Last season, the Colonial Athletic Association was put on display for the entire country to see. Three teams were chosen to represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament in March, with two receiving at-large bids: George Mason and the Final Four-qualifying Virginia Commonwealth Rams. The third, Old Dominion, received an automatic bid for winning the CAA championship.
Drexel lost to VCU in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament and was left on the outside looking in, left not even to receive an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament. But apparently none of that is important this year, because the Dragons are the only team in the conference to return at least six of their seven main rotational players.
The CAA coaches put together their preseason poll and voted Drexel as the team most likely to finish at the top of the conference come NCAA Tournament time, giving them the title of preseason No. 1.
The Dragons being a relevant name in the world of college basketball is a great thing for the University. Notoriously most students do not believe that there is much school spirit to go around in regards to athletics.
But now, with the Dragons even receiving eight votes toward the Associated Press Top-25 rankings, students are faced with a difficult decision.
Do we dare to hope? Could we possibly be lumped in with conventional college students who root for their athletics programs on a daily basis? Or do we continue to restrain our enthusiasm?
We advise a bit of both; call it “cautious optimism.” Do not hesitate to hope for the success of your program. If you turn on the television, flip the channel to an ESPN network and see a televised Drexel game, do not change the channel out of fear; root for your team with pride.
But before you go on Amazon.com to buy all of your Dragon bandwagon gear, stop and remember that we’re an engineering school at heart.