The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: Colonial

Over the next month and a half, we will be rolling out all of our 2011-2012 Season Preview posts. You can find a full schedule of all the preview posts here. If you want to browse through the rest of the conference previews, click here.

AWARDS

Player of the Year: Bradford Burgess, Sr., VCU

Playing a role as the second -- and, at times, the third or fourth -- offensive option for VCU a season ago, Burgess still managed to average 14.3 ppg and 5.1 rpg. He also happened to be a guy that seemingly made every big play for the Rams. Whether it was a momentum-changing three, getting a late-game stop, slipping a screen for a game-winning bucket (hello Florida State) or calming his team down -- Shaka Smart credited Burgess for bringing the team together after Smart was given a technical foul in the second half of VCU's Elite 8 win over Kansas -- Burgess has all the makings of a go-to player and a leader. And with so much talent leaving the Rams, Burgess will undoubtedly be the first option for VCU offensively. Now think about this stat: Burgess took 14 or more shots in five games last season. In those five games, he averaged 24.6 ppg and hit 17-26 from beyond the arc.


And a close second goes to...: Samme Givens, Sr., Drexel

This was tough, as the CAA has a number of very good upperclassmen this year. I'll go with Givens simply because I think he is as valuable to the Dragons as any player in the country is to their team. I also love undersized players that aren't afraid to mix it up in the paint, and there certainly isn't a front court player that is, inch-for-inch, more effective than Givens. Standing just 6'5", Givens averaged more than 10 rpg last season and was the biggest reason why Drexel led the country in defensive rebounding percentage. You see, Drexel's ability to clean the glass is the reason they win games. Bruiser Flint's teams don't force turnovers. They play fundamental, physical and positional defense, forcing you into tough shots -- they were seventh in the nation in defensive effective field goal percentage. By cleaning the defensive glass and limiting opponents to one shot per possession, the Dragons make it incredibly difficult to score against them. Givens is one of the major reasons why Drexel will be successful playing that style of basketball. Oh, and he's probably going to average around 13 ppg.

Breakout Star: Devon Saddler, So., Delaware

In his first game as a Blue Hen, Saddler went for 19 points on 8-13 shooting while adding seven assists and six rebounds on the road against a team in Ohio that was coming off of a first-round upset of Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to a fan base. And while he was a bit inconsistent throughout non-conference play, Saddler only got better during CAA play, something you don't often see out of freshmen. He averaged 18.7 ppg over the last 12 regular season games, winning CAA Rookie of the Year. If his hot shooting continues -- he was 20-40 from three over the last eight games of the season -- and he can learn to protect the basketball -- he averaged most turnovers than assists -- Saddler has a chance to become a national name by the time he's done at Delaware.


All-Conference First-Team:

- POY: Bradford Burgess, Sr., VCU
- G: Quinn McDowell, Sr., William & Mary
- G: Devon Saddler, So., Delaware
- G: Kent Bazemore, Sr., Old Dominion
- F: Ryan Pearson, Sr., George Mason
- F: Samme Givens, Sr., Drexel

All-Conference Second-Team:

- G: Devon Moore, Jr., James Madison
- G: Chris Fouch, Jr., Drexel
- G: Mike Moore, Sr., Hofstra
- F: Juvonte Reddic, So., VCU
- F: Keith Rendlemen, Jr., UNC-Wilmington

Four summer storylines

- VCU's training with Navy SEALs: I mean, its pretty self-explanatory. We wrote about it more here if you are interested, but I would recommend watching the video.

- Turnover at George Mason: Simply put, Jim Larranaga was not happy at George Mason. He wasn't happy with his salary, he wasn't happy with the salary his assistants received, he wasn't happy with his athletic director, and he wasn't happy when he saw Shaka Smart sign an extension worth more than double what he was making annually for accomplishing the same thing he did five years prior. So he left for a job that paid better, had a boss he got along with, and was located in South Florida. Not that tough of a decision. As a replacement, Mason brought in Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt, and while Hewitt could not hold keep Luke Hancock in the program, he was able to sign Roland Houston as an assistant and get him to bring along his nephew, top 100 center Eric Copes.

Larranaga was an icon at George Mason, a school he had built into a powerhouse in arguably the nation's top mid-major conference with a better-than-you-think-it-is fan base. The program has momentum. Will Paul Hewitt -- who was unable to capitalize on a run by his Georgia Tech team to the national title game -- build on it?

- Blaine Taylor's 'stache: Its gone.


- Towson's overhaul: When you go 4-26 on the season and 0-18 in conference play, changes have to be made. For Towson, those changes came in the form of a complete overhaul of the program. Out is head coach Pat Kennedy. Out were star forwards Isaiah Philmore and Braxton DuPree. Troy Franklin was out before the end of the first semester. With Pat Skerry, the Tigers bring in a completely new culture to their program. Even with Kelvin Amayo ineligible for this year, Skerry did a solid job recruiting, landing Georgetown transfer Jerelle Benimon. If he can tap into the fertile recruiting grounds of the Baltimore-DC corridor, Towson has the potential to be one of the best programs in the CAA.

Four storylines to follow this season

- Kent Bazemore's foot: Bazemore, Old Dominion's lone returning starter and a potential CAA Player of the Year in 2012, broke a bone in his left foot playing in a Hampton, VA, summer league. He underwent surgery in the beginning of August and initially expected to be healthy by the time the season finally rolls around. Now it appears as if the reigning defensive player of the year in the conference may be out until early December. If he is not at 100%, ODU is in trouble this season. Bazemore is one of the best perimeter defenders in the country, a guy that head coach Blaine Taylor can build a defense around. He's also an athletic scorer that developed into a well-rounded offensive threat. It would be a shame to see him go out like this.

- George Mason's back court: The biggest concern for the Patriots heading into the season has nothing to do with who their head coach is and everything to do with their back court. Cam Long and Luke Hancock were GMU's two best playmakers, accounting for nearly 50% (240 out of 483) or their team's assists a season ago, but both are now out of the program. Then in September, Andre Cornelius, a senior guard and returning starter, was arrested for credit card fraud, meaning that Vertrail Vaughns, who averaged a whopping 9.5 mpg, is the most experienced returnee in the back court that doesn't have legal trouble hanging over their head.

The strength of this year's George Mason team is going to be their front court, but there are some major question marks in the back court. Assuming Cornelius is able to play this season, he's less of a playmaker than he is a spot-up shooter. Vaughns was efficient and productive in his limited minutes as a freshman, but how will he handle a larger role where he is going to be counted on as a playmaker? Can sophomore Byron Allen or freshman Corey Edwards take over the point guard duties? Whether or not Paul Hewitt can find a playmaker on his perimeter will likely determine just how good George Mason ends up being this season.

- Devon Moore's status: As a sophomore, the 6'4" Moore developed into one of the more exciting young guards in the conference to watch. He averaged 11.4 ppg and 4.2 apg on a team whose focal point was a slow-footed center. With Denzel Bowles gone, the Dukes had planned on becoming a more uptempo team. With talents like Julius Wells and Wyoming transfer AJ Davis -- who could be a difference-maker for JMU this year -- around Moore, there was reason fans to be excited heading into the season. But Moore has been ruled academically ineligible for the first semester. Its never easy to incorporate your point guard in at mid-season, especially when that point guard is the most important piece to a new offensive system. How will the Dukes respond to the change?


