Dukes Picked Fourth, Morse Named Preseason All-Sun Belt

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Prior to James Madison's first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, the Dukes have been selected to finish fourth in the league in the 2022-23 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Monday afternoon.

Redshirt senior guard Vado Morse was also named First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt as he gets set to make his SBC debut this season. Last year, Morse was named Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association after leading a young JMU team in scoring at 15.5 points per game, an average that jumped to 18.7 points per game in league contests, the second-highest average in the CAA.

JMU, which returns four starters and more than 80% of its scoring from the 2021-22 season, picked up one first-place vote and 149 points in the coaches poll, one point behind third-place South Alabama.

Louisiana, which reached the league championship game in 2021-22 as the No. 8 seed, was picked to finish first with 190 points and received 10 of 14 first-place votes, while Texas State was in second with 162 total points.

The Dukes will open their 2022-23 campaign on Monday, Nov. 7, opening a men's and women's basketball doubleheader with a 4 p.m. matchup at the Atlantic Union Bank Center against Valley Forge.

Season tickets to the Dukes' inaugural Sun Belt season are on sale now and can be purchased at JMUTickets.com, by phone at (540) 568-3853 or by visiting the JMU Athletics Ticket Office, located in the Atlantic Union Bank Center. Single-game tickets for both men's and women's basketball are set to go on sale this week.

Duke Club members, who donate a minimum of $200, will receive spot specific parking in the Ballard Parking Deck along with their season tickets. Click here to become a Duke Club member. For all other fall sport season schedules, head to JMUSports.com.

2022-23 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Louisiana - 190 (10)
2. Texas State - 162 (1)
3. South Alabama - 150 (1)
4. James Madison - 149 (1)
5. Georgia State - 127 (1)
6. Marshall - 122
7. App State - 120
8. Coastal Carolina - 100
9. Old Dominion - 93
10. Troy - 76
11. Georgia Southern - 69
12. Arkansas State - 48
13. Southern Miss - 34
14. ULM – 30

2022-23 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Awards

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Jordan Brown, Louisiana (Preseason Player of the Year)
Mason Harrell, Texas State
Taevion Kinsey, Marshall
Vado Morse, James Madison
Kevin Samuel, South Alabama

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Donovan Gregory, App State
Felipe Haase, Southern Miss
Kobe Julien, Louisiana
Essam Mostafa, Coastal Carolina
Greg Parham II, South Alabama

Preseason All Sun-Belt Third Team
Kamdyn Curfman, Marshall
Caleb Fields, Arkansas State
Nika Metskhvarishvili, ULM
Andrew Taylor, Marshall
Zay Williams, Troy

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Vado Morse

JMU Footer

Scoreboard

Calendar

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Marshall on January 17, 2026 , Loss , 72, to, 77

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus South Alabama on January 22, 2026 , Loss , 83, to, 90

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Texas State on January 24, 2026 , Win , 82, to, 57

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Troy on January 29, 2026 , Win , 73, to, 64

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Southern Miss on January 31, 2026 , Loss , 65, to, 73

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Louisiana on February 4, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Toledo on February 7, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Georgia State on February 12, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus App State on February 14, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Coastal Carolina on February 18, 2026 at 7 p.m.

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