CAA Tournament Thumbnails

If I can't write my name on the ice cream case, it's because I sold my soul for a tourney title.

The great thing about conference tournament season is the ability to always convince yourself recent trends are in favor of your team mounting a run.

But there’s not a whole lot of convincing necessary for UNC Wilmington, Charleston, Hofstra (whoohoo!) and Monmouth, which went 28-8 over the second half of CAA play — aa stretch in which Monmouth was able to free senior point guard Kavion McClain from NCAA eligibility purgatory.  

The only top-four seed not ranking within the top five in CAA-only offensive efficiency is Monmouth, whose season-long analytics don’t reflect the impact McClain has made. In addition, all four squads rank amongst the top six in CAA-only defensive efficiency. 

And historically speaking, the champion is likely to emerge from the top four. A team seeded fifth or lower has won it all just three times in the CAA’s first 43 seasons.

But…two of those champs were crowned in back-to-back seasons earlier this decade, when sixth-seeded Drexel won the title in 2021 before fifth-seeded Delaware took home the trophy in 2022. And seventh-seeded Stony Brook and 12th-seeded Delaware made Cinderella runs to the finals the previous two years.

So let’s not forget about anyone beginning play today or tomorrow…especially William & Mary (how could Hofstra fans do that?), the top-ranked offense in CAA play, or Stony Brook (how could Hofstra fans do that), or Towson, which could do the most Towson thing possible by following up a disappointing regular season with its long-awaited first CAA title.

Whatever happens, it’ll be madness. As always, prepare for it with the (mostly) annual CAA Tournament thumbnails!

1.) UNC WILMINGTON (15-3 CAA, 26-5 overall)

The Seahawks were picked second in the preseason poll. They are the first team to finish first after being picked second since Hofstra did so in 2022-23. The first-place finish is the highest for UNC Wilmington since it earned the top seed in 2016-17, when the Seahawks won the CAA title. The no. 1 seed has won the CAA tournament 22 times, most recently in 2024, when Charleston did so. UNC Wilmington is one of four teams to finish within one spot of its preseason prognostication. The Seahawks have earned a top-four seed in each of the last five seasons, the longest such streak in the league. UNC Wilmington had a pair of six-game winning streaks in CAA play and fell only to William & Mary twice and Charleston once.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: UNC Wilmington, which is the second-most senior CAA program with 40 years in the league, won its record seventh league title by edging Delaware, 76-72, in the title game before falling to Texas Tech in a first-round NCAA Tournament game. The Seahawks’ seven titles are one more than previous record-holder Old Dominion and as many as the other 12 current CAA schools combined. 

BY THE NUMBERS: The Seahawks entered Friday ranked 102nd at KenPom.com, where they are third in conference-only offensive efficiency (113.3) and third in conference-only defensive efficiency (102.8).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Redshirt junior forward Patrick Wessler was named to the all-CAA first team while senior guard Nolan Hodge was selected to the all-CAA second team. Madison Durr was named sixth man of the year and Takayo Siddle earned Coach of the Year honors for the second time.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Wessler ranked second in rebounding (9.5 rpg). Greedy Williams ranked sixth in assists (4.1 apg)

2.) CHARLESTON (14-4 CAA, 21-10 overall)

The Cougars were picked third in the preseason poll. The last team to finish second after being picked third was UNC Wilmington last year. The no. 2 seed has won the CAA tournament 12 times, most recently last year, when UNC Wilmington did so. Charleston is one of four teams to finish within one spot of its preseason prognostication. The Cougars never alternated wins with losses in CAA play, when they opened with a four-game winning streak, lost two straight, won five in a row and lost two straight again before mounting another five-game winning streak — the longest winning streak of any team entering the CAA Tournament. Charleston has earned a top-three seed in each of the last four seasons and eight times in the last 10 seasons overall.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Charleston, in its 13th season in the CAA, saw its bid for a three-peat end with a 68-67 loss to UNC Wilmington in the semifinals. The Cougars have won the CAA three times — in 2018, 2023 and 2024 — and made seven NCAA Tournament trips. Charleston won three Trans Atlantic American Conference titles in 1994, 1997 and 1998 before winning the Southern Conference crown in 1999.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Cougars entered Friday ranked 149th at KenPom.com, where they are fifth in conference-only offensive efficiency (110.1) and sixth in conference-only defensive efficiency (103.8).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Redshirt sophomore Chol Machot was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Graduate student guard Jlynn Counter was named to the all-CAA first team while redshirt junior Christian Reeves was named to the all-CAA third team. Chris Davis Jr. was selected to the CAA all-rookie team. Machot and Reeves each made the CAA all-defensive team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Counter ranked seventh in scoring (15.9 ppg), first in assists (5.6 apg) and third in steals (1.6 spg). Reeves was fifth in rebounding (7.9 rpg).

