WASHINGTON, D.C. (WECT) – UNC Wilmington men’s basketball is hoping to start another 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 needs three wins in three days to earn consecutive trips to March Madness for the first time since 2016-2017.
UNCW earned the top seed in the tournament after an impressive regular season, notching a 26-5 record, and going 15-3 in conference play. That earned the Hawks their first regular season CAA championship in four years.
Head coach Takayo Siddle earned conference 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 both came down to the wire, with each decided by four points or less.
In the championship game, the Seahawks used a first-half run to take an eight-point lead into halftime, but the 12th-seeded Blue Hens rallied back. UNCW was able to fend off the push, using some late free throws to ensure the win. Donovan Newby was named MVP of the tournament after averaging over 16 points per game.
“It means everything to our city to bring a trophy back, we hadn’t won it since 2017,” Siddle said 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 in the NCAA Tournament, and fell against No. 3 seed Texas Tech 82-72 in the first round. It was the Hawks’ first March Madness appearance since 2017, and Siddle’s first as head coach.
The only CAA teams to beat the Seahawks this year were William & Mary and Charleston. Both fall on the opposite side of the tournament bracket, meaning UNCW wouldn’t have to play them until the championship game.
UNCW’s quarterfinal game against Campbell tips off at 12 p.m. Sunday from CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. The Seahawks took down the Fighting Camels twice this season, with both wins by five points or less.
WECT will have full coverage from Washington, D.C. of UNC Wilmington’s run through the CAA Tournament, beginning with Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup.
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