Friday, November 8, 2024
HomesportJames Madison's magical run fueled by family and belief

James Madison’s magical run fueled by family and belief


Scribbler’s be aware: James Madison won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship on Monday and can proceed directly to play games within the NCAA Event for the primary week since 2013. The fresh tale is as follows.

Matt Bucklin used to be deep in idea in his administrative center, thinking about doable answers for James Madison‘s males’s basketball program to discover a marquee non-conference sport to aid spice up the Dukes’ résumé. In his 2nd yr as an laborer schoolmaster at James Madison – a Section I program positioned in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a pupil people of simply over 22,000 – Bucklin sought after to assemble a spill. The defect? There wasn’t an extended checklist of high-major systems prepared to stand a feature mid-major that used to be the favourite within the Solar Belt Convention and used to be coming off its maximum a success season in 41 years.

“I knew we needed a buy game,” Bucklin mentioned. “But it’s been really hard to get those here, so I was getting to the point where we needed to call someone for a favor.” 

Head schoolmaster Mark Byington, who used to be i’m ready to start out his fourth yr on the helm at James Madison, used to be feeling the force to get one thing accomplished next being unfavourable a number of occasions through numerous systems.

“Pretty much everybody in the country told us no when we were trying to schedule,” Byington mentioned. “We would love to get on a bus and play somebody in Virginia, Maryland or North Carolina in a guarantee game. We got told no by all of them. So, we had to use a relationship. We needed to find somebody.” 

Naturally, the upcoming step used to be to get in contact with someone who may just lend a hand and trade in up a bias: nation.

So, Bucklin known as up the administrative center of his uncle, who simply so occurs to be a Corridor of Famer and the pinnacle schoolmaster at Michigan State – Tom Izzo. Bucklin’s mom, Mary, is one among Izzo’s two sisters, and it’s simplest herbal that Izzo’s affect trickled into his prolonged nation when it got here to basketball and training. (Bucklin’s used brother, Michael, is the Senior Vice President of FOX Sports activities Virtual.)

Izzo didn’t select up his nephew’s name, however Michigan Atmosphere colleague athletic director Kevin Pauga did. Pauga has been on the faculty for twenty years and is liable for scheduling, proceed coordination and postseason making plans.

Bucklin – who began his training occupation at Georgia and used to be on Mark Fox’s group of workers for an NCAA Event sport in opposition to Izzo’s Spartans in 2015 and a investmrent exhibition match in 2017 – didn’t book again when asking Pauga, absolutely anticipating his request to get denied: Do you suppose there’s any prospect this is able to occur?

“I was 0-2 against him, well, really 0-1 with the charity exhibition game, but it’s easier to give him that game now,” Bucklin mentioned with amusing. “We do a get-together at [Izzo’s] beach house in late July or early August every year, and I’ve been on the receiving end of all the trash talk. So, with that in mind, I thought why not ask for the favor.” 

The Spartans, thought to be a preseason nationwide championship contender with Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard headlining a loaded returning solid, in fact had two obvious dates to fill at first of the season. Only a few groups sought after to obvious up their season with an anticipated blowout loss.

“The opener was the only option for us, so we started pushing,” Bucklin mentioned. “Our message was that this buy game would be important for our program. Ideally, this was not perfect for them for their first game, but we just kept texting him to keep this at the front of his mind.” 

Bucklin paced in his administrative center, watching for the answer on whether or not it might get accomplished. The telephone rang next a number of days, and Pauga known as with the scoop.

“Coach [Izzo] didn’t say no,” Pauga mentioned.

A grin got here to Bucklin’s face. A assurance used to be drawn up in East Lansing and emailed over. 

Michigan Atmosphere vs. James Madison used to be taking place, and at the opening night time of the 2023-24 university basketball season, it used to be straight away thought to be one of the impish video games on an differently uninspiring slate.

Izzo visited along with his nephew on Nov. 5, the night time prior to the sport, as a few of Bucklin’s nation had been staying on the Corridor of Status schoolmaster’s space. What took place 24 hours nearest used to be the best regular-season hour in James Madison males’s basketball historical past, and a complete nightmare for the house group. 

