#CAAHoops Preview: Delaware Men's Basketball
Miles McQuiggan
NEWARK, Del. (Nov. 4, 2022) - Only three times in the last 30 years has a CAA Men's Basketball champion repeated in cutting down nets the following March.
Delaware looks to disregard that trend and make it four with a returning group experienced in the use of ladders and scissors.
The Blue Hens welcome back two starters -
Jameer Nelson Jr. and
Ebby Asamoah - to Newark after key contributions in last year's title run. Adding to that duo is the reigning CAA Rookie of the Year,
Jyáre Davis, who emerged down the stretch to ramp up Delaware's post play and help the 5-seed earn the CAA crown. Davis, named the league's "top pro prospect" in a poll conducted by The Almanac's Jeff Goodman, will be just a sophomore for a Delaware squad still well-prepared despite graduations.
"We had a really old team last year, and when you look at our team, we're kinda old again," said
Martin Ingelsby, who enters his seventh year with the Blue Hens. "We have guys in their third, fourth, or fifth year playing college basketball. Our older guys have done a really great job of welcoming our younger guys and the transfers we've added to the program."
That group of newcomers includes a pair of transfers with regional ties.
L.J. Owens, who began his career at William & Mary and was a third-team All-America East honoree at UMBC last year, joins the Blue Hens as a grad transfer, while three-year La Salle starter
Christian Ray comes up from Philadelphia.
The marquee matchup on Delaware's non-conference schedule comes on the second Saturday of the season when the Blue Hens visit Duke. Delaware will also take a trip to Air Force, play in a multi-team event at the Palestra, and host both Davidson and Ohio. A daunting first third of the league schedule will follow, as four of Delaware's first five conference games are against teams that joined them in the top four of the CAA preseason poll.
For Delaware to be back atop the league and atop the ladders in March, it will be experience gained by winning in big moments that will lead the way.
Delaware
Head Coach: Martin Ingelsby
2021-22 Record: 15-14, 10-8 CAA (T-4th)
Postseason: CAA Quarterfinals
Returning Starters (2)
Jameer Nelson Jr., G 13.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .446 FG%, 2nd Team All-CAA
Ebby Asamoah, G 7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .405 FG%
Other Key Returner
Jyáre Davis, F 9.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg .606 FG%, CAA Rookie of the Year, CAA All-Rookie Team, Kyle Macy Award Finalist
Notable Newcomers
L.J. Owens, G 11.3 PPG at UMBC, 3rd Team All-AE
Christian Ray, G 5.0 PPG, team-high 6.9 rpg at La Salle
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