JMU men’s basketball’s season begins Monday against Ohio. For those who haven’t paid attention, the Dukes completely overhauled their roster after Mark Byington left for Vanderbilt.

New head coach Preston Spradlin reloaded via the transfer portal, and the Dukes have high expectations entering 2024-25 because of Spradlin’s recruiting efforts. JMU was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt this year, behind only Arkansas State. Fans might not be expecting another 30-win season, but Spradlin’s group could very well bring JMU back to the NCAA Tournament.

Let’s break down a few basics ahead of opening night.

The Coach

Preston Spradlin comes to JMU after seven full seasons as Morehead State’s head coach. He was also the interim head coach for part of one year. In the last four years, Morehead State has won at least 20 games every season and made two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT. He’s highly qualified and could soon lead a Power Conference team.

In previous seasons as a head coach, Spradlin’s teams ran extremely slow offenses. That could change at JMU, given the increased athleticism on the roster and ability to bring in different types of recruits. Spradlin’s teams often rely on stellar defense to beat opponents.

Three Things You Need to Know

1. Mark Freeman is one of the best players at the mid-major level

Freeman, who missed last season with injury, averaged 15 points per game and 3.7 assists per game for Morehead State in 2022-23. He’s shot over 35% from 3-point range in each of the last two years and he’s 83.3% career free-throw shooter.

When he entered the portal, teams like Memphis, Wisconsin, and Auburn heavily recruited him. Landing Freeman changed the trajectory of JMU’s 2024-25 season. He’s a Power Conference caliber guard with incredible scoring upside and above average defensive ability. He might be the best player in the Sun Belt.

2. JMU is massive

This isn’t Mark Byington’s JMU men’s basketball team. JMU has a few huge post players, led by transfers Elijah Hutchins-Everett and Ebenezer Dowuona. They’re both 6-11 and weigh at least 235 lbs, with Hutchins-Everett an impressive 6-11 and 260 lbs. He’s a load in the post.

The Dukes also have great length and size at forward with Jerrell Roberson (6-9), Luke Anderson (6-7), and Eddie Ricks (6-7). Small forwards/guards AJ Smith and Justin Taylor are both 6-6 and 220 lbs. The Dukes should be a physically imposing mid-major team.

3. There’s a lot of turnover

Just like JMU football added a ton of talent this offseason, men’s basketball did the same. That talent can take time to jell, though. JMU’s roster has so many new faces that it likely won’t click immediately for the Dukes. Spradlin will need time to work through rotations and figure out how to best deploy players.

Give the Dukes patience as they work through the season.

The Schedule

Ehhhhh. It’s fine, but it’s not great. JMU will be tested by teams like Ohio, George Mason, and Wake Forest. They’ll also have plenty of easy wins. JMU should win 20+ games against this schedule, and the potential is there to win 25-30 if the pieces fit together immediately.

The full schedule can be found here. 

The Expectations

Contend for the Sun Belt title. Nobody expects Preston Spradlin to go out and make the Sweet 16 in Year 1 in Harrisonburg, but it’ll be a disappointment if this roster isn’t one of the three or four best teams in the Sun Belt. That’s a credit to Spradlin’s recruiting.

With Elijah Hutchins-Everett at center and Mark Freeman and Xavier Brown at guard, the Dukes should have one of the most dynamic inside-out games in the conference. JMU’s guards are experienced and highly competitive, and the Dukes have Power Conference size in the post.

This will be a special season if the pieces fit together well. The individual talent across the roster might be the best of any JMU men’s basketball team in the last two decades.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications