#CAAHoops MBB Notebook – Oct. 31, 2026
Dylan Smith
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY RELEASE – Oct. 31, 2026
WE’RE SO BACK
Monmouth will have its hands full with No. 13/14 St. John’s at 6:30 p.m., from Carnesecca Arena. Head Coach King Rice will face off against Red Storm Head Coach Rick Pitino for the first time since the 2021-22 season, when the Hawks opposed a Pitino-led Iona team in the MAAC, now known as the Metro. The Hawks are one of three CAA teams to face a Top 25 opponent this week, as Drexel and Northeastern will both face No. 9/10 Virginia.
Northeastern will take on Boston University in its season opener for the fifth consecutive campaign. The two teams have split their last four meetings on opening night, while the Huskies hold a 78-76 record in the series.
Elon will travel north for a 7 p.m. showdown against Columbia, looking to build on its 3-1 mark against the Lions. The Phoenix took down Columbia, 68-65, in an overtime thriller in their last meeting on Dec. 1, 2013.
Campbell Head Coach Jimmie Williams makes his Division I coaching debut at 7:30 p.m., on Monday, as the Camels face ACC foe NC State on ACCNX. The opening-night showdown will mark the 15th all-time meeting between the two schools, with Campbell looking to earn its first win over the Wolfpack since a 72-69 overtime victory on Dec. 4, 1993.
Towson closes the opening night of action on the West Coast, facing Santa Clara, which received one vote in the Associated Press Top 25 Preseason Poll. The Tigers will face Broncos for the first time in school history, with tip-off slated for 10 p.m. ET.
Defending CAA Champion Hofstra will open the 2026-27 CAA Men’s Basketball season with an 11:30 a.m. contest against Saint Joseph’s Long Island. Charleston, UNCW, Stony Brook and William & Mary are also taking on non-Division I competition, facing Southern Wesleyan, Mount Olive, SUNY Old Westbury and Bridgewater, respectively.
CHECKING THE POLLS
UNCW checks into the College Insider’s Preseason Mid-Major Top 25 at No. 4, earning a top 10 spot for the just the third time in the last decade after being ranked seventh to open the 2016-17 and 2023-24 campaigns. The Seahawks are also the highest-ranked CAA team in the Preseason Mid-Major Top 25 since Charleston was also picked fourth at the beginning of the 2017-18 season.
Hofstra also jumped into the top 25 after its CAA championship run last season, opening the 2026-27 slate at No. 17. Charleston, Elon and Monmouth have all received votes in the organization’s first poll of the year.
SCORING DOUBLE
The CAA has five double-digit scorers returning to their respective teams for the 2026-27 season: UNCW’s Patrick Wessler (13.6 ppg), Elon’s Bryson Cokley (12.3 ppg) and Randall Pettus II (11.0 ppg), as well as Monmouth’s Stefanos Spartalis (10.7 ppg) and Northeastern’s Mike Loughnane (10.2 ppg).
UNCW, WESSLER EARN PRESEASON NODS
UNCW claimed the league’s top spot in the preseason poll with 143 points and 11 first-place votes, while Charleston was picked second with 130 points. The league’s defending champion Hofstra earned two first-place nods and was picked third with 125 points, followed by Towson (110) landing inside the top four. Monmouth (95), William & Mary (78), Stony Brook (69) and Elon (63) round out the top eight before seeing Drexel (58), Hampton (48), Northeastern (42), Campbell (35) and North Carolina A&T (18) complete the order of finish.
UNCW is fresh off its fifth consecutive 20-win campaign, going 27-7 last season. The Seahawks also claimed the regular season title with a 15-3 mark in league play. UNCW took down Yale with their sixth double-digit comeback of the season, surging in the second half to secure a 68-67 win over the Bulldogs in the opening round of the 2026 National Invitation Tournament. The Seahawks have produced a CAA-best 126 victories over the last five years under the direction of Head Coach Takayo Siddle. UNCW will turn to Preseason Player of the Year Patrick Wessler, as well as fellow Preseason All-CAA First Team selection CJ Luster.
Wessler returns to UNCW for his final season and earned Preseason Player of the Year honors entering the 2026-27 campaign. The 7-foot big man started all 34 games for the Seahawks last season and tallied double-doubles in 17 of those contests. The league’s top returning scorer and rebounder from a season ago averaged 13.6 points and 9.5 rebounds across 26.7 minutes per contest en route to an All-CAA First Team nod. Wessler elevated his game in conference play, averaging a double-double with 14.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
COUGAR UP NEXT
Charleston was chosen as the league’s runner-up as it enters the 2026-27 season under new head coach John Groce. Stepping away from the University of Akron with 379 wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances across nine seasons, Groce will look to bring the same success to Charleston with Preseason All-CAA First Team selection Eli Ellis and Second Team honoree Xavier Abreu leading the charge. Ellis, a South Carolina transfer, will look to build off a solid freshman campaign in the SEC with 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Abreu is also coming off a stellar first collegiate season highlighted by 12.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest for Northeastern last season.
