Around the CAA

[HUSID74]

With NIL every year is a crap shoot. Everyone is playing with almost completely new teams every year. There is no program building, only BUYING the best players you can every year.
UNCW, Charleston and Towson are spending the most NIL money, hence they are getting the best players, simple as that.

[Pbdutch]

So UNCW and CofC continue to be the class of this league while we are middling. Not very thrilling.

Although per their commitment from their point of view they should be at the top most years. It makes sense. But as I've said, HU should absolutely be dancing every handful of years - glad this is being supported by these reports so we can stop the lil sisters of the poor nonsense about this program as if they don't have enough to win. HU has PLENTY to win. And they should be expected to do so. Hope things change these last games.

So I agree completely PbDutch - it's enough already. Course I've said this for at least 3 of Speedy's years now, and for many of the last 2 decades +, and will likely need to keep saying it for X more years. 1 tourney qualification in 25 years for HU's position in the CAA is absolutely atrocious.

Evan, I personally wouldn't call SLU "elite". They are a strong well funded program in the A10. Duke is elite.

You’re right Polito. I’ve been on these boards for years and never chimed in (just didn’t sign up) but finally did so because I couldn’t take it anymore. I value everyone’s input and feedback on these boards but feel as if some of our fans have a hard time accepting the reality of the situation.

Hofstra should’ve danced numerous times already and only one time in 25 years is nothing to be proud of. I’ve also received confirmation that Hofstra has and at least for now will continue to invest heavily in our bball program. I’m sorry, but it’s time to win and it starts from the top. I love speedy but someone has got to get this team to the tourney. Enough is enough already.

[Polito]

Thing with the NIL and the transfer portal though is that has actually been great for mid majors and traditionally weak P4's. Including HU. We've benefited tremendously from it in hoops, and so have many others. That's a big reason why the bottom of the CAA has been better. It absolutely needs regulation and a governing body that is not the NCAA, but I have to admit it's been super awesome in creating more excitement and parity in college sports.

Now we do need to recognize that NIL numbers are still largely private and we will never truly know the full truth unless/until a ruling comes out requiring that disclosure. So all we have are behind the scenes reports and word of mouth.

But I have zero doubt that HU has money. It's silly to think they don't. Where do you all think the road game money is going? Allowing schools to pay athletes directly is a HUGE win for schools like HU.

It makes perfect sense to me that HU would be a top 3 job and be in the top 3-4 in spend. That correlation checks out.

And yes it's a crapshoot for every team every year. Kind of one of the very interesting things about it. That's not necessarily a full negative - again all this has helped HU plenty. And it's certainly no excuse why Speedy can't get it done. Everyones in the same wild boat. And 68 teams do it every single year under the same structure - and some have WAY less than HU does.

ZERO excuses - it's so lame, I'm sick of it. HU's in a great position to win in the CAA, as it has been for many years. This is the game today. Figure it out and win like everyone else, or get someone in here who can.

[Wags]

And yes it's a crapshoot for every team every year. Kind of one of the very interesting things about it. That's not necessarily a full negative - again all this has helped HU plenty. And it's certainly no excuse why Speedy can't get it done. Everyones in the same wild boat. And 68 teams do it every single year under the same structure - and some have WAY less than HU does.

What's most frustrating in this latest era isn't so much that they lost in DC (as you said, it's a crapshoot), but specifically the way they've lost.

2022: They were not ready. Came in as a 3 seed, Charleston a 6 seed. They had swept Charleston (granted, two very close, hard-fought wins, but they did win both), including beating them six days earlier at home. In DC, they looked like totally different teams. Charleston came out with a bunch of energy from the start that Hofstra (inexplicably, as a higher seed that could've won a title) didn't match at all. The Cougars built a huge early lead and Hofstra allowed 55 in the first half (same tournament that Delaware allowed 56, 55, and 55 en route to a championship as a 5 seed).

2023: Had never seen a team dominate another team in person and much as Hofstra did in the first half of that 1/8 quarterfinal win vs. W&M (the entire second half was all garbage time) and the semifinal OT loss to UNCW the next round was extremely winnable with just another play here or play there. Very tough battle for all 45 minutes, but as the 1 seed, playing well early in that game, and with Estrada, they should've found a way (especially after beating UNCW 70-46 at home, less than seven weeks earlier).

