NEW ORLEANS (JMU Athletics) – James Madison men’s basketball was voted the favorite in the Preseason Sun Belt Coaches Poll, while guard Bradley Douglas was selected First Team All-Conference, the league announced on Monday afternoon.

Coming off a share of the 2024-25 regular-season Sun Belt title, JMU picked up a total of 175 points with one first-place vote to sit atop the poll, its second time in four years in the Sun Belt being chosen as the preseason favorite. Including the Dukes, seven other teams received first-place votes, with South Alabama picking up the most at four.

Douglas, a fifth-year guard who transferred to JMU following a season at Georgia Southern, brings experience and leadership to the Dukes after appearing in 33 games and averaging 12.6 points per contest for the Eagles last season. The Eustis, Fla., native also produced 2.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for GS while leading the team with 150 field goals. He had 22 games with 10-plus points, six 20-point games, and a pair of 30-point performances.

JMU enters the 2025-26 season with 13 newcomers – 11 transfers and two freshmen – and two returning players to its roster in Eddie Ricks III and Justin Taylor. Ricks III averaged 6.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2024-25 in his first season as a Duke, while Taylor played in 27 games and started five.

The Dukes open their 2025-26 season on the road against Akron on Monday, Nov. 3, before hosting Washington and Lee on Nov. 5 in the home opener inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

2025 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Robert Davis, Jr., Old Dominion [R-Jr. | G | Detroit, Mich.]

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Robert Davis, Jr., Old Dominion [R-Jr. | G | Detroit, Mich.]
Thomas Dowd, Troy [Jr. | F | Dothan, Ala.]
Tyren Moore, Georgia Southern [Gr. | G | Louisville, Ky.]
Jalen Speer, Marshall [Gr. | G | Gainesville, Fla.]
Bradley Douglas, James Madison [Gr. | G | Eustis, Fla.]

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Eren Banks, App State [Jr. | G | Eatonton, Ga.]
Mark Drone, Texas State [Sr. | G | Jackson, Miss.]
Jelani Hamilton, Georgia State [R-So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Chandler Jackson, Arkansas State [Jr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
RaSheed Jones, Coastal Carolina [Jr. | G | Marion, Ind.]

Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Jordan Battle, Old Dominion [Sr. | G | Norfolk, Va.]
John Broom, South Alabama [R-So. | G | Jacksonville, Ala.]
Kaden Gumbs, Texas State [Jr. | G | San Marcos, Texas]
Matt Van Komen, Marshall [Gr. | C | Lehi, Utah]
Nakavieon White, Georgia Southern [R-Sr. | F | Odessa, Texas]

2025 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (1) – 175
2. Arkansas State (3) – 154
3. South Alabama (4) – 152
4. Troy (1) – 148
5. Old Dominion (2) – 145
6. Marshall (1) – 128
7. App State (1) – 123
8. Texas State – 106
9. Louisiana (1) – 95
10. Georgia Southern – 66
11. Georgia State – 59
12. Southern Miss – 57
13. Coastal Carolina – 43
14. ULM – 19

— JMU Athletics —