# 2021–22 Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball season

The 2021–22 CAA men's basketball season is the 36th season of Colonial Athletic Association basketball, taking place between November 2021 and March 2022. Practices began in October 2021, and the season ended with the 2022 CAA men's basketball tournament.
This is the final CAA season for James Madison, which joins the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, 2022.

## Head coaches
### Coaching changes

* Pat Kelsey replaced Earl Grant as Charleston head coach.
* Speedy Claxton replaced Joe Mihalich as Hofstra head coach.

### Coaches

| Team | Head coach | Previous job | Year at school | Overall record | CAA record | CAA championships | NCAA Tournaments |
| College of Charleston | Pat Kelsey | Winthrop | 1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 |
| Delaware | Martin Ingelsby | Notre Dame (asst.) | 6 | 73–73 | 35–46 | 0 | 0 |
| Drexel | Zach Spiker | Army | 6 | 61–89 | 26–55 | 1 | 1 |
| Elon | Mike Schrage | Ohio State (asst.) | 3 | 23–30 | 10–18 | 0 | 0 |
| Hofstra | Speedy Claxton | Hofstra (asst.) | 1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Madison | Mark Byington | Georgia Southern | 2 | 13–7 | 8–2 | 0 | 0 |
| Northeastern | Bill Coen | Boston College (asst.) | 16 | 251–222 | 154–106 | 2 | 2 |
| Towson | Pat Skerry | Pittsburgh (asst.) | 11 | 147–164 | 83–89 | 0 | 0 |
| UNC Wilmington | Takayo Siddle | NC State (asst.) | 2 | 7–10 | 1–6 | 0 | 0 |
| William & Mary | Dane Fischer | George Mason (asst.) | 3 | 28–21 | 17–11 | 0 | 0 |
Notes:
* All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only.
* Year at school includes 2021–22 season.
* Overall and CAA records are from time at current school and are through the end of the 2020–21 season.

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

Source
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | Delaware (19) | 296 |
| 2 | Northeastern (7) | 246 |
| 3 | Drexel (5) | 234 |
| 4 | James Madison (3) | 224 |
| 5 | Hofstra (1) | 211 |
| 6 | Elon (1) | 202 |
| 7 | College of Charleston | 148 |
| 8 | Towson | 93 |
| 9 | UNC Wilmington | 64 |
| 10 | William & Mary | 62 |
 first place votes

### Preseason All-Conference Teams

Source
| Award | Recipients |
| First Team | James Butler (Drexel) Hunter McIntosh (Elon) Dylan Painter (Delaware) Jalen Ray (Hofstra) Camren Wynter (Drexel) |
| Second Team | Ryan Allen (Delaware) Connor Kochera (William & Mary) Vado Morse (James Madison) Jahmyl Telfort (Northeastern) Shaquille Walters (Northeastern) |
| Honorable Mention | John Meeks (Charleston) Kevin Anderson (Delaware) Jameer Nelson Jr. (Delaware) Jerald Gillens-Butler (Elon) Kvonn Cramer (Hofstra) Takal Molson (James Madison) Mike Okauru (UNC Wilmington) Jaylen Sims (UNC Wilmington) |
Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Player of the Year: Camren Wynter (Drexel)

## Regular season
### Rankings

Legend :
* Increase in ranking
* Decrease in ranking
* Not ranked previous week
| College of Charleston | AP |
| College of Charleston | C |
| Delaware | AP |
| Delaware | C |
| Drexel | AP |
| Drexel | C |
| Elon | AP |
| Elon | C |
| Hofstra | AP |
| Hofstra | C |
| James Madison | AP |
| James Madison | C |
| Northeastern | AP |
| Northeastern | C |
| Towson | AP |
| Towson | C |
| UNC Wilmington | AP |
| UNC Wilmington | C |
| William & Mary | AP |
| William & Mary | C |

### Conference matrix

This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.
| | Charleston | Delaware | Drexel | Elon | Hofstra | James Madison | Northeastern | Towson | UNC Wilmington | William & Mary |
| vs. Charleston | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| vs. Delaware | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| vs. Drexel | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| vs. Elon | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| vs. Hofstra | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| vs. James Madison | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| vs. Northeastern | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| vs. Towson | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 |
| vs. UNC Wilmington | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 |
| vs. William & Mary | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – |
| Total | 8–10 | 10–8 | 10–8 | 7–11 | 13–5 | 6–12 | 2–16 | 15–3 | 15–2 | 4–14 |