James Madison upsets Incorrect. 4 Michigan Atmosphere, 79-76, in additional time

The Dukes beat the Spartans, 79-76, notching this system’s highest-ranked victory ever presen turning into the primary program handy an AP preseason top-five group a loss of their house opener since 2001. It marked simply the second one week in program historical past that James Madison defeated a ranked opponent, with the primary coming again in 1992 in a victory over a Jason Kidd-led California group. At the turn aspect, Michigan Atmosphere suffered its first house loss in November for the reason that 1986-87 season. 

How did Izzo, the three-time Heavy Ten Mentor of the Hour who carried out the bias, deal with the postgame scene along with his nephew and prolonged nation? 

“I really didn’t know what to say,” Bucklin mentioned. “He said, ‘Congratulations, I love you,’ in the postgame, and then I got a really nice postgame message that said, ‘Hey, all I want you to do is celebrate this. You don’t have to feel any other way.’

He used to be satisfied for me, our group and our nation. I used to be clearly emotional. On one hand, I’ve by no means sought after Michigan Atmosphere to lose … ever. That used to be my 3rd week rooting in opposition to them, and to return out at the successful aspect used to be superior.” 

That night served as a launching point for the Dukes, who followed up the victory with a 113-108 double-overtime win at Kent State three nights later. Trailing by five points with just 3.8 seconds left in regulation, Noah Freidel buried a triple and then made a game-tying layup after an offensive foul to force bonus basketball, leading JMU to an improbable win. 

Overcoming a late Michigan State lead in East Lansing? Coming back to beat Kent State after trailing by five with under four seconds remaining? When you start the season winning that way, it offers a taste of March and a belief that can quickly turn into momentum.

Little did the Dukes know that their run was only beginning. Byington’s team improved to 14-0 on Jan. 4 following a 68-61 win at Louisiana, snapping the Ragin’ Cajuns’ home-winning streak at 19 games. The Dukes, who were ranked as high as No. 19 in AP Top 25 Poll, became the first team in college basketball to reach 14 wins on the season, joining Houston and Ole Miss as the three unbeatens at that time. 

The Dukes were off to the best start in program history and two months into the season, they were the talk of the college basketball world.

*** *** ***

When Byington took over at James Madison in 2020 next spending the former seven years at Georgia Southern, the program was coming off a 9-21 season, which included a last place finish in the Coastal Athletic Association.

Jeff Bourne, who is retiring this spring after a 25-year run as the university’s director of athletics, was looking for someone to take the program out of the darkness after firing Louis Rowe. What was the AD looking for in his next leader? “A gamers’ schoolmaster who additionally understood how he may just maximize James Madison College,” Bourne said, “and we discovered that and the entirety extra with Mark.

“It’s easy to see how much our guys enjoy playing for him. He fights for all of the things our players want, and he’s what you look for in a head coach because he gets it. He’s really enjoyable to work with, and he’s done a great job of recruiting and restoring back talent that will ultimately help us be successful long term.” 

Bourne, who drank the most productive bottle of wine in his space the night time the Dukes surprised Michigan Atmosphere, mentioned the win over the Spartans validated to the enthusiasts what he already knew: “That we hit the jackpot when we hired Mark.” 

When taking a look at how Byington went about development his program, glance negative additional than Terrence Edwards Jr., who’s a unprecedented four-year participant at a mid-major faculty. The 6-foot-6 wing is averaging 17.6 issues, 4.3 rebounds and three.3 assists according to sport presen taking pictures 43% from the ground and 36% from 3-point field. Edwards led this system to a seven-win development utmost yr with 22 victories, the most productive season relating to wins in over 4 many years.

“I had friends from his Georgia Southern teams that told me how much he developed guys,” Edwards mentioned of Byington when requested why he selected James Madison popping out of Tucker Top College in Georgia. “It was a no-brainer for me, and it’s never been on my mind to leave or transfer. It’s the development. These guys help you out in basketball and the real world.” 

Edwards has higher his scoring manufacturing each season, in addition to his lend a hand totals, nevertheless it’s the way in which the college has helped him past basketball that has performed a immense position in him calling James Madison his house for 4 years. 

“I saw all of that with this program and it became clear to me that I could never leave these guys,” Edwards mentioned. “I want to become a pro from James Madison, not somewhere else. The people here care about you as a person, and they help you grow up. If I went somewhere else, I know I wouldn’t be where I’m at as a player and person right now.” 

With an adjusted pace that ranks 52nd within the nation out of 362 groups, James Madison performs freely, one thing Edwards famous when describing how relaxing it’s to play games for Byington. That fast pace is sprung through the way in which the Dukes barricade, these days rating some of the peak 50 groups within the nation in defensive potency, in keeping with KenPom. 

