https://uncwsports.com/news/2021/1/13/ca...o-jmu.aspx

Men's Basketball 1/13/2021 10:50:00 AM CAA Release

CAA Men's Basketball Tourney Moves

RICHMOND, Virgina – The Colonial Athletic Association has announced that the 2021 Hercules Tires CAA Men's Basketball Championship will be conducted at the Atlantic Union Bank Center on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.

The dates of the tournament, March 6-9, 2021, will remain the same and all 10 teams are slated to participate.

"In conjunction with our institution's medical professionals, Presidents and Athletic Directors, we are continuing to make decisions that provide our student-athletes with the safest means to participate in intercollegiate athletics during a very challenging period of time," CAA Commissioner Joe D'Antonio said.

"On behalf of the entire CAA membership, I would like to thank JMU President Jon Alger and Athletic Director Jeff Bourne for allowing this event to be held on their campus. We look forward to working with the staff at JMU to provide our men's basketball student-athletes an exceptional championship experience."

The conference was scheduled to hold the 2021 championship at the Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) in Washington, D.C. for the second consecutive year. Due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, moving the tournament to a member institution's campus was in the best interest of CAA student-athletes, coaches and staff. The conference plans to return to the ESA in 2022, should health conditions improve.

The Atlantic Union Bank Center, which opened in November, 2020, is a state-of-the-art 8,500-seat facility that features a club area, practice court, meeting rooms and sports medicine areas. The building has the latest in lighting and audio technology and includes an adjacent 1,500-space parking deck.

"We are thrilled to have the support of the conference office and university presidents in hosting the 2021 CAA Men's Basketball Championship at the new Atlantic Union Bank Center," JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said. "We're looking forward to providing the league's student-athletes with an outstanding experience in our first-class facility as we bring one of the CAA's premier events to Harrisonburg. This season has been unique in nearly every way and I can't thank our athletics staff enough for adapting to constant changes and doing so in seamless fashion. We are prepared and excited to play a significant part in the road to NCAA March Madness this spring."

The CAA Men's Basketball Championship has been one of the most competitive in the nation, with eight different schools having claimed the title over the past decade. During that period, two championship games have gone to overtime and three others have been decided by five points or less.

Since there will probably be little to no fans, Elon would have been a far better location.

(01-13-2021 05:37 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Since there will probably be little to no fans, Elon would have been a far better location.

On JMU's board they were hopeful that restrictions would lift a bit by then so more than their 250 (per current state restrictions) would be allowed in.

Is Virginia a little more lax with their restrictions than NC? I can't remember.

(01-14-2021 12:35 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 05:37 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Since there will probably be little to no fans, Elon would have been a far better location.

On JMU's board they were hopeful that restrictions would lift a bit by then so more than their 250 (per current state restrictions) would be allowed in.

Is Virginia a little more lax with their restrictions than NC? I can't remember.

I'd imagine both of those governors/states are very tight with COVID restrictions.

Realistically, I think it's a little nonsensical for any teams to be hopeful of getting any decent number of fans at games at this point, and that's just from the "norm" of this season. If teams aren't putting any fans in seats for regular season games, you think the league is going to take that chance on allowing fans? Doubtful. Especially, considering they've moved the venue to a conference campus, and not a more public venue.

(01-14-2021 12:41 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 12:35 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 05:37 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Since there will probably be little to no fans, Elon would have been a far better location.

On JMU's board they were hopeful that restrictions would lift a bit by then so more than their 250 (per current state restrictions) would be allowed in.

Is Virginia a little more lax with their restrictions than NC? I can't remember.

I'd imagine both of those governors/states are very tight with COVID restrictions.

Realistically, I think it's a little nonsensical for any teams to be hopeful of getting any decent number of fans at games at this point, and that's just from the "norm" of this season. If teams aren't putting any fans in seats for regular season games, you think the league is going to take that chance on allowing fans? Doubtful. Especially, considering they've moved the venue to a conference campus, and not a more public venue.

Definitely doubtful. And if more than 250 fans are indeed allowed that would favor JMU. I can't imagine too many opposing schools' fans making the trip.

(01-14-2021 12:43 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 12:41 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 12:35 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 05:37 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Since there will probably be little to no fans, Elon would have been a far better location.

On JMU's board they were hopeful that restrictions would lift a bit by then so more than their 250 (per current state restrictions) would be allowed in.

Is Virginia a little more lax with their restrictions than NC? I can't remember.

I'd imagine both of those governors/states are very tight with COVID restrictions.

Realistically, I think it's a little nonsensical for any teams to be hopeful of getting any decent number of fans at games at this point, and that's just from the "norm" of this season. If teams aren't putting any fans in seats for regular season games, you think the league is going to take that chance on allowing fans? Doubtful. Especially, considering they've moved the venue to a conference campus, and not a more public venue.

Definitely doubtful. And if more than 250 fans are indeed allowed that would favor JMU. I can't imagine too many opposing schools' fans making the trip.

If allowed, I'd make that trip in a second. Especially since there ain't $hit else to do these days!

