On Thursday night, the Colonial Athletic Association will announce its postseason awards, voted on by the conference’s head coaches, SIDs and media members. I am one of the media voters, and as a way of looking back on the regular season, here is a look at how I voted and some of what went into each vote.
Player of the Year: Charles Jenkins, Hofstra
This didn’t take much thought. Jenkins would almost certainly win this even if Hofstra finished eighth and he had the kind of season he’s had, but with the Pride finishing tied for second this becomes no contest. Quite frankly, if he doesn’t win this award in a unanimous vote save for the two Hofstra voters who cannot vote for him, I might never vote again – it’s that clear-cut that he should win this award. The numbers speak for themselves, but it doesn’t stop there. Jenkins knew he needed to do even more than a senior normally would have to from a leadership perspective, and he’s done that and more. The biggest reason Hofstra finished tied for second was Jenkins carrying this team.
Rookie of the Year: Devon Saddler, Delaware
Saddler wasted little time making an impact in Newark, starting all season and playing well even while playing the point guard spot as more of a natural shooting guard. He led the team in scoring in each of his first two games and 12 times on the season, nine coming in CAA play. Saddler is second on the Blue Hens in scoring and leads all freshmen in that category, and while he has more turnovers than assists, chalk some of that up to the growing pains of the position adjustment. He’s improved his long range shooting as the season has gone along, while his overall number is an impressive 47.6 percent from the field. And he finished the season strong, winning the conference Rookie of the Week each of the last four weeks (he was co-Rookie of the Week one of those four). This is just the beginning of what should be a fine career for him.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jamelle Hagins, Delaware
Unlike some past years, this year’s group didn’t have anyone who stood out either on reputation or with results, save perhaps for Old Dominion’s Kent Bazemore, who might win it. But Hagins led the conference in blocked shots, was ninth in rebounding and was the team’s big post presence at the defensive end. He’s a prime reason the Blue Hens improved defensively to the point where they won games at that end of the floor.
Coach of the Year: Mo Cassara, Hofstra
For this, consider one thing more than anything else: Cassara wasn’t supposed to even be the head coach. He was hired as an assistant to Tim Welsh, but got the top job after a DUI led to Welsh resigning. Add in player turnover and the loss of Nat Lester due to injury, and this was a team most outside the Hofstra locker room were more likely to peg for 20 losses than 20 wins. Cassara went right to work, and along with his staff and their best player has led them to a tremendous season.
First Team
Denzel Bowles, Sr. F-C, James Madison
Samme Givens, Jr. F, Drexel
Frank Hassell, Sr. F, Old Dominion
Charles Jenkins, Sr. G, Hofstra
Cam Long, Sr. G, George Mason
In a lot of other seasons, Long would be the Player of the Year as the clear best player on the best team. But there was no topping Jenkins for it. Bowles has had a big year as the best true post player in the conference, while Hassell isn’t far behind and finished the season with six straight double-doubles. Givens averaged a double-double, a feat even more impressive considering he is just 6’5″.
Second Team
Chaisson Allen, Sr. G, Northeastern
Kent Bazemore, Jr. G, Old Dominion
Jawan Carter, Sr. G, Delaware
Jamie Skeen, Sr. F, VCU
Chad Tomko, Sr. G, UNC-Wilmington
Allen’s value to Northeastern is hard to quantify with numbers alone given the Huskies’ youth, although they were a very different team when he was out of the game. Bazemore does a lot of things for Old Dominion at both ends of the floor and still hasn’t tapped all of his potential. Carter was Delaware’s best player and one of the team leaders. Skeen was in the top ten in scoring and rebounding for a VCU team that started fast but hasn’t played nearly as well of late save for a big win at Wichita State. Tomko is closing out a fine career with a nice season for the surprising Seahawks.
Third Team
Bradford Burgess, Jr. F, VCU
Chris Fouch, So. G, Drexel
Luke Hancock, So. F, George Mason
Quinn McDowell, Jr. G, William & Mary
Ryan Pearson, Jr. F, George Mason
Burgess does a lot of things for VCU as he is capable of playing several positions. Fouch is one of the leading scorers in the conference. Hancock is a terrific glue guy and was third in the conference in assists. McDowell had a fine season leading William & Mary even as defenses did everything they could to take him out of the Tribe’s offense, finishing second in three-pointer percentage. Pearson was a close call for the second team as a versatile forward who at times was the Patriots’ best player.
All-Rookie Team
Rob Brandenberg, G, VCU
Brandon Britt, G, William & Mary
Frantz Massenat, G, Drexel
Dartaye Ruffin, F, Drexel
Devon Saddler, G, Delaware
It wasn’t a year full of high-impact rookies, as not all of these players have numbers that will leap out at you. That’s largely a result of the conference having a lot of veterans that carried their teams. Instead, look for some of these players and many other freshmen in the conference to make a more noticeable impact next season and beyond, when their roles are sure to expand. Brandenberg didn’t play a lot of minutes on a team with a lot of veterans, but when he was in he constantly impacted the game well and has a bright future. Britt moved into the starting lineup early in the season and stayed there amidst some growing pains. Massenat has been a steady hand for Drexel after being pressed unexpectedly into the starting point guard role. Ruffin came right in and helped Drexel out-rebound opponents by over nine per game as he fits Bruiser Flint’s style very well. Saddler was the best of them and got better late in the season.
All-Defensive Team
Chaisson Allen, Sr. G, Northeastern
Kent Bazemore, Jr. G, Old Dominion
Andre Cornelius, Jr. G, George Mason
Samme Givens, Jr. F, Drexel
Jamelle Hagins, So. F, Delaware
Allen has done it at both ends for Northeastern during his career, and this season was no different as he led the team in rebounding in addition to being among the conference leaders in steals. Bazemore might win Defensive Player of the Year in part on reputation and also from leading the conference in steals. Cornelius consistently hounded opposing guards to lead George Mason’s excellent defense. Givens led the conference in rebounding and was a thorn in the side of many opposing post players. Hagins led the conference in blocked shots and was in the top 10 in rebounding.
