2020–21 James Madison Dukes men's basketball team explained

Mode:Basketball
Year:2020–21
Prev Year:2019–20
Next Year:2021–22
Team:James Madison Dukes
Conference:Colonial Athletic Association
Short Conf:CAA
Record:13–7
Conf Record:8–2
Hc Year:1st
Asst Coach2:Xavier Joyner
Asst Coach3:Jon Cremins
Champion:CAA regular season co-champions

The 2020–21 James Madison Dukes men's basketball team represented James Madison University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Dukes, led by first-year head coach Mark Byington, played their home games at the newly opened Atlantic Union Bank Center[1] in Harrisonburg, Virginia as members of the Colonial Athletic Association. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they finished the season 13–7, 8–2 in CAA play to earn a share of the regular season championship. They lost in the quarterfinals of the CAA tournament to Elon.

Byington was named the CAA Coach of the Year while guard Matt Lewis was named the CAA Player of the Year.

Previous season

The Dukes finished the 2019–20 season 9–21, 2–16 in CAA play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the CAA tournament to Elon.[2]

On March 9, 2020, the school announced that head coach Louis Rowe would not return as head coach for the Dukes.[3] A few weeks later, the school named Georgia Southern head coach Mark Byington the Dukes' new head coach.[4]

Offseason

Guard Matt Lewis opted to test the waters in the 2020 NBA draft, however he ultimately returned to the Dukes for his senior season.[5]

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Antanee Pinkard 2 G 6'4" 205 Senior Graduated
Deshon Parker 3 G 6'4" 195 Sophomore Transferred to Appalachian State
Zyon Dobbs 4 G 6'3" 195 Freshman Transferred to Fairmont State
Darius Banks 5 G 6'5" 220 Junior Transferred to Chattanooga
Quinn Richey 13 G 6'5" 195 Freshman Transferred to Samford
Dalton Jefferson 20 F 6'7" 175 Freshman Walk-on; didn't return
Dwight Wilson 24 F 6'8" 250 Junior Transferred to Ohio
Devon Flowers 35 F 6'8" 215 RS Freshman Transferred to Clark Atlanta

Preseason

In the preseason CAA poll, the Dukes were picked to finish ninth while Matt Lewis was chosen the preseason CAA Player of the Year.[6]

Schedule and results

|-!colspan=12 style=| Regular season|-!colspan=9 style=| CAA tournament|-|-Sources[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. News: November 11, 2020. Dukes' new digs: JMU's new Atlantic Union Bank Center 'sets us apart'. en. The News Virginian. January 18, 2021.
  2. News: JMU men's basketball's season ends in CAA tourney first round. WHSV. March 7, 2020. January 18, 2021. en.
  3. News: James Madison Mutually Parts with Louis Rowe, Opens Search for Men's Basketball Head Coach. James Madison University Athletics. March 9, 2020. January 18, 2021. en.
  4. News: James Madison hires Mark Byington from Georgia Southern. ESPN. March 20, 2020. January 18, 2021. en.
  5. Web site: Fawcett. Dave. November 25, 2020. After flirting with the NBA, Woodbridge resident, O'Connell graduate Matt Lewis returns as JMU's leader. February 24, 2021. Inside NOVA.
  6. Web site: John. O'Connor. JMU's Matt Lewis earns CAA preseason hoops honor; Dukes, Tribe picked low. whsv.com. November 11, 2020. February 24, 2021.
  7. News: 2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule. James Madison University Athletics. January 18, 2021. en.
  8. News: 2020-21 James Madison Dukes Schedule. ESPN. January 18, 2021. en.