(01-14-2021 12:49 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  If allowed, I'd make that trip in a second. Especially since there ain't $hit else to do these days!

Right but you're one of about 6-7 people who post here regularly. Of course you'd be interested, lol. I would be too. But on a larger scale I just don't think a lot of UNCW or other CAA fans would make the trip. I could easily be wrong though.

(01-14-2021 01:01 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 12:49 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  If allowed, I'd make that trip in a second. Especially since there ain't $hit else to do these days!

Right but you're one of about 6-7 people who post here regularly. Of course you'd be interested, lol. I would be too. But on a larger scale I just don't think a lot of UNCW or other CAA fans would make the trip. I could easily be wrong though.

People are going stir crazy. If things were better by then and it was an option...........

(01-14-2021 12:43 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 12:41 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 12:35 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 05:37 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Since there will probably be little to no fans, Elon would have been a far better location.

On JMU's board they were hopeful that restrictions would lift a bit by then so more than their 250 (per current state restrictions) would be allowed in.

Is Virginia a little more lax with their restrictions than NC? I can't remember.

I'd imagine both of those governors/states are very tight with COVID restrictions.

Realistically, I think it's a little nonsensical for any teams to be hopeful of getting any decent number of fans at games at this point, and that's just from the "norm" of this season. If teams aren't putting any fans in seats for regular season games, you think the league is going to take that chance on allowing fans? Doubtful. Especially, considering they've moved the venue to a conference campus, and not a more public venue.

Definitely doubtful. And if more than 250 fans are indeed allowed that would favor JMU. I can't imagine too many opposing schools' fans making the trip.

I can't imagine that either. The reason I think they went with JMU is probably two-fold. They're one of 2 VA (central state in relation to the conference) schools in the conference, and Harrisonburg probably has more lodging options, etc for teams to all be in the area at once. I would imagine those are the most likely reasons that JMU was picked over other options like Elon.

JMU is also not in a metro area. It has more breathing room. With it being surrounded by a more natural environment. I've not been there in a long g time, but I'm sure it's still a beautiful place. If there's an opportunity, I'd go. And I'm pretty sure 75 would go.

Some people are making a push for conference tournaments just include top 4 teams. I don't like that idea as I think when a team recognizes that they will not make the field they will just shut down mid season

(01-15-2021 09:30 AM)Big Alpha Hawk Wrote:  Some people are making a push for conference tournaments just include top 4 teams. I don't like that idea as I think when a team recognizes that they will not make the field they will just shut down mid season

I agree. The whole idea of NCAA & conference play is that everyone is given a chance. The opportunity (if only slight) to go from the bottom to the top. Last place team in the conference gets lucky & wins the conference tourny to qualify for The Big Dance. What is more equal opportunity than that?

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I would think about going but it also would depend on covid 19 and if i had vaccine.

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(01-15-2021 09:30 AM)Big Alpha Hawk Wrote:  Some people are making a push for conference tournaments just include top 4 teams. I don't like that idea as I think when a team recognizes that they will not make the field they will just shut down mid season

(01-15-2021 10:49 AM)Proff Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 09:30 AM)Big Alpha Hawk Wrote:  Some people are making a push for conference tournaments just include top 4 teams. I don't like that idea as I think when a team recognizes that they will not make the field they will just shut down mid season

I agree. The whole idea of NCAA & conference play is that everyone is given a chance. The opportunity (if only slight) to go from the bottom to the top. Last place team in the conference gets lucky & wins the conference tourny to qualify for The Big Dance. What is more equal opportunity than that?

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Absolutely agreed with both of you. Everyone should participate. What makes MORE sense than limiting the # teams is protecting your top seed(s) in the conference tournament.

I like what the CAA does in baseball, where the top 2 seeds each have a bye and can't be eliminated prior to Day 3 of the tournament. In basketball the top 6 teams all get a bye, but it would be nice to be able to give the top 2 seeds even more of an edge somehow.

(01-15-2021 01:58 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 09:30 AM)Big Alpha Hawk Wrote:  Some people are making a push for conference tournaments just include top 4 teams. I don't like that idea as I think when a team recognizes that they will not make the field they will just shut down mid season

(01-15-2021 10:49 AM)Proff Wrote:  

(01-15-2021 09:30 AM)Big Alpha Hawk Wrote:  Some people are making a push for conference tournaments just include top 4 teams. I don't like that idea as I think when a team recognizes that they will not make the field they will just shut down mid season

I agree. The whole idea of NCAA & conference play is that everyone is given a chance. The opportunity (if only slight) to go from the bottom to the top. Last place team in the conference gets lucky & wins the conference tourny to qualify for The Big Dance. What is more equal opportunity than that?

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Absolutely agreed with both of you. Everyone should participate. What makes MORE sense than limiting the # teams is protecting your top seed(s) in the conference tournament.

I like what the CAA does in baseball, where the top 2 seeds each have a bye and can't be eliminated prior to Day 3 of the tournament. In basketball the top 6 teams all get a bye, but it would be nice to be able to give the top 2 seeds even more of an edge somehow.

This. Agree with all of you and love the idea of max inclusion with top seed protection.


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