Spotlight WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | JAMES MADISONFAMILIAR FACES Upset-minded JMU women's basketball ready to face Kentucky in NCAA tournament SHANE METTLEN Daily News-Record Mar 20, 2026 3 hrs ago 0 × What is a Cinderella Story in March Madness? Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save James Madison enters Saturday’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against Kentucky as the underdog by all the normal definitions of the term.kAm%96 sF<6D 2C6 E96 }@] `a D665 E2<:?8 @? 2 }@] d]k^AmkAmy|&[ 46CE2:?=J 2 >:5\>2;@C A@H6C[ :D DE:== E96 =@?6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 2 @?6\3:5 $F? q6=E r@?76C6?46]k^AmkAm%96 (:=542ED 4@>6 7C@> E96 >:89EJ $tr 2?5 E96 q=F68C2DD $E2E6[ H96C6 &z 32D<6E32== :D 2 H2J @7 =:76]k^Am kAmp?5[ @7 4@FCD6[ E96 DA@CED3@@<D >256 :E @77:4:2=[ 564=2C:?8 z6?EF4<J 2 `e]d\A@:?E 72G@C:E6 2D @7 (65?6D52J 6G6?:?8]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life 100+ Smyth residents develop action plan to address opioid addiction crisis A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal Smyth schools prepare to welcome Pre-K, kindergarten students at registration U.S. Sen. Warner visits Marion, holding discussion about Blue Ridge Job Corps Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond Federal appeals court examines Liberty University firing over gender transition 'Worship over worry': Virginia church group evacuates Israel at war Virginia General Assembly going to special session to resolve budget standoff Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero Spanberger appoints 65 Virginians to state boards and commissions Marion OKs adding fee to delinquent taxes to help collect them Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel James Madison guard Peyton McDaniel (00) drives up the court. Daniel Lin / DN-R kAm$@ H9J 5@6D E96C6 D66> E@ 36 2 C62= 2:C @7 4@?7:56?46 7C@> E96 sF<6D[ H9@ 6?E6C E96 aib_ A]>] 82>6 :? |@C82?E@H?[ (]'2][ 36=:6G:?8 E96J 92G6 H92E :E E2<6D E@ H:? 2?5 <66A E96:C D62D@? 8@:?8nk^AmkAm“%96J 2C6 2 8@@5 E62>[” y|&’D p==\$F? q6=E A@H6C 7@CH2C5 pD92?E: q2C?6D D2:5 @7 E96 (:=542ED] “qFE ?@ >2EE6C H9@ A@AA65 FA @? 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