Northeastern Picked To Win CAA Men's Basketball Title In 2014-15

10/21/2014 7:45:00 AM

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 21, 2014) – Northeastern, which returns six of its top seven scorers from last season, has been picked to win the CAA men’s basketball championship in 2014-15 according to a vote of the league’s coaches, media relations directors and media members. The results of the poll were announced during Tuesday’s CAA Basketball Media Day in Baltimore, Md. Follow all of the Media Day happenings by logging on to Media Day Central. Fans can also watch our live Media Day Live Show by visiting CAA.TV on any internet connected device.

The Huskies were followed in the voting by William & Mary, Hofstra and Drexel. Selected fifth was James Madison, followed by College of Charleston, Towson, Delaware, UNCW and Elon.

Northeastern welcomes back four starters and its top reserve from a year ago. The Huskies also regain the services of junior forward Quincy Ford, who averaged 12.2 ppg and earned third-team All-CAA honors in 2012-13, but red-shirted last season following back surgery. NU features one of the league’s top post players in senior Scott Eatherton, who averaged a team-best 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, made the All-CAA second team and was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year. He’s joined up front by three-year starter Reggie Spencer (9.2 ppg/6.6 rpg). In the backcourt, junior David Walker was the Huskies’ second-leading scorer (11.5 ppg) and earned a spot on the CAA All-Defensive team, while sophomore point guard T.J. Williams (6.9 ppg) was a member of the CAA All-Rookie squad. Versatile junior Zach Stahl (7.4 ppg/4.9 rpg) provides a lift off the bench.

William & Mary is coming off a 20-12 campaign that included its third trip to the CAA championship game in the past seven seasons. Leading the Tribe is dynamic senior guard Marcus Thornton, who received first-team All-CAA accolades after averaging a team-best 18.7 points per game and knocking down a league-high 93 three-pointers. He is on pace to become the school’s all-time leading scorer. Sophomore wing Omar Prewitt was honored as the CAA Rookie of the Year after leading all league freshmen in scoring with 11.4 points per game and adding 4.6 rebounds per game. Junior guard Terry Tarpey also returns to the starting lineup after contributing 5.4 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per contest.

Hofstra is predicted to vault up the conference standings as three returning starters will be joined by several talented newcomers. The Pride’s top returnee is guard Dion Nesmith, who was chosen to the All-CAA third team after ranking among the league’s top 10 in scoring (13.3 ppg) and assists (4.2 apg). Sophomore wing Jamall Robinson (9.5 ppg/4.2 rpg) made the CAA All-Rookie squad a year ago and senior forward Moussa Kone contributed 7.1 ppg and 5.9 rpg. Junior guard Juan’ya Green, who averaged 16.5 ppg and made the All-MAAC first team at Niagara in 2012-13, leads the group of newcomers. The Pride has also added Niagara transfer Ameen Tanksley and SMU transfer Brian Bernardi.

Drexel has two starters and a key reserve back from last year’s 16-14 squad, and will benefit from the return of guard Damion Lee, who missed most of the season with a knee injury after scoring 17.1 ppg and making the All-CAA second team in 2012-13. Junior Tavon Allen contibuted 11.8 points per game despite coming off the bench. Forward Rodney Williams (5.4 ppg/5.0 rpg) and guard Major Canady (2.1 ppg) both started as freshmen, with Williams making the CAA All-Rookie team.

William & Mary’s Thornton was voted as the CAA Preseason Player of the Year. He is joined on the preseason All-CAA first team by Northeastern’s Eatherton, Hofstra’s Green, Drexel’s Lee and James Madison junior guard Andre Nation, who averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and earned a spot on the All-CAA third team a year ago.

Voted to the preseason second team were College of Charleston senior forward Adjehi Baru (9.0 ppg/7.5 rpg), Northeastern’s Ford, Hofstra’s Nesmith, William & Mary’s Prewitt and UNCW senior forward Cedrick Williams (11.5 ppg/6.6 rpg).

2014-15 CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Northeastern
2. William & Mary
3. Hofstra
4. Drexel
5. James Madison
6. College of Charleston
7. Towson
8. Delaware
9. UNCW
10. Elon

2014-15 CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

First Team	Cl.	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/Previous School
Scott Eatherton, Northeastern#	Sr.	F	6-8	219	Hershey, Pa./Hershey/St. Francis (Pa.)
Juan’ya Green, Hofstra	Jr.	G	6-2	195	Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll/Niagara
Damion Lee, Drexel	Jr.	G	6-6	200	Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall/St. Thomas More
Andre Nation, James Madison^	Jr.	G	6-5	200	Plant City, Fla./Faith Baptist Christian
Marcus Thornton, William & Mary*	Sr.	G	6-4	185	Upper Marlboro, Md./Bishop McNamara

Second Team	Cl.	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/Previous School
Adjehi Baru, College of Charleston	Sr.	F	6-9	225	Abidjan, Ivory Coast/The Steward School
Quincy Ford, Northeastern	Jr.	F/G	6-8	212	St. Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs
Dion Nesmith, Hofstra^	Gr.	G	6-1	215	Union, N.J./Union/Monmouth
Omar Prewitt, William & Mary	So.	G/F	6-6	180	Mount Sterling, Ky./Montgomery County
Cedrick Williams, UNCW	Sr.	F	6-9	225	Murfreesboro, Tenn./Siegel

CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Marcus Thornton, William & Mary

Honorable Mention: Tavon Allen, Jr., G, Drexel; Kyle Anderson, Sr., G, Delaware; Ron Curry, Jr., G, James Madison; David Walker, Jr., G, Northeastern

* - 1^st team All-CAA in 2013-14
# - 2^nd team All-CAA in 2013-14
^ - 3^rd team All-CAA in 2013-14