Yesterday, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lundardi had Northeastern representing the CAA and entering the NCAA tournament as a #16 seed facing #1 seeded Duke in the first round. The game was scheduled to take place in Philadelphia as a part of the East Regional.
Well as we all know, the James Madison Dukes rocked the city of Richmond as hard as they rocked Northeastern in last night's championship game. The emotionally charged Dukes stormed through 40 minutes of basketball and came out with a dominating 70-57 win over the Huskies sending JMU to the big dance for the first time in 19 years. (See how it happened)
As of this morning, Lundardi, the ESPN bracket wizard still has the CAA representative Dukes as a #16 seed, however in his mind they will have to get out of the 'First Four' to play Duke in Philadelphia. This means JMU would be a part of the NCAA's recent addition of play in games. He has the Dukes taking on the Norfolk State Spartans in Dayton, OH at the University of Dayton. The winner of this game would go on to face Duke later next week in Philly.
You may remember the Spartans from last year's tournament. They entered the dance as a #15 seed and upset #2 Missouri in the first round, arguably the tournament's biggest upset. Many people had Mizzou in the Final Four if that puts the upset into perspective.
You may be thinking, "crap" or that this is a bad thing for JMU. Well it could go both way, but there is a bright side to this. JMU stands the best shot at winning an NCAA tournament game if they are placed in the play in game. If the Dukes escape the play in game, they will be seeded as a #16 seed. There is no doubt about that. A #16 seed HAS NEVER beaten a #1 seed. It's been close, but has never been done. The record is 112-0 (with the quick research I've did) and growing. Yes, March brings 'madness' but you have to look at statistics in these scenarios. JMU would be better off in this scenario, because they stand a good shot at beating NSU or any team they may face in these 'first four' match-ups
Remember VCU's run to the Final Four in 2011? The Rams (still in the CAA then) entered the tournament as an at large #11 seed and had to start their run in the 'first four.' It's possible folks. The Rams proceeded to march their may through: USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, and Kansas before the magic tank ran dry against Butler in the Final Four. Butler went on to lose against UCONN in the championship game.
For those wondering, JMU last played Norfolk State on December 2, 2009. On that night, the Dukes took down the Spartans, 72-64. Seniors, Alioune Diouf, Andrey Semenov, and Devon Moore were the only players on this year's roster that were on the team for that game. Moore did not play because this is the season he sat out due to injury. He was injured in a preseason scrimmage that sidelined him for the entire season. It's possibly an injury Moore is grateful for now, because without that setback he would most likely not be on this year's NCAA bound team. Something the Richmond Times Dispatch's Paul Woody pointed out in a column yesterday.
The other meeting between the two schools came back during the 1997-1998 season. JMU routed NSU 91-69.
Norfolk State is 21-10 this season, 16-0 in the MEAC, and 11-0 at home. The Spartans are riding a 15 game winning streak. The MEAC tournament is this weekend. NSU is scheduled to play the winner of the Bethune-Cookman/Coppin State game. This game is scheduled for tomorrow at 6 p.m.
In the end, all of this stuff is skeptical. It's phenomenon that has people pulling their hair out this time of year. There is A LOT of more stuff that will take place between now and 'Selection Sunday.' Don't go telling everyone that JMU faces NSU, because it's not for certain...yet.
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