CAA teams prepare for conference tournament in Va.

By: Dan Crain

Posted: 3/4/05

Senior night was at the DAC last Saturday as four seniors who have been a huge part of Drexel Basketball the last four years, Phil Goss, Jeremiah King, Sean Brooks and Danny Hinds, saw their last game at the DAC. After the game, Coach Flint said, "When these guys look in the media guide, they're not going to be just in the picture. They did a lot of good things while they were here."

The question now is how many games do these four have left wearing the Drexel blue and gold? The answer depends on the CAA tournament, and how this team plays during the culmination of the season. The Dragons' performance will strengthen a possible NIT berth or get them invited to the "Big Dance." Nine teams may control the destiny of this year's Dragons, and here is a preview of each:

Old Dominion:

CAA Record: (15-3)

Frontcourt: A-

Backcourt: B

Coaching: B+

Team MVP: Alex Loughton

Player to Watch: Val Vasylius

Loughton will be one of the top two vote getters for CAA Player of the Year. The junior from the land down under can score from inside the paint, but also has an outside shot that makes him difficult to defend. His 1-2 punch with Arnaud Dahi, another overseas player who can play inside or out makes ODU a difficult team to gameplan against. Vasylius is ODU's sixth man, a decent scorer, and one of the league's dirtiest players. Such a dubious title was earned after he fouled out in 11 minutes in his first game against DU last year, leaving thoughts of University of Temple coach John Chaney and his "goon". The Monarchs contrast between inside and outside shooters, physical and soft players along with their fine coaching has helped land them the 1 seed. It also makes them the team to beat in Richmond. If Drexel wins in the first round, the Monarchs would likely be the second round opponent on Sunday.

Virginia Commonwealth

CAA Record (13-5)

Frontcourt: B+

Backcourt: B-

Coaching: B+

Team MVP: Nick George

Player to Watch: Jesse Pellot-Rosa

The Rams are the CAA's defending champions, and have managed to stay near the top of the pack all season despite losing the 2003-2004 CAA Player of the Year, Dom Jones, and their only true center, Troy Godwin, to graduation.

It's tough to single out any player on this year's team since they are probably the most balanced team in the CAA. It has become impossible to not mention the performance of Nick George however, the rising star junior who won the CAA scoring title this year averaging 18.3 points per game. He's assisted by a solid team all around including Pellot-Rosa, a walk on last year who plays with as much intensity at both ends of the floor as anyone could ask for. Odd fact: In the last 3 years, neither team has beaten the other on their home court. There have been six consecutive road wins in Drexel/VCU matchups. With the tournament hosted in their hometown, the fans will be on their side, and they'll be a tough team to beat. If Drexel plays them, it will be in the Finals Monday night on ESPN.

North Caolina-Wilmington

CAA Record (13-5)

Frontcourt: C+

Backcourt: A-

Coaching: A

Team MVP: John Goldsberry

Player to Watch: John Goldsberry

If there was any other team award to give, that would also go to John Goldsberry. He's complemented by sharpshooter Halston Lane and senior forward Aaron Coombs (who put up a career high 22 on Drexel in their meeting in Wilmington). In 8 career games against DU, Goldsberry has shot an amazing 56% from the field, and 57% from 3 point range, while averaging 4.6 assists per game. To put that in context, those percentages would lead all ACC guards this season. J.J. Redick is shooting 41% for the season from both 3 point range and the field. Goldsberry against Drexel crushes the best shooter that Duke has seen in a while. It's a force of nature. If we play UNC-W it will be in the Monday night Final.

Hofstra Pride

CAA Record (12-6)

Frontcourt: C

Backcourt: B+

Coaching: B-

Team MVP: Loren Stokes

Player to Watch: Wendell Gibson

Drexel has killed the Pride since the two teams joined the CAA together in 2001 with an 8-0 record against Hofstra. This year Hofstra brings their best CAA team thus far to the quarterfinals where they will play DU. Loren Stokes is a future CAA Player of the Year at guard, and Antoine Agudio will be this year's Rookie of the Year at another guard slot. Where they will win or lose is in the paint. When Drexel played on Long Island, Wendell Gibson stepped up and beat a hurting Sean Brooks during Brooks' first game back from a foot injury. The game went to OT where Drexel pulled it out in an exciting fashion.