- Youngsters at Old Dominion and VCU: Old Dominion and VCU were two of the best teams in the conference last season, but combined, they graduated eight of their top ten players. The two guys that return -- Kent Bazemore and Brad Burgess -- are both near-locks to be first-team all-conference if they stay healthy, but how good those two teams end up being will be dependent on how well the youngsters on the roster develop. Are Juvonte Reddic and Rob Brandenburg primed for big sophomore years with the Rams? Is Darius Theus ready to be Joey Rodriguez's replacement? Can ODU's Trian Iliadis maintain his efficiency while playing an expanded role? Will Chris Cooper be able to control the paint the same way Frank Hassell did?

Power Rankings

1. Drexel: The Dragon's 2010-2011 campaign could be considered a success based on the fact that they won 21 games (only the second time that he has crossed the 20-win plateau as the head man of the Dragons), knocked off Louisville in Louisville and finished fifth in the conference, behind three teams that made the NCAA Tournament and a fourth team that sent a player to the NBA. Doing all that despite losing two players, including their leading scorer, after an offseason armed robbery just makes it all the more impressive. But the season was also a disappointment in that the Dragons didn't play in any postseason tournaments.

This season's version of the Dragons is quite intriguing. They bring back six of the seven players in their rotation from a year ago and add a solid recruiting class to the mix. The crux of this team comes on the defensive end of the floor. I think it is safe to say that the Dragons play an ugly style of basketball. They defend and they rebound -- they were seventh in the country in defensive effective field goal percentage and led the nation in defensive rebounding percentage -- limiting their opponents to one shot per possession as well as anyone. That won't change next season. Back is Sammie Givens -- who led the CAA in rebounding at 10.3 rpg despite standing just 6'5" -- who will once again be joined up front by 6'9" junior Darryl McCoy (7.8 rpg in 22.5 mpg) and 6'8" sophomore Dartaye Ruffin (7.4 rpg in 23.3 mpg), who made the all-freshmen team a season ago. Returning in the back court is sophomore point guard Frantz Masserat, another all-freshmen team member, and 6'4" senior Derrick Thomas. The key, however, will end up being leading scorer Chris Fouch. Fouch is a big-time shooter that can get as hot as anyone in the country, and while he finished the season with a 14.9 ppg average, the bulk of that damage was done early in the season. His shooting number dipped all the way to 33.3% from long range and 37.9% from the field by the end of the year as he battled injuries. (Ed. Note: Drexel announced that Fouch will miss the start of the season recovering from surgery.) He averaged just 12.7 ppg in league play. If Fouch, a junior, can get more consistent throughout the season and one or two of Flint's five freshmen are able to provide solid rotational minutes, Drexel has a shot of winning the Colonial this season.


2. George Mason: As we mentioned, George Mason had as much turmoil and turnover this offseason as anyone in the country. It started with the change in leadership, as Paul Hewitt took over for Miami-bound Jim Larranaga. Then it was the transfer of Luke Hancock to Louisville, which -- in addition to the loss of Cam Long -- will hurt the Patriots more than people think. Finally, the addition of Roland Houston as an assistant coach brought in Top 100 freshman Eric Copes, one of the best centers in the 2011 recruiting class.

For the 2011-2012 season, the biggest key for George Mason will be finding a playmaker. With Cam Long graduating and Hancock heading to the Big East, the Patriots not only lose two of their three leading scorers, they lose their two best playmakers; those two combined for 50% of GMU's assists a year ago. 5'10" senior Andre Cornelius was, technically, the Patriot's point guard last season, but he's more of a spot-up shooter than he is a creator, although its unclear when he'll return from suspension for credit card fraud. There are minutes to be earned on the perimeter. Redshirt sophomore Vertrail Vaughns could be in line for a breakout season. He was the most efficient player on the George Mason roster last season and used a significant number of possessions (20.9%) despite playing a limited role (just 9.5 mpg). Sophomore Byron Allen was rated as one of the top 50 point guards coming out of high school while incoming freshman Corey Edwards is a playmaking point guard that had interest from a number of high-major programs, including Villanova and St. John's. Also joining the mix on the perimeter will be freshman Vaughn Gray and redshirt sophomore Sherrod Wright, who average 5.5 ppg as a freshman before missing last season with a shoulder injury. Mason's strength next season is going to be on the interior, however. 6'7" face-up power forward Ryan Pearson, who was GMU's second-leading scorer as a junior, is back for his senior year and will become the Patriot's go-to scorer. He'll be joined on the front-line by Mike Morrison, a long and athletic center, and the freshman Eric Copes, a burly and relentless post presence that will have an immediate impact on Mason's rebounding totals. Copes has the potential to develop into a difference maker in the paint. There are a lot of question marks with this team, but the talent is there to compete for another CAA title. Will all the pieces come together?


3. VCU: I don't think I need to tell you what kind of success the Rams had last season. Despite going just 12-6 in conference play, a run to the finals of the CAA Tournament was enough to get VCU an at-large invite to the Big Dance and, well, the rest is history. The Rams rolled through USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and Kansas en route to the Final Four, the second time in five years that a team from the CAA made it that far as an 11 seed. But with four of their top five players graduating -- and key reserve Toby Veal opting not to return to Richmond -- the Rams will be in a bit of a rebuilding year this season.

That said, there is still quite a bit of talent on the VCU roster. It starts with Brad Burgess, who is a legitimate candidate to win the CAA Player of the Year award. Burgess is sharpshooting small forward that can score and rebound and always seems to hit a big shot when VCU needs it. But most importantly he's going to be the veteran leader of this year's team. After Burgess, the Rams are going to be relying on quite a bit of youth, but those youngsters are promising. Junior Darius Theus will likely takeover at the point for Joey Rodriguez while sophomore Rob Brandenburg will slide in alongside him. Brandenburg had a couple of big scoring outputs last year -- 23 against William & Mary and 22 versus Georgia State -- and is a prime candidate for a breakout season. Theus wasn't as much of a scorer, but he's a capable penetrator that notched four or more assists nine times as a sophomore. In the front court, the guy that will be looked at to replace Jamie Skeen's production is Juvonte Reddic. A highly-regarded recruit coming out of high school, Reddic has a nice blend of length, athleticism, and touch and wil hopefully develop into a more productive player as a sophomore. DJ Haley, a seven-foot sophomore, will also be counted on for a boost. After that, VCU has a lot of minutes available off the bench and six freshmen -- two of which redshirted -- that will fight for those minutes. Redshirt freshman Reco McCarter, an athletic, 6'7" lefty small forward, is probably the best out of that group.


4. James Madison: Matt Brady hasn't done a bad job in making over the Dukes' program since taking over in Harrisonburg, VA, three years ago. He's won 20 games twice and reached a postseason tournament twice, both of which happened last season. But the real gauge for where this program is headed will be this season, as one of the biggest reasons for JMU's success a year ago -- their biggest player, Texas A&M transfer Denzel Bowles -- graduates. How good was Bowles? After becoming eligible in December of the 2009-2010 season, Bowles still managed to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds in his year and a half with the Dukes.