3.) HOFSTRA (12-6 CAA, 21-10 overall)

The Flying Dutchmen were picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll. The third-place finish is the best for a team picked eighth since Towson won the regular season crown in 2021-22. The no. 3 seed has won the CAA tournament four times, most recently in 2015, when Northeastern did so. The five-spot difference between preseason prognostication and finish is tied for the biggest positive gap this season. The top-four finish is the eighth in the last nine seasons for the Dutchmen, who opened CAA play 4-0, lost five straight and then went 8-1 during the second half of the league schedule. Never not interesting!

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Hofstra, which is in its 25th season in the CAA, fell to Monmouth, 65-60, in a second-round game last year. At least it wasn’t Stony Brook! The Flying Dutchmen finally won the league title in 2020 after falling in the 2006, 2016 and 2019 championship games. Then the Dutchmen won the national championship. Prove me wrong, children! The Flying Dutchmen last officially appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2001, when they won the America East before falling to UCLA, 61-48, in Jay Wright’s final game at Hofstra. The Dutchmen, who won the East Coast Conference in 1976 and 1977 (hi Litos), have officially made five NCAA Tournaments. It should have been six.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Dutchmen entered Friday ranked 93rd at KenPom.com, where they are second in conference-only offensive efficiency (113.8) and second in conference-only defensive efficiency (102.0).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Junior guard Cruz Davis was named the CAA Player of the Year while Preston Edmead was named the Rookie of the Year. Hofstra is the first school in the 44-year history of the CAA to have the Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year in the same season. Davis is the seventh player to win the Player of the Year award for Hofstra, which has won the award a total of 10 times. Both figures are league records, which is pretty impressive considering Hofstra didn’t join the league until 2001-02 and didn’t produce its first Player of the Year until Loren Stokes in 2006. Stokes was followed by Charles Jenkins (2010-11), Juan’ya Green (2016), Justin Wright-Foreman (2018-19), Aaron Estrada (2022-23) and Tyler Thomas (2024). Edmead is the fourth Rookie of the Year for Hofstra and the first since Jenkins in 2008. Davis was named to the all-CAA first team (obvs) while Edmead earned all-CAA second team and CAA all-rookie team (obvs) honors. Sophomore Joshua DeCady was selected to the CAA all-defensive team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Davis led the CAA in scoring (20.3 ppg) and was third in assists (4.6 apg). Edmead ranked ninth in scoring (15.4 ppg) and was fourth in assists (4.5 apg). Victory Onuetu ranked seventh in rebounding (7.2 rpg) while Silas Sunday was tied for ninth in rebounding (6.5 rpg).

4.) MONMOUTH (11-7 CAA, 17-14 overall)

The Hawks were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll. The last team to finish fourth after being picked sixth was Charleston in 2020-21. This is the highest Monmouth has finished since joining the CAA prior to the 2022-23 season. The no. 4 seed has won the CAA tournament twice but not since 2000, when UNC Wilmington did so. Monmouth opened 5-5 in the CAA but has won six of eight senior point guard Kavion McClain was declared eligible. However, the Hawks’ two losses were to UNC Wilmington and Charleston. They also finished 0-2 against Hofstra before McClain joined the team.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Monmouth is in its fourth season in the CAA and won a tournament game for the second third year last March, when the Hawks beat Hofstra 65-60 in a second-round game before suffering a 79-78 overtime loss to Charleston in the quarterfinals. Monmouth has made four NCAA Tournament appearances, all after winning the Northeast Conference. The Hawks most recently played in the NCAA Tournament in 2006, when they beat Hampton (Spider Man meme goes here) 71-49 in a First Four game before falling to Villanova (another Spider Man meme goes here), 58-45.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Hawks entered Friday ranked 188th at KenPom.com, where they are ninth in conference-only offensive efficiency (107.1) and fifth in conference-only defensive efficiency (103.5).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Junior guard Jason Rivera-Torres was named to the all-CAA second team and the CAA all-defensive team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Rivera-Torres was eighth in scoring (15.8 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (8.2 rpg) while leading the league in steals (2.0 spg). Jack Collins was second in assists (4.7 apg) and steals (1.6 spg).

