CAA Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2020-21 season

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: Desure Buie #4 of the Hofstra Pride looks at the championship trophy after winning the CAA Men's Basketball Tournament - Championship college basketball game against the Northeastern Huskies at the Entertainment & Sports Arena on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 10: Darius Banks #5 of the James Madison Dukes (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

10) James Madison

James Madison had a very disappointing 2019-2020 season. The Dukes finished a whopping 9-21 and lost 15 of their last 16 games, ending coach Louis Rowe’s short tenure in Harrisonburg. And the road only gets harder from here. Former Georgia Southern coach Mark Byington takes over for a team with a lot of moving parts.

The Dukes were set up to bring back virtually everyone from last season until the coaching change was announced. Soon after, guards Darius Banks, Deshon Parker, and forward Dwight Wilson have all entered the transfer portal and are pending their next team of choice. The Dukes will be bringing in four two-star recruits including talented 6’4 combo guard Roger McFarlane out of Florida.

Coach Byington will have to rely heavily on returning leading scorer Matt Lewis. Lewis was the one bright spot for the Dukes last year. Lewis put up just under twenty points a game, nearly six boards, and dished out three assists. Matt Lewis did enter his name in the NBA draft but will more than likely end up returning to school.

Forwards Zach Jacobs and Michael Christmas will be asked to take on much larger roles next season. Christmas showed some promise in his Freshman season, putting up 5.9 points and pulling down 4.5 boards. He also shot 37% from deep which was second on the team behind Matt Lewis. The Dukes will need Christmas to take a big step in his Sophomore campaign.