That kind of production is difficult to replace at any level of college hoops -- let alone in the CAA -- but the good news for James Madison is that they bring back a good amount of talent on the rest of their roster. Forward Julius Well, a 6'5" senior, averaged 16.6 ppg as a sophomore when he and Bowles where the entire JMU offensive attack. While his number dipped this past season, it had quite a bit to do with the development of Devon Moore as a potential star in the back court. Moore averaged 11.7 ppg and 4.2 apg as a 6'4" playmaker, coming on strong late in the season. Unfortunately, he'll have to miss the first semester, which may end up being significant as Moore's ability in transition is a reason Brady wants to play an uptempo styles next season. Rayshawn Goins is a 6'6", 275 lb workhorse that will need to up his production with Bowles gone. The same can be said for Andrey Semenov, a face-up four man with a dangerous perimeter stroke that will see a bump in minutes this year. With Humpty Hitchens, a diminutive scorer with a terrific name, and AJ Davis, a Wyoming transfer (and Moore's cousin) that averaged double figures as a 6'6" wing at Wyoming who could end up being a difference maker, give the Dukes a very capable core. The question will be size. Their tallest returning player, Semenov, likes to float on the perimeter. Can junior Trevon Flores, Virginia Tech transfer Greg Swindle (who hasn't played in three years thanks to a knee injury thought to be career ending), or freshmen Kenyan Pittman or Enoch Hood fill that role? If yes, JMU is a sleeper to win this conference.


5. William & Mary: The Tribe were the surprise of the 2009-2010 season, as Tony Shaver's club used a tricky offense -- think of it as a combination of the Princeton offense and something that John Beilein would run -- and a number of experienced sharp-shooters to launch their way to 12 league wins and a near-upset of North Carolina in the NIT. Last season was tough, as the Tribe were forced to rebuild. Their record was not pretty -- 10 wins and a 4-14 mark in league play -- but they lost 10 games by five points or less and bring back just about everyone from a team that got heavy minutes from freshmen and sophomores.

The Tribe will be built around senior and potential CAA Player of the Year Quinn McDowell, a 15.5 ppg scorer that shoots the three at 45.5% and is the unquestioned leader of this team. He's played in this system for four years and has been through the ups and downs. I'm not the only one that expects a terrific year out of McDowell. McDowell is joined on the perimeter by two sophomores that should be expected to have big seasons as well. both Brandon Britt (10.9 ppg as a frosh) and Julian Boatner (6.8 ppg) really came on strong late in CAA play as they earned more of Shaver's trust. There's an argument to be made that that three-man group will end up being the best perimeter in the conference. Veterans Matt Rum and Kendrix Brown and freshman Marcus Thornton will also see time in the perimeter rotation. Up front, senior JohnMark Ludwick and junior Kyle Gaillard give Shaver a couple of big men that can handle themselves on the perimeter and knock down a three, something that is key for his quirky offense. But the most important player on the front line may end up being Tim Rusthoven, a 6'9", 230 lb sophomore. With Marcus Kitts graduating, the Tribe will need someone in the middle to do the dirty work -- grab some rebounds, set some picks, block some shots. Rusthoven could end up being that guy.


6. Old Dominion: Last season was the year that the Monarchs were supposed to have their run. With an experienced and talented roster chock full of size and athleticism, Blaine Taylor had his ideal team. They played like it in the regular season, too, beating Clemson, Xavier and Richmond before finishing second in a strong CAA to George Mason. But after running through the CAA Tournament, Old Dominion lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Butler on a buzzer beater.


Next year, ODU is going to look different as they lose four players that have been starters/key rotational pieces for three and four years. The guy that they do return is Kent Bazemore, the CAA's reigning defensive player of the year who will hopefully be healthy after getting surgery on his foot this summer.. At 6'5", the senior Bazemore is a terrific athlete, a tremendously improved threat offensively, and one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. After Bazemore, however, only three players that were able to crack Taylor's rotation return. Chris Cooper, who will be asked to replace Frank Hassell, is a 6'9" senior that proved to be a monster on the glass in his limited minutes last season. Trian Iliadis is shooter that was efficient and effective off the bench a season ago. The development of those two this season will be critical to ODU's success. Marquel De Lancey, a 6'0" senior, will likely see minutes at the point. Beyond that, however, there are minutes to earn for the Monarchs and a number of young players at each position that are hungry to get playing time. There are few coaches in the country better than Taylor at ably moving around parts to better the whole. With a healthy Bazemore, ODU will be competitive, but there is no question they will also be rebuilding.


7. Delaware: The Blue Hens had a promising season in 2010-2011, one that has some folks believing that Monte Ross has finally turned a corner with the program. After knocking off Old Dominion in their opener, Delaware went on to finish with an 8-10 record in conference play, their best finish since 2008. And while the bad news is that the Fightin' Blue Hens (which remains one of the best mascot nicknames in the country) will lose the majority of their back court to graduation -- including Jawan Carter, their leading scorer and a third-team all-CAA performer -- there is enough young talent returning that UD fans shouldn't be concerned about too much of a dip this season.

It starts with sophomore Devon Saddler, last season's Freshman of the Year in the CAA. Saddler will need to improve his shot selection and his ability to protect the ball (he had more turnovers than assists last season), but there is valid reason to believe that the 6'2" combo-guard can develop into a star this season. Saddler came on strong late in the year, winning the rookie of the week award the last four weeks of the season and hitting for 20 points four of the last seven games. Also returning is 6'8" junior Jamelle Hagins. Hagins was the conference's leading shot-blocker as a sophomore and also averaged 7.3 rpg. Like Saddler, Hagins will be counted on for a bump in offensive production to make-up for the loss of Carter. Hagins isn't the only returnee on the front line. Josh Brinkley, a 6'6" junior, was having a solid sophomore campaign when he went down with a stress fracture in January. Hakim McCullar and Kelvin McNeil also return up front and will be joined by promising freshman Marvin King-Davis. The x-factor for this team will be how the new faces develop in the back court. Can sophomore Kaleb Clyburn take advantage of the available minutes? Will freshmen Jarvis Threat, Khalid Lewis, Larry Savage and Kyle Anderson be ready when they get thrown into the fire of CAA conference play in January? Those five players will likely determine whether Delaware again finishes below .500 in the league or moves up into the top half of the conference.


8. Hofstra: Its nice to be a first year coach at a mid-major program with an NBA player on your roster. Just ask Mo Cassarra, because that is the exact situation that he walked into with the Pride. As a senior, Charles Jenkins would go on to have one of the best seasons in recent, winning his second consecutive conference Player of the Year award and eventually getting picked in the second round of the NBA Draft. The question now becomes how do you rebuild from that? How does a team that relied so much on one player move on when that player leaves?