2024: Stony Brook was on a roll, peaking at the right time, and very nearly took down 1 seed Charleston in OT for the title. But as a 3 seed coming off a solid 15-point quarterfinal win over 6 seed Delaware, Hofstra again, should have found a way in a very close loss to Stony Brook.

2025: Yes, a rough year and an 11 seed, but lost a very winnable game to Monmouth, which as a 6 seed, then lost to 3 seed Charleston by one in OT, during a tournament in which 12 seed Delaware nearly beat UNCW in the finals. Even as an 11 seed, with Charleston nearly losing in the quarters, it may have been possible to do much more, like Delaware did.

[dutchPride86]

And yes it's a crapshoot for every team every year. Kind of one of the very interesting things about it. That's not necessarily a full negative - again all this has helped HU plenty. And it's certainly no excuse why Speedy can't get it done. Everyones in the same wild boat. And 68 teams do it every single year under the same structure - and some have WAY less than HU does.

What's most frustrating in this latest era isn't so much that they lost in DC (as you said, it's a crapshoot), but specifically the way they've lost.

2022: They were not ready. Came in as a 3 seed, Charleston a 6 seed. They had swept Charleston (granted, two very close, hard-fought wins, but they did win both), including beating them six days earlier at home. In DC, they looked like totally different teams. Charleston came out with a bunch of energy from the start that Hofstra (inexplicably, as a higher seed that could've won a title) didn't match at all. The Cougars built a huge early lead and Hofstra allowed 55 in the first half (same tournament that Delaware allowed 56, 55, and 55 en route to a championship as a 5 seed).

2023: Had never seen a team dominate another team in person and much as Hofstra did in the first half of that 1/8 quarterfinal win vs. W&M (the entire second half was all garbage time) and the semifinal OT loss to UNCW the next round was extremely winnable with just another play here or play there. Very tough battle for all 45 minutes, but as the 1 seed, playing well early in that game, and with Estrada, they should've found a way (especially after beating UNCW 70-46 at home, less than seven weeks earlier).

2024: Stony Brook was on a roll, peaking at the right time, and very nearly took down 1 seed Charleston in OT for the title. But as a 3 seed coming off a solid 15-point quarterfinal win over 6 seed Delaware, Hofstra again, should have found a way in a very close loss to Stony Brook.

2025: Yes, a rough year and an 11 seed, but lost a very winnable game to Monmouth, which as a 6 seed, then lost to 3 seed Charleston by one in OT, during a tournament in which 12 seed Delaware nearly beat UNCW in the finals. Even as an 11 seed, with Charleston nearly losing in the quarters, it may have been possible to do much more, like Delaware did.

Just look at the coaches Hofstra faced in all those tourney losses...

-Pat Kelsey now in ACC coaching a top 25 Louisville team

-Siddle has separated himself as one of best mid major coaches in the country and without UNCWs deep pockets would have probably jumped for a bigger school already

- Geno Ford has had Speedy's number in recent years

- Last years team just wasnt any good

The better coach, not more talented team, has been what's done Speedy in at the CAA tourney in 3 of the 4 years.

At their best I think this year's squad has what it takes to get it done, they just obviously haven't played their best anywhere near enough

[EvanJ]

Evan, I personally wouldn't call SLU "elite". They are a strong well funded program in the A10. Duke is elite.

SLU is not consistently elite like Duke, but this season SLU has 1 loss by 1 point. They won at VCU, who is the next best in the A10. They must be among the top candidates for teams that will not lose again before the NCAA Tournament. SLU is also winning despite having to fly to almost all of their away games. Every other team except for Loyola Chicago and Dayton is over nine hours away on roads.

[Pbdutch]

Exactly. Enough of the excuses guys. We literally go over them every year as it’s always the same thing. It’s time to win plain and simple. We have had everything we’ve needed to have these last 6-7 years to win and dance. Talk about increasing exposure and NIL money for a school. GET TO THE DANCE! And if you don’t get to the dance with all these resources Hofstra men’s bball has been given, then find someone that can.

[EvanJ]

Division I has 365 teams. We are one of 24 teams (6.6 percent) that has played at least 14 road games.

