Around the CAA

[triplec2195]

https://www.midmajormadness.com/coastal ... eason-ends

Good job, Wags. Will you be covering all of the CAAT games?

A very nice roundup for the tourney Wags so who's your $$$ on to win this crapshoot??

[Wags]

https://www.midmajormadness.com/coastal ... eason-ends

Good job, Wags. Will you be covering all of the CAAT games?

Not sure why this shows it's from me, but I didn't post this reply to myself.

But, whoever did, thanks, and I will be there starting with the noon game on Sunday (skipping Friday and Saturday).

[Wags]

https://www.midmajormadness.com/coastal ... eason-ends

Good job, Wags. Will you be covering all of the CAAT games?

A very nice roundup for the tourney Wags so who's your $$$ on to win this crapshoot??

Thanks, triplec. I'm not betting, but I have to go with UNCW right now. I give Hofstra about a 35% chance to cut the nets going in, but that percentage only goes up with each win, and up significantly more if there are any major upsets on the opposite side of the bracket (which is exactly what happened in 2020, when they never had to face the 2-4 seeds and won the title by beating the 8, 5, and 6 seeds). If they win their quarterfinal game, then I give them a 40% shot to win it all. If they win their semifinal game, then a 45% shot against UNCW. But if they win their semifinal game and get lucky, and UNCW loses before the final, then that percentage goes way up and they suddenly become favorites to win it all against anyone but UNCW on the other side of the bracket.

But I will stick with my favorite stat about this year's team: 18-1 when holding teams under 70 points. Keep doing that for three games, and that's their best chance. That will keep them in any game they play in D.C. Then it comes down to making some timely shots late and getting a couple more key stops late.

[triplec2195]

All good reasoning let’s hope either or both Charleston and UNCW have hiccups!

[HUSID74]

I'd like to see us beat UNCW for the Championship...revenge game.

[EvanJ]

The CAA says that awards will be announced tomorrow at 10:00 A.M.

[triplec2195]

Bummer was looking forward to this tonight.

[dutchPride86]

Bummer was looking forward to this tonight.

Well then since I still have time apparently, here's my equally as exciting own personal end of season awards that no one asked for to hold you over.

POY: Cruz. Though I do think last week opened the door for Jylnn Counter from Charleston to make it real close, esp with how Counter took over 2nd half comeback at uncw

ROY: Edmead. Lewis Walker had a phenomenal year for A&T but this is Edmead's award. Crazy we'll be first team to have both POY and ROY i believe

Coach: Siddle. Yes UNCW is the defending champ and rolling in NIL $, but that team had plenty of injuries, including never getting a game out of CJ Luster, and never missed a beat. Speedy may actually get a few votes considering we were picked 8th preseason

1st team:
G - Cruz
G - Counter
G - Erik Pratt (stony)
F - Chandler Cuthrell (Elon)
F - Patrick Wessler (Uncw). Rewarding seahawks for their success here, but 5th 1st team spot could be up for grabs

2nd team:
G- DJ Smith (campbell)
G - Edmead
G/F - Nolan Hoge (uncw)
G/F - Tyler Tejada (towson)
F - Jason Rivera Torres (Monmouth)

3rd team:
G - Dylan Williamson (Towson)
G - Shane Blakeney (Drexel)
G - Jeremiah Johnson (Campbell)
F - Lewis Walker
F - Christian Reeves (charleston). Once charleston moved him into starting lineup dude was a monster

I think top 10 is pretty clear, with maybe Smith or JRT jumping Wessler for 1st team. Williamson, Blakeney and Walker should be 3rd team locks with final 2 spots up for grabs. Kavion McClain major wild card - only eligible for 8 games but clearly played at all conference level for Monmouth.

Finally for all rookie team might break the rules and go 6 deep: Edmead, Walker, Chris Davis Jr (charleston), Stefanos Spartalis (Monmouth), Andrej Shoshkikj (Stony), Xavier Abreu (Northeastern)

[Wags]

https://www.midmajormadness.com/coastal ... eason-ends

Good job, Wags. Will you be covering all of the CAAT games?

A very nice roundup for the tourney Wags so who's your $$$ on to win this crapshoot??

Thanks, triplec. I'm not betting, but I have to go with UNCW right now. I give Hofstra about a 35% chance to cut the nets going in, but that percentage only goes up with each win, and up significantly more if there are any major upsets on the opposite side of the bracket (which is exactly what happened in 2020, when they never had to face the 2-4 seeds and won the title by beating the 8, 5, and 6 seeds). If they win their quarterfinal game, then I give them a 40% shot to win it all. If they win their semifinal game, then a 45% shot against UNCW. But if they win their semifinal game and get lucky, and UNCW loses before the final, then that percentage goes way up and they suddenly become favorites to win it all against anyone but UNCW on the other side of the bracket.

Well, with 1 and 2 gone, that 35% just went up before they even played.

Like 2020, they maybe never have to face the 2-4 seeds again. Could be 6, 7, 9 this time.

[Jojogunne]

Bummer was looking forward to this tonight.

Well then since I still have time apparently, here's my equally as exciting own personal end of season awards that no one asked for to hold you over.

