CAA Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Flags of the schools line the wall during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game tournament between the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks and the Hofstra Pride at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 10: Julien Wooden #22, Matt Lewis #1 and Darius Banks #5 of the James Madison Dukes (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

First round

8) Drexel vs. 9) UNC Wilmington

Almost two months ago, UNC Wilmington pulled the plug on coach C.B McGrath, handing the reins over to Rob Burke on an interim basis. The Seahawks have gone 5-7 since then, but continue to struggle on the road, with just one true road victory all season. Funny enough, Drexel also has just one true road victory all season.

But the Dragons enter the CAA Tournament on a demoralizing seven-game losing streak. The teams split the season series, with Drexel winning at home by five points but losing on the road by 11 points just a week ago.

Prediction: UNC Wilmington 70, Drexel 61

7) Elon vs. 10) James Madison

Here’s a weird fun fact: since Elon joined the CAA for the 2014-15 season, the team has won just one CAA Tournament game, which came back in that inaugural year of 2015. So the Phoenix is 0-4 in their past four conference tournaments. The Dukes have lost to Elon by a combined 19 points in their two contests this season.

James Madison won just two CAA games all year, both against UNC Wilmington. Nevertheless, they have one of the conference’s best scorers in junior Matt Lewis (19.0 ppg) and there’s always some tumult in conference tournaments.

Prediction: James Madison 68, Elon 64