[EvanJ]

Monmouth's Kavion McClain is making his team debut tonight. He is in his sixth season in school, with the first three being in junior college. He played for Abilene Christian in 2023-2024, and then transferred in the same state. In 2024-2025 he averaged 13.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.8 steals for Texas Southern in the weak Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He is my height, which is 5 feet 9 inches. He averaged a bit under a rebound per ten minutes last season. Monmouth has depth, as they used fifteen players all of whom played in at least eight games. That is tied for the second most teammates with at least eight games this season.

Edit: Monmouth went 4:19 between their first two scores, but they got going and lead 32-20 at Stony Brook.

[Wags]

Monmouth edges Stony Brook, 76-75, on the road tonight.
Drexel loses at Campbell.
W&M wins at UNCW, dropping the Seahawks to 3rd and lifting Charleston to 1st, after CofC TCB at home against A&T.
Hampton beat Elon in 2OT at home.

So... Hofstra is in a five-way tie for 3rd (with Drexel, W&M, Monmouth, and Stony Brook).
And then Towson, Elon, Campbell, and Hampton are in a four-tie, all a game back of the other five.

Buckle up. Spots 3-11 all within a game of each other with seven games left.

[Jojogunne]

Exactly. Enough of the excuses guys. We literally go over them every year as it’s always the same thing. It’s time to win plain and simple. We have had everything we’ve needed to have these last 6-7 years to win and dance. Talk about increasing exposure and NIL money for a school. GET TO THE DANCE! And if you don’t get to the dance with all these resources Hofstra men’s bball has been given, then find someone that can.

We qualified for the NCAAT in 2020.

[EvanJ]

UNCW led by 12 early, but William & Mary won 85-78. W&M's Reese Miller led all players with 23 points, and UNCW's Nolan Hodge scored 22. W&M shot threes 11-23, UNCW shot threes 11-24, and the teams combined to shoot threes .468.

Monmouth won 76-75 at Stony Brook. Monmouth's Jason Rivera-Torres led all players with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 steals. Stony Brook's Erik Pratt had 22 points and 8 rebounds, but 5 fouls and 5 turnovers.

Hampton won 87-79 hosting Elon in double overtime. It was 33-33 at halftime, 64-64 after regulation, and 73-73 after one overtime. Elon's Chandler Cuthrell led all CAA players tonight with 32 points, and had 10 rebounds. Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt led Hampton with 23 points including 12 free throws.

Campbell won 81-60 hosting Drexel. Campbell's Dovydas Butka led all players with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Campbell had the top three scorers as Jeremiah Johnson scored 19, and D.J. Smith scored 16. Smith is their leading scorer for the season. Campbell scored 81 with only 4 threes. Shane Blakeney led Drexel with 15 points.

Charleston won 78-62 hosting North Carolina A&T. Christian Reeves and Jlynn Counter shot well and tied for Charleston's lead with 16 points. NC A&T's Lewis Walker led all players with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but they had only one other player score more than 6.

The CAA is the only conference with nine teams within 1 game of each other.

[Pbdutch]

Exactly. Enough of the excuses guys. We literally go over them every year as it’s always the same thing. It’s time to win plain and simple. We have had everything we’ve needed to have these last 6-7 years to win and dance. Talk about increasing exposure and NIL money for a school. GET TO THE DANCE! And if you don’t get to the dance with all these resources Hofstra men’s bball has been given, then find someone that can.

We qualified for the NCAAT in 2020.

Correct, and of course it was a year where we didn’t get to actually dance. I still count it, but it’s not really the same

[Wags]

Edmead picked up his 7th CAA ROW award yesterday. His next would tie Antioine Agudio's CAA record.

[Polito]

That's awesome, good for him, kudos Edmead - hope this is just the beginning for you!

Yep, we can't discount 2020 - it was a heckuva year, a thrilling victory in the CAAT to take the crown, and an awesome cap for JM's tenure - I was going bananas at a bar in Philly on a biz trip hanging with my cousin - had the whole place rocking for us!

But let's not sugarcoat it either. 1 trip in 24 years is ATROCIOUS with the talent HU has had and the conference we are in. That cannot be acceptable nor the standard. HU is a top 3 program in this league and should be dancing every handful of years, period. No excuse for less. HU has PLENTY to win, and that's the point.

And a big welcome to you Pbdutch, you are one of my new favorite posters, so happy you came onboard - but be careful, you are so aligned with my thinking people may accuse you of being my burner account HAHA or at least my doppelgänger!