POY: Cruz. Though I do think last week opened the door for Jylnn Counter from Charleston to make it real close, esp with how Counter took over 2nd half comeback at uncw

ROY: Edmead. Lewis Walker had a phenomenal year for A&T but this is Edmead's award. Crazy we'll be first team to have both POY and ROY i believe

Coach: Siddle. Yes UNCW is the defending champ and rolling in NIL $, but that team had plenty of injuries, including never getting a game out of CJ Luster, and never missed a beat. Speedy may actually get a few votes considering we were picked 8th preseason

1st team:
G - Cruz
G - Counter
G - Erik Pratt (stony)
F - Chandler Cuthrell (Elon)
F - Patrick Wessler (Uncw). Rewarding seahawks for their success here, but 5th 1st team spot could be up for grabs

2nd team:
G- DJ Smith (campbell)
G - Edmead
G/F - Nolan Hoge (uncw)
G/F - Tyler Tejada (towson)
F - Jason Rivera Torres (Monmouth)

3rd team:
G - Dylan Williamson (Towson)
G - Shane Blakeney (Drexel)
G - Jeremiah Johnson (Campbell)
F - Lewis Walker
F - Christian Reeves (charleston). Once charleston moved him into starting lineup dude was a monster

I think top 10 is pretty clear, with maybe Smith or JRT jumping Wessler for 1st team. Williamson, Blakeney and Walker should be 3rd team locks with final 2 spots up for grabs. Kavion McClain major wild card - only eligible for 8 games but clearly played at all conference level for Monmouth.

Finally for all rookie team might break the rules and go 6 deep: Edmead, Walker, Chris Davis Jr (charleston), Stefanos Spartalis (Monmouth), Andrej Shoshkikj (Stony), Xavier Abreu (Northeastern)

I wonder if Walker would like to play up north next year?

[dutchPride86]

Big news here. Looks like CAA is close to adding Fairfield as a full-time member.

https://x.com/i/status/2069211686037328222

They recently built a new arena, not super big but supposed to be one of the nicer mid major gyms around. Theyre ok in basketball, shouldnt drag the conference down too much, but at same time don't think this would be like adding a Charleston type that would be a serious threat to us. Could do far worse if going back to 14 teams imo. Northern school over southern school is a win. Plus for me as a CT resident would be nice to have a "local" game to go every year

[HofstraPride1]

I'm all for it as another metro area rival for us and geographically is nice to have a team between Boston and NY

[bean-pie]

Women’s basketball looks to be very good. Back to back conference championships and a total of 5 losses last season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wags]

Big news here. Looks like CAA is close to adding Fairfield as a full-time member.

https://x.com/i/status/2069211686037328222

They recently built a new arena, not super big but supposed to be one of the nicer mid major gyms around. Theyre ok in basketball, shouldnt drag the conference down too much, but at same time don't think this would be like adding a Charleston type that would be a serious threat to us. Could do far worse if going back to 14 teams imo. Northern school over southern school is a win. Plus for me as a CT resident would be nice to have a "local" game to go every year

At the very least, it would allow Hofstra fans an additional option for a fairly easy trip to see CAA road games.

[CTDutch]

Women’s basketball looks to be very good. Back to back conference championships and a total of 5 losses last season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Women's basketball - back to back to back. Two league losses total in three years (FYI I am season ticket holder)

[Wags]

Adding Fairfield could split the CAA split the league into even, seven-team North and South divisions, to possibly affect scheduling, travel, and even seeding.

North: Northeastern, Fairfield, Hofstra, Stony Brook, Monmouth, Drexel, Towson
South: William & Mary, Hampton, UNCW, Elon, NC A&T, Charleston, Campbell

[HUSID74]

I think its a great addition and evens up the League in terms of North/South. They're pretty good in lacrosse as well.

[cactus]

Stu was just talking about adding a 14th team, one up North - he was hoping for Bryant since they are already CAA for football, but this is a good addition where its not a terrible team but also shouldn't be a perennial threat to contend for NCAA tournaments.

[Polito]

Hate more growth, but was inevitable after they added the awful programs before and were sitting at 13. Not a bad add from a conf perspective. This if fine for the conference...

But for HU all this does is make it a 14 team 1 bid league. And since every friggin team makes the CAAT, it's all just gotten a little harder. Expansion for a mid major is terrible and not a benefit at all. And HU isn't exactly a perennial NCAAT team either, so Fairfield will be just another nuisance along the way to dance. And they will beat HU from time to time, so where's the benefit?

The CAA needs to stop expanding. We aren't getting more bids no matter how many low / mid programs they add. It's silly and doesn't help us. They should be at 12 and stay. None of these adds helps HU or helps us magically bring in more money.

Will be interesting to see if they use divisions now, and how that factors into the CAAT. Hopefully it actually means something instead of the stupid free for all it is today. It's not even that big to finish 1st anymore. Finish top 4 helps with the bye of course, but not every team should make it - regular season needs to mean more IMO.

Alas, I'm biased because I can't stand this conf anyway so for me this is all just annoying lol - all I care about is HU dancing, and this doesn't help that.

[HofstraPride1]

I'm with you Polito on hating the CAA in many ways, especially way conference tourney is run with basically no advantage for finishing first, but if we had to add someone Fairfield isn't bad as they are geographic fit and aren't a powerhouse in MBB (last NCAA Tourney was 1997), although they did reach MAAC finals in 2024.