For all of the posts in this series, visit the 2017-18 Non-Conference Scheduling Hub.

Ranking The Teams

While realignment has cost the CAA former powers like VCU, George Mason, and Old Dominion, the 10 current members are perfectly capable of holding their own nationally. In fact, a full 80 percent sit in the top half of the four-year rankings table. However, just one team, two-time defending CAA Tournament champion UNCW, ranks among the top 100. Still, that’s good enough to give the league the 13th spot nationally out of 32 Division I conferences.

Ranking The Schedules

If you look across the four categories, you’ll notice that not a single CAA non-conference slate cracks the top 100, with somewhere between 70 and 80 percent ranking in the bottom half nationally Even though Drexel is the only squad in the bottom 50 (and even then, in just three of the four tables), that widespread lack of schedule strength places the Colonial much closer to the bottom of the D1 conference ranking than the top.

*Denotes team will participate in a bracketed tournament. Reminder: Known Score = known matchups only; Average Score = known games+average of potential bracketed matchups; Maximum Score = known games+games against best potential bracketed matchups; Minimum Score = known games+games against worst potential bracketed matchups

Who Over- And Under-Scheduled?

Seven CAA squads under-scheduled for 2017-18, with three teams expected to contend for the title—College of Charleston, UNCW, and Towson—leading the way. In the cases of the Cougars and Seahawks, that’s to be expected, as you can’t imagine they would attract many high-major opponents given their results over the past two seasons. On the other hand, the three teams that over-scheduled—Delaware, Hofstra, and Northeastern—didn’t really go overboard. In total, the CAA’s league-average schedule gap ranks smack dab in the middle of Division I.

The two Power 7 home games come against teams from the opposite ends of that group—Delaware welcomes a Notre Dame squad helmed by former Blue Hen head coach Mike Brey, while Elon gets a visit from USF. But Brey isn’t the power conference coach who will be visiting old stomping grounds, as Villanova coach Jay Wright will travel to Long Island to take on Hofstra—but off-campus. Overall, the CAA ranks near the bottom of the mid-major conferences when looking both at the total of home games scheduled (20th of 25) and Power 7 road trips (22nd).

Both Delaware and Elon will play non-Division I squads as part of round-robin exempt events in Greensboro and Milwaukee, respectively.

Given the CAA’s location along the Eastern Seaboard, it’s a bit disappointing that non-Division I foes top these standings. A lack of power conference games is also surprising, particularly since this conference is no longer filled with NCAA at-large contenders.

Strangely enough, the OVC is among the half-dozen leagues CAA members have no games scheduled against. That’s slightly unexpected since the two leagues’ footprints border each other, at least in the CAA’s southern reaches.

Just 37 of the 111 known games on CAA schedules will come against teams in the top 150 of the four-year rankings. That’s the kind of scheduling that kept UNCW out of the at-large pool over the past couple of years and will likely do the same to College of Charleston this season.

Oddly enough, the CAA ranks in the top 10 nationally in percentage of games scheduled at neutral-sites. That keeps the conference’s ranking in the away game metric a bit lower than it should be, given the lack of home contests.

Team-By-Team Breakdown

Teams are listed in order of their Average Schedule Strength National Ranking. Numbers in parentheses are opponent’s Team Score Ranking. Logos via SportsLogos.net.

104. Northeastern Huskies

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 3 wins (Boston University, Kent State, @Vermont) and 2 loss (@Cornell, @Harvard)

The Huskies’ November is highlighted by its PK80 participation, which not only features a detour to Nashville for two games but also a winnable trip to Ohio State, who lost a lot of talent after a disappointing 2016-17 season that led to Thad Matta’s resignation. However, Bill Coen’s squad should most look forward to the fact that the Ivy, Patriot, and America East favorites all visit Matthews Arena—and remember that Northeastern won in Burlington last December.

137. Hofstra Pride

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (Stony Brook, Siena) and 1 loss (@Manhattan)

After a pair of 20-win seasons, Joe Mihalich’s Pride dropped below .500 last season, and a tricky November/December slate means Hofstra will likely have to do some heavy lifting in CAA play to break even this time. The Charleston Classic field might end up better than the ratings indicate (particularly Auburn and Temple), the four road games are all potentially rough, and Hofstra will only play in its own gym three times before league play starts. Jay Wright’s return is set for the renovated Nassau Coliseum, while the Pride will entertain Manhattan on Adelphi’s campus.

