News and Notes
- James Madison leads the all-time series with W&M at 49-44, but the Tribe is 21-12 vs. the Dukes under head coach
Tony Shaver. The Green and Gold has won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams, including a 73-72 win earlier this season.
- Thursday night's meeting will be a contrast in styles. According to KenPom.com, W&M ranks 75th nationally in adjusted tempo, averaging 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes, while JMU is among the 15 slowest teams in the country at 63.8 possessions per 40 minutes.
- The W&M-JMU clash pits one of the CAA's top offenses against one of its top defenses. The Tribe ranks in the top 35 nationally in both scoring (81.1) and field goal shooting (49.0). On the other side, the Dukes lead the CAA, holding foes to 65.9 points per game in league play.
- The Green and Gold has connected on 50 percent or better from the field in nine of its last 13 games. The Tribe leads the CAA and ranks 13th nationally in field goal percentage (49.0). They are one of only three schools along with Gonzaga and Belmont to rank among the top 30 nationally in field goal percentage each of the last five years.
- W&M dished out 20 or more assists for the ninth time this season in the win over Charleston. The Tribe has accomplished the feat in five of the last seven games and ranks eighth nationally at 17.6 assists per game.
- Seniors
Daniel Dixon and
Omar Prewitt became the winningest class in W&M history, since freshmen became eligible to compete in 1972, with the victory over Charleston on Saturday. They also own the most wins overall (74) and in league play (41) of any current CAA class.
Scouting James Madison
- After opening CAA play with three-straight wins, James Madison has dropped nine of its last 11 and sit at 7-20 overall and 5-9 in league action. The Dukes dropped both games last week at UNCW, 88-73, and at home to Delaware, 58-57. They have suffered defeat in seven of their last eight contests. JMU is under the direction of first-year head coach Louis Rowe and have won five of its seven games at home this season. James Madison has lost five of its nine CAA games by six or fewer points, including three by one or two points.
- The Dukes sport one of the CAA's top defenses, limiting teams to just 68.9 points per game. JMU has been even better in league action at 65.9 points per game allowed, which leads the CAA. Teams shoot 44.1 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from 3-point range. In league action, James Madison is forcing opponents into turnovers on 20.2 percent of their possessions, which in the best mark in the league. JMU also tops the conference at 6.6 steals per game in league play.
- Offensively, the Dukes average 65 points per game, which shooting 42.2 percent overall and 32.7 percent from 3. JMU is second in the CAA in free throw shooting at 71.7 percent. In the first meeting with the Tribe, the Dukes shot 47.2 percent from the field and hit 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from 3-point range. JMU is among the slowest paced teams in the country at 63.8 possessions per game 40, and in CAA play, rank last at 64.3.
- JMU is second in the CAA in rebounding margin, outrebounding its foes by nearly four per contest. The Dukes limit teams to just 30.3 rebounds per game, which leads the CAA. James Madison also has the top defensive rebounding percentage in the league at 76.6 percent.
- Senior Jackson Kent leads the Dukes in scoring at 14.3 points per game, which is 13th in the league. He has been even better in CAA play averaging 16.4 per contest. Kent ranks among the CAA leaders in 3-point (37.2) and free throw percentage (84.4). He led JMU with 17 points vs. W&M in the first meeting.
- Junior Joey McLean is second on the team at 9.4 points per game. He leads the team and ranks 13th in the CAA at 2.5 assists per contest. He is also among the league leaders in 3-point shooting (38.6 percent) and steals per game (1.2).
- JMU is without the services of senior bigman Yohanny Dalembert, who is out of the remainder of the season. He was averaging 9.2 points per game and leading JMU at 5.8 rebounds per game. Senior Paulius Stakus has stepped up in Dalembert's absence, ranking second on the team and among the top 25 in the CAA in scoring in league games at 11.7 per tilt. He is shooting 56.1 percent in CAA action as well.
- James Madison leads the all-time series with W&M at 49-44, but the Tribe is 21-12 vs. the Dukes under head coach
Tony Shaver. The Green and Gold has won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams, including a 73-72 win earlier this season.
Head of the Class
- Seniors
Omar Prewitt and
Daniel Dixon are among the winningest classes in W&M history. With the Tribe's 89-79 win over Charleston on Feb. 11, they picked up their 74th career win, the most for a W&M senior class since freshman became eligible in 1972.
