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
