards this season in Ashley Watson (Dec. 29, 1992, now 19) and Kayla Nolan (Sept. 24, 1993).
Starter Kendra Long just turned 20 (Nov. 14) to join starting center Cody Paulk, who turned 20 in June.
Freshman Miranda Smith is 18 (April 11, 1993) with freshmen Brittany Johnson (July 6, 1992) and starter Alana Beroth (April 3, 1992) both 19 years young.
The "old lady" of the lineup this year is Chan Harris, in her fifth year, who turned 22 on July 12.
Forward Tiffany Anderson celebrated her 21st birthday Dec. 6 and guard Jerlisa Taylor turned 21 Dec. 27.
Four of the Panthers five freshmen have started this year.
HARRIS READY TO JOIN ELITE STAT CLUBS
Senior forward Chan Harris is nearing several milestones in her career. She is closing in on 1,000 points, on 700 rebounds, on a 20th double-double and on the top 10 in career games played.
- Harris currently has 970 points, needing 30 to become the 20th in GSU history to score 1,000 points.
- Harris has 694 rebounds, needing 6 to become just the 12th in school history to pull down 700 rebounds.
- The forward has 122 blocks, leap frogging into third place all-time in Panther history. She needs 6 to move into second place.
- She has produced 21 career double-double games and became the 7th to ever have 20 with her double-double vs. ODU on Jan. 19.
- Harris has played in 114 games at GSU, cracking the top 10 list of all-time games played in 10th place. The school best is 121 games by Evita Rogers.