“I know if we put in the work, he’s going to let us be us when we’re on the floor,” Edwards added.

Month Byington has loved development his program with gamers who’ve stayed with the Dukes from the beginning in their university careers, he has additionally taken in transfers, together with T.J. Bickerstaff, a fifth-year senior who got here from Boston College. Nearest serving in a restricted position for the Eagles all through a coarse 16-17 marketing campaign, Bickerstaff has discovered greener pastures in Harrisonburg. The 6-9 Bickerstaff has long past from 5.2 issues according to sport to 13.9 issues this season, to proceed in conjunction with 8.4 rebounds according to match. 

“It was between going pro or coming back to college for me,” Bickerstaff mentioned of his mindset following his fourth yr of school hoops. “I knew [assistant] coach [Jon] Cremins and I knew Coach Byington from my high school days. They had watched me play before. But for me, I took time to watch film. I watched the team at the beginning of the year and then at the end of the year. The people that took the shots at the start of the year, those shots were the same at the end. I really liked the play style as well. There was a consistency to it. That made me think it was best to be here.” 

T.J. Bickerstaff throws unwell a dunk next Terrence Edwards Jr.’s gorgeous cross to increase JMU’s govern vs. Michigan Atmosphere

What has made Bickerstaff’s season at James Madison the most productive of his university occupation? 

“This place is special,” Bickerstaff mentioned. “It’s the people, our mindset, the skill sets on our team. It’s a lot of things that go into it. We’ve got the right coaching staff and the right players that fit that coaching staff. It’s gelled from the start. That chemistry is different from other programs. I think this group, as a result, can accomplish anything we want to. A Sun Belt championship, an NCAA Tournament run – it’s all possible for our team.” 

The way in which that Byington has long past about growing chemistry amongst his gamers is a long way from conventional – the Dukes don’t have group regulations.

“Instead of rules, we lay out the expectations,” Byington mentioned. “We start every year by breaking down what we want to do and where we want to go. A lot of things in our program are just repeated daily that we want to believe in. We want to care about each other. We want to be happy for somebody else’s success. We want to prepare as hard as we can and play as hard as we can, and give ourselves the best chance to win. 

“But it surely’s no longer like we proceed into the cupboard room and say, ‘Alright, males, we’ve were given 20 group regulations and also you’ve were given to observe and abide through those.’ The #1 factor is discreet: lease the correct guys that serve about successful. Once they put that primary and serve about each and every alternative, just right issues have a prospect to occur.” 

While Byington’s approach has worked, it is hard to materialize in a college basketball climate featuring close to 2,000 transfers in the portal this past offseason. So, how does Byington go about recruiting? 

“It’s mainly like pace relationship,” he said with a smile. “It’s a quantity more difficult to struggle to determine what anyone’s like. The switch occurs and also you and them need to assemble a snappy determination. NIL and enjoying week are concerned, and sure, it’s tricky. However we at all times struggle to search out guys that experience an detail of toughness. Toughness is a talent. In the event that they don’t have that, they higher have alternative elite abilities. We adore our guys to have a really feel for the sport as a result of that permits us to play games fast, positionless basketball. While you’re ready to have guys that experience a splendid toughness and really feel for the sport, it begins there.”

“The fellows that we’ve got, they’re right here for the correct causes,” Bucklin added. “Our guys prioritize successful and that allowed us to return out sizzling. We’ve been in point of fact lucky that they’ve pop out with that mentality.” 

There’s a balance between that winning mentality on the court and a healthy lifestyle off the floor, which was made evident by the players and coaches around the program, but it hasn’t always been that way for Byington. In fact, the 47-year-old who started his coaching career as an assistant at Charleston in 2002, then a brief stop at Virginia, then back to Charleston, said he hit a mental wall at one point in his career. 

“I were given stuck up and used to be in point of fact dangerous as a result of the entirety about training used to be results-based,” Byington said. “I used to be all about competitiveness and I needed to have the ability to be aggressive. I used to be completely devastating after we misplaced. And next, while you win, you don’t even really feel the correct manner. You’re directly to the upcoming factor, being petrified of dropping. As I’ve gotten used, I’ve considered taking up demanding situations and visual how we will deal with them, and the way we can improve. For me, it’s about development a group as one. I don’t put the entirety on wins and losses anymore.” 

