CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up next: The CAA Tournament.
The CAA preview article had UNCW defeating Hofstra in the final, but the Seahawks were bested by Towson, and the Pride got upset by a surging Stony Brook squad. The Seawolves, seeded 7th, didn’t just make it to the title game but had a shot to win it with the game tied at 73-73. It was the Cougars of Charleston, however, that got it done when it mattered most, clinching their bid to March Madness with an overtime victory, their second straight bid to the dance.
CBB Review CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Reyne Smith, College of Charleston
The Aussie guard has turned it up a gear offensively as the season has gone along. Entering the tournament, Smith had hit 3+ triples in 8 of his last 12 games, including a game against Campbell that saw the junior guard make 10 shots from behind the arc in just 26 minutes.
In the tournament, he had a quiet first game against Monmouth, attempting just two shots, but turned it on in the semis and final when it mattered most. Against Towson, Smith scored 16 points on five made threes and collected two steals. Against the Seawolves, he led the Cougars with 23 points, scoring six threes to go along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Keep your eyes on the kid from down under this week, he’ll be putting it in from 28+ feet, or 8.5+ meters.
CBB Review All-CAA Tournament First Team
- G: Aaron Clarke, Stony Brook – 4 GP (17.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 40.0 3P%)
- G: Reyne Smith, College of Charleston – 3 GP (14.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG)
- G: Kobe Rodgers, College of Charleston – 3 GP (10.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Tyler Stephenson-Moore, Stony Brook – 2 GP (20.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 47.1 3P%)
- G: Tyler Thomas, Hofstra – 2 GP (26.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, 3.0 SPG)
College of Charleston’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 32
There is no better opponent for these Cougars to face than Alabama. The Crimson Tide’s patented “no defense” style of defense fits perfectly into what the Cougars do on offense. The over/under has already been set at the highest total in the NCAA tournament archives in the 21st century. College of Charleston lost to UNCW on the first of February, sure, but they literally have not been taken down since then, now winners of 12 in a row? Does it get to 13, maybe more? I think so. In the months of February and March, the Cougars have actually been better on both offense and defense compared to Alabama, arguably at least.
Neither the Crimson Tide or Cougars have the world’s best defense, but at least College of Charleston has a defense. One has to think Ante Brzovic can be a difference-maker down low against Grant Nelson, too. This isn’t the same Charleston squad as last year, but they’ve got some of the same pieces (Smith, Brzovic, Burnham), a few new ones (Pollicelli, Fulton, Rodgers, Butler), and are generally just a joy to watch. If they get past ‘Bama, Saint Mary’s or Grand Canyon awaits. It’s not inconceivable to say this team could make the second weekend.