## Postseason
### NCAA tournament

The CAA had one bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, that being the automatic bid of Delaware by winning the conference tournament.
| Seed | Region | School | First Four | First Round | Second Round | Sweet 16 | Elite Eight | Final Four | Championship |
| 15 | South | Delaware | Bye | Eliminated by (2) Villanova 60–80 | | | | | |
| Bids | | W-L (%): | 0–0 (–) | 0–1 (.000) | 0–0 (–) | 0–0 (–) | 0–0 (–) | 0–0 (–) | TOTAL: 0–1 (.000) |

### National Invitation tournament

Towson received an automatic bid to the 2022 National Invitation Tournament as regular season conference champions.
| Seed | School | First Round | Second Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Championship |
| 7 | Towson | Eliminated by (2) Wake Forest 64–74 | | | | |
| Bids | W-L (%): | 0–1 (.000) | 0–0 (–) | 0–0 (–) | 0–0 (–) | TOTAL: 0–1 (.000) |

### College Basketball Invitational

UNC Wilmington was invited to play in the 2022 College Basketball Invitational.
| Seed | School | First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Championship |
| 9 | UNC Wilmington | Defeated (8) VMI 93–78 | Defeated (1) Drake 76–75 | Defeated (12) Northern Colorado 80–64 | Defeated (2) Middle Tennessee 96–90 |
| Bids | W-L (%): | 1–0 (1.000) | 1–0 (1.000) | 1–0 (1.000) | TOTAL: 4–0 (1.000) |

### The Basketball Classic
## Awards and honors
### Regular season
#### CAA Player of the Week

* Nov. 15 – Zach Cooks (Hofstra)
* Nov. 22 – Ryan Allen (Delaware)
* Nov. 29 – Cam Holden (Towson)
* Dec. 6 – Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)
* Dec. 13 – Jason Gibson (Towson)
* Dec. 20 – Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)(2)
* Dec. 27 – Nicolas Timberlake (Towson)
* Jan. 3 – Darius Burford (Elon)
* Jan. 10 – Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)(3)
* Jan. 17 – Charles Falden (James Madison)
* Jan. 24 – Dylan Painter (Delaware), Shykeim Phillips (UNCW)
* Jan. 31 – Charles Thompson (Towson)
* Feb. 7 – Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)(4)
* Feb. 14 – Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)(5)
* Feb. 21 – Jaylen Sims (UNCW)
* Feb. 28 – Dimitrius Underwood (Charleston), Amari Williams (Drexel)

#### CAA Rookie of the Week

* Nov. 15 – Reyne Smith (Charleston)
* Nov. 22 – Reyne Smith (Charleston)(2)
* Nov. 29 – Reyne Smith (Charleston)(3)
* Dec. 6 – Reyne Smith (Charleston)(4)
* Dec. 13 – Ben Burnham (Charleston)
* Dec. 20 – Trazarien White (UNCW)
* Dec. 27 – Ben Burnham (Charleston)(2)
* Jan. 3 – Julian Lewis (William & Mary)
* Jan. 10 – Ben Burnham (Charleston)(3)
* Jan. 17 – Langdon Hatton (William & Mary)
* Jan. 24 – Reyne Smith (Charleston)(5)
* Jan. 31 – Jyare Davis (Delaware)
* Feb. 7 – Jyare Davis (Delaware)(2)
* Feb. 14 – Jyare Davis (Delaware)(3)
* Feb. 21 – Jyare Davis (Delaware)(4)
* Feb. 28 – Jyare Davis (Delaware)(5)

### Postseason
#### CAA All-Conference Teams and Awards

| Award | Recipients |
| Player of the Year | Aaron Estrada (Hofstra) |
| Coach of the Year | Takayo Siddle (UNCW) |
| Rookie of the Year | Jyare Davis (Delaware) |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Amari Williams (Drexel) |
| Sixth Man of the Year | Zach Cooks (Hofstra) |
| Dean Ehlers Leadership Award | Matey Juric (Drexel) |
| Scholar-Athlete of the Year | Hunter McIntosh (Elon) |
| First Team | Aaron Estrada (Hofstra) Cam Holden (Towson) Jaylen Sims (UNCW) Nicolas Timberlake (Towson) Camren Wynter (Drexel) |
| Second Team | John Meeks (Charleston) Vado Morse (James Madison) Jameer Nelson Jr. (Delaware) Mike Okauru (UNCW) Charles Thompson (Towson) |
| Third Team | Darius Burford (Elon) Hunter McIntosh (Elon) Jalen Ray (Hofstra) Dimitrius Underwood (Charleston) Amari Williams (Drexel) |
| All-Defensive Team | Cam Holden (Towson) Shykeim Phillips (UNCW) Charles Thompson (Towson) Dimitrius Underwood (Charleston) Amari Williams (Drexel) |
| All-Rookie Team | Ben Burnham (Charleston) Jyare Davis (Delaware) Julian Lewis (William & Mary) Tyler Rice (William & Mary) Reyne Smith (Charleston) |

