George Mason Basketball: My CAA season preview over at Rush the Court

Saturday, October 24, 2009

My CAA season preview over at Rush the Court

Last season I did some work as the CAA correspondent for Rush the Court, providing previews and monthly posts during the season. My 2009-10 season preview of the CAA was just posted and I wanted to make sure you guys got a look at it and to tear it down in the comments if you see fit. Here is my predicted order of finish in the CAA, but trust me, I hope I'm wrong:

Old Dominion (14-4)
Northeastern (13-5)
George Mason (12-6)
Virginia Commonwealth (12-6)
James Madison (11-7)
Hofstra (10-8)
Georgia State (9-9)
Drexel (8-10)
Delaware (6-12)
Towson (5-13)
UNC-Wilmington (5-13)
William & Mary (3-15)

As you can see I really think ODU will be the team to beat this season in the CAA. It's hard to deny some of the talent they have in the front court with Gerald Lee and Frank Hassell. Lee dropped 23 on our guys last January. While Northeastern just returns too much talent and experience to not have them #2. I still wouldn't pick them to do damage in the CAA tournament where they usually stumble but they will have season in the regular season.

My preseason All-CAA team:

Charles Jenkins (G), Hofstra
Matt Janning (G), Northeastern
Cam Long (G), George Mason
Gerald Lee (F), ODU
Larry Sanders (F), VCU

These picks I made a couple of weeks ago ended up being the same as the coaches during media day. It's a no-brainer, these guys are all poised for big seasons.

What are your thoughts for this year in the CAA?

Labels: CAA Tournament, season previews

21 Comments:

Brandon said...: I think you got it right man. I think we'll surprise people as always. VCU won't be nearly as good without Maynor.; 11:40 AM
Seymour said...: We got a lot of young talent; if it gels at the right time GMU could be going to its 4th straight tourney final.; 2:00 PM
Anonymous said...: I have a feeling Sanders wont nearly be as big of a threat as we've felt in the past. He's a decent player, but really without Maynor, he's going to be hurting for the easy baskets he was used to.

Thats the problem with teams that rely on assists. They don't make the baskets for themselves. I hope that our assist ratio goes up this season, but I would rather have a "mediocre" assist tally than a super high one. I like when our big guys can face up and make their own points.; 4:09 PM
Anonymous said...: I think that is will be a tight race at the top of the CAA. I also think that you picked the top 3.; 9:43 PM
Mr. Miles said...: I just think that VCU will fall short of anyones expectations. There has been too much change in Richmond for them to stay successful. ODU will do well with their boring play. Experience in the low post is vital. Northeastern was a big disappointment last season for me. I thought they would be the team to beat all season. I think that they will be huge this year. To much experience all around. With Coach L able to play alot of youngins Mason will be a crap shoot. They will have a simular season to last year. Great games and big let downs. Still a top team but just more of the same.; 11:26 PM
Anonymous said...: It's true the Rams have a new coach, but I see NE, ODU & VCU as indistinguishable at this point. Everyone else will be fighting for 4th, probably us Madison, Drexel & the Flying Dutchmen.; 6:08 AM
Ryan said...: Lot of people emailing saying Larry Sanders is a sure fire 1st round pick in next year's draft. I'm just curious to see how he fares without Maynor before I put him down as a lock to be an NBA 1st rounder.; 12:39 PM
Mr. Miles said...: Sanders is a viable first round selection for potential. He is young, and able to be molded into the player that a team with patience could want in a defensive presence. If they just want raw talent, hopes, and dreams. Could be a Ben Wallace or a Kwame Brown.; 12:38 PM
Anonymous said...: I agree with your comments on Sanders. Do you see any any write ups that talk about Sanders being a first rounder?; 12:42 PM
Ryan said...: Some NBA draft websites has mock drafts for 2010 with him in the 1st round, but honestly it's October. Mock drafts at this date are a joke in my opinion.; 12:47 PM
C Hirsch said...: Can't say I disagree with anything you predicted. Although 12-6 in conference might be too good a record for us this year.; 4:39 PM
Anonymous said...: I disagree with 12-6 being a bit optimistic. Who did we loose from last year? Dre, Vaughan, and Monroe. Dre honestly hurt the team at times with his erratic shooting and decisions. Vaughan was athletic and certainly a good player, but rarely did he look for others off the dribble. Monroe was a big presence in the middle and will be missed the most, but he was so flat footed and not as athletic as Morrison.

This year our biggest detriment is the inexperience. But I think Pearson and Morrison are really gonna step up and that big freshman we got looks really good. I think we could really surprise some people if our new kids are unselfish and gel well together.

B; 8:43 PM
Anonymous said...: Joey Rodriguez is being touted as the new outside threat at VCU. Is this guy near as good as Maynor? If not then Sanders will have a tougher time this year.; 1:21 PM
Ryan said...: Joey Rodriguez is good 3-pt shooter but he's no where near the complete player Maynor is.; 1:28 PM
Anonymous said...: During our last game against VCU we got beat pretty good but Morrison had a couple of in your face dunks against Sanders. The rematch will be fun to watch. Hopefully Morrison and Pearson made some significant strides in their growth over the summer.; 3:05 PM
C Hirsch said...: People forget how awful we were on the road this year. Lots of young players this year, road games could be just as big a problem.; 3:12 PM
Varjavand said...: As young as our team is this year, they seem to be one of the more athletic ones we've had too. I think our speed might be a problem for some of the other teams this year...; 8:42 AM
Anonymous said...: I don't know what VCU game "anonymous" was watching but I and millions of others only saw 1 "in your face dunk" on Sanders and that was compliments of Cam Long. We lost to VCU by 5 points without Vaughn. We should be able to beat VCU In February on our homecourt without Maynor and Grant. Most of the kinks and growing pains should be behind our freshmen and sophmores.; 10:49 AM
Brann...it's good for you. said...: VCU is solid, yes. They have talent, yes. But, they will NOT finish above in the CAA standings. We have them at home this year, and we'll win it. They will experience some post-Maynor doldrums, and Smart is not as good a coach - yet - as his predecessor. Mason will experience some early season growing pains based on the youth, but we'll be just fine by CAA play. Let's not forget...we have Larranaga. He knows what he's doing, and he'll put a team on the court that we can all be proud of.

GO MASON.; 5:00 PM
C Hirsch said...: I have had time to think and changed my CAA prediction to 0-18. My reason?

We lost Chris Fleming.; 3:05 PM
Anonymous said...: CHirsch, thank you for the laugh you just gave me. Chris Fleming..hahaha.; 9:48 AM

My CAA season preview over at Rush the Court

George Mason Basketball

Saturday, October 24, 2009

My CAA season preview over at Rush the Court

21 Comments:

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