Its quite obvious that the Pride will have a different feel next season, as Jenkins was not only their leader on the court but off it as well. The role of go-to scorer will most likely be filled by Fordham transfer Mike Moore, who averaged 14.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 2.2 apg as Jenkins sidekick a year ago. The role of the playmaker will likely be filled by either Dwan McMillan, a senior that averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.3 apg playing alongside Jenkins last season, or Stephen Mejia, a junior transfer from Rhode Island. Its not out of the question that those three will be on the court at the same time. Sophomore Shemiye McLendon may be primed for a breakout year as well. Jenkins wasn't the Pride's only loss, center Greg Washington also graduated, leaving a weak Hofstra without a shotblocking presence. Junior David Imes, a the team's leading rebounder a season ago, will be counted on to produce more, but beyond Imes there isn't much in the way of proven players for Cassarra to choose from. Sophomore Stephen Nwaukoni was solid in limited minutes and Hofstra will have three newcomers on their front line, but unless they Cassarra found a diamond in the rough, the Pride will be overmatched in the paint in just about every game. Moore may end up being an all-CAA talent, but Hofstra will probably consider it a successful season if they finish in the top half of the league.


9. UNC-Wilmington: The 2010-2011 season was an introductory one for Buzz Peterson. He got to know the school, he got a chance to get a feel for his players, and he spent a season learning the CAA. And he did all that with one of the best player in UNCW history, Chad Tomko, leading his team. With Tomko's graduation, the Peterson's club is now in full-on rebuilding mode.

Its going to be a tough year for Peterson. That's the way that it works when you have a roster with eight freshmen, four sophomores, and just three upper-classmen. But there is reason to be hopeful. For starters, the recruiting class that Peterson brought in is strong. Led by Chicago-native Luke Hager, a 6'7" combo-forward, and Georgia-bred two-guard Adam Smith, Peterson brought in a group that should develop into solid players in the CAA, if not stars. The issue? The whole "over time" aspect of the class. Its tough to ask a group of freshmen to play important roles at any level. I do expect UNCW to be competitive and to win some game, however. Keith Rendlemen, an active and athletic 6'7" power forward, had a solid sophomore season and should be ready to become more of a go-to option as a junior. Senior Trevor Deloach will be back to anchor the back court along with sophomore Tanner Milson and Dante Morales. Seven-footer Matt Wilson will be counted on to have a productive season as well. Expect a similar year to what William & Mary did in 2010-2011 -- a record that doesn't quite reflect how competitive the team was.


10. Georgia State: The Panthers are in a tough position. Located in the heart of SEC country, in a city that houses four professional sports teams and a state with two other major universities, Georgia State is a tough place to earn recognition. From fans, from recruits, from anyone. Eventually it did in Rod Barnes, who was fired as the head coach prior to the team's trip to the CAA Tournament. Georgia State did make a solid hire, however, luring Ron Hunter from IUPUI to continue the rebuilding job. He inherits a team that was stout defensively but, simply put, could not score the basketball.

Hunter will be in a tough position in his first year in Atlanta. While he returns a team that will have quite a bit of experience -- seven of the 11 players that averaged double-figures in minutes last season return and Florida State transfer Jordan DeMercy will be eligible -- that team's only experience at the collegiate level is the struggle to finish tied for ninth in the CAA last season. The biggest issue Hunter will have is on the offensive end of the floor. The Panthers didn't have a single player average more than 9.4 ppg last season and finished 294th in offensive efficiency as a team. Throw in the fact that they lost their two best shooters to transfers, and what you get is a team that is going to have to win games 50-48. Seniors Eric Buckner, Brandon McGee and Josh Micheaux will anchor the front line with 6'10" junior James Vincent playing a role off the bench. Jihad Ali is the leading returning scorer on the perimeter, with James Fields and Devonta White likely joining him in the rotation. DeMercy, an athletic 6'7" small forward, should have an impact as a defensive playmaker, but he's never been known as a big time scorer. Freshmen guards Kevin Shaw and Tony Kimbro, Jr, should also get a chance to play. It will be difficult for Hunter to get his team out of the bottom half of the conference.


11. Northeastern: After taking over the Husky program in 2006, Coen almost immediately built Northeastern into a team that could compete at the top of the CAA. In his first four seasons, the Huskies never finished below .500 in the league, earning a third-place finish in 2009 and second-lace in 2010. Unfortunately, much of that success was built on Northeastern's 2006 recruiting class, one headlined by Matt Janning. The Huskies struggled last season, starting out the year 4-15, before finally finding a rhythm midway through the season. They reeled off four straight wins -- including an upset of VCU -- before ending the year at 11-20, 6-12 in conference play.

It will be tough for Northeastern to avoid taking another step back this season with the graduation of their point guard and star player Chaisson Allen, but its certainly doable as the Huskies have a couple of solid pieces coming back. Junior guards Jonathan Lee and Joel Smith both developed into deadly shooters and capable all-around players by the end of their sophomore seasons and will be expected to provide increased production and leadership this season. Alwayne Bigby, who missed all but seven games a season ago with injury, is back. 6'8" freshman Quincy Ford should combine with Bigby to give Northeastern some versatility on the wing. 6'10" center Ryan Pierson made the all-rookie team last season, but he'll need to improve a great deal on his strength in the paint and ability on the glass. Juniors Kauri Black and Dinka Marshavelski are also back in the front court and should get a boost from freshman Reggie Spencer. But is going to be replacing Allen. And with Alex Harris transferring out, that means Northeastern is either going to have to rely on a freshman to run the point or hope Lee or Smith can take over the ball-handling duties. Neither are ideal. Expect another finish in the bottom half of the league.


12. Towson: The Tigers, frankly, were horrible last season. They won just four games, losing their last 19, including all 18 in the CAA. It was enough to cost head coach Pat Kennedy his job. New head coach Pat Skerry won't have it easy his first season, either. Towson's talented forward duo of Isaiah Philmore and Braxton Dupree both left school -- Philmore transferred to Xavier, Dupree went pro -- after the season while Troy Franklin transferred midway through the year. Josh Brown graduated at the end of last season while talented recruit Kelvin Amayo was found ineligible by the NCAA. That's a lot to lose for a new head coach.

Essentially, the Tigers are going to be a brand new team next season, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Kennedy's club didn't lack talent last year, but there was something missing that did not allow that talent to come together on the court. Skerry's club will be a defensive-minded group that is anchored by former walk-on Robert Nwankwo, a 6'8" senior that redshirted last year after averaging 9.2 rpg and 3.2 bpg, both of which led the CAA, as a junior. RaShawn Polk is also back. He averaged 11.6 ppg as a junior last season. After that? Its a whole bunch of new faces. After losing their two best players from a four-win team, its difficult to picture Towson anywhere but the bottom of the CAA next season. But with the culture change of a new head coach, the ship at least looks to be pointed in the right direction.
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Previewing the Madness: The CAA Tournament

The CAA is one of the most interesting and entertaining mid-major conferences to follow. Every year, it seems like there are four or five teams in the mix for the conference title in February, and come Selection Sunday there are always teams sitting on the bubble, hoping to hear their name.

This year was no exception. George Mason may have pulled away late in the year, but that should take nothing away from the terrific seasons had by Old Dominion, VCU, and Hofstra. Its a long shot, but if VCU or Hofstra can spring an upset and make a run to the title game, there is a chance that three team from the conference can dance. Weak bubble or not, that's phenomenal for a league like the CAA.

