Miami Has the Hype. James Madison Gets the First Shot.

Miami at James Madison · Monday, November 2 · 7 p.m. ET · ESPN+

Atlantic Union Bank Center · Harrisonburg, Virginia

Miami gets to open its season as somebody’s big game. James Madison was picked second in the Sun Belt, received the league’s most first-place votes and gets the RedHawks at home. Apparently, easing into basketball season was unavailable.

Offense: Spread the floor. Let the guards drive.

Miami averaged 89.6 points and made 10.5 threes per game last season, shooting 38.7% from outside. That gives me a reason to expect points, even with major contributors gone. My opener projection calls for 12 threes on 31 attempts: more perimeter volume, with accuracy close to last season’s level.

Evan Ipsaro and Luke Skaljac give Miami two creators who can share the work. I want them attacking openings and finding Almar Atlason before possessions become difficult jumpers. Ipsaro does not need to win his entire comeback in the opening ten minutes.

H&H player projections

Kirby and Elam are the intriguing next layer. I want Kirby involved beyond waiting for a kickout: run after stops, attack an opening and make his minutes felt. With Elam, watch the ordinary possessions. Can Miami change guards without losing its rhythm? A controlled possession against pressure will tell me something even when it produces no highlight.

Skaljac’s pull-up game might be the wrinkle I’m most excited to see. By the end of last season, his middy was giving me Shaun Livingston flashbacks: patient, balanced and seemingly unbothered by the defender who thought he had done enough. Spread the floor, chase Miami off the arc, and there’s still a guard waiting to make you miserable inside it.

“We want to be the hunter with how we play,” Steele told The Miami Student. For me, that means creating advantages early and keeping the ball moving once the defense reacts.

Defense: Kirby bothers them. Woolfolk finishes it.

Kirby is my two-way watch. I’m looking for active hands, difficult catches and enough pressure to make JMU start its offense farther from where it wants. Disruption does not always become a steal. Making a guard restart a possession with less time is valuable too.

Behind that pressure, Antwone Woolfolk’s positioning and rebounding matter. If Miami’s guards force a difficult attempt, somebody has to collect the miss. Miami needs stops, not a buy-one-get-one promotion for JMU.

JMU has only two returning players, so last season’s team record cannot explain this whole matchup. The newcomers bring different problems. My defensive benchmarks are below 45% shooting for JMU and no more than ten offensive rebounds allowed.

For Woolfolk, my projected line is 10 points and seven rebounds. Staying out of foul trouble matters more than chasing a block. Miami needs him available to finish possessions when the game gets tight.

Prediction: Miami 84, James Madison 78

I’m picking Miami’s offense to travel, even if its defense needs a few possessions to find its footing. Ipsaro and Skaljac give the RedHawks creators to trust, while Atlason, Kirby and Elam provide enough options to keep the scoring moving.

H&H team projections

The biggest danger is Miami confusing a spread floor with permission to rush every three. My pick gives JMU a rebounding edge but trusts the RedHawks to protect the ball and create enough good looks to find the cleaner possessions late.

The encouraging version of Monday includes Kirby affecting both ends, Elam keeping the offense steady and Woolfolk finishing defensive possessions. Bring home 1–0. Nobody needs a November masterpiece yet.