Possible live shot of #CAAHoops tournament play.
Been a crazy week but the #CAAHoops tournament is here. As I did last year, I put together thumbnail sketches of everyone vying for the automatic bid. And all the teams are still in the running! As I noted last year, these thumbnail sketches are the kind of thing you might have seen in the newspaper, back in the day when there were newspapers. Ask your grandparents. More to come, but enjoy for now!
1.) HOFSTRA (15-3 CAA, 25-6 overall)
The Flying Dutchmen were picked third in the preseason poll. Hofstra earned the no. 1 seed for the second time in 18 seasons and won the regular season title outright for the first time. The Dutchmen won 16 straight games, including their first nine in CAA play, from Nov. 28 to Jan. 26. The last unbeaten team in the CAA has won the league tournament five times. Hofstra earned sole possession of the regular season crown by sweeping Drexel and Delaware on the road last weekend.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Dutchmen have never won the league title. I might have written a thing or tow about it over the years. They fell to UNC Wilmington in the championship game in 2006 and 2016 championship games. I might have written a thing or two about it over the years. Hofstra last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2001, when it won the America East. The Dutchmen have made four NCAA Tournaments. It should have been five. I might have written a thing or two about it over the years.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Dutchmen rank 81st at KenPom.com, where they are first in conference-only offensive efficiency (123.2) and fourth in conference-only defensive efficiency (107.8)
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Senior Justin Wright-Foreman led the CAA in scoring (26.8 ppg). Graduate senior Jacquil Taylor ranked fourth in rebounding (8.6 rpg). Junior Desure Buie was third in assists (5.4 apg) and first in steals (2.5 spg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Wright-Foreman was named the Player of the Year for the second straight season. Buie was named the defensive player of the year and received third-team honors. Eli Pemberton was named to the all-CAA second team. Buie and Taylor were selected to the all-defensive team. Head coach Joe Mihalich won coach of the year honors.
2.) NORTHEASTERN (14-4 CAA, 20-10 overall)
The Huskies were picked first in the preseason poll. The preseason no. 1 pick has finished first or second, or earned a share of the regular season crown, in each of the last six years (Northeastern was the no. 3 seed in 2015, when four teams finished tied for first at 12-6). Northeastern has been seeded second or higher four times in 13 seasons in the CAA. The Huskies ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak and by winning nine of their final 10 games.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Huskies, who are in their 14th year in the CAA, won their first league title in 2015 and fell in the title game for the second time last year, when they squandered an 18-point lead and fell to Charleston (and the refs), 83-76, in overtime. Northeastern has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Huskies rank 88th at KenPom.com, where they are second in conference-only offensive efficiency (114.5) and first in conference-only defensive efficiency (100.9).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Senior Vasa Pusica ranked fifth in the league in scoring (17.9 ppg), fourth in assists (4.1 apg) and third in steals (1.5 spg). Junior Donnell Gresham was 10th in assists (3.2 apg) and tied for seventh in steals (1.3 spg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Pusica was named to the all-CAA first team. Junior Jordan Roland was named to the third team.
