CAA Tournament Preview

Quinn Casteel
Assistant Sports Editor
Follow Quinn on Twitter

First round matchups

All games will be played on Friday at the Richmond Coliseum

James Madison (8) vs. UNC-Wilmington (9) at noon

JMU (12-19 overall, 5-13 CAA) has had its season so derailed by injuries that even head coach Matt Brady fell victim to a torn Achilles while practicing with the team. The Dukes have lost eight of their last 10 games but beat Towson 65-59 in their most recent outing. JMU is led by junior A.J. Davis at 16 ppg and Humpty Hitchens who averages 15 points and 2.6 three pointers made per game.

UNCW (9-20 overall, 5-13 CAA) met JMU just once this season, in a game in which the Seahawks lost 69-61 on their home court back on Jan. 18. Like JMU, the Seahawks are entering the tournament as one of the coldest teams in the league, having lost six consecutive games. In the final game of the regular season, they lost to 11th place Hofstra by 29 points.

Prediction: JMU 67, UNCW 60

Delaware (5) vs. Towson (12) at 2:30 p.m.

With so much talk about the top four teams, Delaware (17-12 overall, 12-6 CAA) is perhaps the most overlooked team in the CAA. The Blue Hens won seven consecutive games to finish the regular season and their résumé includes wins over Drexel and George Mason, as well as two overtime victories over Georgia State.

Pat Skerry and Towson (1-30 overall, 1-17 CAA) ended their NCAA record 41-game losing streak by defeating UNCW on Jan. 28 but still finished the season with just one win. An upset over a team like Delaware, which won twice as many conference games as it lost, is highly unlikely.

Prediction: Delaware 74, Towson 56

Northeastern (7) vs. William & Mary (10) at 6 p.m.

Northeastern (13-16 overall, 9-9 CAA) has been up and down this season, having put together some quality wins but also its share of ugly losses. Most notably, the Huskies upset George Mason 85-82 in overtime on Feb. 22 to knock the Patriots out of a tie for first place with Drexel. However, Northeastern lost by 25 points to 10th-ranked William & Mary (6-25 overall, 4-14 CAA) just 11 days prior, which shows you never know what you’re going to get from them.

Despite the poor record, William & Mary has weapons and a history of good results against Northeastern. Quinn McDowell and Marcus Thornton will be the keys to the Tribe’s success. Look for a closer game this time around.

Prediction: William & Mary 72, Northeastern 68

Georgia State (6) vs. Hofstra (11) at 8:30 p.m.

Georgia State (20-10 overall, 11-7 CAA) is the one team playing on Friday that none of the top four teams want to face in the second round. Three of GSU’s conference losses came in overtime, and three more were by three points or less. With six seniors on the roster, the Panthers are going to be a dangerous dark horse in this tournament. Even though Hofstra is coming off a near-30 point blowout of UNCW, Georgia State is the obvious favorite in this matchup.

Prediction: Georgia St. 65, Hofstra 58

Second round matchups

All games on Saturday

Drexel (1) vs. JMU (8) or UNCW (9) at noon

Drexel (25-5 overall, 16-2 CAA) has been the class of the CAA all season long and that should continue to show in this game, regardless of whom they face. The Dragons have won 17 consecutive games and have not lost since falling to Georgia State 58-44 on Jan. 2.

Old Dominion (4) vs. Delaware (5) or Towson (12) at 2:30 p.m.

ODU (19-12 overall, 13-5 CAA) went 3-0 against Towson and Delaware this season, but its only matchup with the Blue Hens was a 68-66 overtime thriller. Should the two teams meet again, it will likely be another good game between the fourth and fifth seeds. However, Delaware will win only if it can find an answer for current CAA Player of the Week Kent Bazemore, who averaged 28 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games over that span. The preseason favorite for Player of the Year averaged 15 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2 steals per game this season.

VCU (2) vs. Northeastern (7) or William & Mary (10) at 6 p.m.

VCU (25-6 overall, 15-3 CAA) slipped into the second seed by defeating George Mason 89-77 in its last game of the regular season, and may have to beat the Patriots again to get to the conference final. The Rams are 3-0 against William & Mary and Northeastern this season, but needed overtime and a game-winning layup by Darius Theus to beat the Tribe at home back on Jan. 19. If VCU wants another chance at George Mason and another chance at a conference championship, it cannot look past this game.

George Mason (3) vs. Georgia St. (6) or Hofstra (11) at 8:30 p.m.

George Mason (23-8 overall, 14-4 CAA) lost its last two regular season games, falling from a share of first place down to third. As a result, the Patriots have to face a dangerous team in Georgia State or a suddenly hot Hofstra team. Having lost their last two games in disappointing fashion, the Patriots will likely either respond with a newfound passion or continue the downward spiral. With Player of the Year candidate Ryan Pearson (17.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg) playing some of his best basketball of late, it is most likely to be the former.

Semifinals matchups TBD (Semifinal round will take place Sunday with games at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.)

CAA Championship game set for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 5.