James Madison Dukes
Overall Record vs. D-I: 13-10
CAA Record: 6-4 (4th)
RPI: 158
SOS: 135
KenPom: 182
JMU doesn't have a win against any of the teams above them in the standings (0-4) but doesn't have any losses against teams below them either (6-0), giving them a nice spot in the standings but having provided little evidence that they can contend in Baltimore. This will be their opportunity to knock off a legitimate contender. The Dukes are coming off their worst performance of the season; a blowout loss at home to rival William & Mary, 84-65.
In conference-only games, the Dukes are a middling team; 7th in scoring and 5th in scoring defense. Their strengths are 3-pt shooting (2nd) and obtaining steals (3rd). Their weaknesses include free throw shooting (9th), defending threes (8th) and offensive rebounds (9th).
JMU is led by Junior guard Ron Curry, who in CAA-only games is 10th in scoring (14.7), 4th in assists (4.0), 4th in steals (1.5), 10th in 3-pt shooting (.372), and 4th in A:TO ratio (1.8). In short, the guy does it all, and has a strong likelihood of being a CAA 1st-teamer. Sophomore forward Yohanny Dalembert (12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg) has also been a big-time performer for the Dukes in the interior. He ranks 2nd in the CAA in FG % (.640) and 2nd in blocked shots (1.5).
Head Coach Matt Brady, in the final year of his contract, has had mixed reviews this season. While JMU has beaten the teams they need to beat, they haven't been very competitive at all in their four big games against Northeastern and William & Mary, losing all four games by an average margin of 14 points. And in their most recent loss to the Tribe, he was criticized for not taking enough blame for himself. These types of deficiencies are keeping the former Marist coach from proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he deserves to be in charge next season. Wednesday night's game against UNCW will go a long way towards showing which direction his stock is going.