Small Conference Game of the Day – January 15

William & Mary at Delaware, 7:00 PM Eastern, no TV

We are taking a short drive tonight from Philly down to Delaware as the SCGD stays in the Colonial for the matchup between the Tribe of William & Mary and the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens.  Following Towson’s victory at Drexel last night, it is becoming clear that the CAA could be one of the most exciting and competitive conferences out there this season.  Three teams remain undefeated in conference play at the moment.  One of those will fall tonight.

William & Mary enters tonight’s game at a respectable 9-5 including wins over Drexel and Rutgers.  The Tribe can make a huge statement with a win tonight.  Not expected to be among the top contenders in the conference this season, William & Mary could be the team that comes from nowhere to contend in the CAA, something that seems to happen every season in this league.  For William & Mary, an NCAA tournament berth this season would take them off of a very short list that they do no want to be on.  Along with Army, The Citadel, Northwestern and St. Francis (NY), the Tribe have been a member of Division I since D1 began in 1948, and have never been in the NCAA tournament.

Delaware has been slowly moving into position as the best team in the CAA.  With Drexel sliding and Towson having struggled in non-conference play, the Blue hens may be the favorite, especially if they can get a win tonight.  While Delaware’s best win on the year so far is probably a victory over Bryant, they have not lost to a team outside the KenPom top 100 since a November 10 game against Charleston Southern.  They have won four of their last five coming into tonight, and with trips to Northeastern and Drexel coming up in the next week, have a chance to establish themselves.  However, from what we have seen on the court so far, it is more likely that this league will come down to the final week of the season, and its conference tournament will be wide open for anyone to win.