College Basketball Preview - Colonial Athletic Association

Basketball Betting Lines

11/03/2006 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - OUTLOOK: Last season the Colonial Athletic Association was possibly the most exciting and surprising league in the entire country. Four teams finished the year with 24 victories and there is a distinct possibility that this league could once again be extremely competitive. Leading the pack is Hofstra. The Pride are coming off a sensational 26-7 ledger, which included a 14-4 record inside league play. Shockingly the Pride did not advance to the NCAA tournament last season, but the team has plenty of reasons to feel optimistic this campaign. The backcourt duo of Loren Stokes and Antoine Agudio give the Pride a legitimate shot at making a push for a spot in the NCAA Tournament this season. While Hofstra looks to be the most talented team in the CAA this year, George Mason is still the team to beat. The Patriots were the Cinderella story of the college basketball nation last year by reaching the Final Four. With three starters gone from last season, the Patriots might not post a 27-8 ledger like last year, but the team is still one of the most dangerous units in the CAA. After the Pride and the Patriots there is a drop off in talent. The UNC-Wilmington Seahawks always play gritty defense, but with the loss of standout guard John Goldsberry it will be hard for the Seahawks to find offensive consistency this year. Always a force inside the CAA is Old Dominion, and although the team is returning nine lettermen, the Monarchs will still struggle offensively now that Alex Loughton and Isaiah Hunter have departed. As for the teams looking to finish the season in the middle of the pack, the VCU Rams along with Northeastern, Drexel and Towson will be no better than .500 by season's end. The Rams come into 2006-07 with a new coach in Anthony Grant, who is a disciple of Billy Donovan. Expect to see a fast paced offense led by a strong backcourt tandem of B.A. Walker and Jesse Pellot-Rosa. As for the Huskies of Northeastern, they also come into the season with a new coach in Bill Coen, but Coen has a rebuilding process ahead of him. The top three scorers for the Huskies last season are gone and that includes Player of the Year, Jose Juan Barea. As for Drexel and Towson, neither team has enough firepower offensively to pose a threat to the top teams in the league. Filling out the bottom of the barrel will be William & Mary, Georgia State, Delaware, and James Madison. All four teams will try to collect wins against each other, but struggle to get them against anyone else.

CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Hofstra

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Hofstra, 2. George Mason, 3. UNC-Wilmington, 4. Old Dominion,5. Virginia Commonwealth, 6. Northeastern, 7. Drexel, 8. Towson, 9. William & Mary, 10. Georgia State, 11. Delaware, 12.James Madison.

TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:

HOFSTRA - Last season the Pride felt they deserved a place in the NCAA Tournament, but that was not the case, so this year Hofstra is out to prove it belongs. For the Pride to be successful, the team must ride the sensational backcourt duo of Stokes and Agudio. Last season Stokes led the Pride with 17.4 ppg and Agudio was just behind him with 17.2 ppg. Both players should continue to shine in this campaign, but for the Pride to be extremely successful, the team will need a solid supporting cast. Guard Carlos Rivera is a nice complement in the backcourt for Hofstra. The senior scored 11.7 ppg a year ago, and while he was solid offensively, the guard still has room for improvement, especially behind the arc where he shot just 32 percent. Obviously the Pride are set at the guard position, but the big issue for Hofstra this year is its frontcourt. Hofstra will have to fill the holes left by Adrian Uter and Aurimas Kieza. Sophomore Chris Gadley could be a option for the Pride under the basket, but the forward only averaged 10.2 minutes per game last season and will need time to grow. Arminas Urbutis is another forward that saw little playing time last season (6.3 mpg), but will be called upon to make an immediate impact for Hofstra. Also freshmen George Washington and Mantas Leonavicius should see playing time early and often for the Pride.

