A win is still a win

Maybe they drop a few spots, but it's still a valid win (not tainted like Michigan vs Western Michigan).

I think the real dropoff will be seen starting next year, given that the new "5 for 5" rule will take effect.

Coach Cignetti feasted on getting polished, experienced 5th and 6th year seniors from the transfer portal. It's easy to see that his starters are well-disciplined, experienced, and don't make rookie mistakes. That plus they've had more strength and conditioning than conventional players (1st through 4th year).

It was a very shrewd move of Cignetti, and he took advantage of the rules.

While those guys aren't going to be on par with true juniors who are outstanding (going pro early), or well-developed super talent 4th year seniors, they're the next best thing, and when you have strength in numbers, it certainly shows.

A polished 5th or 6th year 3 star senior player will (most of the time) be better than a true freshman 4 star player, just based on experience and development.

Starting next year, there will be almost no 6th year seniors available due to the "5 for 5" rule, and that there won't be any more players who were the beneficiaries of the 2020 COVID exemption policy.

Those polished 5th year seniors in the portal are going to be poached more aggressively, and with more coaches turning towards the transfer portal to get quick results, he will lose out on a sizable portion of what would have been his potential roster.

That being said, if he can develop his own players in-house, then maybe he can avoid the dropoff. I don't know how well he can develop his own at this level, since James Madison University isn't quite in the realm of what is seen in the Big Ten.