Gibson was ineffective in his game at the DAC, and Hofstra got blown out. If Hofstra can hang with Drexel inside, the first round in Richmond should be a sight to see.

George Mason Patriots

CAA Record (10-8)

Frontcourt: B-

Backcourt: B

Coaching: B

Team MVP: Jai Lewis

Player to Watch: Lamar Butler

For the first time since joining the CAA, Drexel managed a sweep of George Mason this year. Anchored by junior forward, Jai Lewis, (and at 6'7" 270 he's an anchor, literally) they can beat anyone on any given night. Recently, however guard Tony Skinn has been injured (he intends to play in the tourney, although no one is sure if he will be effective or able to play much at all) and Lewis seems to be wearing down at the end of the season. They still have a capable freshman crew and most importantly junior guard Lamar Butler, a high school teammate of Phil Goss. Like Phil, Lamar is a capable 3 point shooter and an effective defender and can very quickly change the direction of any game. If Drexel plays Mason, it will be in the finals on Monday night.

Delaware Blue Hens

CAA Record (7-11)

Frontcourt: B-

Backcourt: B

Coaching: D

Team MVP: Harding Nana

Player to Watch: Andrew Washington

The heart and soul of the team isn't the MVP or the player to watch, but rather Philly's own Mike Slattery. The headband-less wonder is holding this team together in his senior year. When he went down with an injury this December, Delaware went on a string of embarrassing losses, despite outstanding play by sophomore Harding Nana, who will be a strong candidate for the CAA Player of the Year award. When they show up, they can play a good game and could be a dangerous first round opponent. With coach Dave Henderson on the way out, and program morale low (the Delaware women's team had more attendance then the men two weeks ago) don't expect too much noise from the Hens in Richmond.

William and Mary Tribe

CAA Record (3-15)

Frontcourt: C+

Backcourt: C-

Coaching: C-

Team MVP: Corey Cofield

Player to Watch: Laimis Kisielius

Player to watch is really not true for this team. Unless you are the most ardent of Tribe fans, most choose (wisely) to avoid watching this team whenever possible. Amazingly not the worst team in the CAA, there is some reason for at least future optimism. Corey Cofield, a sophomore forward can play, and he is joined by freshmen Edwin Ofori-Attah and Laimis Kisielius. For this year however, new coach Tony Shaver has inherited a mess, and simply tried to straighten it out. If they win in the Friday night play-in round, then manage to upset 1 seed Old Dominion, they would play Drexel in the semifinals on Sunday provided Drexel wins as well. If that scenario were to happen, then you should probably start stocking up canned goods and seal your windows with duct tape and plastic.

James Madison Dukes

CAA Record (3-15)

Frontcourt: C

Backcourt: C+

Coaching: C

Team MVP: Ray Barbosa

Player to Watch: Cavell Johnson

The Dukes are under the command of new coach Dean Kenner, who is trying to rebuild a program that has been nothing short of awful the last couple years. Unfortunately a variety of injuries have made this season a lost one. Senior Daniel Freeman went down for the season early on, and a variety of other injuries have had JMU playing with walk-ons throughout the year. Philly's own Ray Barbosa is still playing well and fellow sophomore Cavell Johnson tore up the Drexel defense for 30 points at the game in Harrisonburg. With those two players only juniors next year, the Dukes could make this turnaround much faster than other rebuilding CAA programs like Towson and William and Mary. If the unthinkable happens, and they knock off ODU in the quarterfinals, there could be a match up between Drexel and the Dukes in the semifinal round of the tourney.

Towson Tigers

CAA Record (2-16)

Frontcourt: D

Backcourt: C+

Coaching: C

Team MVP: Mike Green

Player to Watch: Mike Green

Holden Plack and Derrick Goode are two immobile big bodies in the paint. They can be beat by driving right by them or a good passing game. If there are any, this teams strengths lie at the guard, where they have two very talented, but very undersized players in Philly's own Mike Green and Cantrell Fletcher. Neither player pushes six feet, but both are very quick with the ball and have a solid shot when they can break open.

Between injuries and a new coach transitioning in, this team has continued to struggle this year and with a 2-16 CAA record will have to play a big game to knock off Delaware if they want to get to Saturday.