I do one every year, and am a little late on this one, so I kind of have a cheating edge I guess since the season is one, even two games old for some teams. Ill give a preview of the teams (not like I am an expert or anything, or that anyone truly ejoys what I say), and I'll also give some predictions. Usually it atleast livens up the board a little bit.

Frostburg State - The newcombers to the CAC, I really do not know too much about them. They were 17-9 last year, which on paper looks great, but when you look at the teams played, the strength of schedule is not as impressive as the record. They stand at 2-0 right now with wins over teams that had rough years last year in Stevenson and McDaniel. The real test will be today against St. Marys. However, they return 3 of their 4 leading scorers last year in Brian Anderson, Steven Ogg, and Mhabhushah Koffa. Their leading scorer so far this year however is Jamal bracken, coming in at nearly 15 points an outing. They seem to be able to score accross the board. Howver, with Anderson, Ogg and Koffa all being seniors, if they are to make some noise in this heavily stacked CAC, 10-11 may be the best year to make some for Frosturg.

Hood - This is a sleeper team of mine. They had a very good season last year, and i believe they are really ready to make a run at this thing. Tyler Snoots has blossomed into a bigman that on any night can get you 20 and 10. Tory Wilson is an offensive rebounding machine, and sophomore Justin Stone is ready to breakout. However, I feel their key is heir guard play. Brendan Straughn is a seasoned player now, and Reco Siler is one of the best perimeter defenders in the conference. Cameron Cook is a freshman who can shoot it, and so faris making an impact on this team. Their defense is smothering, as always with a Tom Dickman Team, and Fort Deitrich is not an easy place to play. If they can put points on the board easier then last season, this could be a team that suprises ALOT of people.

Marymount - This is a team that has a much different look then last year. First thing you notice when they take the floor is Tarek Ammoury (4th in the CAC in scoring last year) is gone. He had a super sophomore year, and looked like a player of the year canidate in the making. However, as stated, he is no longer a Marymount Saint. Big men Sam Sentz and Elvis Ellis are gone, as are guards Patrick Prewitt and Ronnie Barbour. The team is lead by seniors Bryan Debruin and Stephen Simoneau. Debruin is a do everything guard, who will provide the Saints will alot of leadership and blue-cllar play. He will rebound, handle the ball, defend. But can he score mid teens for them? Same thing with Simoneau. Can he put the ball in the basket for Marymount. If not, one of the 9 incoming freshman will need to look to make an impact very early or this Marymount team could fall in this thick conference early. However, making a trip to Marymount is never a shoe-in win exactly, as they have one of the best student sections in the CAC.

Mary Washington - 2 time 1st Team CAC member (to say the least) Brandon Altmann has left. And he leaves some 6'10...big shoes to fill. He produced 19 points and 10 rebounds a game for Mary Washington, and gave them a workhorse to lean on every night. Also gone is Eric Rolander, who was a great producer in the backlight of Altmann. Instead of the bigs, Rod Wood will return back to the old Fitzgerald, Hale, Lee days and rely on his guard play. Rocky Ullah, Quaiser Ahmed, Ryan Farrar will bolster most of the load in the backcourt. Ullah is a quick playmaker, Ahmed has a knack for getting to the charity stripe, and Farrar is a great perimeter defender. The outlier is how does Tad Dickman play? He is a Greg Palmer 2.0 in my mind. A guard/forward who can do it all, as seen in game one, with 20 and 10. If he can continue this production, Mary Washington will be a dangerous team.

Salisbury - Another sleeper team. They lose Greg Palmer, a smooth, versatile shooter who has taken his game to the ranks of the ABA. He was a stud for years for Salisbury, and was someone who could always be counted on for his concistency. Devin Jones is gone. The quick, sharpshooting point guard has graduated, and between him and Palmer have left nearly 30 points on the table to be picked up. Who will do it? Chris McGrew is in the elite big man status in the CAC, with the Snoots, Reynolds, etc. If he can remain out of foul trouble, he will prove this in this season. Mike Maczko was second in the league in rebounding, and is an interior body that can step out an knock down the jumper, or provide extra ball handling. What guards will step up? Mike Atkins is a guard who can knock it down from way outside, and David Pearman is a long athletic guard who has shown some signs of being able to hit the open jumper as well. But I feel the success relies on Maczko and McGrew. If they can dominate the inside, Salisbury will be very very tough to deal with.

