SIU gets their first test of the season in Cancun on Tuesday against a ranked James Madison team.
Meet the Dukes:
James Madison is in their second season in the Sun Belt Conference after moving over from the Colonial Athletic Conference and were picked 1st in the Sun Belt media preseason poll. Out of all D1 teams, the Dukes are 5th in the country in D1 experience (3.15 years). It was announced in the preseason that one of their key players 6-7 Junior Justin Amadi will miss the entire regular season with a "lower body injury".
The Dukes are coached by Mark Byington in his 4th year with the program. Byington spent 7 seasons at Georgia State where he led them to 3 straight 20 win seasons before taking the job at JMU. He led the Dukes to their highest KenPom finish since 2016 last year (98).
JMU started their season with a bang, an overtime win over #26 KenPom ranked Michigan State in East Lansing. They followed that up with a double overtime road win over #93 KenPom ranked Kent State. In their game on Friday at home against Radford, they rallied late for a win to move to 4-0.
James Madison likes to play really fast. They're 5th in the country in adjusted tempo (76.2) and 39th in the country in average possession length on the offensive end (15.2 seconds). In 2 of their 4 games this year, the Dukes have broken the 100 point mark including 107 points in regulation against Howard. JMU is 45th in the country in 3 point % (38.9%) and 99th in the country in effective field goal % (52.9%). The Dukes take care of the ball well as they're 49th in the country in turnover % on the offensive end (13.9%). On the defensive end, the Duke are 69th in the country in steal % (12.1%). If there's one weakness for the Dukes so far this year, it's rebounding. James Madison is 279th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (33.7%) and 193rd in the country in offensive rebounding % for (29.3%).
The leading scorer for the Dukes is 6-6 Junior Terrance Edwards averaging 21 points per game. Edwards was a 3 star recruit out of Decatur, GA and chose James Madison over offers from Little Rock, East Carolina, East Tennessee State, and Georgia Southern. Last year as a Redshirt Sophomore, Edwards came off the bench for the Dukes and was named Sun Belt 6th Man of the Year and was named to the Second Team All-Sun Belt after leading the team in scoring with 13.3 PPG. This season, Edwards leads the Dukes in minutes, possessions, and shots. He's 210th in the country in 3 point % (9-19, 47.4%). Edwards is 408th in the country in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (5.2) and 447th in the country in free throw rate (39.7%) and when he gets to the line, he's been knocking down his free throws as he's 98th in the country in free throw % (23-25, 92%). Edwards was named to the All-Sun Belt first team in the preseason by the media.
The leading rebounder for James Madison is 6-9 Senior T.J. Bickerstaff averaging 8.7 RPG. It's been a long journey for Bickerstaff to end up at JMU. T.J. was a 3 star recruit out of Tyrone, GA and chose Drexel over offers from Middle Tennessee, Alcorn State, UConn, and DePaul. After 2 seasons at Drexel, Bickerstaff transferred to Boston College where he started 43 of 60 games. After 2 seasons at Boston College, Bickerstaff ended up at James Madison where he's been a huge factor so far this season. Bickerstaff is 111th in the country in defensive rebounding % (25.6%) and 306th in the country in offensive rebounding % (9.9%). Bickerstaff is also 59th in the country in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (7.7). In their win against Michigan State earlier this year, Bickerstaff scored 21 points and added 14 rebounds. T.J. is the nephew of Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
The leader in assists for the Dukes is 6-0 Senior Michael Green III averaging 4.3 assists per game. Green III spent two years at Bryant before transferring to Robert Morris where he spent another two years. This season, Green III is 178th in the country in assist rate (27.4%), 312th in the country in 3 point % (10-23, 43.5%), 226th in the country in effective field goal % (62.2%), and 239th in the country in true shooting % (64.0%).
Other names of note on this James Madison team include 6-4 Senior Noah Freidel. Freidel burst onto the scene at South Dakota State as a 3 point sniper and had 3 standout seasons there but has battled injuries along the way. This season, Friedel is 304th in the country in 3 point % (7-16, 43.8%). 6-6 Junior Raekwon Horton leads the Dukes in steals with 7 in his first 4 games. Horton spent 2 seasons at Charleston before transferring over to James Madison this year. Horton is 172nd in the country in steal % (4.5%).
Links:
Excited for this one. First glimpse at how this team will fare in the MVC.
Anyone going to Cancun?
Probably the most winnable game against a top 25 opponent in recent history. Also probably the most difficult game for JMU left on their schedule.
Bottled water only!!!
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
It is hard to see Cade on that knee scooter!
James Madison is up to #22 in the country and favored by 5.5 points tomorrow. Over/Under is 147.5.
I believe in signs. See the Saluki? https://imgur.com/a/F61bRQk
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
@rafflaw Agree. Big guys fall hard.
I remember a fellow by the name of Sam Bowie. Played at UK. Broke his foot and never fully recovered. I certainly hope this is not the case for Cade.
Greg Oden Ohio State. #1 pick in the draft - constant injuries and surgeries led to a mediocre career.
Cade must have broken a bone.
