NCAA Basketball: Arizona, UConn, Marquette, Baylor all fall in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
22. James Madison (12-0)
When the Dukes arrived in East Lansing on opening night as massive underdogs against Michigan State, it’s hard to imagine that they’d be one of the final unbeaten teams in the nation less than two months later. Their resume is built on that road win against the Spartans, aided by a few minor wins over teams like Kent State and Southern Illinois along the way.
Regardless, the Dukes looked dominant on Tuesday in an 87-48 win over Coppin State. T. J. Bickerstaff led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds, helping the Dukes force 30 turnovers against the Eagles. Three days later James Madison got their final pre-Christmas tune-up, winning 89-75 at Morgan State. Terrence Edwards Jr. was fantastic with 29 points and 9 rebounds while Raekwon Horton added 16 points off the bench.
No matter how you slice things, James Madison has won all 12 of their games, including five true road wins and two more at a neutral-site. They got their marquee win in overtime on opening night and have done little to tarnish that start in the recent weeks. The biggest question is which Sun Belt squad offers the best chance to upend their perfect start; Texas State gets the first chance next weekend and might not the best candidate.