- Dixon and Prewitt also became the winningest CAA class in school history with the win over Charleston. It was the duo's 41st career CAA win, which surpassed the previous mark held by the 2016 class of
Terry Tarpey and
Sean Sheldon. Dixon and Prewitt are the winningest active class in the CAA in terms of overall wins and CAA victories.
- Overall, Dixon and Prewitt's 74 career wins rank third all-time in program history, individually. Only Ed McMillian and Bob Benjamin won more games with the Tribe, tallying 80 from 1948-51. Prior to 1972, freshmen were granted eligibility following World War II and during the Korean War. Only nine players in W&M history played four seasons prior to freshmen being granted eligibility in 1972.
- The 41 CAA wins are the second for a Tribe class in W&M's conference history. Only McMillian and Benjamin, who won 43 games in the Southern Conference between 1948-51, have more conference wins in their four seasons.
In the National Rankings
The Tribe ranks among the top 100 nationally in a number of statistical categories. Here is a look at where W&M ranks nationally (as of Feb. 14):
Assists Per Game - 8th (17.6)
Field Goal Percentage - 13th (49.0)
Blocked Shots Per Game - 21st (5.3)
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio - 23rd (1.38)
Three-Pointers Made Per Game - 32nd (9.3)
Scoring - 32nd (81.1)
Three-Point Percentage - 33rd (38.7)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - 34th (27.5)
Fewest Personal Fouls Per Game - 83rd (17.7)
Elite Shooting
- The Tribe has shot over 50 percent from the field in nine of its last 13 games overall. During the team's four-game win streak from Jan. 26 through Feb. 2, W&M shot 60.2 percent (142-of-236) from the field. Over the last 13 games, W&M has shot 51.9 percent (390-of-752) from the field.
• W&M has 13 games of 50 percent or better shooting in 2016-17 and is 12-1 in those contests. Under head coach
Tony Shaver, the Tribe is 92-12 (.885) when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, including an impressive 47-4 (.922) mark over the last four seasons.
- The Tribe has ranked among the national leaders in shooting in recent seasons. According to advanced statistical website KenPom.com, the Green and Gold has ranked among the nation's elite in effective field goal percentage and two-point percentage over the last seven seasons. W&M has also ranked among the country's top shooting teams in traditional field goal percentage in the last five years.
- This season, W&M currently ranks 13th (49 percent). The Tribe ranked among the top 30 nationally each of the previous four seasons. The Green and Gold ranked as high as No. 14 in 2014-15 (48.3), while coming in 21st in 2015-16 (48), 25th in 2013-14 (47.6) and 30th in 2012-13 (46.7).
- The Green and Gold is one of only three teams nationally, along with Gonzaga and Belmont, to rank among the top 30 nationally each of the last five years.
- W&M ranked among the top 25 nationally in effective field goal percentage each of the last four seasons. In 2016-17, the Tribe ranks 17th at 56.1 percent. The Green and Gold ranked sixth in the category in both 2013-14 (55.9) and 2014-15 (56.3) along with coming in at No. 16 (54.8) last season. Effective field goal percentage is the same as regular field goal percentage, but gives teams more credit for made 3-point field goals.
- The Tribe ranked among the national leaders in two-point field goal percentage in six of the last seven campaigns. The Green and Gold is currently 15th nationally at 55.3 percent. Each of the previous three campaigns, W&M was among the top 25 nationally, coming in 12th in 2016 (54.7) and eighth in 2015 (54.8).
Lighting Up the Scoreboard
- After scoring 80 or more points in 13 games last season, including four contest with 90-plus, the Tribe is once again flexing its offensive muscle this season scoring 80 or more points in 13 contests. W&M has scored more than 90 points on seven occasions in 2016-17. The Tribe owns three 100-point games this season, which is the second time in program history and first since 1954-55.
- W&M is averaging 81.1 points per game in 2016-17, which ranks second in the CAA and 32nd nationally. It would rank second in program history and be the best since 1955 when W&M scored a school record of 81.4 points per game.
- Over the last four seasons, W&M has scored 80 or more points in a game on 45 occasions. The Tribe is 39-6 (.867) over the stretch when accomplishing the feat. Over head coach
Tony Shaver's first 10 seasons at W&M, the Tribe scored 80 or more points 39 times with the record of 29-10 in those contests.
- W&M has ranked among the top three in the CAA in scoring each of the last four years, the only program in the league to do so.
- The Green and Gold recorded its third 100-point game of the season in a 108-85 triumph over Drexel. The 108 points were the second most in a CAA game in program history and tied highest total ever allowed by the Dragons in regulation.