3.) CHARLESTON (12-6 CAA, 23-8 overall)
The Cougars were picked second in the preseason poll. The preseason no. 2 pick has finished in the top three in each of the last three years and five times in the last six seasons. Charleston opened league play 3-4 but went 9-2 down the stretch.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Cougars have reached the last two CAA title games and won their first league crown last year by coming back (with the help of some incompetent refs) to beat Northeastern, 83-76, in overtime in the championship game. The trip to the NCAA Tournament was the first for Charleston since 1999, when it won the Southern Conference. Charleston has made five NCAA Tournament appearances.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Cougars rank 118th at KenPom.com, where they are third in conference-only offensive efficiency (112.7) and third in conference-only defensive efficiency (105.9).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Junior Grant Riller was second in the league in scoring (22.3 ppg), sixth in assists (4.0 apg) and 10th in steals (1.2 spg). Senior Jarrell Brantley ranked fourth in scoring (19.5 ppg), sixth in rebounding (8.4 rpg) and fifth in steals (1.4 spg). Sophomore Brevin Galloway was ninth in steals (1.3 spg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Brantley and Riller were named to the all-CAA first team
4.) WILLIAM & MARY (10-8 CAA, 14-16 overall)
The Tribe were picked fourth in the preseason poll. It is the only team to finish where it was predicted. William & Mary was 3-6 through the first half of the CAA schedule before going 7-2 down the stretch and finishing the season with five straight wins, the longest winning streak of any CAA team entering the tournament.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Tribe, one of two remaining original CAA members from the league’s inaugural season in 1982-83, has never made the NCAA Tournament, though it has fallen in the CAA title game four times since 2008. William & Mary is one of just four original Division I programs to never reach the NCAA Tournament, along with Army West Point, St. Francis (NY) and The Citadel, all of whom have already been eliminated from their conference tournaments.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Tribe rank 209th at KenPom.com, where they are seventh in conference-only offensive efficiency (105.8) and second in conference-only defensive efficiency (104.4).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Junior Nathan Knight ranked third in the league in scoring (21.0 ppg), fifth in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and ninth in assists (3.4 apg) Junior Justin Pierce was third in rebounding (8.9 rpg) and fifth in rebounding (4.1 rpg). Freshman Chase Audige was fourth in steals (1.5 spg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Knight was named to the all-CAA first team as well as to the all-defensive team. Pierce was named to the third team. Audige was selected to the all-rookie team.
5.) DELAWARE (8-10 CAA, 16-15 overall)
The Blue Hens were picked seventh in the preseason poll. They are one of three teams to finish at least two spots higher than projected. Delaware opened the year 5-2 and was 6-3 at the midway point before going 2-7 in the second half. The Blue Hens have finished .500 or worse in the CAA in five straight seasons, which is tied with Drexel for the longest active streak.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Delaware, which is in its 18th season in the CAA, won its lone championship in 2014, when the Blue Hens made the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1999. The Blue Hens have made five NCAA Tournaments.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Blue Hens rank 269th at KenPom.com, where they are ninth in conference-only offensive efficiency (103.4) and seventh in conference-only defensive efficiency (110.9).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Senior Eric Carter ranked ninth in the league in scoring (16.0 ppg) and second in rebounding (9.9 rpg). Sophomore Kevin Anderson was seventh in assists (3.7 apg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Carter was named to the all-CAA second team. Ithiel Horton was selected to the all-rookie team.
6.) DREXEL (7-11 CAA, 13-18 overall)
The Dragons were picked ninth in the preseason poll. No team exceeded its preseason projections more than Drexel, which twice got to .500 in league play at 4-4 and 6-6 but could never get over the break-even mark. The Dragons lost five of their final six games, but the sixth-place finish is the program’s best since finishing fourth in 2013-14.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Drexel, which is in its 18th season in the CAA, has yet to win the conference championship, though it fell in the championship game in good ol’ Richmond in 2003 and 2012. The Dragons last reached the NCAA Tournament in 1996, when, led by Malik Rose, they completed a three-peat in the North Atlantic Conference. Drexel has made four NCAA Tournaments, the first of which it reached after beating Hofstra in the 1986 ECC title game. Now Litos believes me that it existed. I think.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Dragons rank 246th at KenPom.com, where they are fifth in conference-only offensive efficiency (108.5) and ninth in conference-only defensive efficiency (113.3).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Sophomore James Butler ranked seventh in the league in rebounding (8.1 rpg) while Alihan Demir was 10th (6.5 rpg). Freshman Camren Wynter was second in assists (5.4 apg) and sixth in steals (1.3 spg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Wynter was named the CAA rookie of the year. Demir and injured guard Troy Harper were selected to the all-CAA third team.
