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2014 CAA Tournament Preview: Can Delaware finally go dancing?

Delaware v Ohio State

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 18: Devon Saddler #10 of the Delaware Blue Hens controls the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 18, 2013 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Jamie Sabau

Delaware v Ohio State

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 18: Devon Saddler #10 of the Delaware Blue Hens controls the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 18, 2013 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Jamie Sabau

The CAA lost some of it’s charm when it got raided by bigger conference. VCU and George Mason were the league’s two Final Four programs whose battles on the court were always -- Always!!!! -- bested by the rivalry between Mason’s Doc Nix and the Green Machine and VCU’s Peppas. Old Dominion is also spending their first season away from the CAA.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some good teams in that conference. Delaware has been rolling through the conference despite spending a month without Devon Saddler and another month without Jarvis Threatt, arguably their two best players. Towson finished second in the league while riding the coattails of Jerelle Benimon, the best player in the conference. Drexel survived the loss of Damion Lee about as well as Dragon fans can hope. Marcus Thornton of William & Mary is as good as any of the great guards in the league.

The league may not be centered in Southern Virginia anymore, but there is still some fun basketball to be played.
(MORE: Browse through all of our conference tournament previews)

The Bracket

When: March 7-10

Where: Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, MD

Final: March 10, 7:00 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)

Favorite: Delaware

Somehow, Devon Saddler is still playing college basketball in what feels like his 17th season at Delaware. He teams up with Jarvis Threatt and Davon Usher to give Monte’ Ross one of the best perimeter attacks at the mid-major level. Throw in Carl Baptiste, who has played well in the paint, and Delaware should be considered the favorite to bring home the CAA tournament title.

And if they lose?: Towson

Pat Skerry has done a terrific job building Towson into a power in the CAA. It helps when you’ve got a hoss like Jerelle Benimon, who might be the best player in all of mid-major basketball, monitoring the low-block. The Tigers enter the postseason having won six games in a row and 10 of their last 11.

Sleepers:


  • William & Mary: The Tribe finished third in the CAA, winning six of their last night games. They’re led by Marcus Thornton, one of the best guards this side of Delaware and Drexel.
  • Drexel: The Dragons aren’t the same team without Damion Lee, but Chris Fouch, Frantz Massenat and Tavon Allen are as good as any top three in the league. Don’t count out Bruiser Flint.

Studs:


  • Jerelle Benimon, Towson: Benimon averaged 18.9 points and 11.7 boards as the Tigers finished in second in the conference.
  • Devon Saddler, Delaware: Saddler missed time before league play started, but carried the Blue Hens when they were without Jarvis Threatt. He averaged 20.2 points and 3.4 assists.
  • Scott Eatherton, Northeastern: Eatherton was the only guy in the CAA to average a double-double other than Benimon, posting 15.5 points and 10.1 boards.
  • Zeke Upshaw, Hofstra: The second-leading scorer in the league, Upshaw went from being a no-name with Illinois State to one of the most-improved players in the country.

CBT Prediction: Towson over Delaware