Zach Spiker and the Drexel Dragons face Martin Ingelsby in the first round of the CAA Tournament at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. today at 2:30 pm. This is the 4/5 game.

Spiker, in his 6th year leading the Dragons is 76-102 (.427) overall and 36-63 (.364) in the CAA. Ingelsby is also in his 6th year at Delaware is 92-85 (.520) overall and 45-54 (.455) in the CAA.

Delaware finished the regular season with a record of 19-12 (10-8 in CAA) T-4th. Drexel finished the regular season with a record of 15-13 (10-8 in CAA) T-4th.

Ingelsby has had greater success during the regular season. His overall winning percentage (.520) is ten points above Spiker’s (.427). But we all know that you play college basketball to make the NCAA tournament. In 2021, Spiker pulled a rabbit out of a hat, won the CAA Tournament and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing 6th in the regular season with a record of 4-5.

The Blue Hens are led by guards Jameer Nelson, Jr. and Kevin Anderson. Nelson (14.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 2.3 apg) is an athletic and explosive combo guard. He attacks the basket with a quick and effective first step and crossover ability. Nelson’s handle is very strong and he gets into the lane effortlessly. He will bang it on you… He finishes well through contact at the rim and is unafraid to go over bigs in traffic. He gets good lift on his jump shot and has a quick release. He hit 38% of his 3FG this season. Nelson is a solid and unselfish passer, he always looks for the open man. Really excels defensively and has a chance to develop into a great defender.

Anderson has been an excellent combo guard throughout his career at Delaware. Blessed with good size and athleticism, he has become a good shooter.  Knocked down 38.3% of his 3’s last season, and has a very smooth stroke. At 6’5″ with a 6’8″ wingspan, Anderson has great size and length for a combo guard. An intelligent player, He uses his length to disrupt the passing lanes and shoot over smaller defenders. He is a solid ballhandler with decent shot-creating ability. On of his strengths is his great court vision.  Anderson is an excellent passer and leads the team with nearly 4 APG this season. He is a very instinctive offensive player, both as a scorer and a distributor.

Senior PF Dylan Painter (12.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.0 apg), Senior guard Ryan Allen (12.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg. 1.8 apg) and sophomore PF Andrew Carr (9.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.4 apg) round out the starting five for Ingelsby and the Blue Hens. Freshman forward Jyare Davis (8.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 apg) was named CAA Rookie of the Year. Davis scored in double figures in each of the final 10 regulars-season games, while averaging 15.7 points and 6.9 rebounds.

Ingelsby has a crew that could make some noise in the CAA Tournament

But first he’ll have to vanquish Spiker and the Dragons. Led by 1st team All-CAA selection Camren Wynter (15.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 4.7 apg), sophomore Xavier Bell (11.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.7 apg) and CAA Defensive Player of the Year sophomore PF/C Amari Williams (9.7, 7.3 rpg and 1.1 apg), the Dragons are looking to make another run through the CAA Tournament.

These are solid CAA contenders. The local CAA teams seemed to have inched ahead of the local A10 teams. Drexel vs Delaware is a bigger more important league tournament game than the La Salle vs St. Joe’s A10 Tournament play-in game on Wednesday.

Shit be changin’… Quick…