Where: Richmond, VA

When: March 4rd-7th

Final: March 7th, 7:00 pm ESPN2


Favorites: George Mason Patriots

Don't be fooled by conference affiliation, George Mason is a very good basketball team. They are also a bit unique. Their point guard Andre Cornelius is the resident sharpshooter. Cam Long, the team's leading scorer, and Luke Hancock, a 6'5" small forward that leads the team in assists, are the playmakers on the wings. Mike Morrison is a big body around the rim while Ryan Pearson is a 14.8 ppg scoring threat as a face-up power forward. Obviously, the Patriots have quite a bit of versatility of the offensive end of the floor. More importantly, Mason hasn't lost since January 8th, a streak of 15 straight games.

• Other Contenders: Old Dominion is the Pitt of the CAA. They are big, they are physical, they defend, and their best offense at times is to throw the ball at the rim and go get the rebound. Hofstra is led by Charles Jenkins, who is nearly a 24 ppg scorer. He's good enough to put the Pride on his back and carry them to the tournament title if he gets hot. And while the Rams have been struggling down the stretch, I am also a fan of VCU. They are a poor man's Louisville, as they press, they zone, and they take a lot of threes.

Sleeper: Drexel Dragons

I like this Drexel team. They are similar to Old Dominion in that they have a number of athletes, they defend hard, and they crash the glass. Its a typical Bruiser Flint team. They don't really have all that much shooting -- Chris Fouchs is shooting just 32.6% from three -- and when they struggle, it is because they struggle to score. Regardless, this is a tough team that will be a tough out .

• Deeper Sleeper: James Madison has a couple of potential NBA talents, including Denzel Bowles, but the team to keep a watch on is Northeastern. They were very young coming into the season, but they were led by Chaisson Allen, a senior guard that has played a lot of important minutes in his time. After losing the first eight games of the CAA season, the Huskies rebounded, finishing the year on a 7-4 run, including a win over UNC-Asheville.

Players to Watch:

• Denzel Bowles, JMU: Bowles, a transfer from Texas A&M, has all the talent in the world. He's an NBA player. That's why he can average 18.2 ppg and 9.0 rpg. But there are times when he just doesn't seem to care. Effort is the key with him.
  
• Chad Tomko, UNC-Wilmington: Tomko is a statsheet stuffer. a 5'11" senior, Tomko averages 17.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.9 spg, and hits 37.6% of his threes. He's not the carry-the-team-to-a-title kind of talent that Charles Jenkins is, but his game is worth the watch.
  

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Tuesday's Shootaround: Notre Dame's big win, Hofstra's big comeback

This post can also be found at Beyond the Arc.

No. 14 Notre Dame 56, No. 2 Pitt 51: See here.

One more note on this game -- Carleton Scott, who is one of the more undervalued players in the Big East, was sensational last night. He had 16 points, hit 5-6 from three, and helped battle Pitt's big men in the paint. His return from a hamstring injury has been a major boost for this club.

Kansas State 69, Baylor 61: An offensively atrocious first half that saw a total of 43 points led into a second half plagued by fouls and whistles, but in the end, K-State picked up an enormous win. It wasn't enormous because Baylor is a great team -- far from it, actually -- but no team in the country needed a confidence boosting win as badly as Kansas State. And, frankly, this is the way Kansas State needs to win. They have to win ugly -- forcing turnovers, forcing bad shots, getting defensive rebounds -- because they simply don't have the offensive firepower to do otherwise. Will Spradling looked fantastic last night, leading the team with 17 points.

As far Baylor is concerned, the Bears are in a bad spot right now. They have zero quality wins and have not played like they can beat a quality team. If Baylor has 17 turnovers against K-State's pressure, what is going to happen when they are playing Missouri? The more time goes by, the more evident it is how much Baylor misses Tweety Carter.

The CAA:

• Hofstra 92, James Madison 90 OT: Hofstra remained tied with VCU for first in the league as Charles Jenkins scored 35 points to lead the Pride to a comeback win over the Dukes. Hofstra was down 52-38 at home with 14:47 left, but rallied to force the extra frame on two free throws with 17 seconds left.
  
• VCU 80, Towson 76: VCU struggled a bit on the road against 4-15 Towson, but Joey Rodriguez had 18 of his 28 points in the second half as Ed Nixon hit 3-4 late free throws to seal the win. VCU and Hofstra will square off on Thursday night.
• Old Dominion 58, UNC-Wilmington 43: Frank Hassell had 25 points and 13 boards as the Monarchs rebounded to knock off UNCW.
  
• George Mason 69, Delaware 49: The Patriots stayed a game behind Hofstra and VCU thanks to 20 points from Cam Long.
  

Furman 73, Wofford 68 OT: Amu Saaka had 22 points and Furman used a 7-0 run to open overtime as they knocked off Wofford on the road. Both teams are now tied for second place in the SoCon South at 7-2, a half game behind Charleston.

Morehead State 50, Ball State 48: MSU managed just 15 first half points, but Kenneth Faried sparked a second half comeback as the Eagles picked up a win they desperately needed to help build some momentum. Faried finished with 13 points, 15 boards, three blocks, and two assists.

Mississippi Valley State 89, Texas Southern 76: The Delta Devils got 21 points and nine assists out of Terrence Joyner and scored 60 first half points as they coasted to a win and a first place tie in the SWAC. Both TSU and MVSU are 7-1 in league play. And if you were wondering, Kevin Galloway -- a former member of USC, the College of Southern Idaho, and Kentucky -- had 20 points for MVSU.
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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: Colonial

Summer officially ends on September 22nd, but for me, the end of summer always coincided with the end of August. Or when I had to go to school. (That first day was always the worst, wasn't it?) Anyway, school is right around the corner, which means that college basketball season is around the corner, down the street, through two lights, and on the left. Since we've all had a fight with our GPS at one time or another, we at BIAH will take this week to roll out our way-too-early, all-encompassing conference previews.

To browse through the other conferences, click here.


Pre-season Awards

Player of the Year: Charles Jenkins, Hofstra

There are a number of quality options here, but Jenkins is the guy. He is not only the reigning CAA player of the year, but he is the two-time reigning Haggerty award winner, as the New York Metropolitan region's player of the year. Jenkins was banged up at the start of last season, but once he got healthy, Hofstra became unstoppable. The Pride finished the season with wins in 10 of their last 11 games, and Jenkins averaged an absurd 24.8 ppg during that stretch. He was one of just five players in the country last season to average 20 ppg, 4 rpg, and 3 apg. He's a big time scorer, but he is unselfish enough to be considered a leader and a play maker for this club. Hofstra will have a new coach without a ton of talent around Jenkins, but this is still a team that will finish in the top half of the CAA. He's that good.


Ed. Note: For those asking, leaving the Player of the Year off of the all-conference first-team was intentional. Maybe its because I grew up following the Big East (they always put six on the first team), but its the way I've always done it. Its not an oversight.

And a close second goes too: Chaisson Allen, Northeastern

Many people would put James Madison's Denzel Bowles in this slot, which would be tough to argue with given his numbers. But it is the intangibles Allen brings to the table that matter. Allen, who was runner-up to Jenkins in player of the year voting last season, is the lone returner from the Huskies NIT team last season. He's a point guard that can score, that can knock down a three, that can find an assist, and that can defend. But more importantly, he is going to be the senior leader on a team full of freshmen and sophomores. A great year from Allen -- and I'm not just talking statistics -- and the Huskies could very well end up in the top four of the CAA, which would be a mighty feat considering how much talent they lost. And how much talent did they lose? Allen averaged more points than the rest of the Northeastern returners combined.

