UNCW Men's and Women's Hoop Previews

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Eight months after tying for second in the Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball race and posting the biggest turnaround in the NCAA Division I ranks, UNC Wilmington has been picked to finish 11th in the 12-team league in 2008-09.

The Seahawks, 20-13 one year ago and --- in the CAA, are regrouping after losing four seniors who played extended minutes one year ago. That fact weighed heavily on the minds of the CAA’s media, head coaches and sports information directors, who forecasted the Seahawks to freefall toward the bottom of the competitive circuit.

Defending regular season champion VCU was tabbed as the preseason favorite followed by Northeastern, Old Dominion, George Mason, Delaware, Georgia State, Hofstra, William & Mary, James Madison, Towson, UNCW and Drexel.

“It’s not really a surprise to me,” said Benny Moss, UNCW’s third-year coach. “We lost a lot of experience and firepower. At the same time, however, I think we have the pieces in place to do much better than 11th place and know our guys will take this as a challenge. We look forward to the start of the conference season.”

UNCW failed to land anyone on the first or second team All-CAA preseason units and no Seahawk picked up Honorable Mention honors, either. Sophomore point guard Chad Tomko was runner-up in the CAA’s Rookie-of-the-Year balloting after an outstanding freshman campaign last year.

The Seahawks opened fall drills over the weekend and will play St. Andrews in an exhibition on Nov. 6 before kicking off the season with a Nov. 14 home date against Appalachian State.

Women's Hoops

WASHINGTON – Sophomore Brittany Blackwell and senior Sahsha Taylor were Pre-Season All-CAA selections and UNC Wilmington was tabbed to finish sixth in the CAA.

“We are excited that both Brittany and Sahsha have been recognized by being named to the pre-season All-CAA teams,” said UNCW head coach Ann Hancock. “Both players are deserving of the honor. They were integral parts to our team’s success last season and we look for them both to play key roles in our success this season.”

The poll, consisting of the league’s coaches, sports information directors and selected media members,had Old Dominion capturing the regular season crown for the fourth straight season and the 17th time in the past 18 years. VCU was picked to finish second and James Madison was tabbed third. Drexel and Towson follow the Dukes while Delaware, Georgia State, Northeastern, William & Mary, Hofstra and George Mason round out the poll.

The Seahawks welcome back eight letterwinners and four starters from last season’s squad that finished with a 17-14 overall mark and made their second straight appearance in the CAA Quarterfinals. The nine-win improvement from the squad’s 2006-07 win total was tied for eighth-best in the NCAA while the 17 wins marked the second-highest win total in Hancock’s eight seasons in the Port City.

“We are happy to be considered among the top programs in the CAA this season, but we know that our ranking in the pre-season poll does not make any difference once the season starts,” said Hancock. “Our goal is to be one of the top four teams at the end of the regular season, giving us a first-round bye in the conference tournament and the best chance to advance to post-season play.”

Blackwell was a pre-season First-Team selection following a freshman campaign that saw the Raleigh, N.C., native capture CAA Rookie-of-the-Year, Second-Team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie Team honors. The team’s leading scorer (14.4) and rebounder (7.7), Blackwell was a four-time CAA Rookie-of-the-Week selection and finished 10th in the nation among freshmen in scoring average. She also ranked third in the league in field goal percentage (.512), fifth in scoring and sixth in rebounding while pacing the league’s freshmen class in all three categories.

“Brittany had an outstanding freshman year in being named CAA Rookie-of-the-Yea, Second-Team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie team,” said Hancock. “Her competitiveness and skill set makes her one of the top returning players in the league.”

A pre-season Second-Team selection, Taylor enters her final season among the program’s career leaders in both scoring (1138) and rebounding (586). One of three players to start all 31 games for the Seahawks last season, Taylor earned Third-Team All-CAA honors after averaging 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. She ended the year seventh in the league in scoring and ranked among the top 20 in the league in field goal percentage (.455/8th) and rebounding (5.9/19th).

“Sahsha has really worked hard in the offseason to put herself in a position to be one of the best players in the league,” said Hancock. “She has taken it as a challenge to make her final season at UNCW her best season.”

The Seahawks begin the 2008-09 season Nov. 6 when they entertain Wingate in a 6 p.m. exhibition contest at Trask Coliseum.
-Courtesy UNCW

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT