It's that time of year! Below, we recap the season, briefly preview the CAA Tournament, and predict this year's All-CAA teams.

Enjoy, and good luck!


Link: https://wmsportsblog.com/2020/03/04/mbb-...edictions/

(03-03-2020 07:57 PM)WMSportsBlog Wrote:  It's that time of year! Below, we recap the season, briefly preview the CAA Tournament, and predict this year's All-CAA teams.

Enjoy, and good luck!


Link: https://wmsportsblog.com/2020/03/04/mbb-...edictions/

Nice writing, but it's UNCW, not UNC-Wilm

https://uncwsports.com/news/2020/3/5/men...urney.aspx



Men's Basketball 3/5/2020 7:00:00 PM Joe Browning

Seahawks Eye CAA Hoops Tourney

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – It will be Round 3 early Saturday (Mar. 7) when the UNCW men's basketball team squares off against Drexel in the opening game of the 2020 Hercules Tires Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in southeast Washington, D.C.

The No. 9-seeded Seahawks, 10-21 overall and 5-13 in the CAA, battle the No. 8 Dragons, 13-18 and 6-12, at 4 p.m. The two teams split a pair of games during the regular season, with each club winning on its home floor.

"At the end of the day, you have to be good for three – or in our case – four days," said Rob Burke, UNCW's interim head coach. "Anything can happen. That's what makes our conference so great.

"The whole key is to be good for 40 minutes vs. Drexel. They have not finished the way they've wanted to. They have new life now. I know Coach Spiker will be in the foxhole trying to come up with the best strategy to beat us."

UNCW finished the season with a flourish, winning two of its final three games and gaining increased confidence heading into the team's 36th tournament. With six championships, the Seahawks are tied for the most ever and also top the league in tournament victories (41) and championship game appearances (11).

The Seahawks and Dragons played 10 days ago at Trask Coliseum when UNCW carved out a 76-65 victory behind the inspired play of freshman point guard Shykeim Phillips.

UNCW scored the first nine points of the second half and shot a robust 67.9 percent in the decisive final period on Feb. 27. Phillips exploded for a career-high 20 points on a crispy 7-for-11 shooting and played 25 minutes without a turnover. He was joined in double figures by junior guard Mike Okauru (16) and freshman guard Jake Boggs (11). Phillips and Okauru jumpstarted a second half that saw the Seahawks flip a 34-29 halftime deficit into a 38-34 lead with 17:33 to go in the game. Junior forward James Butler notched a double-double (16 points and 12 rebounds) to lead Drexel, collecting his 19th double-double in 30 games.

In the initial pairing in West Philadelphia, sophomore guard Camren Wynter poured in 30 points to lift Drexel past UNCW, 71-66, on Dec. 30 at the Daskalakis Center. Wynter made 11-of-19 shots and converted 6-of-9 at the free throw line. Sophomore forward Marten Linssen paced the Seahawks with 15 points. Trailing 33-31 at halftime, the Seahawks started quickly in the second half and led by as many as five points before the Dragons stormed back.

Drexel brings a seven-game losing streak into the tourney. The Dragons last won on Feb. 6 with a 78-67 decision at home over James Madison. The Dragons have dropped nine of their last 11 games since Jan. 23.

"I'm going to make some adjustments and Coach Spiker will make some adjustments," Burke continued. "It comes down to how we get it across to our players and which set of players goes out there and executes the game plan accordingly."

The Seahawks own a 21-14 advantage in the 35-game series. UNCW has won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Dragons.

The Seahawks are no strangers to the Entertainment and Sports Arena. UNCW went 1-1 in the cozy 4,200-seat venue during a late-November appearance in the Battle for the Capital Tournament. The Seahawks lost to Cleveland State, 47-46, on Nov. 22 and knocked off FIU, 66-63, on Nov. 23.

Saturday's contest will be carried over the air on The Breeze, 95.9 FM, with play-by-play voice Mike Vaccaro on the call. The game may be heard worldwide on the station's website, http://www.959thebreeze.com. A live video stream will be available on FloSports.com.

Seahawk Storylines

UNCW and Drexel are battling for the fourth time in the CAA Tournament. The Seahawks trimmed the Dragons, 70-62, en route to the 2003 CAA Championship and then cruised to a 66-53 decision in the semifinals of the 2004 tourney. Drexel eliminated UNCW, 59-47, in the quarterfinals of the 2012 event.

The Seahawks are facing Wynter for the fifth time. The versatile guard has averaged 13.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in four games against the Seahawks, including the 30-point explosion in December.

UNCW is seeking its seventh berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Seahawks have reached the post-season nine times: NIT (1998), NCAA (2000), NIT (2001), NCAA (2002), NCAA (2003), NCAA (2006), CIT (2015),NCAA (2016), NCAA (2017).

UNCW has lost in the first round five times, been eliminated in the quarterfinals eight times, advanced to the semifinals 21 times and reached the championship 11 times.

UNCW is the No. 9 seed for the fourth time (2010, 2012, 2014, 2020).

In 45 CAA Tournaments in program history, we've reached the Semi-Finals or Finals in 32 (71 %). That's pretty damn impressive.

Boggs has got to be the biggest surprise to end the season. He looked really good to start the season, faltered mid season, and is now looking pretty good. Burke is right when he says he is going to be a nightmare to defend. But he is also fantastic at the top of the press and when he traps. Great length and athleticism.

Just curious which Drexel team shows up. The back half of the schedule certainly has not given me any confidence. On paper, Drexel should win this one. But I really have a hard time seeing Drexel play well not at the DAC. Now if Phillips gets hurt or foul trouble early...there might just be hope afterall.

Shykeim Phillips, as we all expected was announced a member of this year's All-Rookie Team.

(03-06-2020 08:14 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  In 45 CAA Tournaments in program history, we've reached the Semi-Finals or Finals in 32 (71 %). That's pretty damn impressive.

The ECAC South became the CAA in 1985 (when UNCW and American joined). So that is only 35 years, not 45.

Roughly 60 percent for the Hawks getting to the semis over the years. Not a surprising stat as a long time observer. Hawks have been either very good or bad. Mostly good over the years.