5.) DREXEL (10-8 CAA, 16-15 overall)

The Dragons were picked 10th in the preseason poll. The fifth-place finish is the best for a team picked 10th since Towson placed second in 2012-13. The only fifth seed to win the CAA Tournament was Delaware in 2022. The five-spot difference between preseason prognostication and finish is tied for the biggest positive gap this season. Drexel earned the no. 5 seed over William & Mary by virtue of a head-to-head win. The Dragons opened 0-3 with road losses to Charleston and UNC Wilmington — neither of whom they played again — and a home loss to Hofstra before authoring a trio of three-game winning streaks and remaining in contention for a double bye until the season finale.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Drexel, which is in its 25th season in the CAA, defeated ELO 91-74 in a second-round game last yer before losing to Towson, 82-76, in the quarterfinals. The Dragons won the league title for the first time in 2021, when they were seeded sixth and knocked off seventh-seeded ELO in the championship game. Only one other CAA champion, seventh-seeded East Carolina in 1993, was seeded lower. The Dragons fell to Illinois 78-49 in the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996, when, led by Malik Rose, they completed a three-peat in the North Atlantic Conference. Drexel has made five NCAA Tournaments, the first of which it reached after beating Hofstra in the 1986 ECC title game. Even I didn’t know that was a real thing back then, Litos.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Dragons entered Friday ranked 220th at KenPom.com, where they are 12th in conference-only offensive efficiency (102.0) and first in conference-only defensive efficiency (101.6).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Junior guard Shane Blakeney was selected to the CAA all-defensive team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Blakeney was tied for 10th in steals (1.2 spg).

6.) WILLIAM & MARY (10-8 CAA, 19-11 overall)

The Tribe was picked fourth in the preseason poll. This is the first time the team picked fourth has finished sixth since James Madison did so in 2010-11. The only no. 6 seed to win the CAA Tournament is Drexel, which did so in 2021. The Tribe opened CAA play 2-0 before suffering a three-game losing streak, after which it produced two three-game winning streaks — including one to end conference play — and a pair of two-game skids. William & Mary swept top seed UNC Wilmington but was swept by its second-round opponent, no 11 seed ELO.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Tribe, the lone remaining original CAA members from the league’s inaugural season in 1982-83, fell to Delaware, 100-78, in the quarterfinals last year. William & Mary 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 three original Division I programs to never reach the NCAA Tournament, along with Army West Point and The Citadel. Army West Point was eliminated from the Patriot League tournament with a 65-55 loss to Bucknell on Tuesday while is slated to open Patriot League tournament play tonight against Navy while The Citadel is scheduled to face Chattanooga in its Southern Conference tournament opener this afternoon.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Tribe entered Friday ranked 136th at KenPom.com, where it is first in conference-only offensive efficiency (114.4) and ninth in conference-only defensive efficiency (109.5).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Chase Lowe earned the Dean Ehlers Leadership Award.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Lowe ranked seventh in assists (3.8 apg) and eighth in steals (1.2 spg), one steal ahead of teammate Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi (1.2 spg).

7.) TOWSON (9-9 CAA, 17-14 overall)

The Tigers were picked first in the preseason poll. The seventh-place finish is the lowest for a team picked first since 2012-13, when Drexel also finished seventh.  The five-spot difference between preseason prognostication and finish is the biggest negative gap this season. Towson earned the no. 7 seed over Stony Brook by virtue of a head-to-head sweep. The only no. 7 seed to win the CAA Tournament was East Carolina, which did so in 1993, though Stony Brook made the title game as the no. 7 seed in 2024. Towson opened 0-4 in CAA play, won four straight and then lost five of seven to fall to 6-9 #NotNice before winning its final three games. This marks the third time under Pat Skerry in which the Tigers have opened 0-3 or worse in CAA play before finishing .500 or better. They went from 0-4 to 11-7 in 2016-17 and from 0-3 to 12-6 in 2019-20.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Towson is in its 25th season in the CAA and is the only CAA school outside of recent additions Campbell, Hampton, Monmouth and North Carolina A&T that’s never advanced to a championship game. The Tigers have fallen in the semifinals seven times, including last season, when Delaware continued its Cinderella tournament run with an 82-72 upset win. 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 entered Friday ranked 173rd at KenPom.com, where they are 11th in conference-only offensive efficiency (103.8) and fourth in conference-only defensive efficiency (103.0).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Junior guard/forward Tyler Tejada and redshirt junior guard Dylan Williamson were each named to the all-CAA third team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Tejada ranked sixth in scoring (16.3 ppg). Williamson was 10th in assists (3.4 apg).

