HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Four matchups against former CAA rivals, two exhibitions against Commonwealth opponents, and a road game at Kentucky highlight James Madison men’s basketball’s 2026-27 non-conference schedule, which was released on Thursday, July 30.
We are excited to offer our fans a record 17 home games this season along with new preseason opportunities both at home and on the road against A10 opponents, JMU Head Coach Preston Spradlin said. For the long-time JMU fans, our schedule offers great familiarity and proximity with in-state opponents and old CAA rivalries. Preparing for the season begins earlier than ever, allowing us to play Richmond on homecoming weekend and to have an early road test at VCU. We wanted to challenge ourselves early in the non-conference, and taking on two NCAA tournament teams in the opening week will do just that. There is nothing like playing in the AUBC, and our fans give us the best homecourt advantage in the Sun Belt. I can’t wait for our fans to see this team take the floor this season. Go Dukes!
JMU finished the 2025-26 season with an 18-15 record, winning six of its final eight games. The Dukes return sophomore forward Preston Fowler and junior guard Paul Jones III, who will look to make jumps in their second seasons in the Purple and Gold. JMU’s roster consists of nine transfers and three first-year players.
The preseason will commence with a pair of exhibitions against in-state foes, as the Dukes will host a free exhibition at the Atlantic Union Bank Center against Richmond on Oct. 18 and travel to the River City to square off with VCU at the Siegel Center on Oct. 25.
Following the two exhibitions, the Dukes will tip off the regular season with a game against 2025-26 MAC regular-season champions Miami (Ohio) inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center (Nov. 2). The RedHawks finished the 2025-26 season with a record of 32-2, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament under fourth-year Head Coach Travis Steele.
After the home opener, JMU will travel to Kentucky (Nov. 6) for the first matchup between the two programs. It will be a homecoming for Head Coach Preston Spradlin, who was on staff at Kentucky from 2009-14 and is a native of Pikeville, Ky.
After the opening week, the Dukes will stay on the road and face Delaware (Nov. 11) before returning home to host Mercyhurst (Nov. 15). It will be the first matchup between JMU and Delaware since 2022, while the meeting between the Dukes and Mercyhurst will be the first between the two programs on the hardwood.
JMU will continue its non-conference slate with a road matchup at Towson (Nov. 18) before beginning a three-game homestand. The Dukes will host Virginia University of Lynchburg (Nov. 21), Charleston Southern (Nov. 24), and William & Mary (Nov. 29) to close the month of November.
December begins with a road game against Elon (Dec. 3) before a home bout against Longwood (Dec. 6). JMU will take on Elon for the first time since 2022, while the game versus Longwood is the second in as many seasons.
The road non-conference slate concludes with a matchup against NC A&T (Dec. 9) before a pair of home games to close December. The Dukes will host Coppin State (Dec. 22) and Notre Dame of Maryland (Dec. 28) inside the AUBC, rounding out the eight-game home non-conference slate.
JMU will also travel to a MAC opponent to be determined on Feb. 6 for the second leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge. The Dukes’ Sun Belt Conference schedule and tip times will be announced at a later date.
— JMU Athletics —