Byington holds a saying from future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Belicick close to his heart, and has hung it up on his office wall: 

“It’s no longer with reference to what you need to succeed in, however who you will have to turn out to be within the procedure.”

“Once I were given the task at Georgia Southern, I didn’t know if I used to be committing to win a sport,” said Byington, who took over a program that had gone 14-19 and had not appeared in an NCAA Tournament since 1992. “However I instructed myself, ‘If I don’t suppose we’re committing to win, we received’t win any.’ I needed to in finding pleasure within the procedure and concentrate on getting public higher.”

*** *** ***

It’s something to have good fortune at a faculty. It’s any other to really feel help.

“The entirety is big-time right here,” Byington said of James Madison. “Everyone tries to mention they’re in big-time leagues or big-time faculties. However come right here and take a look at our park. Teachers are top-notch. Amenities are the most productive. I’ve labored at two other ACC faculties and once I were given right here and noticed the entirety, I didn’t see a excess. I do know budgets could also be other, however while you go searching right here, all of our sports activities are a success. It’s a dedicated park and we have now the entirety.”

It’s no coincidence that James Madison’s football team also enjoyed a successful season, going 11-1 in the regular season, the most wins ever recorded by a program transitioning from the football championship subdivision. Head coach Curt Cignetti was rewarded for his work, being named the head coach at Indiana University in November.

“It used to be a circus round right here,” Byington said of the excitement around the campus when football was rolling and basketball shocked Michigan State. “Each week you became at the TV, you noticed JMU. I’m positive we’ll proceed to peer some great benefits of that. I’m satisfied tales are being instructed about JMU that will no longer be informed if sports activities weren’t having good fortune.” 

Will there be more stories told about James Madison this March? That is the question, as the Dukes currently sit at 28-3 overall, which marks the highest win total in program history. Following a 4-3 stretch in January, JMU won 10 straight games to close out the regular season, finishing with a 15-3 mark in conference play, good for second place in the Sun Belt Conference. The winner of the regular-season title, Appalachian State, represents the biggest mountain that the Dukes have to climb in order to hear their name called on Selection Sunday. The Mountaineers have handed JMU two of its three losses this season, with a potential third meeting coming in the Sun Belt Tournament finals if both make it there on March 11 in Pensacola, Florida.

“We’ve were given to only stock pushing and pushing,” Byington said. “Are we proficient enough quantity to do one thing particular? We’re, completely. Is our league proficient enough quantity to knock us off briefly? Completely. We’ve were given to assemble essentially the most of each unmarried moment and night time, as a result of should you glance too a long way forward, you’ll lose your manner within the right here and now.” 

James Madison has been to the NCAA Tournament just once since 1994, with a First Four appearance in 2013 that led to a win in Dayton. If JMU is to make it this year, a more manageable 13- or 14-seed would likely be in the cards, based on tournament projections. 

The NCAA Tournament is a time for stories to be written, and for a Cinderella tale to be born. Coincidentally, James Madison, standing at 5-4 and 100 pounds, was the smallest president in U.S. history. 

March is all about David beating Goliath, right? 

If the Dukes do make the Big Dance and are able to make some noise, it wouldn’t be a shock because of the experience they possess, the way they defend and the superstar they have in Edwards. Going 26-3 in the regular season and then likely having to win the conference tournament in order to get a slot in the NCAA Tournament is a hard reality.

What would it mean to the university if James Madison did make it? Bourne, who has led the athletic department for a quarter-century, summed it up perfectly.

“It might be a fantastic success that those guys have labored towards for an extended week, and a becoming success for this group as a result of they play games so in combination,” Bourne said. “For our faculty, the easiest way to achieve public and raise name-brand and popularity is throughout the NCAA Event. It might be a dream for me individually to proceed out as an AD on a event go back and forth, and there would no longer be a extra vocal fan than me within the seats for Mark and his youngsters. 

“If we’re in it, we will have earned it. And then, with the group we have, just about anything is possible.” 

Madison Insanity within the making? Best week will inform. However the substances are there for a unique progress, one that each one began with a nation reunion in East Lansing again in November, and a tradition made more potent through a schoolmaster who has constructed his group his manner.

John Fanta is a countrywide university basketball broadcaster and scribbler for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in quite a lot of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as govern host at the BIG EAST Virtual Community to offering remark on The Farmland of 68 Media Community. Practice him on X at @John_Fanta.

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