2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: Charleston
Best Overall Player: Kyrese Mullen, Hampton
Best Shooter: Jean Aranguren, Hofstra
Best Defenseman: Kyrese Mullen, Hampton
Sleeper Team (Conference): Will. & Mary
Sleeper Team (March): Charleston
Hofstra guard Jean aranguren; Hofstra athletics
1. Charleston Cougars
2023 Record: 27-8
The Cougars have been the big cat in the conference for the last half decade, dominating in conference play and clinching two NCAAT bids in a row. This time, the Cougs must win without Pat Kelsey, who moved to Louisville after last season. Chris Mack is in for Charleston, and with him return two starters and a pocketful of impactful transfers. The Cougars lose their top scorer, but nobody averaged over 13 points per night last year and three Cougs averaged over 11. Depth is not an issue, but a continuation of the lights-out three point shooting seen last year is highly doubtful. Look for a change of pace from Charleston this season as the new regime gets settled in.
2. Towson Tigers
2023 Record: 20-14
The Tigers return all but eight points per game to their starting lineup and are very much the top contender to the dean of the conference in Charleston. The offense was the problem last year for the Tigers, shooting inconsistently all over the court. The defense was among the conference’s best, but could not hang with the Cougs during the annual rivalry game. The evolution of leading scorer Christian May will be something to keep an eye on all season long, as the Tigers aim to dethrone Charleston.
3. North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks
2023 Record: 24-10
The Seahawks were kicked while they were down, losing first-team All-CAA Trazarien White after getting bounced in the early stages of the CAA Tournament. Only one starter returns for Wilmington but coach Takayo Siddle did well in the portal, particularly in the frontcourt, which lacked size last season. There are some returning pieces to build around on the wing, including Khamari McGriff, the lone returning starter, as well as Donovan Newby, who averaged 7.3 ppg last season. The Seahawks will need to improve on the defensive glass in 2024.
4. Hofstra Pride
2023 Record: 20-13
Jean Aranguren is the most likely to step into a long line of great Hofstra guards, as the Iona transfer shot over 40% from three last season, scoring reliably for the Gaels. Only one starter returns from last season’s team, but the Pride did well in the portal, nabbing former Seton Hall wing Jaquan Sanders and TJ Gadsen from Canisius. There are building blocks, but can the Pride put it all together after years of almosts?
5. Delaware Fighting Blue Hens
2023 Record: 19-14
Three crucial scoring pieces departed in the off season, leaving the Blue Hens desperate for a leading scorer and veteran presence in the backcourt. Luckily, coach Martin Ingelsby may have found that in transfer Tahron Allen, and a plethora of perimeter threats came with him as the Blue Hens gear up to shoot the three ball in 2024. Niels Lane, Trent Middleton and Cavan Reilly are all other transfers capable of making an impact early. Delaware must improve defensively if they wish to contend in a top-heavy CAA.
6. Elon Fighting Phoenix
2023 Record: 13-19
Three of the top four scoring leaders are back in Elon — including leader TK Simpkins, as the Fighting Phoenix gear up for a CAA title run under coach Billy Taylor. A lot of diverse pieces will be on the floor in 2024, including the versatile Simpkins, marksman Nick Dorn on the wing and burly Sam Sherry in the paint. The Phoenix barnstormed the boards last season and will have to continue that — and redistribute to its playmakers — to truly contend in the CAA.
7. Northeastern Huskies
2023 Record: 12-20
Looking to return to the glory days of not so many years ago, coach Bill Coen has rebuilt a roster decimated by injuries over recent seasons. With an asterisk, only two starters return from 2024, being backcourt mates Harold Woods and Rashad King. Aside from that, the Huskies’ roster is relatively volatile, with inexperience, unproven scoring and oftentimes injured players littering the depth chart. There are serious question marks down low but Northeastern has the tools needed to shoot dangerously from behind the arc.
8. William & Mary Tribe
2023 Record: 10-23
There are four starters returning for the Tribe, who welcome in new head coach Brian Earl from Cornell. William and Mary struggled last season but its misfortunes were more a biproduct of the coaching than the talent. Leading scorer Gabe Dorsey is back after averaging 14 points a night, and guard Chase Lowe is a good complementary piece from behind the arc. There are some questions in the frontcourt, but the Tribe will rely on experienced starters to improve its near-bottom of the league rebounding percentages.
9. Hampton Pirates
2023 Record: 9-24
New coach Ivan Thomas caught a huge break when leading scorer Kyrese Mullen withdrew from the portal and returned to the program. Mullen is a solid board getter and a tough outfit on defense, which bodes well for a team looking to rebuild its defense. The rest of the lineup will be made up of unproven transfers, as will most of the bench, which was stripped through graduation.
10. Campbell Fighting Camels
2023 Record: 14-18
The Camels loaded up from behind the arc this off season after most of last season’s backcourt production departed. Jasin Sinani returns and is an excellent threat from deep, and St. Francis PA transfer Cam Gregory makes a formidable duo on the wing. Returning big Elijah Walsh is a fine option as a post scorer, but there isn’t much behind him. The Camels must improve defensively, especially against the three, in order to improve in 2024. That starts with the revamped backcourt.
11. Drexel Dragons
2023 Record: 20-12
The departure of all-leaguer Amari Williams hurts, but the Dragons were gutted by the loss of all four starters around him and nine of the team’s top 10 scorers from a year ago. Drexel has done well to start afloat in a hotly contested CAA but must dig deep to find production from the league’s most inexperienced roster. Former Cal State Fullerton forward Victor Panov is the most experienced player on the roster — a possible harbinger for the Dragons.
12. Stony Brook Sea Wolves
2023 Record: 20-15
A senior heavy team lost most of its production after a surprise run to the CAA title game last March. Gone are four starters, but most of the rotation off the bench is back, which gives the Sea Wolves some — if at all, any — optimism heading into 2024. Holy Cross transfer Joe Octave was a solid pickup through the portal, but the Sea Wolves will be in search of a true perimeter scorer after the departure of Tyler Stephenson-Moore. The inside is held down by lone returning starter Andre Snoddy, who plays more on the wing.
13. Monmouth Eagles
2023 Record: 18-15
The roster will be patched together with spotty scorers and inexperienced transfers as head coach King Rice enters year 14 at the helm. Jack Collins and Jared Valencia are the lone returning starters, both of whom averaged between 11 and 9 points, respectively. While Rice is by far the most experienced — and potentially talented — coach in the conference, the Eagles will more than likely struggle with a lack of experience and scoring.
14. North Carolina A&T Aggies
2023 Record: 7-25
After leading scorer Landon Gasper left via the portal, the Aggies return a minority of its scoring from 2023, which is led by three returning starters and a solid group of all-around transfers. Camian Shell averaged just shy of 13 points a night, but the rest of the roster was plagued with inconsistencies throughout 2023, which helped the Aggies to all of seven wins. There is potential in the backcourt, but that won’t matter if NCAT doesn’t improve its lousy rebounding marks on both ends of the floor.