It was an incredible weekend for James Madison coach Kenny Brooks.
He became the school’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach Sunday when the Dukes beat Delaware for his 303rd win, which moved him past Sheila Moorman. He then got to see his youngest daughter win her first AAU championship. Now Brooks has the Dukes ranked for the first time in five years as James Madison entered The Associated Press Top 25 at No. 23 on Monday.
“It’s been surreal,” Brooks said. “What we have here is very special, and James Madison is a very special place. To play in front of 4,000 fans yesterday and to be recognized was wonderful. It’s a great run that I’m proud to be associated with.”
James Madison (22-2) last was in the Top 25 on Dec. 28, 2009. The Dukes’ only two losses this season came against No. 5 Maryland and Vanderbilt.
“It’s an honor to be recognized on the national level and it brings credibility to our program,” he said. “It’s a major accomplishment. Last year we could argue that we had the best team I ever had – we were dominant in so many different areas. We lost the player of the year and defensive player of the year to graduation, so there was a little bit of doubt surrounding this team. Right from the start we were motivated to do well.”