What Does CAA Stand For in Basketball?
The term CAA stands for the Colonial Athletic Association, one of the oldest college athletic conferences in the United States. Founded in 1982, the CAA has a long and rich history in college basketball, with several teams that have been both successful and influential in the sport. But what does CAA stand for in basketball? Here, we’ll take a look at the history of the CAA and its impact on the game.
History of the CAA
The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) was founded in 1982 when seven former members of the now-defunct ECAC South conference decided to form their own college athletic conference. The seven founding schools were College of William & Mary, James Madison University, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and East Carolina University.
Over the years, the CAA has grown to include twelve member schools, although not all of these schools are NCAA Division I programs. The twelve current members of the CAA are College of William & Mary, James Madison University, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, East Carolina University, University of Delaware, Drexel University, Hofstra University, Northeastern University, and Towson University.
Success in Basketball
The CAA has had considerable success in college basketball over the years. One of the earliest successes was when the George Mason Patriots made a surprise run to the Final Four in 2006. George Mason was the first CAA school to make it to the Final Four, and they went on to defeat heavy favorites Connecticut, Michigan State, and North Carolina on their way to the championship game. Although they lost to Florida in the final, George Mason’s run to the Final Four was an inspiring and memorable moment for the CAA.
In recent years, the CAA has been home to some of the top college basketball players in the country. J.J. Redick was one of the best players in the CAA during his time at Duke, and he was a two-time player of the year in the conference. J.J. Barea also had a successful career at Northeastern University, and he is now a key member of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
CAA Championships
The CAA holds an annual tournament at the end of the regular season to determine its conference champion. The tournament, which began in 1982, is held at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. The tournament’s winner receives the CAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In recent years, the CAA has had a great deal of success in the NCAA Tournament. In 2012, VCU became the first CAA school to reach the Final Four, and they went on to defeat Butler in the championship game. In 2013, James Madison University made a surprising run to the Sweet 16, and the following year, the University of Delaware reached the Sweet 16 as well.
CAA Teams in the NBA
Several CAA players have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA. David West of Xavier University was an All-Star in 2008, and he is currently a member of the Indiana Pacers. Rudy Gay of the University of Connecticut was selected as the 8th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, and he is currently a member of the Sacramento Kings.
In addition, C.J. McCollum of Lehigh University was selected as the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and is currently a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. Kemba Walker of the University of Connecticut was selected as the 9th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, and he is currently a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
CAA in Popular Culture
The CAA has been featured in several popular films and television shows over the years. In the television series Scrubs, J.D. (Zach Braff) attends the fictional University of North Carolina at Winston-Salem, which is based on the CAA school Wake Forest University. In the movie Glory Road, the team from Texas Western (now the University of Texas at El Paso) is based on the George Mason Patriots.
In the movie Coach Carter, the team from Richmond High School (based on the University of Richmond) is featured. The movie He Got Game features a fictional CAA school, Big State University. And the television series One Tree Hill is set in a fictional CAA school, Tree Hill University.
CAA Logo and Mascot
The CAA has an official logo and mascot, which was adopted in 2006. The logo is a silhouette of a colonial-era soldier, with the word “CAA” written in white text below. The mascot is a colonial-era soldier named “Colonial Man”, who wears a tricorn hat, a blue jacket, and a red and white striped scarf.
CAA Schools
As mentioned earlier, there are currently twelve member schools in the CAA. Here is a list of the schools, along with their locations:
- College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA)
- James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA)
- University of Richmond (Richmond, VA)
- University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
- George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA)
- East Carolina University (Greenville, NC)
- University of Delaware (Newark, DE)
- Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
- Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY)
- Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
- Towson University (Towson, MD)
Conclusion
The CAA is one of the oldest and most successful college basketball conferences in the United States. With several teams that have had success and influence in the sport, the CAA has left a lasting legacy in college basketball. The CAA stands for the Colonial Athletic Association, and it is a testament to the success of college basketball in the United States.