Dukes

James Madison Dukes
General Information
NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Sun Belt (2022-present)
Past Conferences: Colonial Athletic Association
City: Harrisonburg, Va.
Stadium: Atlantic Union Bank Center
NCAA Tournaments: 5 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1994, 2013)
Championships:
National Championships: None
Conference Tournament Titles: 4 (1981, 1983, 1994, 2013)
Conference Regular Season Titles: 10 (1981, 1982, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2015, 2021)
Team History
The James Madison Dukes are a Division I team located in Harrisonburg, Va. James Madison joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2022 — a year earlier than originally anticipated — following more than four decades in the Colonial Athletic Association, with whom it was an original member.
James Madison has made five trips to the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2013. The Dukes won a First Four game that season as No. 16 seed, before being eliminated in the round of 64 by Indiana. They also opened the tournament with wins in 1981, 1982 and 1983, and are 4-5 all-time in the Big Dance.
The move to the Sun Belt was football-driven, allowing James Madison, a two-time FCS national champion, to compete in one of the most competitive Group of Five conferences in the FBS. That transition was supposed to happen no later than July 1, 2023, but the school was able to speed up that timeline.
It left the basketball program in unfamiliar territory, having to develop new rivalries while rekindling some old ones. Schools such as Georgia State and Old Dominion were previously in the CAA. Â
James Madison was a steady contender in the CAA, winning 10 regular season titles — including five straight between 1990-94 — and four conference tournament championships. The program’s postseason history also includes five appearances in the National Invitational Tournament, two in the CIT and one in the CBI. The Dukes are 0-5 all-time in the NIT, with their most recent appearance in 1993.
Mark Byington, formerly at Georgia Southern, took over as James Madison’s head coach in 2020-21 and made a quick impression. He went 13-7 his first season, including 8-2 in conference play, and was named CAA Coach of the Year. Elon, however, overcame long odds to upset the top-seeded Dukes in the CAA quarterfinals, spoiling their bid for another trip to the NCAA Tournament.
James Madison was ranked fourth in its fourth Sun Belt preseason poll, behind Louisiana, Texas State and South Alabama. Additionally, senior guard Vado Morse was voted First Team All-Conference.
All Time Records
Points Scored
- Steve Stielper: 2,126
- Sherman Dillard: 2,065
- Matt Lewis: 1,928
Rebounds
- Steve Stielper: 917
- Pat Dosh: 821
- David Correll: 778
Assists
- Devon Moore: 502
- Pierre Curtis: 463
- Joe Pfahler: 420