The JMU feminine basketball is usually 23-Four (14-Zero within the Solar Belt) with victories over Florida and Villanova. Dukes exhibits on all sides a top-50 staff at nationwide stage and even obtain votes within the newest AP Prime 25 ballot.
Is that this the most effective staff since Sean O’REGAN turned the pinnacle coach earlier than the 2016-17 season? The 2 finest groups below the coach had been in 2018-19 (the group went 29-6 and made the Wnit semifinals) and 2019-20 (that staff was 25-Four earlier than Copid ended the untimely season) .
The 2018-19 staff was accountable for accidents that performed a key function in a torn out of the CAA from the ultimate. In consequence, the staff didn’t make the NCAA event.
The staff from 2019-20 was on the way in which to Turne-its potential victories of the NCAA event earlier than the pandemic blow. That staff, led by Kamiah Smalls, was unimaginable. Dukes ought to have overcome eighth place Maryland at residence at first of the season, however they threw a late advance. Nonetheless, Villanova, St. John, Liberty and UCF took down, amongst others. They went 16-2 within the common season of CAA, avenging each losses with a victory of over 30 factors over opponents (Towsson and Drexel) within the second assembly.
This staff from 2024-25 is blended with that group. Dukes are 23-Four, with victories on Florida and Villanova. Three of their 4 losses got here to the Prime 15 groups from the most recent AP Prime 25 survey, together with the number one Notre Dame and quantity 2 Texas. They do not have a foul loss.
Is it an look of the NCAA event in books?
Dukes are on the sting of the large dialog, though it’s unlikely that the dukes to win a giant provide with zero quad 1 wins (Zero-Three document). JMU is 24-1 in quads 2-Four.
Nonetheless, they’re the heavy favorites to win the Solar Belt event and its automated provide on the NCAA event. JMU is the one prime 100 solar belt staff, and the dukes are 53. There’s a seismic hole between Dukes and the remainder of the convention.
Something is feasible in a convention event, however the dukes closed every part, however they closed a top-two seed in Pensacola. The brand new format of the event implies that a JMU staff sowing no. 1 or no. 2 ought to solely win two video games to win the convention title. Provided that Dukes have received 14 direct league video games this yr, that is an especially achievable process.
JMU is effectively positioned to make the NCAA event, and the Dukes are able to win a seed of 11 or 12, which suggests avoiding an actual street recreation within the first spherical of the event confronted by 13-16 seeds. The newest ESPN bracketology has Dukes as a seed no. 12 who performs Western Virginia in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Comparability of Dukes with the 2019-20 staff
It’s doable that the 2019-20 staff had a bit of extra stars energy over its line, with Kamiah Smalls, with a median of 18.6 factors per match, at 47.1% as capturing guard. It shot 38% of the three -point vary and 87.Four% of the free throw line, whereas it had a median of 5.Three restoration and a couple of.eight help per match.
Not solely was Smalls the most effective participant within the CAA in 2019-20, however was written within the third spherical of the WNBA 2020 venture and has since excelled by taking part in professionally over the seas. Peyton McDaniel (16.Three ppg) is Dukes’s star in 2024-25, and whereas the small junior redshirt will in all probability play professionally someday, it’s laborious to say it’s as environment friendly or athletic because the little ones at her tip. Nonetheless, McDaniel does extra like a riot (eight.2 per match) and defender (54 thefts and 19 blocks by means of 27 video games, in comparison with 40 thefts and 10 small blocks in 2019-20) than Smalls made- o within the final season.
Having Kiki Jefferson on the 2019-20 record is what places that staff on the peak by way of stars, as Jefferson has developed in a star from the center of the most important and the doable Louisville switch and an ACC participant. The Dukes’ 2019-20 staff, which additionally introduced Jackie Benitez, Lexie Barrie and Kayla Cooper-Williams, had an abundance of high-level skilled caliber expertise.
The present iteration of Dukes thrives with its depth. 4 Dukes on common 10 or extra factors per match, Ksenia Kozlova, RO Scott and Ashanti Barnes wrapped a fist to finish McDaniel’s excellence.
Kozlova, Barnes and McDaniel on common not less than seven restoration per match, whereas Scott, Jamia Hazell, Zakiya Stephenson and Bree Robinson offers with again duties. Scott is primarily a marker, whereas Hazell can handle the ball and mark inside the three -point line always. Stephenson leads the staff with 83 assistants, whereas Robinson (45 thefts) may very well be the most effective perimeter defender.
O’REGAN’s present staff may very well be its finest constructed record. There’s a energy of stars, however there’s additionally a steadiness of scoring and depth that the 2019-20 staff was lacking.
To be the most effective staff from the coach’s age, Dukes will want a league title and an look of the NCAA event. A victory of the NCAA event would put the staff within the elite firm, as a result of a feminine basketball staff didn’t advance to the subsequent Massive Dance spherical in 2014, when Jmu defeated Gonzaga within the opening spherical. Jmu didn’t do Candy 16 since 1990-91.
Dukes should do Insanity March earlier than dreaming in regards to the deep working of the event, however the depth, expertise and steadiness of the staff make a NCAA tour to win a legitimate purpose. It has been a number of years since O’REGAN has run a staff with this promise.
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