Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs James Madison Dukes Picks and Predictions December 17th 2024

Wake Forest Aims to Stay Unbeaten at Home Against James Madison

Wake Forest looks to maintain its perfect home record when it hosts James Madison on Tuesday night in Winston-Salem, N.C. While the Demon Deacons aim to improve to 7-0 at home, the Dukes are eager to make a statement in their only matchup this season against a power conference opponent.

James Madison Searching for Consistency

After a historic 32-4 season last year, including a headline-grabbing win at Michigan State, James Madison (6-4) finds itself in a transition under first-year coach Preston Spradlin. With a nearly brand-new roster and a tougher early schedule, the Dukes’ path has been anything but smooth.

Spradlin is quick to note the stark differences between this season and last.

“I told you it was going to take some time for this team to get together and to figure it out, and it’s a process,” Spradlin said, adding that this year’s team has already faced eight opponents in the top-200 NET rankings—equal to the entire schedule of last year’s squad.

The Dukes rely heavily on Texas A&M transfer Bryce Lindsay, who leads the team with 14.2 points per game, and returning guard Xavier Brown, who contributes 13.9 points, 3.4 assists, and a team-high 1.9 steals per game.

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James Madison comes into this game well-rested after a nine-day break, following back-to-back home wins over Tennessee State and Utah Valley. Transfers Elijah Hutchins-Everett and AJ Smith stepped up in those victories, scoring 26 and 23 points, respectively.

Wake Forest Defending Home Court

Wake Forest (8-3) has been a fortress at home, going a perfect 6-0 so far this season. Their three losses came against high-caliber opponents, all of whom have appeared in the national rankings at some point this year.

The Demon Deacons also enter this matchup refreshed after a nine-day layoff, last taking the court in a 72-66 win over Boston College in their ACC opener on Dec. 7. Guard Cameron Hildreth was the difference-maker in that game, recording 22 points and 10 rebounds in a dominant two-way performance.

Coach Steve Forbes welcomed the extended break, focusing on improvements ahead of Tuesday’s challenge.

“We need it,” Forbes said. “We need to get better before we play James Madison.”

Hunter Sallis has been Wake Forest’s steady leader this season, averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game. Tre’von Spillers has provided balance inside, contributing 10.6 points and a team-leading 9.5 rebounds per game.

Key Matchup: Wake Forest’s Defense vs. James Madison’s Scorers

James Madison boasts multiple scoring options, with Lindsay, Brown, and Hutchins-Everett all capable of catching fire. The Dukes’ success will hinge on whether they can exploit Wake Forest’s defense, which has tightened up during their current home stretch.

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On the other side, Wake Forest’s balanced attack, led by Sallis and Hildreth, will test James Madison’s defensive consistency. If the Demon Deacons can maintain their rebounding edge and limit turnovers, they’ll have the advantage.

What’s at Stake

For Wake Forest, this game represents another opportunity to defend their home floor and continue building momentum before diving deeper into ACC play. The Deacons’ ability to perform well against nonconference opponents has been a key part of their strong start.

For James Madison, a win would mark a turning point in their season and give Spradlin’s team a confidence boost. The Dukes’ challenging schedule has prepared them for this moment, but they’ll need a complete effort to pull off the upset.

The Bottom Line

Will Wake Forest’s home dominance continue, or can James Madison rediscover the magic that made them a Cinderella story just a year ago? With both teams rested and motivated, Tuesday’s matchup promises to be a compelling test for two programs with very different trajectories.