St. Mary's - It is tough to imagine losing the conferences leading scorer and still becoming a better team the following campaign. Camonte Griffen averaged 22 points a game, and scored 1,000 points in 2 seasons at St. Mary's. A 2-time 1st team all CAC selection, he will be missed in more ways then just scoring. He was a tough player, who defended, handled the ball, and led by example for a successful Seahawks team who went deep into the NCAA's in both his years there. How is St. Mary's a better team you ask? For starters, Alex Franz. The most versatile player in the conference, he averaged 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals last season. He is a crafty, clever, and smooth leader for a successful team since he arrived on campus. He is loaded with weapons around him too. Sam Burum is a big man who is athletic, long, and a very solid all around player. They are loaded at the guards with players who have experience in big games. James Davenport and Chris Hutchinson are solid defenders who can also put some points on th board. Devin Spencer can knock down the 3. And it is great for St Mary's to welcome back Mikey Fitzpatrick, who is as good a shooter as they come by in the CAC. If they can find another big man to step up, the sweet 16 is once again expected, and more is attainable.

Stevenson - Rough season last year. With 2 wins, and both being against a strggling Gallaudett team, it was obviously a rough season. However, they have reason to grin. Welcome back Greg Woody, a quick, strong, hard working point guard who can take this league by storm like he did 2 yes ago. Woody can shoot it, get to the rack, pull up, and score any which way inbetween those 2 ways mentioned. It iwll be interesting to see how the year off either helpe, or hurt him. I am guessing helped. Danny Murhpy is a future stud in this conference. he is a long, athletic forward with a motor that never stops. He is a future 1st teamer in this conference. Brett Burrier is a kid who can really shoot the ball, and at 6'6 he can get it off over almost anyone. Coach Adams has a few solid pieces. Now if he can fill in around those, 2 wins will be what he has most likely within the first hand full of games this season.

Wesley - The most dangerous team in the CAC for many reasons. Their players, their style of play, their home court, their defense, etc. Wesley returns basically everyone. Paul Reynolds, the reigning CAC Player of the Year is the premier bigman now that Brandon Altmann is gone in the CAC. He is a strong, yet agile big who can put the ball on the deck and make a play, or knock down the open jumper. Rudy Thomas is the leader of the bunch, with a smooth lefty stroke from outside. Kevin Johnson is a player who can score in bunches, and Chris Douglas proved with his 22 point out-burst that he is the same way. Kyan Andrews gives this high scoring team another scoring punch. Darrel Johnson is a former D1 player at Delaware U, and was a standout in highschool. He could burst on the scene very quickly and loudly. With the versatility of this team, and the speed and athleticism of their players, Wesley could be the team to steal St. Mary's thunder.

York - Same deal as St. Mary's. How can you lose the CAC Player of the year and All-American and become a better team? York waves goodbye to Nick Brady, who takes his game to Iceland to play at the professional level. The deep ranged, hard nosed, scoring machine will be missed, but York has plenty of players ready to step in and fill the void. Kevin Whaley was very impressive last year. And the senior has started this season off with a bang. Julian Watson, the CAC Rookie of the Year in 08-09 returns after a year off. As does their starting center Andrew Pawlyk and reserve forward Todd Macjeweiski who missed either most, or all of last year with injury. However, the key lies in Paul Kouvaris and Jeremy Skoloda. Will these two be able to score double digits every night to go along with Whaley's points? The blessing for York is, if they are not, others will. York may be the deepest team in the CAC, with a 23 man roster. Other such as Dylan Hoffman, Matt Moley, and Mitch Kemp are also players who received playing time last year and are ready to let themselves be heard. If this team can blend their talent and numbers together, they too, like Wesley, will be ready to defy St. Mary's at the top of the CAC conference.


Predictions:

1.) St. Mary's
2.) York
3.) Wesley
4.) Salisbury
5.) Hood
6.) Mary Washington
7.) Frostburg State
8.) Stevenson
9.) Marymount

1st team All Conference -

Alex Franz - St. Mary's
Kevin Whaley - York
Rudy Thomas - Wesley
Paul Reynolds - Wesley
Chris McGrew - Salisbury

2nd team All Conference -

Greg Woody - Stevenson
Tad Dickman - Mary Washington
Paul Kouvaris - York
Tyler Snoots - Hood
Mike Maczko - Salisbury

Player of the Year -

Franz (St. Mary's) Whaley (York) or Reynolds (Wesley)

Coach of the Year -

Jerry Kobasa (Wesley) or Jeff Gamber (York)

Rookie of the Year -

Cameron Cook (Hood)

I am sure this will bring likes and dislikes. More then anything hough hopefully it brings this board to life!

Word is that 2 seniors from this past year in the CAC will be continueing their basketball careers.