Breakout Star: Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion

Bazemore isn't going to wow you with stats, but the junior guard is the ultimate glue guy. At 6'5", he is arguably the best defender in the conference, routinely drawing the assignment of the opponent's best player. He goes to the glass hard to rebound. He led the team is both assists and steal last season. And he averaged 8.4 ppg on a defensive-minded team that only saw one player average more than 9.2 ppg. With the Monarchs needing to fill the scoring void left by Gerald Lee, expect Bazemore to get more opportunities, and expect more production. He may never be a household name, but in a conference whose best teams wins through defense and teamwork, Bazemore is as valuable as anyone.


All-Conference First Team

• G - Chaisson Allen, Northeastern, Sr.
  
• G - Jawan Carter, Delaware, Sr.
  
• G - Joey Rodriguez, VCU, Sr.
  
• F - Frank Hassell, Old Dominion, Sr.
  
• F - Denzel Bowles, James Madison, Sr.
  

All-Conference Second Team

• G - Cam Long, George Mason, Sr.
  
• G - Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion, Jr.
  
• F - Julius Wells, James Madison, Jr.
  
• F - Quinn McDowell, William & Mary, Jr.
  
• F - Robert Nwankwo, Towson, Sr.
  

Newcomer of the Year: Mike Moore, Hofstra

Mike Moore can score, and while Charles Jenkins is going to dominate the stat sheet most nights, without a secondary option defenses are going to be able to collapse on him. You need that second option, and Moore can be that guy. Think about it like this -- Moore hit for 20 seven times as a sophomore at Fordham in 2008-2009. In one six game stretch, he went for 21 against UMass, 24 at Xavier, 28 against URI, 25 against Richmond, and 20 at Charlotte. That's impressive. With defenses focusing on Jenkins, Moore is going to have ample opportunities to score.


What Happened?:

• Turnover at Hofstra: It started when the Pride lost head coach Tom Pecora to Fordham, a struggling program in the Atlantic 10. When Pecora left, it also cost Hofstra two of their best freshmen. Point guard Chaz Williams bolted for UMass, while Halil Kanocevic left for St. Joe's.
  
  Hofstra made a big splash with their first coaching hire, landing former Providence head coach Tim Welsh. That lasted about a month before Welsh was arrested, and eventually fired, for a DUI. Hofstra finally settled on assistant Mo Cassara for their head coaching gig.


• That wasn't it for Hofstra news: Australian guard Brad Kelleher lost over two-thirds of his Division I career over eligibility issues. Read about it here, Kelleher got royally screwed.


• Drexel players arrested: Over the summer, Drexel's leading scorer Jamie Harris and back-up big man Kevin Phillips were arrested after breaking into a student's apartment and attempting to rob her at gun point. Clearly, both are now off the Drexel team.


• Matt Brady gets sued: When James Madison head coach Matt Brady signed a contract with his previous employer, Marist University, he agreed that if he broke his contract to go to a different school, he would not recruit the players he had recruited for Marist. Well, he broke his contract, and then he started recruiting the kids he was after at Marist. Marist sued him, and they won.


• Buzz Peterson lands at UNC-Wilmington: The former Tennessee and Appalachian State head coach wound up with the Seahawks after their extensive coaching search.
  


• Notable transfers: Other than the two from Hofstra, perhaps the most notable transfers from the CAA this summer were Kevin Foster, a redshirt freshman at George Mason, who left school to be closer to his Florida home. UNC-Wilmington big man John Fields left the Seahawks and will head to Tennessee to finish up his eligibility. He had finished undergrad, meaning that Fields will not have to sit out a year after transferring.

What's Next?:

• Multiple bids?: The CAA is a very good, very competitive league. Seemingly every season, they are in the discussion to get multiple bids to the NCAA tournament. Last season it didn't work out, as the league's best team -- Old Dominion -- earned the auto-bid and their best at-large hopeful -- William & Mary -- had their hopes dashed with a late three game losing streak. This year, there are at least three team with a shot at getting an at-large bid -- George Mason, VCU, and Old Dominion. The biggest deterrant? The overall strength of the league. It is going to be very tough for more than one team to make it through with just two or three conference losses, which is likely what it would take to get an at-large bid.


• Dominant program?: Is there one? ODU would probably be the popular choice, as they have made three of the last six NCAA Tournaments, won both league titles last season, and are seemingly always finishing in the top three. But what about VCU? They've been in the tournament as well, and they have sent two players to the NBA's first round the last two years. George Mason made a Final Four, and they look primed to be back in contention for the league title. The ironic part? Its a long shot for the CAA player of the year to come from one of those three teams this season.


• Richmond Coliseum: The CAA Tournament will remain in Richmond through the 2014 season.
  

Power Rankings

1. Old Dominion: You know what you are going to get when you play the Monarchs -- a big, physical team that wins by beating you up defensively and on the glass. With six of their eight rotational players returning, its tough to envision ODU being much different next season. Obviously, the big change is going to be on the offensive end, where they won't be able to rely on the talents of Gerald Lee. While his presence in the post will obviously be missed, ODU brings back five guys that averaged between 7.0 ppg and 9.2 ppg. On a team that is built around teamwork and executing sets, I don't envision this being a huge problem. Up front, 6'5" Ben Finney and 6'9" Frank Hassell, the team's two most rugged players, are both back. Keyon Carter, a part-time starter last season, should slide into the starting spot vacated by Lee, while Chris Cooper, Nick Wright, and freshmen Richard Ross and Anton Larsen should provide more than enough depth. The back court could be the key to how good this team ends up being. Junior Kent Bazemore could be primed for a break out season. A versatile 6'5" wing, Bazemore led the team in steals and assists while averaging 8.4 ppg. He was also the team's shut down defender. Senior Darius James looks capable of becoming a reliable starting point guard, while freshman Dimitri Batten was a three-star recruit and should have an immediate impact. ODU will once against bang and scrap their way to a top four finish in the CAA.


2. VCU: How long until VCU starts getting mentioned in the same breath as the Xavier's and the Gonzaga's of the world? The past two seasons, they have sent a player to the first round of the NBA Draft. Their last two coaches have ended up at Oklahoma and Alabama. Last season, they won 27 games despite losing seven conference games by five points or fewer, two of which came in over time. Despite all of that, the Commodores Rams (Ed. Note: Not sure why, but I always think VCU is the Commodores. Apologies, VCU fans.) will once again be a favorite to win this league. It will start with point guard Joey Rodriguez, who is one of the most underrated players in the country. Last year, he averaged 12.9 ppg and 5.8 apg admirably replacing Eric Maynor. Joining him in the back court will be 6'2" senior Brandon Rozzell and 6'6" junior Bradford Burgess, giving VCU arguably the best back courts in the conference. Ed Nixon is a tough defender on the perimeter. Darius Theus and a couple of freshmen -- Rob Brandenburg and Reco McCarter -- should also see time in the back court. Up front, its going to be tough to replace a talent like Larry Sanders, but there are some pieces there. Senior Jamie Skeen is a tough, experienced senior, and junior Toby Veal -- who originally enrolled at Colorado -- should also step in and contribute significant minutes. After that, there is a lot of inexperience -- three freshmen and a redshirt sophomore that played in just nine games -- up front, but there is potential. 7'0" DJ Haley was a late, under-the-radar signee that could develop like Sanders. Heath Houston originally signed with Auburn before Jeff Lebo resigned. Juvonte Reddic is an explosive athlete that could also see immediate minutes. VCU will, once again, be a very tough out.