GEORGE MASON - If people are expecting the Patriots to repeat their Cinderella run from a year ago, forget it. However, with that said, the Patriots are still one of the top teams in the CAA. It will be tougher for the Patriots this year especially with the loss of Tony Skinn, Jai Lewis and Lamar Butler. Despite the loss of Lewis, the Patriots still possess a strong frontcourt, thanks in large part to Will Thomas. The junior forward proved to by a solid force under the basket last year, averaging 11.7 ppg and 7.2 rpg. Thomas should play an even bigger role this year, but will have help from the likes of Daryl Monroe, who is a junior college transfer. At Central Florida Junior College, the forward averaged an impressive 18.7 ppg to go along with 7.0 rpg and 3.6 apg. Jesse Urbina, who was injured all last season should also contribute for the Patriots inside. As for the backcourt, the only solid player for George Mason is Folarin Campbell, who scored 11.0 ppg a year ago. Joining Campbell is the backcourt will probably be junior college transfer Andre Smith. Smith has the potential to post plenty of points for the Patriots, but the guard is also a terrific floor general that distributes the ball extremely well. John Vaughan, who is also coming back from an injury, should also make an immediate impact in the backcourt. Two years ago the point guard scored 7.5 ppg and dished out 3.3 apg.

UNC-WILMINGTON - The Seahawks are a defensive-minded team and that strategy will certainly not change this season. Last year UNCW surrendered just 59.8 ppg, but at the same time the team only produced 68.2 ppg. The team will have to continue to play stingy defense, especially now that guard John Goldsberry has departed. The loss of Goldsberry is huge, but first year head coach Benny Moss is expecting big things from T.J. Carter. The senior guard has the capability of taking over a game and is talented enough to score on the inside and from behind the arc. Last season Carter not only led the team with 13.6 ppg, but he also collected 4.1 rpg. While Carter is a solid option in the backcourt, the hole left by Goldsberry will be a tough one to fill. Most likely Temi Soyebo will take over the role as the Seahawks' point guard, and while the senior has the ability to dish the ball, his scoring skills are less than average. The frontcourt should be led by forward Todd Hendley. The 6-9 junior averaged 10.5 ppg last season, but those numbers should improve this season considering Hendley will be the main option under the basket. Junior Vladimir Kulijanin has the potential to score and grab boards and should also play a big role in the frontcourt for UNCW. Coach Moss is hoping College of Charleston transfer Jeff Horowitz will contribute instantly for the Seahawks underneath. The junior only averaged 3.6 ppg last season for CofC, but was second on the team with 16 blocks.

OLD DOMINION - The Monarchs return nine players this season, unfortunately two players not returning for ODU, Alex Loughton and Isaiah Hunter, were the team's biggest performers last year. The loss of Loughton and Hunter is huge and filling the void left by the two players is virtually impossible. ODU's backcourt will be led by Drew Williamson. Williamson is a terrific floor general that averaged 4.8 apg last season, but for the Monarchs to be successful, he will have to produce more than just 7.3 ppg. Brian Henderson should prove to be a nice complement for Williamson in the backcourt, as the junior guard has proven he is a long range threat every time he gets the ball. Brandon Johnson only averaged 3.5 ppg a year ago, but he should make an impact for ODU along with freshman standout Marsharee Neely. The soldier underneath the basket for ODU this season will once again be Arnaud Dahi. Dahi should be the focal point for the Monarchs this season, as the senior is coming off a year in which he scored 11.9 ppg. Dahi also collected 4.8 rpg last season and led the team with 34 blocks. While Valdas Vasylius is also a big part of the Monarch frontcourt, ODU will need immediate help from incoming freshmen Gerald Lee, Frank Hassell and Keyon Carter. All three players show a lot of promise, especially Lee, who has had success playing for the Finland under-20 squad, where he scored 17.1 ppg and pulled down 4.5 rpg.

VCU - The Rams will have a completely new offensive look this season thanks to the arrival of new head coach Anthony Grant. Grant has implemented a fast-paced offensive scheme which will lead to plenty of shooting, especially from long range. This style means returning guards B.A. Walker and Jesse Pellot-Rosa will be the main focus this season. Last year Walker scored 11.7 ppg and led the team with 63 three-point baskets, while Pellot-Rosa added 9.2 ppg. Both players have the potential to score and with the new system they will have plenty of chances. Eric Maynor will be the third guard for VCU this season and the sophomore sensation looks to be the perfect fit at the point guard position. As a freshman, Maynor averaged only 15.7 minutes, but finished second on the team with 65 assists. Obviously the backcourt is solid, but unfortunately the Rams will struggle underneath, especially with the loss of Nick George, the team's leading scorer from a year ago. Finding a replacement for George will be extremely tough and as of now the best option for coach Grant is Eric Davis. The senior is a solid scorer who should perform much better now that he will receive more playing time. Also expected to contribute for the Rams this season is Sam Faulk and Calvin Roland. Faulk is a defensive monster for VCU, but will need to be more consistent offensively. As for Roland, he is returning to the team after sitting out this past year. In 2004-05 the center led the Rams with 37 blocks, but much like Faulk, Roland needs improve his offensive game.