Greg Palmer from Salisbury will be playing in Seattle for the Mountaineers of the American Basketball Association (ABA)

Nick Brady from York College will be traveling to Iceland to continue his career.

I wish both the best of luck.

Has anyone heard of any other players continueing their careers, I.e. Brandon Altmann or Camonte Griffen?

Congratulations first off to Wesley on a stellar representation of the CAC in the Tournament, and also to St. Mary's on a great run as well.

Also congratulations to all members of the all-conference selections, and the player, rookie, and coach of the year.

More congratulations on a personal level to Brandon Altmann and Camonte Griffen on their D3Hoops 1st Team All Mid-Atlantic Region accolades. Also congrats to Nick Brady and Alex franz, who received 2nd Team and 3rd team, respectively.

Camonte Griffen and Alex Franz were both named NABC 2nd team All Mid-Atlantic Region as well, and Nick Brady was named a NABC first teamer for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Lastly, Nick Brady was also named a NABC 3rd team All American. Congratulations guys, well deserved accolades. You have represented the CAC very well.

Camonte Griffen had an amazing year, Led his team to a 24-3 record, won a CAC regular season and CAC title. Led the conference in scoring and really was just temendous. While he was very deserving of POY I feel Nick Brady was not all that much of a suprise either. I felt it would be one of those two. Brady was second in the conference in scoring, first in FT% and 3PM, eighth in rebounding. More importantly though I think is how his teamed went from 7-19, 8-18? to 19-7 and on the fringe of a NCAA birth. I am sure it was a close race but I congratulate Nick and all other all-conference selection, and wish Camonte luck in the tournament. Wesley also. Let's bring the bronze and walnut back to the CAC.

Well if that is the case then York better come with their A game because Wesley has been playing great basketball lately. Would love to see to teams from the CAC get in.

Questions regarding the tournament?

If st. Mary's does not win the CAC tournament are they a lock for NAAA's anyways?
Is York the only other team in the conference up for an at large if they do not win the conference title, and if so how good is there chance of an at large if they do not win conference's

I might have to agree with you spartan fan. There have been a lot of great seasons by alot of guys so far in this league (i.e. Griffen, Altmann, Franz, Palmer, Ammoury) but Brady might have my vote as well. But as you said, ours do not matter.

Looking orward to an exciting end to a great season. The CAC is so deep. Where do they rank with the other conferences in the region?

Well we are 2/3's through the season (barring playoffs) and after tonight will be half way through the conference schedule. How about some predictions to help"liven" up this board a little? Regular season predictions, cnference tournament predictions? CAC selections, Player and Coach awards? Anything really, this used to be the most active board!

Half way through the season I feel that four teams have put themselves in the upper tier of the conference, while a few remain sleepers, and well, two might be fighting for that final spot in the 8 team playoff.

York and St. Mary's look very impressive so far, York at 13-3 (5-2) and St. Mary's at 13-2 (6-1). Hood has been a pleasent suprise, playing every team very tough and also, like St. Mary's, holding a 6-1 conference record. They battle tonight however, and one team will roll on to 7-1, while the other falls to 6-2. The fourth team in that "upper-tier" is Marymount. Rough start to the season, but have bounced back and played exceptionally well in conference.

Salisbury is a sleeper team who can beat teams if not taken seriously (i.e. York, Mary Washington)
Mary Washington puzzles me, but they are young besides Altmann and I am sure Coach Wood will have them as a team to "wreckon' with come February. Big test tonight at home against York.
Wesley is also a tough team to over look because of their athleticism through their whole lineup and their up-tempo style.

Gallaudett and Stevenson are both still looking for an identity and that big win. They are fighting for what seems t be that final spot.

Basically the story is the same old in the CAC, tough competition throughout the entire conference...if you take a night off, there is a good chance you will garner an "L" for that night.

To make things interesting as I have the past few years I am going to predict how I feel it will shake out. Now I am no Andy Katz from ESPN so take it easy on me with the critiques.

Regular Season finish I feel will shake down to:

1.) St. Mary's
2.) York
3.) Hood
4.) Marymount
5.) Wesley
6.) Mary Washington
7.) Salisbury
8.) Stevenson
9.) Gallaudett

CAC Conference Tourney champs I feel that York might take that, grabbing the automatic bid, and St. Mary's getting an at-large. Wishful thinking that 2 CAC teams make it...Should have been two in last year(Wesley and St. Mary's).

