CAA Basketball: 2018-19 preseason power rankings

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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 19: Head coach Bill Coen of the Northeastern Huskies reacts in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Consol Energy Center on March 19, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

3. Northeastern Huskies

2017-18 season record: 23-10 (14-4 CAA)

It just goes to show the depth of the CAA this season that a team returning their top three players can’t break into the upper echelon of the preseason rankings.

Still, the Northeastern Huskies are not to be trifled with.

It starts with Vasa Pusica. The Serbian transfer from the University of San Diego carved out an immediate position as one of the conference’s best players last season. He averaged 17.9 points and 5.1 assists per game, knocking down 42.7% of his 3-point shots.

Shawn Occeus gets it done on the defensive end. As a sophomore, the guard stole 1.9 balls per game, hounding the best player on opposing teams game after game. He earned his nod as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year.

Don’t forget about Bolden Brace, who averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. That might not seem like a lot, but he was doing it exclusively off the bench, earning CAA Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Add in another year of development for center Tomas Murphy, who looked good as a freshman last year, and it becomes obvious the Huskies are going places.

Oh, and three of those players will have eligibility after this season. Can you say 2019-20 CAA favorites?