- The Tribe lit up the scoreboard in back-to-back wins over Milligan and Savannah State to the tune of 113 and 112 points, respectively. It marked the first time in the 112-year history of W&M basketball that the program topped the century mark in back-to-back games.
The Dynamic Duo
- Seniors
Daniel Dixon and
Omar Prewitt have been a strong 1-2 scoring punch for the Tribe this season, combining for more than 33 points per game. Dixon leads the way at 17.8 points per game followed by Prewitt at 15.4.
- In CAA play, Dixon (20.9) and Prewitt (16.7) are the top scoring tandem in the league at 37.6 points per game. The duo has each scored 20 points in the same game three times in CAA play, including wins at Hofstra, vs. UNCW and Drexel.
- Both Prewitt (1,730) and Dixon (1,207) rank among the top 25 in W&M history in scoring. They are the seventh pair of Tribe teammates from the same recruiting class to reach 1,000 points in their careers and the fourth under head coach
Tony Shaver. It marks the ninth time in W&M history that multiple players on the same team were members of the 1,000-point club at the same time.
- W&M is one of 60 teams nationally with multiple 1,000-point scorers. Dixon and Prewitt are the 16th-best scoring duo in terms of career points currently in the country.
- In school history, Dixon and Prewitt are the third-highest scoring pair of teammates. They trail just Jeff Cohn (2003) and Bev Vaughan's (1185) 3188 points between 1958-61 as well as Keith Cieplicki (1812) and Kevin Richardson's (1139) 2951 points between 1982-85.
Dropping Dimes
- In five of the last seven games, the Green and Gold dished out more than 20 assists. The Tribe has nine games of 20 more or assists this season and is 9-0 in those games.
- In its wins this season, the Tribe is averaging 21.8 assists per game compared to just 12.4 in its losses. W&M ranks eighth nationally in assists at 17.6 per game.
- W&M has tallied four top-10 assist totals in program history. The Green and Gold dished out a season-high 30 assists on 36 made field goals in its win over Savannah State on Dec. 19. It was the second game of 30 or more assists in Tribe history, trailing the school-record mark of 33 set in 1995 against George Mason. On Jan. 30, W&M dished out 28 assists in its win over Drexel, which was the third-best total in program lore. The Tribe recorded 27 assists on its 32 made field goals in the win over Presbyterian on Nov. 19 and 27 on 36 field goals vs. Northeastern on Feb. 2. Both totals are tied four eighth in W&M history.
- The Tribe had seven games of 20 or more assists last season, which was the most since the 1995 campaign. W&M was 6-1 in those games. Over the last seven seasons, the Green and Gold is 28-1 when dishing out 20 or more assists in a game.
Oh What a Knight
- In his freshman season,
Nathan Knight has made a significant impact, averaging 7.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Knight has scored in double figures in each of the Tribe's last four games, averaging 12.5 points per game. He is shooting 70.4 percent (19-of-27) from the field over the last five contests and is 18 of his last 20 (90 percent) at the free throw line in the last three games.
- Knight currently leads the CAA in blocked shots at 1.5 per game, which ranks 97th nationally. Over the last seven games, he is averaging 2.3 blocks per game. He tallied three against Delaware, four in the win over UNCW and five at Towson.
- Twice in the last three games, Knight tallied a career-high 15 points. He totaled 15 at Towson on 4-of-6 shooting and 7-of-8 from the free throw line in 19 minutes. He pulled down a team-high five rebounds and blocked five shots vs. the Tigers. Knight followed that up with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line to go with six rebounds vs. Charleston on Feb. 11.
- In his first collegiate start vs. Milligan earlier this season, Knight tallied the first double-double of his young career. The Green and Gold rookie scored 14 points on 4-of-6 from the floor and 6-of-7 at the free throw line to go along with 10 rebounds. It was the first double-double for a W&M freshman since 2008.
- To make his night against the Buffaloes even more impressive, Knight blocked a W&M freshman record seven shots. His seven rejections rank fourth in W&M history and the most since David Cully's school-record 10 blocked shots against George Mason in 1996. Knight is just the second player along with Cully, who owns the other seven contests, to have seven or more blocked shots in a game.
- Along with his double-double vs. Milligan, Knight enjoyed double-digit performance at Louisville (14 points and seven rebounds), Duke (11 points and five rebounds) and UNCW (10 points and four rebounds).
