DREXEL PICKED TO WIN CAA MEN?S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2011-12
ARLINGTON, Va. (October 18, 2011) -
Drexel, which returns six of its top seven players from last year's 21-10
squad, has been picked to win the CAA men's basketball championship in 2011-12
according to a vote of the league's coaches, media relations directors and
media members. The results of the poll were announced during Tuesday's CAA
Basketball Media Day at Champps-Pentagon Row in Arlington, Va.
The Dragons were followed in the voting
by George Mason, VCU, Old Dominion and James Madison. Picked sixth was William
& Mary, followed by Delaware, Hofstra, Northeastern, UNCW, Georgia State and
Towson.
Drexel welcomes back four players who
received postseason recognition a year ago. Senior forward Samme Givens, a
second-team All-CAA pick, led the conference in rebounding and was the only
player in the league to average a double-double (12.2 ppg/10.1 rpg). Junior
guard Chris Fouch averaged a team-high 14.9 ppg off the bench and was named to
the All-CAA third team. Forward Dartaye Ruffin (8.4 ppg/7.4 rpg) and point
guard Frantz Massenat (5.5 ppg) were selected to the CAA All-Rookie squad. Also
back in the starting lineup are junior guard Derrick Thomas (6.9 ppg) and
junior forward Daryl McCoy (5.4 ppg/7.8 rpg).
George Mason, which begins its first
season under coach Paul Hewitt, has a pair of starters returning from a 27-7
squad that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Patriots
will build around senior forward Ryan Pearson, who tallied 14.2 points and 6.7
rebounds per game to earn second-team All-CAA honors. He'll be joined up front
by senior forward Mike Morrison (6.8 ppg/5.5 rpg). Mason's backcourt will get a
lift from the return of sophomore Sherrod Wright (5.5 ppg), who missed last
season with an injury. Also back at guard are sophomores Vertrail Vaughns (4.5
ppg) and Bryon Allen.
VCU is riding the momentum from last
year's 28-12 campaign that culminated with a magical run to the Final Four.
Back to lead the Rams is senior forward Bradford Burgess, who contributed 14.3
ppg and was among the CAA's top 10 in field goal, free throw and 3-point
shooting percentage. Sophomore forwards D.J. Haley (1.1 ppg) and Juvonte Reddic
(3.5 ppg) and guard Rob Brandenberg (4.9 ppg) will step into more prominent
roles. VCU is also looking for increased contributions from junior guards
Darius Theus (3.0 ppg) and Troy Daniels.
Old Dominion went 27-7 last season and
became the first team in nearly a decade to capture back-to-back CAA
championships. The Monarchs' top returnee is senior guard Kent Bazemore, who
was a second-team all-conference pick after contributing 12.3 points and 5.1
rebounds per game. He also made a league-best 76 steals and was named the CAA
Defensive Player of the Year. Also back are senior forward Chris Cooper (5.0
ppg/5.5 rpg) and senior guards Trian Iliadis (6.0 ppg) and Marquel DeLancey.
Bazemore is joined on the preseason
All-CAA first team by VCU's Burgess, Drexel's Givens, Mason's Pearson and
William & Mary senior guard/forward Quinn McDowell, who made the All-CAA
third team a year ago after averaging 15.5 ppg and shooting 45.5% from 3-point
range.
Voted to the preseason
second team were Drexel's Fouch, James Madison junior guard Devon Moore (11.4
ppg/4.2 apg), Hofstra senior guard Mike Moore (14.9 ppg/5.4 rpg), UNCW junior
forward Keith Rendleman (11.2 ppg/7.8 rpg) and Delaware sophomore guard Devon
Saddler (13.3 ppg).
2011-12
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Drexel
2. George Mason
3. VCU
4. Old Dominion
5. James Madison
6. William & Mary
7. Delaware
8. Hofstra
9. Northeastern
10. UNCW
11. Georgia State
12. Towson
2011-12
CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
First Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/Previous
School
|
Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion#
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
195
|
Kelford, N.C./Bertie
|
Bradford Burgess, VCU
|
Sr.
|
G/F
|
6-6
|
225
|
Midlothian, Va./Benedictine
|
Samme Givens, Drexel#
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-5
|
220
|
Philadelphia, Pa./Acad. of the New
Church
|
Quinn McDowell, William & Mary^
|
Sr.
|
G/F
|
6-6
|
215
|
Mason, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
|
Ryan Pearson, George Mason#
|
Sr.
|
F
|
6-6
|
237
|
Far Rockaway, N.Y./Christ the King
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Hometown/Previous
School
|
Chris Fouch, Drexel^
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-2
|
178
|
New York, N.Y./Rice
|
Devon Moore, James Madison
|
Jr.
|
G
|
6-4
|
180
|
Columbus, Ohio/Northland
|
Mike Moore, Hofstra
|
Sr.
|
G
|
6-5
|
200
|
New Haven, Conn./Hillhouse/Fordham
|
Keith Rendleman, UNCW
|
Jr.
|
F
|
6-7
|
215
|
Iron Station, N.C./East Lincoln
|
Devon Saddler, Delaware
|
So.
|
G
|
6-2
|
205
|
Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen/Winchendon Prep
|
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Kent
Bazemore, Old Dominion
Honorable Mention: Eric Buckner, Sr., F, Georgia State;
Jonathan Lee, Jr., G, Northeastern; Dartaye Ruffin, So., F, Drexel; Joel Smith,
Jr., G, Northeastern; Julius Wells, Sr., F, James Madison
# 2nd team All-CAA in 2010-11
^ 3rd team All-CAA in 2010-11