2024 CAA Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday. Up next: The CAA Tournament.

The conference known as the CAA might have changed its name from Colonial to Coastal, but the usual suspects towards the top of the standings have stayed the same. The CAA Tournament returns to the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. with four teams looking like the favorites to earn the automatic bid.

Charleston, Hofstra, Drexel, and UNC Wilmington all have the best opportunity to cut down the nets on Tuesday night. Monmouth, coming off a seven-win season in 2022-23, has been a dangerous team and could steal the autobid, or at the very least shake up the bracket with an upset or two.

2024 CAA Awards

Player of the Year: Tyler Thomas, Hofstra

Freshman of the Year: Jaret Valencia, Monmouth

Transfer of the Year: Gerald Drumgoole, Jr., Delaware

Coach of the Year: King Rice, Monmouth

First Team:

• G: Tyler Thomas, Hofstra (22.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 37.2 3P%)
• G: Anthony Dell’Orso, Campbell (19.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 48.9 FG%)
• G: Xander Rice, Monmouth (20.8 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 84.5 FT%, 36.0 3P%)
• G: Darlinstone Dubar, Hofstra (18.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 BPG, 53.4 FG%)
• F: Trazarien White, UNC Wilmington (19.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.7 APG)

Second Team:

• G: Landon Glasper, North Carolina A&T (20.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.4 SPG)
• F: Jvare Davis, Delaware (17.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.4 APG)
• F: Kyrese Mullen, Hampton (15.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 APG)
• F: Amari Williams, Drexel (12.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.8 BPG)
• F: Chris Doherty, Northeastern (13.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 52.7 FG%)

CAA Tournament Simulation

First Round – Fri., Mar. 8

12. North Carolina A&T (7-24, 5-13) vs. 13. William & Mary (9-22, 4-14) – 2 p.m. on FloHoops

Both teams struggled in CAA play, but the play of Glasper will give the Aggies the edge. The sophomore guard led A&T with 27 points in their only meeting on January 20th. For the season, A&T ranks last in scoring offense and defense. This will be a close one, but the Aggies will get their first CAA Tournament victory.

Kyle’s pick: 12. North Carolina A&T

11. Elon (13-18, 6-12) vs. 14. Hampton (8-23, 3-15) – 4:30 p.m. on FloHoops

Like the previous matchup, these teams struggled during conference play. In their only meeting, the Phoenix broke a five-game losing streak with an 80-74 victory. Elon averages just under 74 PPG, but ranks 12th in allowing 76 PPG. The Pirates are 4-5 after breaking a 13-game losing streak in February, but Elon will get their first win in tournament play since making the 2021 championship game.

Kyle’s pick: 11. Elon

Second Round – Sat., Mar. 9

8. Monmouth (17-14, 10-8) vs. 9. Campbell (14-17, 8-10) – Noon on FloHoops

Xander Rice has led the Monmouth attack, while Jack Collins has kept the Hawks in games on the glass. King Rice had a complete turnaround, increasing last season’s win total by ten games. The only matchup this season was a one-point victory by Monmouth, with a three-pointer by Rice at the buzzer being the difference. Anthony Dell’Orso will keep the Camels in the game, but it will come down to another close finish.

Kyle’s pick: 8. Monmouth

5. Towson (18-13, 11-7) vs. 12. North Carolina A&T – 2:30 p.m. on FloHoops

These two teams faced off on Feb. 29th, with the Tigers walking away with a 84-58 victory. Towson isn’t known for having that dominant player, but they have a balanced roster that can lead to at least three players scoring double-digits. Landon Glasper will need to improve his 3-for-11 performance to give A&T a shot, but Towson will be too much.

Kyle’s pick: 5. Towson

7. Stony Brook (17-14, 10-8) vs. 10. Northeastern (12-19, 7-11) – 6 p.m. on FloHoops

The Seawolves swept the season series, but both games were decided by less than ten points. Free throws will be a critical part of the game, as both teams rank in the top four in the conference. Tyler Stephenson-Moore, averaging 22.3 PPG, will face a (mascot) team that ranks in the bottom two in field goal and three-point defense. Chris Doherty will keep Northeastern in the game, but Stony Brook will advance.