3. George Mason: The Patriots were supposed to be rebuilding last season, as seven of their rotation players were underclassmen. But thanks to a splendid January, Mason looked like they had a chance to make a run at a league title. Those hopes faded with a 2-7 February, but the groundwork was laid for a big year in 2010-2011 as Jim Larrananga is getting his entire starting five back. It starts with senior Cam Long, who, with an improvement in his ability to shoot from the perimeter, could turn into a first team all-CAA guard. Joining Long in the back court will be Andre Cornelius, a 5'10" sharpshooting junior. The starting front court will be quite balanced, as junior Ryan Pearson -- the team's second leading scorer and leading rebounder -- will be the main weapon, joined by Mike Morrison (a 6'9" shot blocking presence) and Luke Hancock (a promising, versatile sophomore). There is depth -- youthful, but talented -- as well. In the front court, sophomore Johnny Williams, redshirt freshman Paris Bennett, and true freshman Jonathon Alredge should fight for minutes, while sophomore Sherrod Wright, redshirt freshman Ventrail Vaughns, and true freshman Bryon Allen -- who could be the x-factor -- are all good enough to be rotational players. Throw senior Isaiah Tate in the mix as well, and Larrananga is going to have some vicious practices while he hashes out playing time and depth charts. Mason is going to be a tough team to beat in the league this year.


4. William & Mary: The Tribe had a fantastic season in 2009-2010, finishing third in the CAA, making the NIT, and knocking off Maryland and Wake Forest. It is going to be tough to build on that success, however, as W&M will lose their leader in David Schneider, as well as key seniors Danny Sumner and Sean McCurdy. Next season, this is going to be junior Quinn McDowell's team. Also returning will be the underrated Marcus Kitts as well as big men JohnMark Ludwick and Kyle Gaillard. Beyond that, there are going to be a lot of new faces for this club. That shouldn't be a huge issue, as the system that head coach Tony Shaver runs doesn't rely purely on individual talent as much as it does team play and three point shooting. Last year was a story book season for the Tribe in every sense of the word, and that is going to be tough to match. But there is no reason that William & Mary can't compete with the big boys in this conference once again.


5. Northeastern: Bill Coen did a fantastic job building this program into a contender, one that won 14 games and came a couple of tough losses in league play short of title. Now, Coen will have to rebuild this program, as he loses four of his top five scorers, including all-time leading scorer Matt Janning, Manny Adako, and Nkem Ojougbouh. The good news, however, is that Coen will get one more season with Chaisson Allen, a senior point guard that was runner-up to Charles Jenkins in CAA player of the year voting. Alwayne Bigby, a 6'5" swing man, and Kauri Black, a 6'7" forward, both return for their sophomore seasons and will be counted on for a big bump in production. After that, its a bit of a crapshoot. Redshirt freshman Chris Avenant and sophomores Jonathon Lee and Joel Smith should be able to help fill the void left by Janning, while sophomores Dinko Marshavelski and Vinny Lima, JuCo transfer Ben Felix, and three star freshman Ryan Pierson should battle for minutes in the front court. Given the return of Allen and Coen's defensive minded style, its tough to envision Northeastern sliding to the bottom of the league, but it will be a year or two before this group is contending again.


6. Hofstra: Hofstra loses head coach Tom Pecora and a couple of vital role players, but overall it was a good offseason for the Pride. Why? Because Charles Jenkins -- the reigning CAA player of the year and the best player in the New York Metro region -- didn't opt to go pro. Jenkins got out to a slow start last season, and thus so did Hofstra, finding themselves sitting at 9-12 on January 23rd. But once Jenkins got healthy, he caught fire. Hofstra won 10 of their last 11 games on the season, a stretch that saw Jenkins average almost 25 ppg. He can score, he can rebound, and he will make the extra pass. With Jenkins on the roster, Hofstra is always going to be a contender. The question is whether this will be more than just a one man team. After Jenkins, four of the next six top scorers -- all of whom started 20 or more games last season -- are gone. Nathaniel Lester is a tough, physical senior perimeter player that will help provide leadership for some of the younger, inexperienced kids, while senior center Greg Washington will be counted on for a big boost in his production in the paint. Dwan McMillan, a JuCo point guard, should be able to contribute minutes immediately, while 6'5" wing and Fordham transfer Mike Moore will provide a shooter to play alongside Jenkins. Sophomore Yves Jules and senior Brad Kelleher (if he can ever get eligible) should both also see the floor. The question is going to be up front. After Washington, there are three freshmen and a sophomore -- David Imes, who played all of 21 games last season -- to provide depth. Is there enough help for Jenkins for the Pride to compete for a CAA title?


7. James Madison: The Dukes are going to be a team to keep an eye on this season. For starters, they return the best 1-2 punch in the conference with Denzel Bowles and Julius Wells. Bowles, a transfer from Texas A&M, averaged 20.9 ppg and 9.8 rpg after getting eligible in December, while Wells scored over 16 ppg on the season. Wells did struggle a bit once Bowles came into the fold, but a full season of those two working together should yield impressive results. Devon Moore, a member of the 2009 CAA all-freshmen team before missing all of last season, will be healthy on the wing while Andrey Semenov, a versatile 6'7" forward that played just four games last year due to injury, should be healthy as well. There is some depth on this team as well, as 6'11" Trevon Flores and 6'6" JuCo transfer Rayshawn Goins should provide quality minutes up front while James Millen (a JuCo transfer), Ben Louis (junior), Alioune Diouf (sophomore), and Chad Jackson (freshman) should all see some time. The question mark is going to be at the point, where Pierre Curtis graduated. All in all, there is talent on this roster, but there was last season as well. The Dukes were plagued by struggles on the road (2-14) and in close games. They also had a tendency to coast during the season. If they can learn how to play hard for 40 minutes, this team should be in the upper half of the conference standings. If not, who knows.


8. Towson: Towson had some talent on their team last season, but due to injuries and suspensions, they couldn't find any kind of a rhythm until the end of the season -- 14 different starting lineups breeds nothing but inconsistency. With their two leading scorers graduating this offseason, Towson will looks to Robert Nwankwo, a 6'8" force in the paint. Nwankwo nearly averaged a double-double in CAA play, while also swatting over three shots a game. Maryland transfer Braxton Dupree will be joining Nwanko up front, as will sophomores Erique Gumbs and Isaiah Philmore as well as senior David Brewster. The back court has shown promise as well, with Troy Franklin and RaShawn Polk both posting a couple big games down the stretch. Add seniors Josh Brown and Brian Morris, freshman Fred Conner, and JuCo transfer Cephas Oglesby to the mix, and Towson has a decent team. I don't think this group will compete for a league title, but I could see them winning a few games they shouldn't in league play.


