CAA Basketball: 2018-19 preseason power rankings

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WICHITA, KS – NOVEMBER 13: Guard Grant Riller #1 of the College of Charleston Cougars drives and scores a basket over guard Austin Reaves #12 of the Wichita State Shockers during the second half on November 13, 2017 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

1. College of Charleston Cougars

2017-18 season record: 26-8 (14-4 CAA)

Last season’s CAA representative in the NCAA Tournament is going to be tough to dethrone in 2018-19.

Remember, this is a team that gave Auburn all they could handle in a first-round battle last March.

They’ll be led out of the tunnel once again by guard sensation Grant Riller. During his sophomore season, Riller averaged 18.6 points per game, earning All-CAA First Team honors.

That distinction came alongside Joe Chealey, who’s currently battling for a roster spot with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.

Nevertheless, Riller won’t be hurting for help when he takes the court for his junior season.

Senior forward Jarrell Brantley will be a major part of a conference title run. The big man averaged 17.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season while showing some proficiency from 3-point range.

Defensive stud Cameron Johnson is gone, but fifth-year head coach Earl Grant has instilled a team-first mentality on defense that should carry over to success during the season.

With five seniors on the roster, this team is geared to win now and perhaps make an even greater impact on the postseason than they did in 2018.

Next. Predicting every regular season champion. dark

The 2007 CAA Coach of the Year, Grant is likely on the verge of parlaying his success at Charleston into a bigger job. But first, he has some unfinished business with the Colonial Athletic Association’s reigning champions.