8.) STONY BROOK (9-9 CAA, 17-14 overall)

The Seawolves were picked to finish 11th in the preseason poll. They are the third straight team to finish eighth after being picked 11th, following in the footsteps of Monmouth in 2023-24 and Drexel last season. The three-spot difference between preseason prognostication and finish is the third-biggest positive gap this season. No no. 8 seed has ever won the CAA Tournament. Stony Brook opened 1-4 in CAA play and won five straight before ending on a 3-5 skid that included three straight losses to end the regular season. Quirkiest stat of the year: The Seawolves accounted for both the most points (in a 112-106 double overtime win over Charleston on Jan. 17) and the fewest points (in a 56-37 loss to Drexel on Jan. 9) in a CAA game this season.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Stony Brook is in its fourth season in the CAA. The Seawolves fell to Delaware, 80-76, in a first-round game last year after they nearly pulled off the greatest Cinderella run in league history as a no. 7 seed in 2024, when they won three games in as many days before falling to Charleston, 82-79, in overtime in the championship game. Stony Brook moved to Division I in 1999-2000 and lost four America East championship games before breaking through to its lone NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016, when the Seawolves fell to Kentucky, 85-57.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Seawolves entered Friday ranked 229th at KenPom.com, where they are 10th in conference-only offensive efficiency (106.1) and seventh in conference-only defensive efficiency (108.1).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Senior Erik Pratt was selected to the all-CAA first team. Andrej Shoshkikj was selected to the CAA all-rookie team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Pratt ranked third in scoring (19.3 ppg) and eighth in assists (3.7 apg). Shoshkikj was fifth in steals (1.4 apg)

9.) CAMPBELL (8-10 CAA, 14-17 overall)

The Camels were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll. They are the first team to finish ninth after being picked seventh since Towson in 2014-15. No no. 9 seed has ever won the CAA Tournament. Campbell opened 3-1 in CAA play before winning five straight and then ending the regular season with four losses in six games, though the Camels beat North Carolina A&T in the finale. Campbell is 2-7 in games decided by six points or fewer.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Campbell is in its third season in the CAA and lost its CAA Tournament opener for the second straight season last year, when the Camels fell to Delaware, 79-62, in the second round. Campbell, which moved to Division I in 1977, became a founding member of the Big South in 1985 and made its lone trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, when the Fighting Camels were a no. 16 seed and lost to eventual national champion Duke, 82-56. Campbell has lost four Big South title games since — including the 2023 championship game, when the Fighting Camels fell to UNC Asheville and former Hofstra point guard Caleb Burgess. 

BY THE NUMBERS: The Fighting Camels entered Friday ranked 190th at KenPom.com, where they are fourth in conference-only offensive efficiency (112.6) and 10th in conference-only defensive efficiency (111.0).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Graduate student guard D.J. Smith was named to the all-CAA first team. Sophomore guard Jeremiah Johnson was selected to the all-CAA third team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Smith ranked fourth in scoring (19.2 ppg) and fourth in steals (1.5 spg). Dovydas Butka was third in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and sixth in steals (1.4 spg). Johnson was 10th in scoring(14.8 ppg) while Chris Fields Jr. ranked eighth in rebounding (6.9 rpg).

10.) HAMPTON (7-11 CAA, 13-18 overall)

The Pirates were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll. They are the first team to finish 10th after being picked fifth since UNC Wilmington did so in 2018-19. The five-spot difference between preseason prognostication and finish is the second-biggest negative gap this season. No no. 10 seed has ever won the CAA Tournament. The Pirates, who also finished in 10th place last season, are the first team to finish in the same spot in consecutive years since UNC Wilmington and Delaware finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Hampton had a pair of three-game winning streaks and a trio of two-game skids while opening 6-6 in CAA play before going 1-5 down the stretch — a span that started with a last-second 71-70 loss to North Carolina A&T at the HBCU Classic during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles on Feb. 13. 

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Hampton is in its fourth season in the CAA and earned its second tournament win last year, when the Pirates defeated Northeastern 70-65 in a second-round game before losing to UNC Wilmington 79-65 in the quarterfinals. Hampton has made six NCAA Tournaments, all after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Pirates made their most recent NCAA Tournament in 2016, when they fell to Virginia 81-45.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Pirates entered Friday ranked 273rd at KenPom.com, where they are 13th and last in conference-only offensive efficiency (101.4) and eighth in conference-only defensive efficiency (108.7).

CAA HONOR ROLL: No Hampton player made any of the CAA’s all-league teams.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Xzavier Long led the league in rebounding (9.6 rpg) while Etienne Strothers was tied for 10th in steals (1.2 spg).

