James Madison University's basketball team heads into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Pensacola, Fla., with optimism despite a late-season setback. The Dukes, seeded ninth in the tournament, finished the regular season with eight wins in their final 11 games, but a last-second loss to Coastal Carolina in their home finale prevented them from securing a higher seed. The bracket structure, which grants the top two seeds direct entry to the semifinals, means JMU will need to win six consecutive games to claim the title. The Dukes will open their tournament campaign against either Louisiana (No. 12 seed) or Georgia State (No. 13 seed) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Pensacola Bay Center. Despite the challenging path, players and coaches remain confident in their ability to compete. Forward Justin McBride emphasized that the loss to Coastal Carolina, while painful, does not diminish their belief in their team's potential. "We got all the confidence in the world still after this loss to get to Pensacola and win it all," McBride said. "This one would have helped us more. It stings, but we’re going to learn from it and watch film and get ready to go to Pensacola and win it all." JMU’s confidence is rooted in their late-season performance. After struggling early in conference play with a 2-6 record, the team rebounded with key road victories against Troy and Arkansas State, the latter of which holds the second-highest NET ranking in the league. Center Gabe Newhof acknowledged the disappointment of the Coastal loss but highlighted the team's momentum. "This loss sucks," Newhof said, "but it doesn’t take away from the fact that I believe and the team believes we’re playing our best basketball.#justin_mcbride #james_madison_university #sun_belt_conference_tournament #pensacola_bay_center #gabe_newhof
JMU men’s basketball faces steep challenge in Sun Belt tournament The No. 9 seeded JMU men’s basketball team (17-14, 9-9 Sun Belt) will begin its postseason campaign in the Sun Belt Conference tournament on Wednesday at 6 p.m. EDT. The Dukes will face the winner of Game 1, which pits No. 12 Louisiana (10-21, 7-11) against No. 13 Georgia State (10-21, 7-11). The matchup will take place just 24 hours after the Game 1 contest, as both teams prepare for the high-stakes showdown. Head coach Preston Spradlin acknowledged the difficulty of the task, calling the two opponents “two tough teams” capable of defeating any squad in the league. “You never know exactly what you’re going to get in the matchup against those guys,” Spradlin said, emphasizing the unpredictability of the contest. The Dukes, who faced both teams during the regular season, will need to rely on their experience to navigate the challenge. JMU’s previous encounters with Louisiana and Georgia State highlight the importance of preparation. The Dukes lost to Louisiana at home on Feb. 4, 64-61, with junior forward Justin McBride sidelined. However, Spradlin noted that Louisiana has since improved, boasting confidence and a strong performance in recent games. Meanwhile, JMU swept its two matchups against Georgia State, defeating the Panthers 81-79 in overtime on Feb. 12 and 80-65 in Atlanta on Feb. 21. “We played really well not long ago down at Georgia State,” Spradlin said, citing the team’s strong defensive and transition play. To secure the Sun Belt Conference championship and a bid to the NCAA tournament, JMU must win six consecutive games in six days. Spradlin admitted the challenge is immense, stating, “We haven’t even said the word six.#jmu #sun_belt_conference #preston_spradlin #justin_mcbride #cliff_davis
