Helena Frye
The James Madison Dukes are the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Dukes have enjoyed several successes in basketball, including winning the 2010 and 2011 Colonial Athletic Association championships, reaching the WNIT championship game in 2014, and winning the 2024 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament. They have appeared in the NCAA tournament six times, most recently in 2024, and have an all-time record of 567-432. The Dukes play their home games at the on-campus Atlantic Union Bank Center, which seats 8,500 fans. So, while it is not clear from the available information whether James Madison won a basketball championship, the team has certainly had its fair share of wins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the basketball team | James Madison Dukes |
| University represented | James Madison University (JMU) |
| Location | Harrisonburg, Virginia |
| Year founded | 1945 |
| Developed program | Late 1960s |
| First varsity intercollegiate program | 1969-1970 season |
| Current head coach | Preston Spradlin |
| Former head coach | Mark Byington |
| Home games | Atlantic Union Bank Center |
| Seating capacity | 8,500 |
| Year joined Sun Belt Conference | 2022 |
| Former conference | Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) |
| Number of appearances in NCAA tournament | 6 |
| Best start to a season | 14-0 |
| Record for wins in a season | 32-4 |
| Notable players | Charles Haley, Scott Norwood, Gary Clark, Danny Vranes, Sabrina Ionescu, James Worthy, Skylar Diggins, Tayshaun Prince, Dawn Evans |
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What You'll Learn
James Madison Dukes men's basketball team history
The James Madison Dukes men's basketball team has represented James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, since 1945. However, the team was not a fully developed program until the late 1960s, as the university became a fully coeducational institution. The 1969-1970 season was the first as a varsity intercollegiate program.
In 1972, Lou Campanelli became the head coach of the James Madison Dukes. Under Campanelli, the Dukes played in two NCAA Division II basketball tournaments and then three NCAA Division I basketball tournaments after the school moved from Division II to Division I. In their first NCAA Division I tournament in 1981, the Dukes beat Georgetown. They won a game in each of their following Division I tournament appearances under Campanelli, and in the 1982 tournament, they lost by two points to the eventual national champions, the University of North Carolina. Campanelli finished his tenure at James Madison with a record of 238-118 and was replaced by John Thurston in 1985.
In 1997, James Madison hired Sherman Dillard, a former basketball player for the university under Campanelli, as the new head coach. Dillard led the team through the 2004 season, guiding the program to one regular-season title in 2000 and compiling a record of 93-106. Dean Keener, who had previously been an assistant coach at Georgia Tech and JMU, was hired as the new head coach in 2004. Under Keener, the Dukes compiled a record of 31-85, and during the 2008 season, he resigned as head coach. That same year, Matt Brady was hired as the head coach of the men's basketball program.
In March 2020, Mark Byington was hired as the new head coach of the James Madison Dukes. In his first season, Byington led the team to a share of the regular-season title, their first since the 2015 season. On December 7, 2021, the Dukes defeated Virginia for the first time in program history in front of a sold-out home crowd. The 2023-24 season was also successful, with the team winning their first road games at Michigan State and Kent State and breaking home-winning streaks held by both teams. The Dukes then won their home game against Howard, propelling them into the AP Top 25 for the first time. On December 9, 2023, the team broke their record for the best start to a season by defeating Old Dominion University to start 9-0. The Dukes finished the 2023-24 season with a record of 32-4, the best in program history, and won the 2024 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament, securing an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. They defeated Wisconsin in the First Round before losing to Duke in the Second Round. Following their loss in the NCAA Tournament, Byington accepted the head coach position at Vanderbilt, and Preston Spradlin was hired as the new head coach of the Dukes on March 29, 2024.
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The team's head coaches
The James Madison Dukes men's basketball team has had several head coaches throughout its history, with the current head coach being Preston Spradlin, who was hired on March 29, 2024. Spradlin signed a six-year deal with the university and has a successful record as a coach, having led the team to the NCAA Championship Second Round.
Before Spradlin, Mark Byington served as the head coach of the Dukes from 2020 to 2024. During his tenure, Byington reinvigorated the program and led the team to significant successes, including a share of the regular-season title in his first season and a record-breaking start to the 2023-24 season with road wins over Michigan State and Kent State. Under Byington's guidance, the Dukes also defeated Virginia for the first time in program history and broke into the AP Top 25 rankings. Byington's overall record with the Dukes stands at an impressive 82-36 across his four seasons as head coach.
Lou Campanelli was the head coach of the James Madison Dukes men's basketball team from 1972 to 1985. During his thirteen-year tenure, Campanelli guided the team to two NCAA Division II tournaments and three NCAA Division I tournaments, including a win over Georgetown in their first appearance in 1981. The Dukes also won a game in each of their subsequent Division I tournament appearances under Campanelli's leadership.
John Thurston was hired as the fourth head coach of the Dukes in 1985, following Campanelli's departure. However, the specific details of Thurston's tenure and achievements are not readily available in the provided sources.
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The team's players
The James Madison Dukes men's basketball team has had a rich history, with many notable players and coaches contributing to their success over the years. The team, based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2022, participating in Division I sports.