171. College of Charleston Cougars

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (@Coastal Carolina, @Western Carolina) and 0 losses

If the Cougars are going to have any hope of being considered for the at-large pool, they’ll need to split their two huge road games against Wichita State and Rhode Island at a minimum—and that’s a huge ask. Charleston must also avoid a slip-up the rest of the way, including in Anchorage, where Earl Grant’s squad will be favored to win the final Great Alaska Shootout.

184. William & Mary Tribe

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 3 wins (Milligan, Savannah State, @Old Dominion) and 1 loss (@Hampton)

The Tribe were unable to extend their streak of 20-win campaigns to four—but Tony Shaver’s club did manage to win 17. William & Mary should be able to get off on the right foot against this schedule, which features eight winnable contests and three tricky power-league road matchups.

193. James Madison Dukes

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 0 wins and 5 losses (@Old Dominion, @George Mason, @Charlotte, @Appalachian State, Richmond)

Louis Rowe’s first season in Harrisonburg started badly, as the Dukes defeated just one Division I opponent in non-league play. While a surprising 3-0 start in CAA play provided some hope, JMU managed to win just five more times before bowing out in the conference quarterfinals. But there is good good news for a team that’s looking for more success—four squads that the Dukes lost to on the road in 2016 visit this season. On the other hand, JMU’s half of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase bracket features three of the more dangerous teams in the field.

195. UNCW Seahawks

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (@Campbell, East Carolina) and 0 losses

UNCW was supposed to join Towson in playing in two bracketed events this season, but when Valparaiso joined Loyola of Chicago in the Valley, the Savannah Invitational altered its format to a pair of preset doubleheaders. Still, this is a slate that should ease the transition from Kevin Keatts to former North Carolina assistant C.B. McGrath.

231. Elon Phoenix

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (William Peace, @USF, FIU, @Saint Peter’s) and 2 losses (@Radford, Duke)

Last season, the Phoenix defeated three of their four 2017-18 non-league home opponents. Two of those victories coming away from Alumni Gym—and both of those squads head to Elon for the building’s final season. Like Delaware below, Elon will face two non-D1 squads in its exempt event. Unlike the Blue Hens, the Phoenix’s ACC test will come away from home—at Cameron Indoor. Yikes.

260. Delaware Blue Hens

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (@Bradley, Delaware State) and 1 loss (@Yale)

The highlight of this schedule is obviously the visit of former head coach Mike Brey and his Notre Dame. But home games against NCAA contenders Yale, Buffalo, and Cal State Bakersfield make the Blue Hens’ home slate one of the most attractive in the CAA—and one that will provide challenges for a squad that’s attempting to build on last season’s 7-to-13-win improvement. Now, if only UD’s exempt event didn’t feature two non-D1 teams.

263. Towson Tigers

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (@Morgan State, Loyola (Md.), @UMBC) and 1 loss (Old Dominion)

After a 20-win campaign, the Tigers enter the season as Charleston’s most likely challenger for the CAA crown. While Towson should sweep its four home games, it will have to make a pair of tournament runs to really build its non-conference win total. Penn, Missouri State, and Georgia Southern are potential tests waiting at the Gulf Coast Showcase, while Manhattan is a possible final day opponent both in Estero and in Belfast. However, Pat Skerry’s team’s biggest tournament test might be La Salle in the semifinals of that Hall of Fame event, which will be the second Division I game played in Europe.

307. Drexel Dragons

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (@Lafayette, @Quinnipiac) and 2 losses (La Salle, @Rider)

Like Martin Inglesby at Delaware, Zack Spiker heads into his second season on the DAC sideline looking to build on an improved win total—though the Dragons’ three-win jump was more modest. Six of those victories came in November and December, and it will be difficult to equal that total this year. For starters, the road trips are tougher, as is the exempt event (the relocated Paradise Jam vs. a Rutgers-anchored round-robin). Note that Drexel could meet Quinnipiac twice—on the third day of the Paradise Jam and then again in Philadelphia.

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