2026 CAA MBB Tournament

[Wags]

Personal peeve: Five CAA tournament games, five times the lower seed has worn black uniforms (including two, Hampton and Elon, who don't have black as one of their regular school colors). Northeastern and Campbell do, but not as a primary for either. Annoying.

Hate the Black uniforms we wore them in our last game at home. Towson could be the Cinderella in this tourney being picked for first and having just a 500 record during the season somehow they're believing in themselves and could upset Charleston. I don't think it would be a shocker.

W&M thankfully in green. Only the second time in the first nine games of this tournament without a lower seed wearing a black uniform (along with Drexel). Towson was the only one that should have worn black out of all of those.

Towson will be in yellow tonight.

[Wags]

https://x.com/JonathanJWagner/status/20 ... 0832570871

[cactus]

https://x.com/JonathanJWagner/status/20 ... 0832570871

Thanks for that angle - I got to see my reaction to it!

[cactus]

I have to say that the school did a superb job with this tournament in DC for the fans that came down. The hotel was great, location was great, pregame meetups every game, ubering people around, just awesome engagement from the whole program down there from rick cole, the coaches, and the fan/donor team. They're really building a first-rate staff.

Thinking about the last 25 years of heartbreak, starting with joining the CAA...getting screwed in 05-06, playstation johnson going for 2 down 3 at the end of the game the next year against mason ending stokes and rivera's ncaa chances, double OT loss to northeastern with that chaz, halil, jenkins team, pecora leaving and blowing up a chance at a really great team with those guys, leading to the tim welsh disaster that led to mo cassara and the laptop disaster, the green/tanksley teams with two back to back crushing losses, the first one on the dixon corner 3 in double OT, then the OT one in the final vs. uncw when green went ice cold, the jwf/buie/pemberton team getting so close in 2019, finally making it in 2020 and the tournament being cancelled, another OT CAA tourney loss to uncw with the estrada/thomas team....all those memories, this season being such a surprise, thinking this program was left for dead and not able to compete not only with the big money schools but in the conference as well because of NIL, the potential brightness the future holds that I never thought possible again...to be there to witness this run in person, it all hit at once. I'm not ashamed to say I bawled like a baby after the final whistle on Tuesday. I'm still emotional thinking about it now.

[EvanJ]

https://www.youtube.com/@CAASportsProductions/videos links to interviews with Claxton, Plotnikov, Sunday, and Edmead.

I read and responded to W&M fans on CSNBBS. They said that even if Davis was not trying to hurt Reese Miller, he should not have swung his elbow. They said that Davis should have been ejected, and if he wasn't ejected, Claxton should have taken him out to discipline him. One fan asked if an ejected would have made him be suspended for the next game. They said he got a technical for fighting, which was not what happened with Mor Seck. They said a Hofstra fan challenged W&M fans to a fight. They also had complaints about Towson, saying that Coach Pat Skerry cursed at a Charleston fan, and Dylan Williamson's mom was drunk. One W&M fan hoped that Towson and us would make each other miserable. One W&M fan is looking forward to us getting blown out. Of teams in one bid conferences, I wonder what percent of fans of other teams in the conference root for the conference's NCAA Tournament team. I root for CAA teams in seven tournaments, which are FCS, Basketball (both genders), Soccer (both genders), Baseball, and Softball.

[Polito]

Thanks for sharing that cactus, and kudos to you brotha, you repped well in DC! Also really glad to hear about the engagement from HU - I've been highly unimpressed for quite some time, so this is super refreshing to hear. Appreciate it, and will give credit per your direct feedback.

Frig those W&M fans, they can take a hike - can't stand their nuisance fan group - this is a generalization, there are always groups of fanbases, but the vocal one of theirs has been awful to us for years, and I have not forgotten their nonsense years ago - they were/are insufferable and think their ish don't stink - they know little about the game, always whining, trashing us all the time, that group of their fans can all get bent.

Cruz did NOTHING of the sort, and it was clearly unintentional to anyone with a pair of eyes and some brain cells. Thought they were ivy people. Ejection?!?? Are they kidding?? That is so utterly stupid it's not even worth discussing. To those dopes, I say take your spanking with class and enjoy your history of nothing. To their good fans I say you need exile those morons and rebuild your base with better quality. We may not have a lot of fans, but the ones we have are solid. I'd bet good money *IF* there was an HU fan ready to throw down some Tribe tool instigated it.

They need to take a lesson from some of the others in this league. We've not had anywhere close to the same garbage from the actual strong programs like CofC and the W. And they are a pain due to how tough they are to beat. But they display intelligence and respect for the game. It's great to have a healthy rivalry and competitive spirit - we don't need to be best friends, and in fact, we should all focus on rooting for our school and enjoy beating all the others. But the pettiness from that group is pitiful. A big L to the forehead from me to them.