Predictions on CAC Selections:

Freshman of the Year - Jeremy Skoloda, York..Josh Sisco, Gallaudett..also to mention, Bart Reese, Mary Washington
              Skoloda is York's best scorer off of the bench, and maybe the best overall freshman scorer in the conference. Plays big minutes for one of the top 2 teams in the conference, and with those minutes along with scoring, defends opposing teams top scorers. Sisco is the leading rebounder and scorer among all freshman in the CAC and has been solid all year long. However, playing for a in-conference winless team does not help. I said keep an eye on Bart Reese because he exploded the other night and that was really his first game playing big minutes. He couldd be a real impact player with the more minutes he gets.

Prediction - Skoloda or Reese

Coach of the Year - Tom Dickman, Hood...Jeff Gamber, York...Chris Rodgers, Marymount
              Dickman has a taken a team that had a decent year last year, lost 2 starters (one to graduation, another removed himself from the team) and went under everyone's rader, and has transformed that team into the best defensive team in the league. They are 6-1 in conference, 11-5 overall, and probably will not be an easy out in any of the 16 games they play in conference all year. Gamber's Spartans went 9-17 last year, and lost their reigning Co-CAC Rookie of the Year for the season. The response? 13-3 overall at this point, 5-2 in conference, and for some weeks were on the brink of joining St. Mary's in the D3hoops.com top 25 poll. Rodgers has come to Marymount after a Final 4 run with Franklin & Marshall, which he was the assistant coach. He has Marymount playing arguably the best basketball in the CAC and has made them into a sure fire contender, all with only a sumer and a pre-season under his belt.

Prediction - Dickman

Player of the Year - Camonte Griffen, St. Mary's...Nick Brady, York...Brandon Altmann, Mary Washington...Alex Franz, St. Mary's
            For starters lets just open up with 51 points. And that was not in a blow out win against a poor defensive team. That was against a 11-5 team, and the best defensive team in the conference, in a 7 point margin victory. St. Mary's needed all 51 of those points. Camonte Griffen is the best scorer in the CAC (22.1 per clip), and does it shooting good percentages as well. 87% from the line, 46 from the field. He adds ins 2.2 assists per game along with 2.4 steals per game.  It hurts that he plays with another fantastic player like Franz, who may be the best all-around player in the conference. 12 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals per game. That is efficiency. He is the floor leader on the top team in the conference and may also be able to boast about himself being the brightest player in the CAC. He never gets flustered, which is tough to not do when you have a bullseye on your back and get every teams best game. It Is hard however to ignore what Nick Brady has been doing as well.  If it were not for Franz he would maybe have the label as top all around player. He not only is scoring 19.3 per game while shooting 86% from the line, 49 from the field, and 43 from 3, but he also is arguably the best rebounding guard in the conference (6.0 rebounds per game) along with Franz. Also, he is leading the conference in 3 pointers made.Brandon Altmann has been wodnerful, but has flown uner the radar a tad due to Mary Washington's struggles. He is the premir big man in the league, is a double double machin at 19 points and close to 11 boards a game, shoots high %'s, and defends the rim well. He is so important to Mary Washington and without him, I fear their struggles would be more serious.

Prediction - Griffen or Brady

All-Conference

1st Team

Camonte Griffen - St. Mary's
Nick Brady - York
Brandon Altmann - Mary Washington
Alex Franz - St. Mary's
Tarek Ammoury - Marymount

2nd Team

Kevin Whaley - York
Greg Palmer - Salisbury
Rudy Thomas - Wesley
Kevin Johnson - Wesley
Tyler Snoots - Hood

Congratulations to York College who won the championship in their own tournament last night, with a 33 point victory Saturday over Penn State-York, and a hard fought, well-deserved win over a very very impressive Catholic team in OT. The Banzhaf kid is very good. Maybe a different team in York PA then last year?

Why is this board so dead in comparison to others?

You looking way to much into stats my friend. Its about what your guy does for that team in yes, those stat categories, but other things as well. Leadership, coachability, teamwork, hustle, etc. And in no way am I saying that Evan Martin does not do any of those things, I am just saying that your looking much into stats, you have to analyze everything.

Well I can see where your dismay is in the Coach of the Year, but I think the fact that he took marymount to the CAC championship game and the brink of an NCAA bid without Gray or Ingram might have sealed the deal for him. Coach Kobasa from Wesley had to be runner up. Rookie of the Year I agree with. Im sure player of the year was not as close as you think. Whoever didn't vote for RaShawn Johnson for POY must have lived under a rock. He is 5th in the country in scoring. Camonte is a great player, but RaShawn was just head and shoudlers above everyone. Evan Martin did have a great year, but before you make a case for him to be on first team, I think Nick Brady and Sekoe White come up first. Both top 5 in scoring, top 7 in rebounding, Both lead there teams in virtually every category. Were they snubbed? Possibily, BUT who do you kick off first team to make room for them? You can make some cases here and there, but the bottom line is Wesley, Mary Washington, and St. Mary's were more successful, and without those first teamers, there teams would probably not be contenders. So really it is correct if you look at it that way. I think it boils down to that when you have players like Brady (17 ppg, 7 rpg) Sekoe (18 ppg, 7 rpg) and Woody (19 ppg) all on the second team, it just goes to show how tough the CAC really is and how good the players really are. My only question is where was Devin Jones??? He had a spectacular year. Congrats to everyone that were named to the respective teams! Goodluck to Wesley, "rep" the CAC.