7.) ELON (7-11 CAA, 11-20 overall)
The Phoenix was picked eighth in the preseason poll. This marks the fourth time in five seasons in the CAA that Elon has finished seventh or lower and been forced to play on Pillowfight Friday or Slap-and-tickle Saturday. However, Elon enters the tournament with two straight wins and three victories in its last four games.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Elon, which is in its fifth season in the CAA, has never made the NCAA Tournament in 20 years as a Division I program. The Phoenix reached its lone conference championship game in 2008, when it fell to Stephen Curry and Elite Eight-bound Davidson.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Phoenix rank 301st at KenPom.com, where they are 10th and last in conference-only offensive efficiency (102.3) and fifth in conference-only defensive efficiency (110.1).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Senior Tyler Seibring ranked eighth in the league in scoring (16.5 ppg). Senior Sheldon Eberhardt was ninth in assists (3.3 apg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Seibring was named to the all-CAA second team. Eberhardt was selected the sixth man of the year.
8.) JAMES MADISON (6-12 CAA, 13-18 overall)
The Dukes were picked sixth in the preseason poll. James Madison opened 0-3 in CAA play and was the league’s last winless team for the second straight season. The Dukes won three of four between Feb. 2 and Feb. 16 and four of six from Feb. 2 through Feb. 23, a stretch that ended with a 104-99 overtime win over Hofstra (boo), before losing their last two games. This marks the third straight losing season in CAA play for James Madison as well as the third straight time it has been forced into outbracket action.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: James Madison, which is one of two remaining original members of the CAA along with William & Mary, won its third CAA title in 2014. The Dukes were the first CAA champions in 1983. The program has made five NCAA Tournament appearances overall.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Dukes rank 280th at KenPom.com, where they are sixth in conference-only offensive efficiency (107.0) and eighth in conference-only defensive efficiency (112.6).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Senior Stuckey Mosley ranked seventh in the league in scoring (17.0 ppg). Sophomore Dwight Wilson was eighth in rebounding (7.8 rpg). Sophomore Matt Lewis was 10th in scoring (15.9 ppg). Sophomore Darius Banks was second in steals (1.8 spg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Mosley was selected to the all-CAA second team while Lewis received third-team honors. Deshon Parker was named to the all-rookie team.
9.) TOWSON (6-12 CAA, 10-21 overall)
The Tigers were picked 10th in the preseason poll. It was a season of streaks for Towson, which opened CAA play 1-5 and went 5-3 over the next eight games before ending the league schedule with four straight losses, which is the longest active skid heading into the tournament.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Towson is in its 18th season in the CAA and has never advanced to a championship game. The only other active CAA school that has yet to play in the title game is Elon, which is in its fifth season in the league. Towson made its two NCAA Tournament appearances in 1990 and 1991, when it won the ECC’s final automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers also won the ECC in 1992, when the league did not carry an automatic bid.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Tigers rank 288th at KenPom.com, where they are eighth in conference-only offensive efficiency (104.3) and sixth in conference-only defensive efficiency (110.8).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Junior Brian Fobbs ranked sixth in the league in scoring (17.5 ppg). Junior Dennis Tunstall was ninth in rebounding (7.6 rpg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Fobbs was selected to the all-CAA second team. Tunstall was named to the all-defensive team.
10.) UNC WILMINGTON (5-13 CAA, 9-22 overall)
The Seawolves were picked fifth in the preseason poll. No other team finished more than two spots lower than its preseason projection. The Seahawks opened league play 3-2 and 4-4 before going 1-9 down the stretch. The only win in that span was an 87-79 victory over Hofstra on Senior Night (boo). UNC Wilmington is playing on Slap-and-tickle Saturday for the second straight year after winning back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: UNC Wilmington, which is the third-most senior CAA program with 34 years in the league, has won six league titles, as many as the rest of the current CAA combined.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Seawolves rank 270th at KenPom.com, where they are fourth in conference-only offensive efficiency (109.3) and 10th and last in conference-only defensive efficiency (115.4).
ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Senior Devontae Cacok led the CAA in rebounding (12.3 rpg). Freshman Kai Toews led the league in assists (7.8 apg).
CAA HONOR ROLL: Cacok was named to the all-CAA first team and the all-defensive team. Toews was selected to the all-rookie team.
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