You keep spitting that truth bud, love it. We don't need any shills, we need loud honesty to try and force this U to finally grow up to modern times.

[dutchPride86]

So while Charleston is getting screwed out of Connor Hickman for the rest of the year, Monmouth was just gifted the services of a potential difference maker...

Kavion McLain. Just won his eligibility, has played all of 2 games. But averaging 17 pts, 5.5 ast, and made 3 3s in each game, two wins for Monmouth over Stony and Drexel to get back in the mix for the top 4. NCAA, judge's rulings... the system is just a mess.

For anyone who knows or follows Jaden Daly, some more on the kid:

"King Rice told us after Monmouth played Seton Hall that the Hawks could potentially win the CAA if Kavion McClain got cleared, which he did last week.

Night and day with him in the lineup. Monmouth’s best point guard since Ray Salnave."

https://x.com/i/status/2022130396797055043

[EvanJ]

Stony Brook and Drexel lost, and Monmouth moved up to fourth.

In addition to our 66-62 win at Charleston, tonight had UNCW win 65-54 hosting Elon, Monmouth win 93-73 at Drexel, Towson win 69-57 hosting Stony Brook, and William & Mary win 94-67 at Northeastern. CAA teams averaged exactly 70 points

UNCW's Christian May scored 15, and he was the only player on either team to score more than 12. UNCW's 11 threes were a majority of their points. Elon star Chandler Cuthrell scored 6, and Isaac Harrell led them with 12.

Drexel scored 73 points in both games against Monmouth, while Monmouth scored 42 more at Drexel than hosting Drexel. I wonder when the previous time a team scored at least 42 more at a team than hosting that team in the same season was. Monmouth's Kavion McClain and Cornelius Robinson Jr. scored 20. McClain shot great, and led all players with 6 assists. Jason Rivera-Torres had 18 points and led all players with 8 rebounds. Drexel was led by Dillon Tingler, who scored 19 points in 17 minutes off the bench.

Tyler Tejada and Dylan Williamson had great games when not playing us. Tejada led all CAA players tonight with 33, Williamson scored 17, and the rest of Towson scored 19. Tejada scored 13-20. Williamson shot 6-18, and led all players with 5 assists. Erik Pratt, Rob Brown III, and Jonah Butler tied for Stony Brook's lead with 10 points. Pratt shot 4-17.

After trailing by 11 at halftime, Northeastern had a good start to the second half to go down 47-45 with 15:31 left. William & Mary ended the game on a 45-20 run ro win 94-67. Cade Haskins led W&M with 17 points, most of which came from 5 threes. They had balance, as a whopping ten players scored at least 5, and six players had at least 3 of their 27 assists. Northeastern's Xavier Abreu scored 24.

https://caasports.com/news/2026/2/13/ca ... eb-12.aspx is the CAA's recap.

[EvanJ]

Charleston won 62-57 at Campbell.

Monmouth came back to win 72-71 hosting Towson and stay above us. Towson's Dylan Williamson scored 27. Towson's Tyler Coleman missed 2 free throws with 7.9 seconds left to stay down 1. Monmouth missed the first of a one-and-one. Tyler Tejada's shot to decide the game missed. The five games from Friday through Sunday were decided by an average of 2.8 points. Two were won in the last five seconds, UNCW sealed their win over us by making it a two possession game with 3 seconds left, and Monmouth and Towson lost by 1 with two missed free throws and a missed field goal in the last 7.9 seconds.

Drexel is at Stony Brook tomorrow at 8:00 P.M. on CBS Sports Network.

[dutchPride86]

Monmouth just held off Towson in the closing seconds for their 3rd straight win since Kavion McClain became eligible (17 pts and 5 ast tonight, kid is a real difference maker). Luckily for us they have the UNCW Charleston road trip on deck, because they are very much looking like a top 4 seed right now. Wouldnt shock me at all if they get one of the 2 down south and finish 12-6.

[EvanJ]

Towson shot field goals better than free throws, as they shot free throws 8-18 (.444). Monmouth shot threes better than twos. Monmouth's Jason Rivera-Torres had 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists, but he shot twos 1-10. Towson shot field goals much better, but Monmouth won because they had 9 fewer turnovers and 17 more field goal attempts.