No. 12 James Madison Shocks CBB Fans with March Madness Upset over No. 5 Wisconsin

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIMarch 23, 2024

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No. 12 James Madison stunned No. 5 Wisconsin 72-61 in the first round of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament thanks to a balanced scoring attack and a dominant defensive performance on a Friday night in Brooklyn where the Dukes never trailed.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportNO. 12 JAMES MADISON UPSETS NO. 5 WISCONSIN ‼️ pic.twitter.com/RTQBWptbUV

Terrence Edwards Jr.’s 14 points led six Dukes players with eight or more points. T.J. Bickerstaff and Julien Wooden scored 12 apiece, and Michael Green III added 11 off the bench.

JMU also amassed 14 steals, with six players getting two or more. Wisconsin finished the evening with 19 turnovers and shot just 37.3 percent from the field.

Badgers guard Max Klesmit led all scorers with 18 points. AJ Storr added 13, and Steven Crowl posted a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.

This was a sensational win for the Dukes, who hadn’t won a first-round NCAA tournament game since 1983. The program had only made March Madness twice since then (1994, 2013), but this year’s Dukes team is special. JMU started the year 14-0, including a season-opening win over Michigan State. The now 32-3 Dukes also haven’t lost since Jan. 27, so they’ve rolled off a 14-game win streak.

Needless to say, JMU went into the tournament as a clear underdog to Wisconsin, which nearly won the Big Ten before falling to Illinois in last Sunday’s championship game. But the Dukes jumped out to a 33-20 halftime lead and kept Wisconsin at arm’s length for the final 20 minutes en route to a well-deserved win.

Mid-Major Madness @mid_madnessJMU! JMU! UNBELIEVABLE! UNBELIEVABLE!

THE DUKES PULL OFF THE FIRST 12/5 UPSET OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, LEADING WISCONSIN FROM THE TIP!

32 WINS NOW FOR THE DUKES! THEY AREN’T NO FRAUD! ANOTHER BIG TEN WIN, THIS TIME BY DOUBLE DIGITS!

41 YEARS IN THE MAKING! YEAR OF THE DUKES!

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbachFINAL: No. 12 James Madison 72, No. 5 Wisconsin 61.

An upset on paper only. The better team from the jump. The Dukes keep dancing!

Jeff Borzello @jeffborzelloFINAL: No. 12 James Madison 72, No. 5 Wisconsin 61

Comprehensive start-to-finish win by the Dukes. Never trailed & really kept Wisconsin at an arm’s length all game. Badgers briefly cut it to 6, missed a layup, JMU buried a 3 and it was over.

32 wins for Mark Byington’s team.

Brian Rauf @brauf33The most impressive thing about James Madison is that this lead isn’t because one guy is going off – it is legitimately beating Wisconsin up and down the roster. JMU has simply been better than a team that just played for the Big Ten title

Chris Vannini @ChrisVanniniI tried to tell you all before the bracket even came out. JMU can BALL. This wasn’t even an upset to me. https://t.co/2srCvOFQeN

Tom Fornelli @TomFornelliBig Ten Wins This Season

Michigan: 3

James Madison: 2

Matt Fortuna @Matt_FortunaJames Madison beat the Madison out of Wisconsin.

Now the Dukes will try to beat the Duke out of Duke.

College Basketball Report @CBKReport(12) James Madison DOMINATES (5) Wisconsin 72-61.

JMU forced 19 turnovers and had 14 steals.

JMU NEVER trailed.

Flat out domination. pic.twitter.com/y3UK2bvE6q

Pat Forde @ByPatFordeJames Madison was the easiest double-digit seed pick of the tournament, and they backed it up for the full 40. Great performance.

Ben Stevens @BenScottStevensJames Madison played 3 NCAA Tournament teams this year.

JMU beat all 3 NCAA Tournament teams.

The Dukes played 2 high-major teams this year.

JMU beat both high-major teams.

Mid-majors deserve more opportunities.

Dan Wetzel @DanWetzelJames Madison is one hell of a 12 seed. Committee was sleeping on that one.

Ralph D. Russo @ralphDrussoAPJames Madison looked pretty under-seeded to me. Led wire to wire.

JMU will now face No. 4 seed Duke on Sunday in search of its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.