HONOR AND PRIDE
Defending CAA Champion Hofstra has loaded up for the 2026-27 campaign, turning to familiar faces in the CAA with Preseason First Team honoree Justin Moore and Second Team selection Deywilk Tavarez. An All-CAA Third Team and All-Rookie Team selection in his two seasons with Drexel (2023-25), Moore returns to the CAA after averaging 10.9 points, 3.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds per contest with Loyola Chicago last season. Tavarez will look to get back to form with the Pride after putting forth 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while with Charleston during the 2024-25 campaign. Joshua DeCady, an All-CAA Defensive Team honoree in 2025-26, also returns to the Pride after the team’s title run, while looking to complement the dynamic duo.
THE C IN CBS IS FOR... COASTAL
CBS Sports Network will once again televise 27 CAA conference games in 2026-27. The 24-game regular-season package on CBS Sports Network tips off on Dec. 31 with a doubleheader matchup. Drexel and William & Mary will square off at 2 p.m., followed by a showdown between Northeastern and Charleston at 4 p.m. The final three games of the 2027 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship at CareFirst Arena will be on CBS Sports Network on March 8 and 9.
WINS ON WINS ON WINS
Northeastern’s Bill Coen is the all-time leader in CAA wins (conference games and tournament) with 200, becoming the first men’s basketball coach to secure 200 league victories in CAA history with his Huskies’ First Round win over N.C. A&T on March 6, 2026. Coen also secured his 300th win with the Huskies on Nov. 7, 2026, after watching his squad fight back and down Colgate, 68-65. Towson’s Pat Skerry became just the fourth men’s basketball coach in league history to reach 150 CAA wins with a 58-56 win over Elon on Feb. 26, 2026.
1. 200 - Bill Coen, Northeastern 2006-pres.
2. 183 - Jim Larranaga, George Mason 1998-11
3. 158 - Bruiser Flint, Drexel 2002-16
4. 155 - Pat Skerry, Towson 2011-pres.
5. 148 - Blaine Taylor, Old Dominion 2002-13
NO INTRODUCTION NEEDED
Charleston’s John Groce was named the 26th head coach in program history and ninth in the Division I era on March 30, 2026. Groce comes to Charleston after nine seasons as the head coach at the University of Akron, where he led the Zips to three straight Mid-American Conference Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Boasting a 379-226 career record, Groce led the 2025-26 Zips to a 25-5 overall record and a 17-1 conference record. During his entire 29-year Division I career, Groce has coached programs to 13 NCAA tournament appearances, including seven as a head coach. He has reached the NCAA Championship game with Ohio State (2007) and has seven Round of 32 appearances under his belt.
Campbell’s Jimmie Williams was named head coach on April 8, 2026, becoming the seventh coach in the program’s Division I era (since 1977-78). Williams comes to Buies Creek after spending the past four seasons as the head coach at Anderson (NCAA Division II), in Anderson, S.C., helping the Trojans to a school record 29 wins and a 1-seed in last year’s NCAA tournament. Williams was named both the 2025-26 NABC District and South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after helping the program win its first conference championship. Anderson was ranked in the nation’s top 10 all season, marking the first top-10 ranking in program history.
Groce and Williams will look to join elite company to win the CAA Tournament in their first year with a program; Ernie Nestor, George Mason (1989), Oliver Purnell, Old Dominion (1992), Jeff Capel Jr., Old Dominion (1995), Jeff Beilein, Richmond (1998), Brad Brownell, UNCW (2003), Anthony Grant, VCU (2007).
CAMPBELL CAMELS (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Campbell opens its 50th season at the Division I level, facing NC State on Monday. The Camels face the Wolfpack for the first time since 2022 and will look to secure their first win since 1993.
- Head coach Jimmie Williams also makes his NCAA Division I coaching debut on Monday after a stellar 29-3 season at Anderson. Joining Williams in Buies Creek are fellow Anderson transfers, Rashawn Inglemon and AJ Wright Jr. The SAC Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year will look to repeat their success at the DI level.
CHARLESTON COUGARS (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Charleston head coach John Groce makes his Cougar debut on Monday against Southern Wesleyan. Groce is fresh off an esteemed tenure with Akron, winning 379 games across nine seasons.
- CofC has a plethora of familiar faces entering the year, starting with Martin Kalu, who averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Joining him is 2025-26 All-CAA Rookie Team selection Xavier Abreu. The forward averaged 12.6 points per game on nearly 46% shooting from the floor.
DREXEL DRAGONS (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Fresh off its sixth consecutive winning season under the direction of head coach Zach Spiker, the Dragons will open the season against No. 9/10 Virginia. The two teams will meet for just the third time, previously squaring off in 2007 and 2011.
- The Dragons welcome back a handful of returners, highlighted by Josh Reed, who posted 7.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.2 apg last season. International standouts Adrian Petkovic and David Simonovic were also added to the mix, as well as Ladricus Pittman, who posted 17.0 ppg at LeMoyne-Owen.