9. Delaware: The Blue Hens went just 7-24 last season, but there is reason to be hopeful next year. The biggest reason is the smallest man on the floor. Brian Johnson, who was a starter at the point from the second he stepped on the Delaware campus, blew an acl before the season started and was granted a medical redshirt. With a bit of luck, he will be back to his junior year form, when he averaged 10.0 ppg, 5.0 apg, and had a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. With Johnson out, Jawan Carter had to handle the ball handling duties. And while Carter put up fantastic numbers (18.2 ppg, 4.9 apg) and proved himself a star in this league, Delaware relied on him way too heavily, a reason they were near the bottom of the CAA in both FG% and assists. With Alphonso Dawson -- a double digit scorer who, at 6'4", is one of the better all around player -- and to a lesser extent DJ Boney, also returning in the back court and two good freshmen (Kaleb Clyburn and Devon Saddler) joining the mix, the Blue Hens will have a solid perimeter rotation. The front court is the bigger question. There is a lot of youth up front. Kelvin McNeil and Jamelle Hagins both had promising freshmen seasons, while sophomores Josh Brinkley and Hakim McCullar also return, but somewhere in that group a post scoring threat will need to develop. Delaware didn't lose a single senior off of last year's club, and there is some talent on this roster. But the CAA is a tough league. An improvement should be expected, but with tempered expectations.


10. Drexel: The Dragons had what looked to be a promising season go up in flames with a 1-4 finish to league play. Drexel was going to have a lot of talent return before they suffered a huge blow when leading scorer Jamie Harris and Kevin Phillip were arrested for armed robbery. There is still reason to be hopeful, however. Harris may be gone, but his void should allow CAA freshman of the year Chris Fouch to develop into a star. Gerald Colds is back to provide senior leadership as well, and sophomore Derrick Thomas could be ready for a big year. Samme Givens, a tough 6'5" forward, is back as well, giving the Dragons a solid core. Two freshmen, Stefan Manojlovic and Frantz Massenat, could also see time. The issue is going to be up front, where Bruiser Flint will lose Leon Spencer and Evan Neisler. Daryl McCoy, a 6'9" sophomore that started down the stretch, still needs some development. Freshmen Dartaye Riffin and Goran Pantovic should provide some minutes, as well as senior Yannick Formbor, but there is not a lot inside on this team. Drexel will, once again, be a tough defensive team on the perimeter that is going to rely on their perimeter players. But if the front court doesn't develop, Drexel is going to have a tough time repeating last year's performance, even if you factor in their collapse.


11. Georgia State: This could be a long season for the Panthers. Last year was supposed to be the year, as the top five scorers were all seniors. And despite a solid back court duo, the Panthers never were able to find an offensive rhythm. Now? They've lost basically everyone from a team that went just 5-13 in league play, meaning that Rod Barnes will, essentially be starting over this season. The only starter that returns is NC State transfer Marques Johnson. Johnson isn't a big time scorer, but he is a floor leader. James Fields, Jihad Ali, and Dante Curry also return in the back court. Curry, who had a good sophomore season after transferring from South Florida, should see a bump in production, while Ali showed some flashes of scoring potential toward the end of the season. There will be a number of freshmen and JuCo transfer joining the back court as well, the best of which seems to be freshman point guard DeVonta White. Up front there will be even more question marks. The only returnee is 6'10" James Vincent, a sophomore that struggled to see minutes as a freshmen. Eric Buckner was a highly regarded JuCo recruit, while Harold Doby and Brandon McGee also join the mix. This will essentially be a new team this season, and it is tough to see them improving on last year's finish.


12. UNC-Wilmington: The hiring of Buzz Peterson as head coach means the future looks bright for the Seahawks, the question is how far in the future will they see that success. Five seniors who started games last year graduated and John Fields, the rock inside for UNCW, transferred to Tennessee, depleting a roster that only mustered nine wins last season. The good news is that Chad Tomko, the point guard and leading scorer for the Hawks, does return. Senior guard Ahmad Grant and sophomore forward Keith Rendleman, who looked promising down the stretch of last season, also return. Trevor Deloach, Darryl Felder, and Jeremy Basknight should help provide some depth on the perimeter while Matt Wilson gives Peterson some size inside. There are some freshmen in the mix as well - Tanner Milson, Donte Morales, and Keegan Pace in the back court, with Shane Reybold up front. The Seahawks will be rebuilding this season.

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Conference Tournament Preview: The Colonial

Where: Richmond Coliseum -- Richmond, VA

When: Friday, March 5th - Monday, March 8th

Championship: 3/8 - 7:00 pm: ESPN


The Favorite: #1 Old Dominion

ODU is a team built for tournament play. They don't rely on three point shooting, a high powered offense, or the ability to force turnovers and get out in transition. No, what the Monarchs do well is force their opponent's into take difficult shots, getting the defensive rebounds, then pounding the ball inside at the offensive end, whether it is via a Gerald Lee post-up, a drive to the rim, or an offensive rebound - something the Monarchs do very well. ODU is the biggest team in the CAA, playing quite a few minutes with no one shorter than 6'5" on the court. Old Dominion is a team that imposes their will on their opponents, winning via offensive and defensive execution.

Gerald Lee is Old Dominion's best player.
(photo credit: CAA)

And if they lose?: #5 VCU Rams

VCU may have lost Eric Maynor last season, but his replacement -- Joey Rodriguez -- has filled in quite nicely, to the tune of 12 points and 6 dimes per game. Larry Sanders is better than he was as a sophomore as he continues to develops the skills to match his lottery-pick tools. Shaka Smart also has a number of talented role players at his disposal. That's all well and good, but remember this: VCU is 15-1 at home with wins over Oklahoma, URI, Richmond, and Old Dominion. VCU is in Richmond, across town from the site of the CAA Tourney. Its very likely that the winner of the CAA's auto-bid will be determined by a semi-final game between VCU and ODU.


Don't discount: #3 William & Mary

The Tribe run a modified Princeton offense, using four guards to spread the floor, attack gaps, and create open perimeter jumpers. When those jumpers are going down, they can beat anyone in the country. Ask Maryland, Wake Forest, and Richmond. If the W&M gets hot this weekend, they are capable of winning three games in three days.


Sleeper: #7 Hofstra

The Pride struggled to begin the CAA season, losing seven of their first nine games. But there are not many teams that are as hot as Hofstra is right now. They've won nine of their last ten games and have the player of the year in the CAA on their roster.


Names you need to know:

• Charles Jenkins, Hofstra: Jenkins has carried the Pride. He's averaging over 20 ppg as the only player on Hofstra's roster scoring in double figures. He is averaging almost 25 ppg in the last 10 games, a stretch Hofstra has gone 9-1 in.
  


• Denzel Bowles, James Madison: Bowles transferred in from Texas A&M and did not get eligible until the midway post of the season. Since then, Bowles has been a monster, averging 21 points and 9 boards. But the Dukes get Drexel in the first round, a team Bowles has struggled against this year - he is only averaging 16 and 7 as the Dragons swept the Dukes.
  


• Matt Janning and Chaisson Allen, Northeastern: The Huskies play a slowed-down, controlled style of play, but Janning and Allen are still able to averaged almost 30 ppg combined. If Northeastern is going to make a run through the CAA, these two guys are going to be counted on carry them.
  

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