Kyle’s pick: 7. Stony Brook

6. Delaware (18-13, 10-8) vs. 11. Elon – 8:30 p.m. on FloHoops

Could this be the first upset in the tournament? The Phoenix won the only matchup on Feb. 15th by six points. The Blue Hens had no answer for Max Mackinnon and TK Simpkins, who combined for 51 points. Delaware almost outrebounded Elon with just two players, setting up 12 second-chance points. This will be another close game, but Elon has the ability to make another Cinderella run.

Kyle’s pick: 11. Elon

Quarterfinals – Sun., Mar. 10

1. Charleston (24-7, 15-3) vs. 8. Monmouth – Noon on FloHoops

Meeting all the way back on Jan. 13th, the Hawks was only the sixth team to score over 80 points on Charleston. Despite 34 points by Xander Rice, the Cougars won 94-83. The difference in this game will be on the glass. While Charleston leads the CAA in rebounds with 39.7, Monmouth has allowed opponents to get 37.5 boards. Monmouth will keep it close, but Charleston will start its trip to the finals.

Kyle’s pick: 1. Charleston

4. UNC Wilmington (21-9, 12-6) vs. 5. Towson – 2:30 p.m. on FloHoops

The teams split the series, with Wilmington winning the regular season finale. In January, Tyler Tejada hit a three-pointer with one second left to give Towson a three-point victory. In the rematch, the Tigers were outscored 46-35 in the second half. Towson didn’t have an answer for Trazarien White, who averaged 24.5 points in both meetings. The Seahawks are on a mission to reverse their fortune in the last two tournaments, and the road to redemption starts here.

Kyle’s pick: 4. UNC Wilmington

2. Drexel (20-11, 13-5) vs. 7. Stony Brook – 6 p.m. on FloHoops

With their only meeting just last week, the four-point victory by Drexel is still fresh in the minds of Stony Brook. Justin Moore hit a three-pointer, three of his game-high 25 points, with just over 13 minutes left in the game, giving the Dragons the lead for good. The Seawolves have a scoring margin of 0.90, while Drexel ranks in the top three. Drexel will look to deploy its smothering three-point defense. Only allowing opponents to shoot 31.6% from beyond the arc should give Drexel the advantage, but Stony Brook will break that trend and score the upset.

Kyle’s pick: 7. Stony Brook

3. Hofstra (19-12, 12-6) vs. 11. Elon – 8:30 p.m. on FloHoops

Tyler Thomas and Darlinstone Dubar dominated on both ends of the court, with Jaquan Carlos facilitating the ball with 6.4 assists per game. This was what Elon faced on Feb. 24, and was defeated by 23 points. Unfortunately, the Phoenix won’t rise after this matchup.

Kyle’s pick: 3. Hofstra

Semifinals – Mon., Mar. 11

1. Charleston vs. 4. UNC Wilmington – 6 p.m. on CBSSN

63-58 was the score of last season’s CAA Championship game. That victory sent Charleston to the NCAA Tournament and UNC Wilmington didn’t even get a bid to any postseason tournament. The Seahawks swept the season series, failing to contain Trazarien White. They also couldn’t convert turnovers into points, only getting six in both games. The Cougars may win the rebounding edge, but Wilmington will force turnovers on their way to victory.

Kyle’s pick: 4. UNC Wilmington

7. Stony Brook vs. 3. Hofstra – 8:30 p.m. on CBSSN

With the sweep this season, the Pride are riding a four-game winning streak in the series. It has been a close series, with only one game in the last ten being decided by more than ten points. In the games this season, it has been a different player leading the offensive charge. The Seawolves will need to continue to contain the Pride’s bench to keep the game close, only allowing two bench points in the season series. It will go down to the final five minutes, but Hofstra’s starters will be the key to victory.

Kyle’s pick: 3. Hofstra 

Championship – Tues., Mar. 12

#4 UNC Wilmington vs #3 Hofstra – 7 p.m. on CBSSN

Hofstra hasn’t won the title since the 2019-20 season, but hasn’t earned an automatic bid since winning the America East in 2001. Current NC State coach Kevin Keatts led the Seahawks to back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. Darlinstone Dubar hit a three with 9:42 in the second half to put the Pride up for good. Hofstra has some added motivation, with UNCW ending their bid for the automatic bid in the semifinals last year. This will be another close game and, like other games against Hofstra, the bench will need to be the difference. The game will be another overtime classic, but the story will be the same as UNC Wilmington will punch its ticket to the Big Dance.

Kyle’s pick: 4. UNC Wilmington