WASHINGTON, D.C. (WECT) – UNC Wilmington men’s basketball is hoping to start out one other run to the NCAA Tournament this weekend.
The top-seeded Seahawks open up Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament play in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, matching up with No. 9 seed Campbell. UNCW wants three wins in three days to earn consecutive journeys to March Madness for the primary time since 2016-2017.
UNCW earned the highest seed within the match after a formidable common season, notching a 26-5 file, and going 15-3 in convention play. That earned the Hawks their first common season CAA championship in 4 years.
Head coach Takayo Siddle earned convention coach of the year honors on Friday, and the league’s head coaches voted UNCW senior guard Madison Durr as Sixth Man of the Year. Redshirt junior Patrick Wessler was named to the All-CAA First Team, and senior guard Nolan Hodge was named to the All-CAA Second Team.
Last March, UNCW beat Hampton, Charleston and Delaware to win the 2025 CAA Tournament. The semifinal and championship victories each got here all the way down to the wire, with every determined by 4 factors or much less.
In the championship recreation, the Seahawks used a first-half run to take an eight-point lead into halftime, however the Twelfth-seeded Blue Hens rallied again. UNCW was capable of fend off the push, utilizing some late free throws to make sure the win. Donovan Newby was named MVP of the match after averaging over 16 factors per recreation.
“It means everything to our city to bring a trophy back, we hadn’t won it since 2017,” Siddle mentioned after that win. “We’re a very prideful university, a very prideful basketball program and to be back on top is definitely special.”
UNCW earned a No. 14 seed within the NCAA Tournament, and fell in opposition to No. 3 seed Texas Tech 82-72 within the first spherical. It was the Hawks’ first March Madness look since 2017, and Siddle’s first as head coach.
The solely CAA groups to beat the Seahawks this 12 months have been William & Mary and Charleston. Both fall on the other facet of the match bracket, which means UNCW wouldn’t should play them till the championship recreation.
UNCW’s quarterfinal recreation in opposition to Campbell suggestions off at 12 p.m. Sunday from CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. The Seahawks took down the Fighting Camels twice this season, with each wins by 5 factors or much less.
WECT can have full protection from Washington, D.C. of UNC Wilmington’s run by the CAA Tournament, starting with Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup.
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