JMU women’s basketball begins its season Monday at Kent State. It’ll be a tough nonconference schedule this year for the Dukes, but they have the roster to be one of the nation’s best mid-major teams.

Here’s an overview of the Dukes before the season begins.

The Coach

Sean O’Regan enters Year 9 as JMU’s head coach. He’s done well leading the Dukes — they have six 20+ win seasons under his watch — although they’ve fallen frustratingly short of the NCAA Tournament a few times. O’Regan, given his experience and success, is clearly one of the top coaches in the Sun Belt. His teams have never had a losing record in conference games.

He’ll be joined by key assistant coach Neil Harrow, who recently returned to the program after an offseason coaching at the WNBA level. Harrow’s Sun Belt experience — he spent several years at Troy before joining JMU — makes him one of the most valuable assistants in the entire conference. It’s great for O’Regan that he’s coming back.

Three Things You Need to Know

1. The Dukes return almost everyone

Peyton McDaniel, Kseniia Kozlova, Ashanti Barnes, Jamia Hazell, Olivia Mullins, Anna Goodman, and Mikaya Tynes headline JMU’s returning players. That’s an incredible group of seven to bring back, and the Dukes could probably win a bunch of games with just that group.

McDaniel is the preseason SBC Player of the Year, while Kozlova, Barnes, and Goodman should form one of the best post presences in the conference. Hazell and Mullins are both good ball handlers who can score and pass. Tynes adds depth in the post, and she’s experienced as a senior.

The level of returning experience in the transfer portal era means JMU should enter the season as the team to beat in the Sun Belt and as one of the best mid-major teams in the country.

2. Ro Scott is the team’s high-profile transfer addition

The returners aren’t the only key players on the team, though. Ro Scott, a Marshall transfer, is JMU’s headliner from the portal. Scott averaged 18 points in 37 games with Marshall, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt honors in 2023. She’s a gifted scorer and could be the No. 2 scoring option behind McDaniel.

JMU also added Zakiya Stephenson (Ole Miss) and Bree Robinson (Michigan State), a pair of sophomore guards, in the transfer portal. They should help with ball handling, which was a major issue for JMU last season. The Dukes turned the ball over 39 times in their SBC title game loss to Marshall last year.

3. The schedule is absurd (in a good way)

JMU plays Notre Dame, Florida, VCU, Texas (at home), Villanova, and N.C. State in its nonconference schedule. That’s insanity.

The schedule is demanding, but that’s good. JMU will be tested before reaching conference play, facing off against some of the best teams in the country. There are other easier nonconference games, too, but much of the nonconference slate is brutal.

Expect a rowdy crowd for the Dec. 8 home game with Texas. The Sunday game even comes during a Washington Commanders bye week, perhaps urging some students to attend the basketball game instead of camping out in front of the TV for an NFL Sunday. There’s no reason that game shouldn’t have an electric atmosphere.

The Expectation

Win the Sun Belt. Given JMU’s returning experience on the roster and within the coaching staff, anything other than a Sun Belt Championship will feel like a disappointment for this team. It’s quite possible this team lives up to those lofty expectations, making the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons.

At the very least, this group should be in the thick of the Sun Belt race throughout the season. The Dukes are deep and talented. This should be an exceptionally fun team to watch this winter, given the overall roster talent and difficult schedule.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications