#CAAHoops MBB Notebook - Dec. 19
Miles McQuiggan
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jyáre Davis, Delaware
Redshirt Sophomore | Forward | Newark, Del. / Newark
Davis earns Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks after stuffing the stat sheet in Friday night’s win at Princeton. The forward from Newark tallied 23 points on 11-of-20 shooting and added nine rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks to lead the Blue Hens to a 76-69 victory in New Jersey. Davis has averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game during Delaware’s current four-game winning streak.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Noah Ross, UNCW
Freshman | Guard | Apex, N.C. / Trinity Academy
Ross provided a career-best performance Sunday to help UNCW win its eighth-straight game in an 85-82 victory over High Point. The guard from North Carolina notched his first career double-figure scoring output with 15 points and added six rebounds, two assists, and two steals as UNCW improved to 9-3 on the year. Ross played a career-high 23 minutes and knocked down three of five shots from distance.
2022-23 CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Player of the Week
Nov. 14: Nicolas Timberlake, Towson
Nov. 21: Aaron Estrada, Hofstra; Ryan Larson, Charleston
Nov. 28: Cam Holden, Towson
Dec. 5: Jyáre Davis, Delaware; Jordan Nesbitt, Hampton
Dec. 12: Jameer Nelson Jr., Delaware
Dec. 19: Jyáre Davis, Delaware
Rookie of the Week
Nov. 14: Amar’e Marshall, Hofstra
Nov. 21: Amar’e Marshall, Hofstra
Nov. 28: Amar’e Marshall, Hofstra
Dec. 5: Jack Collins, Monmouth
Dec. 12: Amar’e Marshall, Hofstra
Dec. 19: Noah Ross, UNCW
NEWS AND NOTES
THAT’S CALLED A WINNING STREAK
The CAA enters the week with two teams in the top 75 of the NET, as Charleston is at 53 and UNCW at 74. Charleston (11-1), UNCW (9-3), Towson (8-4), and Delaware (7-4) give the CAA four teams at least three games over .500 and three on impressive winning streaks, as Charleston has won 10 straight entering Monday night’s game at Coastal Carolina, UNCW has been victorious in eight straight contests, and Delaware has won its last four games.
The CAA is 5-2 vs. the Sun Belt and 7-3 vs. both the A10 and SoCon this winter. The conference also holds wins over the ACC and American and seven Q1/Q2 wins between the top four teams with two each for Charleston and Hofstra, while UNCW, Towson, and Delaware each have one.
KINGS OF KING STREET (AND POP?)
Charleston is 11-1 with wins over five NCAA Tournament teams and three defending conference champions (ACC, A10, SoCon), a title in the Charleston Classic, and the lone setback at preseason No. 1 North Carolina followed by a current 10-game winning streak. The Cougars are 11-1 to start the year for the first time since a win at UMBC on January 13, 1992. The No. 1 song on the Billboard chart that week: “Black or White” by Michael Jackson.
SEAHAWKS SOARING ON AN EVEN KEEL
UNCW has won eight straight games following Sunday’s victory over High Point. The Seahawks have climbed 102 spots in KenPom, won the Baha Mar Hoops event, and defeated a member of The American during the streak. The Seahawks have nine players averaging at least 4.7 points per game with
Trazarien White leading the team in scoring (13.5 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). UNCW’s bench has outscored the opposition’s reserves in all eight games of the winning streak.
DEL YEAH!
Delaware defeated Princeton on Friday night for its fourth straight win - a stretch that includes victories Davidson, Delaware State, Siena, and a Q2 victory over the Tigers in New Jersey.
Jameer Nelson Jr. and
Jyáre Davis have each contributed a pair of 20-point outings during the streak and
Christian Ray has added one. Nelson ranks 31st in the nation in scoring, while Ray is 14th in rebounding.
WE LIKE A CHALLENGE
Three CAA teams rank among the top 50 most challenging schedules according to the NET. North Carolina A&T has played the 23rd-toughest schedule in the nation, while UNCW ranks 40th and Hofstra 46th. NET calculations factor in results against Division I opponents.
GET OUT THE VOTE
Charleston is receiving votes in both national polls this week and slotted as high as No. 18 on one voter’s AP Top 25 ballot. CAA teams have 15 non-conference games against teams ranked or receiving votes in the AP poll and three against the current top five (No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 UConn, No. 3 Houston).
Charleston is No. 2, Towson No. 9, and Hofstra and UNCW are receiving votes in the most recent College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 with a new poll arriving Monday night. CAA teams will play 24 games against non-league foes ranked or receiving votes in that poll with eight wins over the group.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Drexel’s 62.2 points per game allowed ranks 41st nationally, with UNCW just outside the top 50 at 63.0. The Dragons held UT Arlington to 38 points in a win at the Gulf Coast Showcase - the fewest points a CAA team has allowed to a Division I non-conference opponent since Charleston held East Carolina to 35 in 2016.
FRANKIE SAYS “I’VE GOT IT”
Stony Brook’s
Frankie Policelli recorded 22 points and 19 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Army to give the Seawolves forward his league-leading fifth double-double of the year. Policelli and
Tyler Stephenson-Moore, who ranks fourth in the nation in percentage of minutes played, have been mainstays for a Stony Brook team that has seen just seven players appear in at least eight of the team’s first 12 games due to injuries.
AND-ONES
One thing to know on each #CAAHoops team
• Charleston is 11-1 to start the year for the first time since 1991-92.
• Delaware has received five 20-point performances during its four-game winning streak: two each from
Jyáre Davis and
Jameer Nelson Jr. and one from
Christian Ray.
• Drexel’s
Luke House scored a career-high 25 points in his first career start Saturday.
• Elon limited itself to five turnovers Sunday at Valparaiso while turning over the Beacons 18 times.
• Hampton’s
Jordan Nesbitt is the only CAA player averaging 15+ points and 7+ rebounds per game.
• Hofstra’s
Aaron Estrada leads the CAA at 21.7 points per game, which is good for 10th nationally.
• Monmouth’s
Jack Collins has been in double figures six times in his first 12 collegiate games, including a career-high 20 points at Syracuse.
• North Carolina A&T’s
Kam Woods ranks third in the CAA at 17.8 points per game and has been the Aggies’ leading scorer in eight of their first 11 games.
• UNCW’s bench has outscored its opponents’ reserves in every game of the current eight-game winning streak and by at least 21 points in four of the eight.
•
Jahmyl Telfort has scored 20 or more points in four of Northeastern’s first 10 games of the year.
• Stony Brook’s
Frankie Policelli notched 22 points and 19 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Army and leads the CAA with five double-doubles.
• Towson received 64 of 66 points from its starting lineup on Saturday with all five starters in double figures.
• William & Mary’s
Anders Nelson leads the CAA with 5.2 assists per game and a 2.62 assist/turnover ratio; he has assisted on 40.6% of made field goals while on the floor, good for seventh nationally.
HOUSE PARTY IN PHILLY
A final tweet from the week that was in #CAAHoops
Drexel's
Luke House scored 25 points in his first career start Saturday to lead the Dragons to victory. Luke's teammates were justifiably hyped.
The #CAAHoops Notebook is a weekly look around CAA Men's Basketball for conference fans, media, and more. Like it? Have suggestions for how to make it better? Email the writer at mmcquiggan@caasports.com or find him on Twitter @MilesMcQuiggan.
Follow #CAAHoops on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram to get up-to-date information and to learn more about CAA member institutions and their basketball programs.