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Drexel’s bid to deflect attention from the CAA’s departures

James "Bruiser" Flint

In this Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 photo, Drexel coach James “Bruiser” Flint speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Philadelphia. The Dragons are on a 16-game winning streak entering Saturday’s game at Old Dominion. They hope their record is strong enough to earn NCAA tournament consideration. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

AP

ARLINGTON, Va - Media day for the Colonial Athletic Conference had an almost surreal feel to it.

Forget, for a second, that it was hosted by a sports bar that I’ve been known to spend some time at. The event was without the team that owned the league’s most recent Final Four berth -- that’d be VCU, who is already a member of the Atlantic 10. It was also the swan song for one of the nation’s most beloved and quotable coaches -- the now-mustacheless Blaine Taylor, heading to Conference USA with Old Dominion -- and the league’s waking power -- the Ron Hunter-led Georgia State Panthers who are Sun Belt bound.

To make matters worse, the most pressing issue at this year’s media day had little to do with the talent that still resides within CAA borders and everything to do with the potential additions of Davidson and the College of Charleston.

Preseason hype and attention is something that can be detrimental for a program that’s not used to receiving it, but it was evident that Bruiser Flint was nonetheless frustrated with the lack of attention being given to his team, which is one of the strongest mid-majors in the country this year.

“If you really go and read some of the stuff the pundits say, [...] we’re in the top 35, top 40,” Flint said. “But the only thing they’re talking about in the CAA right now is how we’re losing those teams.”

“They’re not necessarily talking about the league itself.”

The comment was made in jest, but it’s difficult to believe that there isn’t a bit of frustration within the program. This is not the first time that Drexel has been overlooked nationally, as they were, by many estimations, the best team to be left out of last year’s NCAA tournament field. If you remember, they bounced back from losses in four of their first six games -- games that were played with an injured Chris Fouch -- to win 25 of their last 26 before losing to VCU in the finals of the CAA tournament.

The same VCU whose departure has left Flint’s best Drexel team, one that includes arguably the two best players in the conference in Frantz Massenat and Damion Lee, as a sidenote in CAA preseason coverage.

To his credit, Flint appears -- at least in front of reporters with recorders -- to be focused on all the right things. “All I gotta do is do what I’m supposed to do for Drexel,” he said. “I can’t be worrying about the changing landscape of the league, because 12 years ago, we were one of the new teams in the league.” But wouldn’t it be nice to make a statement nationally? Wouldn’t it be great to prove to the country that the Dragons are more than just the best team in Philly that doesn’t play in the Big 5? That they are more than just the little brother that Shaka Smart and VCU left behind?

“I don’t know if we need to make a statement, I just hope that we can be successful with some of the things that we didn’t do last year,” Flint said. “Which is cut down the nets at the CAA tournament and get to the NCAA tournament. I think those are the two things you have to do. I don’t think we’re necessarily making a statement. If we can do that, I think we’ve accomplished the things we want to accomplish.”

That’s a good answer, Coach.

But that doesn’t mean I have to buy what you’re selling.

Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.