Some of the current players on the team include Michael Green, Bryant Randleman, Mark Freeman, Brycen Blaine, and AJ Smith. These guards are joined by teammates in the center position, including Elijah Hutchins-Everett and Redd Thompson, whose position is listed as unknown.
The Dukes have had several notable coaches throughout their history. In 1972, Lou Campanelli took over as head coach, leading the team for thirteen successful years. During his tenure, the Dukes transitioned from Division II to Division I, and Campanelli guided them to two NCAA Division II tournaments and three NCAA Division I tournaments. The team won a game in each of their appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament under Campanelli, showcasing their consistent performance.
In March 2020, Mark Byington was hired as the head coach, previously serving as the head coach at Georgia Southern. Byington's impact was immediate, leading the Dukes to a share of the regular-season title in his first season. The 2023-24 season started exceptionally well, with road wins against strong opponents and a home win over Howard, propelling the team into the AP Top 25 for the first time. Byington's four seasons as head coach culminated in an impressive 82-36 record, after which he accepted a position at Vanderbilt.
Preston Spradlin then took over as the new head coach of the men's basketball team in March 2024. Under his leadership, the Dukes continued to thrive, breaking their record for the best start to a season in December 2023 with a 9-0 victory over Old Dominion University.
The Dukes have also had several notable players achieve individual success and recognition. For example, Dawn Evans was an Associated Press All-American honourable mention in 2009 and was named CAA Player of the Year in 2011. Additionally, Charles Haley, a former Duke, is one of only two players to win five Super Bowl rings and has been inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
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The team's wins
The James Madison Dukes men's basketball team has enjoyed several successes over the years. The team has appeared in the NCAA tournament six times, most recently in 2024, and has a combined record of 4–5. In 2020, Mark Byington was hired to lead the Dukes men's basketball team. In his first season, Byington led the Dukes to a share of the regular-season title, the team's first since the 2015 season. On December 7, 2021, Byington's Dukes defeated Virginia for the first time in program history. The 2023–24 season started with road wins at Michigan State and Kent State, breaking both teams' home-winning streaks. The Dukes then defeated Howard at home, propelling them into the AP Top 25 for the first time. On December 9, 2023, the team broke their record for the best start to a season by defeating Old Dominion University to start 9–0. The Dukes won the 2024 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament, securing an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. As the 12th seed in the South region, the Dukes upset 5th seed Wisconsin in the First Round, before losing to Duke in the Second Round. This was the first time the Dukes had advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament since the 1993–94 season. The Dukes finished the 2023–24 season with a record of 32–4, the best in program history.
The Dukes have also had success in other sports. In 2017, JMU won their second National Championship in football, defeating Youngstown State by a score of 28–14 in Frisco, Texas. JMU Lacrosse won the school's fourth Division I National Championship in May 2018, with a 16–15 win over Boston College. The women's basketball team won the Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2010 and 2011, and in 2015, they became the third NCAA women's basketball team to reach 1000 wins in program history.
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The team's losses
The James Madison Dukes men's basketball team has experienced several losses throughout its history, including some notable defeats and challenging seasons. Here is an overview of some of the team's losses:
The Dukes' first major setback occurred in the 1981-82 season, when they advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament for the first time. After securing a win over Georgetown in the initial round, they faced the University of North Carolina in the second round, losing by a narrow margin of just two points. The University of North Carolina went on to become the national champions that year, adding weight to the Dukes' defeat.
Another notable loss came during the 2012-13 season. After a successful campaign that saw them win the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament and secure a place in the NCAA tournament, the team faced off against Old Dominion University in the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Despite their efforts, the Dukes were defeated by their rivals, who ultimately went on to become the champions of that tournament.
The 2016-17 season also presented a challenging moment for the Dukes. After an impressive undefeated season that culminated in a 14-0 record, the team reached the title game once more. However, they suffered a close defeat at the hands of North Dakota State, losing the game with a score of 17-13. North Dakota State's victory marked the beginning of their decade of dominance in FCS football, making the loss even more memorable for the Dukes.
More recently, in the 2023-24 season, the Dukes experienced a setback after a promising start. Despite winning their first nine games and achieving the best start in program history, they eventually dropped their first game of the season on January 6 at Southern Miss. This loss marked a turning point in their otherwise strong performance that season.
The Dukes have also faced challenges in maintaining a consistent winning record across seasons. While they have achieved notable successes, there have been seasons where they did not advance as far in tournaments. For instance, between their appearances in the 1993-94 season and the 2023-24 season, there were years where they did not progress beyond the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In summary, while the James Madison Dukes men's basketball team has achieved victories and accolades, they have also endured losses and challenging seasons. These setbacks have often come at pivotal moments, such as close defeats in title games or against eventual tournament champions. Despite these losses, the team has consistently worked to improve and has achieved notable successes throughout its history.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the James Madison Dukes won the 2024 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament, securing an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Mark Byington was the head coach of the James Madison Dukes for the 2023-24 season.
Preston Spradlin is the current head coach of the James Madison Dukes.
Lou Campanelli was the head coach of the James Madison Dukes in 1981.
The James Madison Dukes have appeared in the NCAA tournament six times, most recently in 2024.