ELON PHOENIX (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- The Phoenix opens the season against Columbia on Monday, marking the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools. Elon will welcome on Friday to face UNCG. The Phoenix earned overtime wins against both opponents in their respective last meetings.
- Elon will turn to Bryson Cokley and Randall Pettus II this season. The duo averaged 12.3 and 11.0 ppg, respectively. Isaiah Mbeng makes his return to the CAA, where he secured All-Rookie Team honors in 2024-25 with William & Mary.
HAMPTON PIRATES (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Hampton opens its third season under the direction of head coach Ivan Thomas when it visits Georgia Tech. Tuesday’s contest will mark the first all-time meeting between the two programs.
- The Pirates will lean on senior Etienne Strothers this season, marking his third campaign with Coach Thomas. Strothers posted 6.2 ppg across 32 appearances last season. Cornelius Robinson III brings nearly 100 games of DI experience, 7.0 ppg and CAA experience from Monmouth to Hampton this year.
HOFSTRA PRIDE (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Defending CAA champions Hofstra will open the season against St. Joseph’s [LI] on Monday, before heading to Princeton on Thursday. The Pride is 5-4 all-time and earned an 83-77 victory in their last road appearance (2022) against the Tigers.
- Hofstra will turn to a pair of former standout CAA players, All-CAA Third Team pick Justin Moore and Charleston standout Deywilk Tavarez, to complement returner Joshua DeCady this season. Moore and Tavarez spent last season with Loyola Chicago, combining for nearly 20 points per game.
MONMOUTH HAWKS (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Monmouth will look to continue to climb the standings in 2026-27 after a runner-up finish in the conference last season. The Hawks have seen steady growth in each of their first four seasons in the CAA, going from last in 2022-23 to fourth in 2025-26 with an 11-7 mark in league play.
- The Hawks will face No. 13/14 St. John’s for the first time since 2021, when the two schools square off on Monday. Stefanos Spartalis returns for year two under head coach King Rice, looking to build on his 10.7 ppg and 5.1 rpg from a season ago.
N.C. A&T AGGIES (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- •After opening the season against Warren Wilson on Monday, N.C. A&T will head to Ohio University on Saturday. Marking just the fourth all-time meeting, the Aggies will look to secure its first win in the series.
- Shane Lancaster and Ponce James will bolster the team’s scoring after averaging 10.8 ppg and 9.2 ppg at Alcorn State and Delaware State, respectively. Will Felton and Efstratios Kalliontzis will balance play at the rim for the first time since 2024-25, playing in three games together before both battled injuries over the last two seasons.
UNCW SEAHAWKS (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- The Seahawks will head to East Carolina after its opening night showdown with Mount Olive. UNCW is 38-31 all-time against the Pirates, splitting its last 10 meetings evenly.
- CAA Preseason Player of the Year Patrick Wessler will be surrounded by a pair of CAA standouts in CJ Luster II and William Kermoury. Luster earned a third-team nod with Stony Brook in 2024-25 after posting 16.8 ppg on 42.9% shooting. Kermoury scored 13.1 ppg and knocked down 40.2% from distance with Northeastern.
NORTHEASTERN HUSKIES (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- The Huskies will face Boston University on Monday, followed by a showdown with No. 9/10 Virginia on Friday. Northeastern named Mike Loughnane its team captain for the upcoming season in May after boasting 10.2 ppg on 45.2% shooting.
- Loughnane’s game will be complemented by Rashad King, who averaged 18.5 ppg on nearly 45% shooting en route to an All-CAA First Team nod in 2024-25. Ryan Williams and Miles Newton also return after stepping up with a combined 12.5 ppg last season.
STONY BROOK SEAWOLVES (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Stony Brook will head to Northwestern on Friday after opening its season against SUNY Old Westbury on Monday. SBU will face the Wildcats for just the second time, marking its first meeting since 2011.
- The Seawolves welcome back Collin O’Connor, who missed significant time last season. The former All-Rookie Team selection will be partnered with Richmond transfer Jaden Daughtry, who chipped in 8.9 ppg on 52% shooting from the floor and 45.3% from deep.
TOWSON TIGERS (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- Towson opens the season out west, starting with a Monday night showdown against Santa Clara before heading to Utah on Thursday. Both programs will be first-time opponents for the Tigers.
- Caleb Embaya returns for his third season, while Jaquan Womack enters his second under Coach Skerry. The duo combined for nearly 11 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. All-AAC Freshman Team honoree Zion Stanford joins the fray after posting 8.6 ppg on 47.6% shooting.
WILLIAM & MARY TRIBE (0-0; 0-0 CAA)
- After facing Bridgewater on Monday night, William & Mary will welcome Norfolk State to Kaplan Arena on Sunday. The Tribe will look to make it three straight wins against the Spartans after erasing a 12-point deficit in the team’s 81-78 victory last year.
- The Tribe welcome in a plethora of newcomers with a mix of mid-to-high major Division I experience, led by Tre Blassingame. With 90 career games under his belt between Idaho and FDU, the W&M guard will look to build on his 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg in Williamsburg.