James Madison Pulls First 12–5 Upset of March Madness by Knocking Off Wisconsin 72–61

James Madison forward T.J. Bickerstaff (L) goes to the basket against Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl (22) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament in New York on March 22, 2024. Mary Altaffer/AP Photo

NEW YORK—James Madison announced itself by beating a Big Ten team to start this season.

When the Dukes did it again to start their NCAA Tournament, they made sure everybody knew: “It’s not an upset,” Xavier Brown yelled, popping his jersey in the middle of the celebration with teammates and in front of the fired-up JMU family section at Barclays Center.