11.) ELO (6-12 CAA, 14-17 overall)

The Phoenix was picked to finish 12th in the preseason poll. ELO is the first team to finish 11th after being picked 12th since William & Mary in 2005-06, which was the first season in which the CAA had at least 12 teams. No no. 11 seed has ever won the CAA Tournament. ELO is one of four teams to finish within one spot of its preseason prognostication. The Phoenix opened CAA play at 5-4 but went 1-8 n the second half with a pair of four-game losing streaks, including one to end the season. ELO’s last four losses have been by an average of 14.3 points. However, the Phoenix’s two most recent wins were over William & Mary, its second-round foe. 

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: ELO, which is in its 11th season in the CAA, lost to Drexel 83-78 in a second-round game last year and hasn’t won a conference tournament game since 2021. The Phoenix has never made the NCAA Tournament in 26 years as a Division I program. ELO has reached two conference title games, falling to Drexel as the no. 8 seed in 2021 and to Elite Eight-bound Davidson — featuring Stephon Curry — in the Southern Conference in 2008.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Phoenix entered Friday ranked 227th at KenPom.com, where it is seventh in conference-only offensive efficiency (107.7) and 11th in conference-only defensive efficiency (115.1).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Graduate student forward Chandler Cuthrell was named to the all-CAA second team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Cuthrell was second in scoring (20.0 ppg) and tied for ninth in rebounding (6.5 rpg). Ja’Juan Carr ranked fifth in assists (4.3 apg) while Randall Pettus II was seventh in steals (1.4 spg).

12.) NORTH CAROLINA A&T (4-14 CAA, 11-18 overall)

The Aggies were picked to finish 13th in the preseason poll. They are the first team to finish 12th after being picked to finish 13th since Hampton in 2022-23. North Carolina A&T is one of four teams to finish within one spot of its preseason prognostication. No no. 12 seed has ever won the CAA Tournament, though Delaware got to the championship game last year. The Aggies opened a CAA-worst 0-6 in CAA play, the second straight season in which they began the CAA schedule with at least six straight losses, before upsetting Hofstra and Towson during aa homestand from Jan. 22-24. North Carolina A&T then endured losing four- and three-game losing streaks. The Aggies were 2-5 in games decided by six points or fewer. 

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: North Carolina A&T is in its fourth season in the CAA and fell to Hofstra, 77-55, in the first round last year. The Aggies are 0-4 in CAA Tournament play and haven’t won a conference tournament game since a 78-71 victory over Radford in a Big South Conference first-round game on Mar. 2, 2022. North Carolina A&T has made 10 NCAA Tournaments, all after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Aggies made their most recent NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013, when they earned the first NCAA Tournament win in school history by beating Liberty, 73-72, in a First Four game before falling to eventual national champion Louisville 79-48.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Aggies entered Friday ranked 283rd at KenPom.com, where they are sixth in conference-only offensive efficiency (107.9) and 12th in conference-only defensive efficiency (116.8).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Redshirt freshman Lewis Walker was named to the all-CAA third team and the CAA all-rookie team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Walker ranked fifth in scoring (19.0 ppg). Zamoku Weluche-Ume was sixth in rebounding (7.3 rpg).

13.) NORTHEASTERN (2-16 CAA, 6-23 overall)

The Huskies were picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll. They are the second straight team to finish 13th after being picked ninth, following in the footsteps of Stony Brook. No no. 13 seed has ever won the CAA Tournament, possibly because this is only fourth year in which the CAA has included at least 13 teams. Northeastern enters the tournament with a 12-game losing streak, the longest active skid in the league and the longest for the program since a 12-game losing streak from Dec. 12, 2021 through Feb. 3, 2022. Just three of the defeats were by six points or fewer. The Huskies have finished below .500 in CAA play in four of the last five seasons after doing so just three times in Bill Coen’s first 15 seasons.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Northeastern, which is in its 21st year in the CAA, fell to Hampton, 70-65, in a second-round game last year. The Huskies have lost their last three CAA Tournament games. Northeastern won the CAA in 2015, when it beat William & Mary, and 2019, when it beat Hofstra (rats). It is one of three 21st-century CAA additions with multiple championships, along with Delaware and Charleston. The Huskies also lead all 21st-century additions with five title game appearances overall. Northeastern has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances and fell to Kansas 87-53 in its most recent appearance in 2019.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Huskies entered Friday ranked 291st at KenPom.com, where they are eighth in conference-only offensive efficiency (107.4) and 13th and last in conference-only defensive efficiency (121.0).

CAA HONOR ROLL: Freshman Xavier Abreu was named to the CAA all-rookie team.

ON THE CAA LEADERBOARD: Mike Loughnane was ninth in assists (3.6 apg).