So who hosts from the region you think? York and Messiah?

congrats to UMW, very much deserved, they just played better then YCP yesterday...however, If you ask me who I feel is more tourney ready out of the two, not even a question. Yes UMW is a very good team, looked very impressive yesterday, but a 16-0 conference season, and a 25 game win-streak speaks volumes. Not to mention YCP boasts a Josten's finalist in Ward, and possibily a future Jostens finalist in super soph April Sparkman, and then have 4 other experienced seniors in their rotation. On top of all that, I hope you do not mind me taking your words mamadukes, but "fuel to the fire" is think is the perfect definition of the loss yesterday for YCP. I would not want to be whoever YCP is matched with in the first round of NCAA's. Best of luck to both teams, I have enjoyed watching them both. I feel there going to have to go through eachother to advance in the NCAA's. May the best team win.

I think when you look at POY it isn't eve close really. Camonte has had a great year, but RaShawn has averaged 25 and a half a game overall (5th in the country) and a serious 27.2 in conference play. He also is third in steals in the conference, leads it in total 3's, and he plays 38 minutes a game on a team that is first overall in the CAC. He has simply been head and shoulders above everyone else to this point.

ROY is think is between Straughn and Tatum. You can say that Gallaudett has only won 1 conference game, but then again Hood has only won 3. So if you look at what which player does more for their team and you might have to go with Tatum in the first part of the year. Since then though, Straughn has began to impress me. Overall stats favor Tatum, but what Straughn can do for his team dosen't nessecarily show up in the box score (defend other team's PG, handle the ball). As of now its a toss-up, I can't choose. I don't feel you can leave Julian Watson of York out either. Same as Straughn but with more scoring, and has won the matchup all three times thus far against Tatum and Straughn. Also plays 35+ a night, alot for a freshman to do, especially at the PG position.

COY I feel you can make a bigtime case for Coach Kobasa of Wesley, because there 1st overall in the conference, have boasted a 9 game win streak. have the highest scoring team in the CAC, and have really just been a well-coached and disciplined team. He gives Wesley alot of freedom, but they never get to crazy with it. Thats coaching. But I think i give it to Coach Harney of St. Marys. He lost a great player in Lesanse, and another great creator in Smelkinson. Also, coming in after a Sweet 16 appearence and a top-25 rating holds alot of weight. They came in well-prepared, have played in a tough CAC conference, and still can boast a 10-2 conference record, and 17-4 overall. He has done a fantastic job once again.

1st-Team All Conference

Rashawn Johnson - Wesley - G- See Above

Camonte Griffin - St. Mary's - G -2nd overall in scoring. first in FT attempts, 7th in assists, 4th in steals. Just an all around great guard, nothing else is nessecary to say. Runner-up POY is also probably the quickest player in the conference.

Matt Hale - G - Mary Washington - 4th in scoring, 2nd in 3's. Biggest and most consistent scoring threat for number 3 team in conference. Also great creator as well. Brings alot of leadership to the table and has a great basketball IQ

Nick Brady - York - G - 4th overall in conference in scoring, and third in in-conference scoring. Most suprisingly is also 4th in rebounding. Only player in top 5 in both categories. Good leader for a young team

Brandon Altmann - Mary Washington - C - No more dominant inside presence in the CAC then Altmann. Scores 15 a game, grabs 10 rebounds (first), shoots a good FG and FT %, blocks two shots (first), and alters many many more. Should be first team not just this year but next year as well.

Second Team -

Greg Woody - Stevenson - G
Alex Franz - St. Mary's
Sekoe White - F - Gallaudett
Greg Palmer - F - Salisbury
Mike Gray - F - Marymount / Jeremy Keefer - F - York

CAC looks like it could go down to the final few games to see who will make the playoffs. Any guesses? And once playoffs are set, who wins it?

Also, who is the P.O.Y., R.O.Y., C.O.Y., and 1st and 2nd team All-Conference? I have to try something that will get this board rolling again...