2022 Record: 22-11 (12-6)

Coach: Mark Byington (Career Record 188-133) (Record at JMU 50-32)

James Madison was an early season surprise last year as they won their first few games in blowouts rising to as high as 73 in Kenpom. They stayed fairly consistent throughout the year and never fell out of the Kenpom Top 100. James Madison lost a few of their better players to eligibility, but the staff did a very good job replacing the lost talent with players via the transfer portal.

Lineup Prediction:

PG: Michael Green III (Robert Morris 9.0 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 4.2 Ast)

SG: Noah Freidel (8.7 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

SF: Terrence Edwards (13.3 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 1.9 Ast)

PF: Julien Wooden (8.4 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 0.7 Ast)

C: TJ Bickerstaff (Boston College 5.2 Pts, 5.6 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

6: SF Quincy Allen (Colorado 1.6 Pts, 0.5 Reb, 0.1 Ast)

7: PF Justin Amadi (4.9 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 0.5 Ast)

8: SF Raekwon Horton (CofC 5.4 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 1.1 Ast)

9: PG Bryant Randleman (High Point 8.7 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 3.3 Ast)

10: C Jaylen Carey

11: PG Xavier Brown (2.8 Pts, 1.4 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

12: SG Brycen Blaine (3.3 Pts, 1.6 Reb, 1.3 Ast)

13: PF Jerrell Roberson (2.5 Pts, 1.7 Reb)

James Madison returns less than 50% of their production from last season, but they made some very intriguing adds in the portal that could have them once again near the top of the Sun Belt standings. Robert Morris transfer Michael Green III is a true floor general and averaged over 4 assists this past season at RMU. Green has a career high of 16PPG with Bryant in 2020-21. James Madison also added High Point PG Bryant Randleman via the transfer portal expected to backup RMU transfer Michael Green III. Randleman possesses great passing skills but really struggles from deep.

Quincy Allen is a very intriguing transfer who could potentially have a massive breakout season. Allen, a transfer from Colorado is a former 4 star recruit who battled his fair share of injuries in his short college career so far. TJ Bickerstaff who spent time at Drexel and Boston College will be the starting big man for the Dukes this season. Following a season of over 5 points and 5 rebounds at the ACC level, Bickerstaff should be a primary factor in the interior for the Dukes.

The returning players for James Madison next season includes leading scorer Terrance Edwards who averaged over 13PPG while shooting 46% from 3. He should improve upon those stats this upcoming season and again be one of the better players for the Dukes. The Dukes also return Noah Freidel and Julien Wooden both 5th year players that bring a ton of experience to the team.

James Madison is the favorite in the Sun Belt this upcoming season but there is a very tight race at the top. South Alabama, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State are all slated to have really talented teams this season. Expectations for James Madison should be to compete at the top of the conference finishing at least top 3 in the regular season putting them in prime position to get the auto bid via the conference tournament.