After knocking off Michigan State in East Lansing in the first game of the season, the sky was the limit for the James Madison Dukes this season. Although they came into the Sun Belt championship with a 30-3 record, they found themselves on the outside looking in for most bracketology experts’ projected NCAA Tournament field. With their 31st win of the year, James Madison basketball has clinched their spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
James Madison Basketball NCAA Tournament Profile
Terrence Edwards Jr. Can Score on a Whim
One of the biggest reasons why the Dukes are where they are now the scoring of Terrence Edwards Jr. In their statement road win over Michigan State to open the season, Edwards had 24 points. On five separate occasions this season, he scored 25 or more points. He averages 17.3 points per game, and also brings more than just scoring.
Edwards also averages over four rebounds and three assists per game. He is one of four players averaging over 10 points per game for the Dukes so he isn’t the only option in this offense. With that being said, the offense does run through him. In two of James Madison’s three losses this season, Edwards was held under 20 points. If you want to stop the Dukes, you have to start by limiting the success of Terrence Edwards Jr.
James Madison Prides Themselves on Defense
The one major issue for most non-power tournament teams in March is defense. Unlike most other teams, the Dukes are one of the better teams defensively. Not only is James Madison 15th out of 363 qualifying teams in the country with 9.1 steals per game, but they also rank 76th in defensive efficiency and 10th in defensive three-point percentage, according to Haslametrics.
The best part about James Madison’s defense, and their team as a whole, is that they’re incredibly consistent. Outside of a three-game stretch where the Dukes went 1-2 early in January, the team is 30-1. As a result, this James Madison basketball team ranks 22nd in the nation in consistency.
James Madison Likely to Receive 12-Seed in NCAA Tournament
Although some may discount the Sun Belt conference this season, Appalachian State went 27-6 this season and won the regular season title, so this conference was far from easy. Even though the Dukes may not have had the hardest schedule, they are 2-1 across Quadrant I and II and 21-0 against Quadrant IV opponents. Although their 6-2 record against Quadrant III opponents leaves something to be desired, the two losses to Appalachian State likely would’ve been Quadrant II losses had Appalachian State made the championship game.
There is no doubt that the Dukes will be the most popular upset pick and Cinderella prediction once the brackets release. At the current moment, the projected five seeds they may match up against include BYU, San Diego State, South Carolina and Clemson. While those are certainly good teams, they would certainly be challenged by the Dukes.