[Jojogunne]

I replayed the "technical foul" play several times. It appeared to me that Reese Miller (the W&M player) had his back to Davis as Cruz started dribbling. When Miller spun around to defend Davis, Miller's face hit Cruz's left shoulder. It was AFTER that contact that Davis lifted his left arm. Although the impact was severe and Miller reportedly blacked out, Davis did not, in my opinion, hit Miller with his elbow.

[Hofstra]

Thinking about the last 25 years of heartbreak, starting with joining the CAA...getting screwed in 05-06, playstation johnson going for 2 down 3 at the end of the game the next year against mason ending stokes and rivera's ncaa chances, double OT loss to northeastern with that chaz, halil, jenkins team, pecora leaving and blowing up a chance at a really great team with those guys, leading to the tim welsh disaster that led to mo cassara and the laptop disaster, the green/tanksley teams with two back to back crushing losses, the first one on the dixon corner 3 in double OT, then the OT one in the final vs. uncw when green went ice cold, the jwf/buie/pemberton team getting so close in 2019, finally making it in 2020 and the tournament being cancelled, another OT CAA tourney loss to uncw with the estrada/thomas team....all those memories, this season being such a surprise, thinking this program was left for dead and not able to compete not only with the big money schools but in the conference as well because of NIL, the potential brightness the future holds that I never thought possible again...to be there to witness this run in person, it all hit at once. I'm not ashamed to say I bawled like a baby after the final whistle on Tuesday. I'm still emotional thinking about it now.

Extremely well summed up. I started my Freshman year at Hofstra in 2002. Did not follow Hofstra prior, but this win last night was for all of us. 25 years, 24 for me. We all went through those trying times, and last night was just perfection. Just such a special moment. Was texting with people who I havent spoken to in 10 years. Smiling from ear to ear all day.

[Dooku25]

Haven’t chimed in on the boards in awhile, but just wanted to add to what a lot of you have shared here. I started watching games at the old PFC in 1998 as a student, specifically Speedy hitting a buzzer beater against Delaware and I have been a fan ever since. So glad I was able to make it down to DC to see this program win a championship. I was overcome with emotion when that clock hit 0:00, thinking about all of the years we came up short, and all of the heartbreaks- our 2006 team not having their name called during the Selection show, the Daniel Dixon double OT loss in 2015 which I was unfortunately there for in Baltimore, the championship losses in 2016 and again in 2019 which I was in Charleston for, and of course the 2020 championship that we did not get to fully celebrate.

And speaking of the 2020 team, I just want to add that you are not forgotten. It’s only been a day or 2 but all I’ve seen on TV, in the newspapers and social media so far is that Hofstra is going dancing for the first time in 25 years and to me that is disrespecting the 2020 team who arguably could be the best HU team of all time. The 2000 and 2001 teams are royalty as they achieved the dream of making the NCAA tournament, but really the only team that was as good as the 2020 team would be the 2006 team. To me, those are the 2 best HU teams that I’ve ever seen. Both teams had legit Sweet 16 potential. This program at its height has that potential. I have had the pleasure to watch 3 future NBA draft picks, 10 conference player of the years, numerous wins over power conference schools- Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Nebraska, Florida State, UCLA, Arkansas, Seton Hall, Pitt, Syracuse and yes this program had a stretch of beating St. John’s 5 straight times until they didn’t want to play us anymore.

To the 2026 team- thank you Cruz, Preston and the entire team and staff for getting it done! And now you have a great opportunity- be the first team in Hofstra history to win an NCAA tournament game. We will be there cheering you on. As stated above, we have seen Hofstra beat the big dogs before. Go do it again on the national stage!

[Mikey77]

Dooku. I graduated in 1975. Going back that far there are wins over Florida, Virginia, and I think Ole Miss. Not to mention the two NCAA appearances in the '70's and taking UConn to OT in one and Richie Laurel dropping 35 on Notre Dame the next year if i recall correctly.

[HUSID74]

Dooku. I graduated in 1975. Going back that far there are wins over Florida, Virginia, and I think Ole Miss. Not to mention the two NCAA appearances in the '70's and taking UConn to OT in one and Richie Laurel dropping 35 on Notre Dame the next year if i recall correctly.

Mikey you are correct. I was the SID for those years and we could have one both of those games. We had UCONN and we would have beaten Notre Dame if the refs didn't fould out our entire frontcourt. The atmosphere for that game at the Palestra was unbeleivable as Hofstra fans turned out in droves!

Hope we play closer to home this time around to give our fans a true NCAA Tournament experience.

[triplec2195]

Dooku. I graduated in 1975. Going back that far there are wins over Florida, Virginia, and I think Ole Miss. Not to mention the two NCAA appearances in the '70's and taking UConn to OT in one and Richie Laurel dropping 35 on Notre Dame the next year if i recall correctly.

