A Long Suffering CAA Fanbase Might Be Rewarded This Year

As you undoubtedly are aware of, it has been a long time since JMU played in the NCAA Tournament. You’d have to go all the way back to Lefty’s time. It’s been 19 years in fact, which seems like a lifetime. In fact for some of you reading this, that might literally be a lifetime. The Dukes currently find themselves in second place in the CAA standings with a huge game at first place Northeastern looming. The Dukes have had their share of highs and lows this season. If the season ended today though, they’re probably be a lot of people who give them good odds to win the CAA tourney and punch a ticket to the big dance.

Of course with only seven CAA programs eligible for the conference tournament and no truly dominant team, the same thing can be said for practically any team in the league. Except Hofstra of course, they ain’t winning it. Every other team at least has a puncher’s chance of cutting down the nets in Richmond. Northeastern didn’t get to 12-3 in the league on accident. Delaware has a talented roster (despite its struggles defending the inbound pass). Drexel is tough enough to muscle its way to a win on any given night. Mason might not have Larranaga anymore, but it’s a program that measures itself by success in March. William & Mary is scoring in bunches lately and has a couple guys in Thornton and Beasthoven, who could get hot for 3 days and surprise everyone.

Take a look at the program resumes and history for each of the team’s eligible for the CAA’s auto-bid. Most of them represent long suffering fanbases eager to get to the Big Dance.

Northeastern: Last NCAA appearance -1991, Last tourney win – 1984.

JMU: Last NCAA appearance – 1994, Last tourney win – 1983.

Delaware : Last NCAA appearance – 1999, No tourney wins

GMU: Last NCAA appearance – 2011, Last tourney win – 2011 and there was that whole Final Four thing. Still though, we’ll count the fans as long suffering because in all likelihood they went to Mason.

Drexel: Last NCAA appearance – 1996, Last tourney win – 1996

William & Mary: No NCAA appearances. You don’t need to be a graduate of “The College” to know that’s a long time.

Hofstra: Last NCAA appearance – 2001. No tourney wins.

While its definitely a down year for the CAA, we’re headed for the final week of the regular season and every team’s fans has reason to believe. That’s really all you can ask for as a fan.