NORTHEASTERN - This season could be looked at as a rebuilding year for the Huskies. Not only did Northeastern lose its coach, but more importantly the Huskies lost their top three scorers, including Jose Juan Barea, who was the CAA Player of the Year last season. New head coach Bill Coen will need plenty of players to step up their efforts if the Huskies want to avoid an embarrassing season. Bobby Kelly looks to be the best offensive option for the Huskies this season. Kelly only scored 8.6 ppg last season, but the guard proved he is a legitimate long range threat, netting 44.0 percent from behind the arc. Adrian Martinez will most likely team up with Kelly in the backcourt, but expect freshman Baptiste Bataille to find himself in the mix as well. Bataille is a smart player who can run the point and also play the two-guard. The only solid player in the frontcourt for the Huskies is Bennett Davis. Davis started 26 games last season for Northeastern and finished the year with 28 blocks and 6.8 rpg. Coach Coen will need Mark Washington and freshman Manny Adako to produce immediately. Washington only averaged 4.8 minutes per game last season, and comes into this campaign with little experience. As for Adako, he is a menacing defensive player who will need time to grow offensively.

DREXEL - The Dragons are coming off a disappointing season in which they finished with just a 15-16 ledger, but with the return of plenty of key players, Drexel looks to surprise a few teams this year. The backcourt duo of Bashir Mason and Dominick Mejia returns to prove last season was an anomaly. Mason is a solid floor general that contributes at both ends of the floor. Mason is not only a scoring threat, but the senior can also distribute the ball, averaging 4.29 apg a year ago. Mason comes into this season as possibly the best defensive guard in the CAA and last season he was selected to the All-Defensive Team for the third consecutive year. As for Mejia, he is a dangerous scorer, especially from behind the arc. Last year, the senior set a record at Drexel with 92 three-point baskets. Mason and Mejia will once again see the majority of the time for Drexel, but look for Scott Rodgers and freshman Rob Hampton to contribute at points during the season. Defensively the frontcourt looks solid with the return of Chaz Crawford and Frank Elegar. Crawford, a two-time All Defensive Player in the CAA, averaged 2.77 blocks per game and also collected a solid 7.6 rpg last year. However, Crawford must improve offensively, as the big man was far too inconsistent for Drexel. Elegar is also a solid defensive stallion for the Dragons, but unlike Crawford, the junior center showed drastic improvements offensively and could average a double-double this season.

TOWSON - If the Tigers are going to have any success in the 2006-07 season the team will have to rely heavily on guard Gary Neal. Neal was a handful for every opponent last season, averaging a whopping 26.1 ppg. Neal will need a repeat of last year's heroics if the Tigers want to reach the .500 plateau. Tim Crossin is a nice complement to Neal in the backcourt and should once again be a solid contributor for Towson. As a freshman, Crossin averaged 8.9 ppg, but more importantly the guard led the team with 139 assists. Although Crossin had a sensational freshman campaign, he will probably split time with juco transfer C.C. Williams. Williams is a speedy guard with a pure shooter's stroke. The loss of Lawrence Hamm will surely hurt the frontcourt, but Dennard Abraham does have the potential of being a dangerous force underneath. Abraham posted 12.0 ppg last season and pulled down 6.3 rpg, but now that he is the main threat under the basket, the senior could average a double-double by season's end. Marc Pratt will lend a helping hand under the net for Towson, as will juco transfer Tommy Breaux.

