Heads were turned in the high school football world when the powerhouse IMG Academy from Bradenton, Florida routed West Toronto Prep. IMG led 96-0 at halftime, leading to the game getting called after two quarters. While the entire game was played, something similar happened in the college basketball world on Monday when James Madison took on Valley Forge.
Just over 10 minutes into the game, James Madison’s Vado Morse nailed a three-pointer, giving the Dukes a 41-6 lead. As it turned out, that was all the offense that James Madison would need. But while the Dukes didn’t need any more points, they weren’t done scoring. When the final buzzer sounded, James Madison had defeated Valley Forge 123-38.
Took care of business 🔒
Need everybody back in the house on Wednesday night!#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/3G2a7Ws6sM
— JMU Men's Basketball (@JMUMBasketball) November 7, 2022
The leading scorer in the game was actually Valley Forge guard Jay White, who scored 20 of his team’s 38 points. James Madison, though, more than made up for that. Five different Dukes players finished in double-digits. Also, all 14 players that took the floor for James Madison scored at least three points.
It was a demolition, to say the least. Both as the game was going on and just after it ended, college basketball fans couldn’t help but note the incredibly lopsided nature of it
JMU won by 85 👀 pic.twitter.com/pxuUg562C4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 8, 2022
Valley Forge 23 James Madison 104 isn't a basketball score it's a line from the index of a biography of George Washington
— Michael Baumann (@MichaelBaumann) November 7, 2022
James Madison got the idea to play this game after George Washington put Valley Forge on his non-conference schedule in 1777 pic.twitter.com/5tq8fdUpDd
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 7, 2022
James Madison in a close one with Valley Forge. pic.twitter.com/Yb2VANBcuc
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 7, 2022
The Dukes are coming off of a season in which they went 15-14 overall. Now in its first year in the Sun Belt Conference, James Madison is looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
Judging by Monday’s game, the Dukes are off to a good start. Then again, most of James Madison’s future opponents will be teams not coached by someone worried about finding a sub for his day job in the hours leading into the game.
Update: James Madison leads by 83. Valley Forge's Head Coach is 26 years old and is a kindergarten teacher. He had to get a substitute so that he could coach today.
Only in college basketball! pic.twitter.com/xkFmwOOdvg
— Jake Marsh (@PMTsportsbiz) November 7, 2022
Indeed, college basketball is unique and we’re thrilled to have it back.
[Photo Credit: ESPN+]