Mikey you are correct. I was the SID for those years and we could have one both of those games. We had UCONN and we would have beaten Notre Dame if the refs didn't fould out our entire frontcourt. The atmosphere for that game at the Palestra was unbeleivable as Hofstra fans turned out in droves!

Hope we play closer to home this time around to give our fans a true NCAA Tournament experience.

Was at the Palestra game and we played well and as you said Husid to this day I still remember John Irving tell the refs in a very loud voice "C'mon let us play" I think after he was called for his 4th foul. As for the UCONN game I was told by one of the players that they were celebrating at the half in the locker room thinking they had already won the game. Obviously that was a big mistake!

[HofstraPride1]

I'm late to the party here but am sure I speak for many about being so beyond elated and relieved to see this title, especially in context of the heartache we had six years ago with March Madness being ripped from us due to onset of covid. What makes this championship extra sweet is the many big plays multiple players made both Monday and Tuesday nights and both games had at times feels of games we often fall short in. This team wrote a far different script and I am so excited to be part of the big dance for the first time since I was a student in 2001 and will no doubt appreciate it far more now after a quarter century wait!

[Wags]

Something important to Hofstra's championship that was kind of under the radar: In 115 tournament minutes, Edmead had only four turnovers, including none in 45 minutes against Towson. Reminds me of Carlos Rivera playing all 120 minutes in the 2006 tournament without a turnover.

[HUSID74]

As has been stated, there were contributions from so many players in so many different ways...how about Reeves? Plotnikov's key 3 vs Monmouth, our big guys dominating on the boards?
So many guys stepped up, that's what has been so special about this team.

[Wags]

As has been stated, there were contributions from so many players in so many different ways...how about Reeves? Plotnikov's key 3 vs Monmouth, our big guys dominating on the boards?
So many guys stepped up, that's what has been so special about this team.

All of that and they play defense, too.

Depends on the draw, of course, but if you're looking for reasons to pick a team to pull off an NCAAT upset, this is a very unique list compared to what other teams will bring to the table:

* A conference POY
* A conference ROY & tournament MOP
* 21-1 record allowing under 70 pts
* No losses by more than eight points

I can't believe Monmouth wanted Plotnikov to take that shot. King Rice said after the game, that was the plan. Can't understand why they would intentionally take that chance. He's too capable a shooter to just let him shoot. But glad they did!

[triplec2195]

Yeah and Plotnikoff is shooting 38% from three now I can understand if they wanted the ball in Josh's hands at 28% that makes more sense.

[Polito]

This HU team has blossomed into something special - they aren't perfect of course, none are, but you don't have to perfect, you just have to be relentless. This group is resilient, battle-tested, talented, balanced, and once again an HU team that plays super defense has qualified to dance. That right there is the #1 key. This group happens to also have multiple capable weapons as well, something very different from past teams, even the great ones, that I hope this staff recognizes as a huge factor in what made this possible. Defense, size, rebounding, multiple scoring options, even our POY isn't the typical we've seen over the years, but this group fits together so well and they are bought in to the coaching. Unity goes a loooong way.

I was just thinking about Reeves HUSID, that kid is like our home run hitting DH - when this team needs a spark to get the 3 shots falling, maybe it's just me, but he seems to answer the bell every single time he's called upon to do so. He constantly comes in cold off the bench and drills a 3 to either kickstart the offense, stop some bleeding, ignite a run, or take the pressure off others. Biggie does this as well, but he does a lot more in a lot more minutes. It's just awesome to me that Reeves comes in for very brief periods every game like a specialist for one job and he nails it time after time.

This is a dangerous team come March Madness.

It's GREAT to see a lot of new names and also names from the past popping back through, stick around, it's awesome to have the fans here and more voices to sing their praises - hope to see EVERYONE for our Round 1 game in a week!

[dutchPride86]

I've enjoyed seeing the reactions of many former Hofstra stars on social media over the past couple days, figured I'd compile a few here....


Charles Jenkins has been retweeting lots of videos from the tourney with stuff like this...
https://x.com/i/status/2031210214289010858

Tyler Thomas speaking the truth about FloHoops...
Flo sport is the only thing holding Hofstra back can’t watch shit fr
https://x.com/i/status/2032119690177167631

JWF with some high praise for Speedy...
GUARD U! I keep tryna tell yall. If you want a coach who gaf and knows how to turn talent into superstars look no further. I trust this man with my life and I don’t just say that if you know me. THIS IS WHAT ITS ABOUT! So happy for my Alma Mater and the players.
https://x.com/i/status/2031852384616399067


And last but not least look at Gorchov's call history!
https://x.com/i/status/2031852016775962981

[HofstraPride1]

https://www.youtube.com/live/u6kNUdc8zy8

For those who missed it, copied above is Speedy's interview with Michael Kay yesterday which starts around 42:45 mark. He said he hopes we get sent to Philly so more fans can attend.