Authored by RALPH D. RUSSO, AP Writer specializing in college sports.

NEW YORK

At the start of the game, only 16 seconds in, Jared McCain received a pass from Kyle Filipowski and effortlessly made a 3-point shot from the wing. He then turned to the enthusiastic James Madison fans and grinned, implying that this would be a common occurrence throughout the game.

McCain had a remarkable performance in the first half, scoring 22 out of his 30 points. He also made Duke history in the NCAA Tournament by hitting eight 3-pointers, leading the Blue Devils to defeat James Madison, the 12th seed, with a final score of 93-55 in the second round on Sunday.

McCain stated that for every game, they are prepared to see if they will perform exceptionally well.

The Blue Devils, with a fourth seed and a record of 26-8, will advance to the Sweet 16 where they will play either Houston or Texas A&M in the semifinals of the South Region on Friday in Dallas.

McCain and Duke emphatically ended the nation’s longest active winning streak at 14 games, taking a 22-point lead into halftime and never letting the advantage slip below 20 in the second half. The rugged defense JMU used to beat Wisconsin in the first round didn’t seem to bother the Blue Devils at all.

McCain stated that when you start off strong as a shooter, the opposing team will try to defend you more closely. This opens up opportunities for driving and passing the ball.

The Dukes (32-4) ended the season with the most wins in program history.

Coach Mark Byington praised the basketball team, saying they were exceptional and left a lasting impact at JMU.

Now the focus for the Sun Belt champions shifts to the possibility of retaining Byington. The vacancy he was speculated to be considered for at West Virginia has been filled by Drake’s Darian DeVries on Sunday evening.

Edwards, a senior who scored 13 points, expressed that this team and coach were the best he has ever had in his life.

With 11:59 remaining in the second half, McCain successfully sank his eighth 3-point shot, maintaining his follow-through and increasing the score to 66-39.

A charming newcomer from California surpassed Quinn Cook’s school record of seven in an astonishing defeat to Mercer in 2014. This game was a joy for the Blue Devils as they made 14 out of 28 shots from beyond the arc.

After Duke’s initial low-scoring game against Vermont, Filipowski’s offensive contributions were minimal with only three points and one shot attempt. However, in their next game against JMU, the second-team All-American redeemed himself by scoring 14 points and making six out of eight shot attempts. Additionally, Tyrese Proctor had a strong performance with 18 points and four successful 3-pointers.

Duke was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round by Tennessee last season, coach Jon Scheyer’s first as Mike Krzyzewski’s replacement.

Duke was targeted by the Volunteers and predicted that JMU would attempt similar actions.

Filipowski stated that no one had forgotten the events that took place in Tennessee during the second round. They believed that they had learned from their experience in the previous year.

As both a player and assistant at Duke, Scheyer has been a part of seven teams that made it to the Sweet 16. This year, he achieves his first appearance as a head coach, as the Blue Devils began the tournament with a two-game losing streak.

According to Scheyer, the issue in the Blue Devils’ defeats against North Carolina at the end of the regular season and against North Carolina State at the start of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament was their offense. To address this, the team dedicated extra time to preparing for the upcoming NCAA tournament.

He stated that it is unrealistic to expect to score 93 points in every game, but he believes our offense significantly improved in the last two games.

McCain began the game strong, making his first six shots from beyond the arc. At the 11:49 mark in the first half, his fourth 3-pointer extended his team’s lead to 24-9, prompting the Dukes to call a timeout.

Following McCain’s sixth consecutive successful 3-pointer before the half, he stretched out his arms while jogging back to the defensive end and spoke to no one in particular. Perhaps it was a subtle gesture reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s famous shrug?

“I am unsure of my actions,” he stated. “I was not fully aware of my surroundings.”

McCain finished the half with two long-range misses to break the streak, but nearly matched JMU’s point total with 22 points on 7-for-11 shooting.

Proctor expressed his confidence in their teammate’s shooting abilities, stating that whether he’s taking an easy or difficult 3-point shot, they all believe it will go in. They have great faith in him and he has great faith in himself.

At halftime, Duke was ahead 47-25, which was the biggest gap JMU had faced all season.

SWEET TRIO

The “Triangle” area in North Carolina, which includes the Blue Devils, North Carolina, and North Carolina State, will once again see all three universities advance to the Sweet 16, a feat that hasn’t happened since 2015. The Tar Heels, seeded first in the West Region, defeated Michigan State, while the 11th-seeded Wolfpack defied expectations by defeating Oakland in the South bracket.

INJURY

Duke’s Jeremy Roach, playing in the guard position, left the game earlier than expected due to a dislocated finger, as stated by Scheyer. The team’s athletic trainer taped Roach’s left ring and pinky fingers together, allowing him to return and play for 34 minutes.

UP NEXT

Duke has advanced to the second weekend of March Madness 27 times in 39 tournaments since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

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The AP March Madness bracket can be found at: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage can be accessed at: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness.

Source: wralsportsfan.com