Men's college basketball is almost back, and the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) gave us plenty to chew on Thursday morning.

The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster brought CAA coaches and players together for a morning of basketball talk, covering everything from NIL spending and transfer portal headaches to international recruiting and a few laughs along the way.

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Some coaches talked championships, others talked rebuilding, and a few reminded us that basketball is about much more than wins and losses. We tuned in, took notes and picked out six of the most interesting takeaways from the 2026 CAA Basketball Media Day.

1. Charleston Is Going All Gas, No Brakes, But With A Hint Of Jazz

Groce compared his ideal offense to jazz rather than heavy metal, emphasizing rhythm, improvisation and players working together instead of forcing individual plays.

It's an approach designed to keep defenses guessing, but Groce acknowledged that his team's chemistry and connectivity still need improvement.

The former Akron coach brings considerable experience, having gone 127-45 over his final five seasons with the Zips.

Charleston was picked second in the CAA preseason poll, and Groce has plenty of backcourt talent, including Preseason All-CAA First Team guard Eli Ellis and Akron transfer Tavari Johnson, whom Groce praised as one of the nation's top point guards.

But Groce acknowledged that Charleston's frontcourt could determine its championship hopes.

Seven-footer Braden Pierce continues recovering from an ankle injury, while Trey Scott III, Will Mortimore and Italian forward Nicolo Virginio give the Cougars several options up front.

Groce believes the Cougars have the pieces to win the conference, but developing chemistry and getting healthy will be critical.

2. Campbell Is Betting On Familiar Faces

New Campbell head coach Jimmie Williams arrives after leading Anderson University to a 29-3 season and a South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship.

Williams isn't simply bringing a successful system to Division I. He's bringing players who already believe in it.

Senior point guard AJ Wright Jr. spent three seasons under Williams at Anderson, earning SAC Defensive Player of the Year honors last season.

During Thursday's interview, Williams shared an emotional story about recruiting Wright. He recalled spending hours talking with Wright's father outside a hotel before his father later died.

According to Williams, Wright subsequently told him that one of his final conversations with his father had been about playing for Williams.

The story illustrated the close relationship between the two and why Wright followed his coach to Campbell.

Williams emphasized recruiting hungry, humble players who are curious, selfless and willing to embrace his philosophy.

With a roster featuring numerous transfers from Division II, NAIA and junior-college programs, Campbell is betting that familiarity, chemistry and commitment can translate into success at the Division I level.

3. North Carolina A&T Is Finally Playing The NIL Game

Head coach Monté Ross believes North Carolina A&T is finally becoming a legitimate participant in college basketball's NIL marketplace.

Ross explained that the Aggies previously felt like spectators while other CAA programs recruited with significantly larger financial resources.

Now, increased support from donors and athletic administrators has helped A&T become more competitive in recruiting.

Ross has focused on experienced players who can address specific weaknesses, particularly 3-point shooting after last season's struggles.

Among his additions is Delaware State transfer Ponce James, a guard Ross described as gritty, tough and capable of making an immediate impact.

The Aggies also have a Greek connection, with Efstratios Kalliontzis and Vasileios Pourlidas on the roster. Ross affectionately referred to Pourlidas as "Billy" and expressed confidence in his ability at point guard.

Ross acknowledged that money has become a much bigger factor in recruiting, but he believes A&T is better positioned to compete than in previous seasons.

4. Hampton Has A New Roster, But Etienne Strothers Is Protecting The Culture

Hampton head coach Ivan Thomas appeared on Thursday's call in a sharp suit, with a mannequin sporting a red blazer behind him.

But while the wardrobe made an impression, Thomas' message centered on something more permanent: culture.

Hampton welcomes 13 newcomers this season, giving Thomas another opportunity to establish his preferred identity of toughness, grit and accountability.

Fortunately, he has senior guard Etienne Strothers to help.

Thomas described Strothers as a defender of Hampton's culture, praising his leadership and understanding of the standards expected within the program.

He spoke proudly about watching Strothers mature over their three years together, particularly how the guard now helps hold younger teammates accountable.

The Pirates also added graduate transfer Seth Hubbard, who averaged 16.6 points in nine games at Milwaukee last season before suffering an injury.

Thomas believes Hubbard can score from anywhere on the floor, although his recovery remains something to monitor.

With so many new faces, Strothers' leadership could be just as important as Hubbard's scoring.

5. Elon Is Leaning On Its International Connections

Head coach Billy Taylor believes Elon's international roster could provide an advantage that doesn't always show up in statistics.

The Phoenix feature players from several countries, including four Canadians and a pair of Spanish players who already share a basketball connection.

Charlotte transfer Raúl Villar and returning forward Iker Garmendia both represented Spain at the 2026 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, where Spain finished third. Villar led the tournament with seven assists per game.

Taylor also highlighted the importance of relationships within the program, including his longstanding connection with senior guard Randall Pettus II, whom he previously coached when Pettus was younger.

Elon strengthened those relationships during an August trip to Greece, participating in exhibition games, cultural activities and a basketball clinic for local children.

On the court, the Phoenix return junior guard Bryson Cokley, a Preseason All-CAA Second Team selection who averaged 12.3 points last season.

After finishing 11th in the CAA, Taylor believes improved health, greater roster depth and stronger chemistry could help Elon climb the standings.

6. Towson Wants More Balance From Top To Bottom

Pat Skerry's Towson interview began with some friendly teasing after the veteran coach struggled to unmute his microphone.

But Skerry quickly turned the conversation to the Tigers' biggest challenge: consistency.

Towson finished 9-9 in CAA play last season, and Skerry acknowledged that his team started and finished strongly but struggled during the middle portion of the schedule.

He believes a more balanced approach to roster construction and NIL spending could help prevent another uneven campaign.

Rather than concentrating resources among a handful of players, Skerry suggested Towson has tried to spread its investment across the roster.

The Tigers added Rutgers transfer Denis Bădălău, whom Skerry praised as a potential scorer, while returning forward Caleb Embeya provides experience inside.

Still, Skerry emphasized that Towson's biggest offensive questions remain ball security and 3-point shooting.

He likes the quality of shots his team is generating but wants to see whether the Tigers can consistently convert them.

Picked fourth in the CAA preseason poll, Towson is hoping a deeper and more balanced roster can produce a more consistent conference season.

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