## Attendance

| Team | Arena | Capacity | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 | Game 8 | Total | Average | % of Capacity |
| Team | Arena | Capacity | Game 9 | Game 10 | Game 11 | Game 12 | Game 13 | Game 14 | Game 15 | Game 16 | Total | Average | % of Capacity |
| Charleston | TD Arena | 5,100 | 4,448 | 4,151 | 4,166 | 5,203 | 3,852 | 3,648 | 3,394 | 3,635 | 60,783 | 4,052 | 79% |
| Charleston | TD Arena | 5,100 | 3,844 | 3,230 | 3,719 | 4,634 | 3,516 | 4,283 | 5,060 | | 60,783 | 4,052 | 79% |
| Delaware | Bob Carpenter Center | 5,100 | 2,032 | 1,451 | 1,434 | 1,636 | 1,396 | 1,560 | 1,664 | 1,574 | 25,652 | 1,832 | 36% |
| Delaware | Bob Carpenter Center | 5,100 | 2,844 | 2,347 | 1,916 | 1,298 | 1,706 | 2,794 | | | 25,652 | 1,832 | 36% |
| Drexel | Daskalakis Athletic Center | 2,509 | 1,846 | 852 | 1,155 | 624 | 857 | 788 | 1,710 | 743 | 12,159 | 1,013 | 40% |
| Drexel | Daskalakis Athletic Center | 2,509 | 838 | 872 | 690 | 1,184 | | | | | 12,159 | 1,013 | 40% |
| Elon | Schar Center | 5,100 | 1,949 | 1,638 | 1,522 | 3,158 | 1,256 | 1,487 | 1,821 | 1,684 | 26,785 | 1,913 | 38% |
| Elon | Schar Center | 5,100 | 1,585 | 2,405 | 2,690 | 1,232 | 1,902 | 2,456 | | | 26,785 | 1,913 | 38% |
| Hofstra | Mack Sports Complex | 5,023 | 2,424 | 1,845 | 1,775 | 1,978 | 1,117 | 1,465 | 1,106 | 1,398 | 25,933 | 1,852 | 37% |
| Hofstra | Mack Sports Complex | 5,023 | 3,793 | 1,359 | 2,556 | 1,454 | 2,247 | 1,416 | | | 25,933 | 1,852 | 37% |
| James Madison | Atlantic Union Bank Center | 8,500 | 3,691 | 5,011 | 4,505 | 3,390 | 8,439 | 4,713 | 3,527 | 2,783 | 69,327 | 4,333 | 51% |
| James Madison | Atlantic Union Bank Center | 8,500 | 3,878 | 4,721 | 3,927 | 4,590 | 3,414 | 4,538 | 3,032 | 5,168 | 69,327 | 4,333 | 51% |
| Northeastern | Matthews Arena | 6,000 | 1,699 | 872 | 912 | 1,252 | 1,197 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10,364 | 740 | 12% |
| Northeastern | Matthews Arena | 6,000 | 564 | 667 | 817 | 518 | 749 | 1,117 | | | 10,364 | 740 | 12% |
| Towson | SECU Arena | 5,200 | 2,040 | 1,742 | 1,121 | 1,357 | 1,565 | 732 | 918 | 968 | 22,301 | 1,593 | 31% |
| Towson | SECU Arena | 5,200 | 1,273 | 1,587 | 1,683 | 1,832 | 3,032 | 2,451 | | | 22,301 | 1,593 | 31% |
| UNC Wilmington | Trask Coliseum | 5,200 | 3,229 | 4,101 | 3,067 | 2,172 | 2,378 | 2,959 | 2,595 | 4,146 | 51,094 | 3,650 | 70% |
| UNC Wilmington | Trask Coliseum | 5,200 | 4,206 | 4,310 | 5,250 | 3,020 | 4,411 | 5,250 | | | 51,094 | 3,650 | 70% |
| William & Mary | Kaplan Arena | 8,600 | 2,799 | 1,614 | 2,286 | 2,007 | 1,673 | 1,778 | 1,693 | 2,496 | 32,265 | 2,305 | 27% |
| William & Mary | Kaplan Arena | 8,600 | 1,783 | 2,472 | 2,352 | 3,885 | 2,295 | 3,132 | | | 32,265 | 2,305 | 27% |