WILLIAM & MARY - The Tribe returns three starters this season, but do not expect the team to pose a threat to any of the elite squads in the CAA. Corey Cofield is a solid frontcourt player, who is a scoring threat, but needs to improve on the boards. Cofield averaged 10.3 ppg last year, but the 4.7 rpg is something that must increase this time around. Joining Cofield down low will once again be Laimis Kisielius. Kisielius was inconsistent at times last season, especially on offense. Now a junior, the 6-8 forward is expected to produce offensively. William & Mary comes into this season with plenty of uncertainty in its backcourt. Adam Payton will most likely take over the point guard duties for the Tribe. Payton only averaged 7.0 ppg last year, but the senior has the potential to be a solid scoring threat. Coach Tony Shaver would like freshman Matt McFadden to open the season as the starting point guard, but the coach will have to wait and see how the youngster adjusts to the college game. When McFadden is ready to handle the leadership role for William & Mary, the freshman could become an instant success. Also expected to contribute in the backcourt is Nathan Mann who is a three-point threat. Last year, Mann was a much needed source of offense off the bench and coach Shaver is most likely hoping for the same this season.

GEORGIA STATE - The Panthers are another team not expected to make many waves this upcoming season. Georgia State enters this campaign with a lack of playmakers. The top three scorers from a year ago are gone and although the Panthers do return the bulk of their frontcourt, not one of those players have the potential to be a go-to guy in the interior. If there is a player that is going to step up for the Panthers underneath it will be forward Justin Billingslea. The 6-8 junior averaged 7.6 ppg last season, but struggled on the glass, pulling down just 3.0 rpg. Billingslea along with forward Rashad Chase and center Deven Dickerson will have to make drastic improvements offensively and on the boards for Georgia State to make noticeable strides in the CAA. Unfortunately the interior is not the main issue for coach Michael Perry, instead it is the backcourt that comes into the season with plenty of question marks. As of now Leonard Mendez along with junior college transfer Ron Larris will be starting for Georgia State at the guard positions. Mendez made tremendous improvements during his freshman campaign and by the end of the season the guard was starting for the Panthers. Mendez should continue to show consistent improvement this year and will certainly be a main source of offense for Georgia State.

DELAWARE - New head coach Monte Ross comes into a rebuilding situation at Delaware. Three of the top four scorers from a year ago are gone and that includes interior sensation Harding Nana. Guard Calvin Cannon will look to lead this squad through the rough times this year. Cannon is a born leader that is a scoring threat as well as a tremendous distributor. Delaware would receive a huge boost if Chris Prothro is healthy enough to hit the court this season. The senior guard is a dangerous three-point assassin, but injuries to his knee and ankle have limited him throughout the better part of two seasons. Zaire Taylor will once again be the floor general for Delaware this year. The sophomore proved last season he is capable of handling the responsibilities associated with the point guard position, but now in his second year he must prove he can be a consistent scoring threat as well. As for the interior, the departure of Harding Nana has left a huge vacancy under the basket. As of now, Herb Courtney will be the main man underneath, but he needs to become more of an offensive presence if the Blue Hens are going to stand a chance in any contest. Henry Olawoye will be the other man down low for Delaware and although the junior is a solid defender, the 6-8 forward is simply not capable of producing on a regular basis offensively.

JAMES MADISON - Last season was an abomination for coach Dean Keener and his Dukes. The Dukes collected just five victories last season and a large part of the team's poor season was a result of atrocious defensive play combined with an inability to handle the ball. This year the team is without three of its top four scorers from a year ago, so expect the Dukes to remain comfortable in the basement of the CAA. One of the few bright spots for this James Madison squad is guard Juwann James, who showed flashes of brilliance in his freshman season a year ago. The 6-6 guard was second on the team with 12.7 ppg and shot an impressive 48.6 percent from the floor. James should make tremendous strides this season, but for him to truly become a better player he has to limit his mistakes (73 turnovers last season). The frontcourt will also be led by a sophomore, as Kyle Swanston looks to improve on his numbers from a year ago. Swanston only averaged 5.9 ppg and 2.4 rpg last year, but now that the sophomore is in the starting lineup, those numbers will surely improve. Coach Keener is hoping that incoming freshman Matt Parker can instantly contribute in the frontcourt for the Dukes along with junior college transfer T.J. Carter. If Carter and Parker quickly step in and help Swanston, then the Dukes have a chance of fighting their way out of the basement.