Andrew Miller is a sports reporter, covering The Citadel, College of Charleston, S.C. Stingrays, Charleston Battery, etc. Before joining The Post and Courier in 1989, he graduated from South Carolina with a degree in journalism.
Despite winning 58 games and earning back-to-back Coastal Athletic Association titles over the last two years, College of Charleston is not the favorite to win a third CAA championship this season.
Towson, which returns four starters from last year's 20-win team, including two All-CAA performers - Tyler Tejada and Christian May - was selected by the league's coaches as the preseason favorites.
The Tigers, who have played in three straight CAA Semifinals and are coming off their third straight 20-win season, collected 10 of a possible 13 first-place votes.
College of Charleston, which will be led by preseason CAA player of the year Ante Brzovic, was picked second with three first-place selections.
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The CAA's 14 head coaches were polled on a predicted order of finish and preseason All-CAA teams; coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team or players.
"I think in 2024, with all the massive roster upheaval and changes, it's hard to be as accurate as prognosticators as in the past," said new College of Charleston coach Chris Mack. "With Towson returning nearly all of their roster, it gives them a leg up. We're all chasing them and that's the journey we start here a couple of weeks."
Brzovic has been a pivotal part of both NCAA Tournament teams. The 6-10 senior averaged 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds a year ago.
Starting point guard CJ Fulton, who led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratios, was named to the CAA second team. Brzovic, Fulton and Evan Kilminster are the only players left from last year's squad.
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"When you are building a team, having one of the best big men and best guards in the league returning is always a good start," Mack said. "CJ knows does a great job of protecting the ball and Ante has been a winner throughout his career. It's going to be a little bit of a change for Ante on both ends of the floor, we're going to ask a lot of Ante this season."
UNCW was picked to finish third, collecting the remaining first-place vote with the Seahawks coming off a 21-win campaign.
Hofstra was picked fourth, followed by Delaware, Northeastern, William & Mary, Monmouth, Stony Brook, North Carolina A&T, Drexel, Elon, Campbell, and Hampton.
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Rank Team (1st) Points
1. Towson (10) 166
2. Charleston (3) 157
3. UNCW (1) 143
4. Hofstra 122
5. Delaware 102
6. Northeastern 96
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7. William & Mary 91
8. Monmouth 87
9. Stony Brook 80
10. N.C. A&T 67
11. Drexel 66
12. Elon 46
13. Campbell 27
14. Hampton 24
2024-25 All-CAA Preseason First Team
Name, School
Ante Brzovic, Charleston
Gabe Dorsey, William & Mary
Landon Glasper, N.C. A&T
Kyrese Mullen, Hampton
Tyler Tejada, Towson
2024-25 All-CAA Preseason Second Team
Name, School
CJ Fulton, Charleston
Christian May, Towson
TK Simpkins, Elon
Masai Troutman, Northeastern
Jaret Valencia, Monmouth