We roll on in our series of 2011-12 CAA team previews. Next up, the Delaware Blue Hens.

2010-11 Recap: Coming off a disappointing 7-24 campaign in 2009-10, Delaware doubled its win total last season, going 14-17 and finishing 8-10 in the conference, good for a seventh place finish. The Hens got off to a fast start, opening the season with a 5-2 mark and an impressive victory over league-favorite Old Dominion. As the season wore on UD went through peaks and valleys, at one point dropping six of eight, then winning four of five, then losing five in a row. Despite the second-lowest offensive output in the conference at 62.9 points-per-game, Delaware had an opportunity to finish in the top five in the league standings, but limped to the finish line with a 2-6 record in February. In the opening round of the CAA Tournament in Richmond, Va., Delaware met 10th-seeded Northeastern and recovered from an 11-point deficit to win 60-58, setting up a date with second-seeded Old Dominion the following night. Despite a 35-35 tie with under 10 minutes remaining, the Monarchs pulled away down the stretch to win 59-50.

Against Northeastern: The Blue Hens met the Huskies three times last season and went a perfect 3-0 against their old America East foes. The first contest was Jan. 19 in Newark, Del., with NU still having yet to win a conference game. Defense was the story in this one as Jamelle Hagins, the league’s top shot blocker last season, swatted a career-high eight shots. The visitors led 52-45 with 3:46 remaining but could not muster another point the rest of the way as UD used a 9-0 run to win the game 54-52, sealed by a Hagins dunk with 21 seconds remaining. On Feb. 15 the Hens made a visit to Matthews Arena for a second go-around with the Huskies. Despite receiving zero points from its bench, Delaware’s five starters all reached double figures, led by 22 from Jawan Carter. Once again the score was tight late, but a 7-0 run in the final three minutes pushed the guests to a 72-66 victory. The squads met a third time in the opener of the CAA Tournament, and for a third time the Hens got the better of the Huskies. Northeastern jumped out to an 11-point lead in the opening 20 minutes and once again held a lead with under four minutes remaining. Back-to-back three-pointers gave the Hens the lead right back, though the Huskies still had a chance to win in the final 10 seconds. Unfortunately for NU, senior captain Chaisson Allen airballed a three and turned the ball over at midcourt in the final seconds as Delaware claimed a 60-58 victory, preventing Northeastern from reaching the CAA quarterfinals for the first time since joining the league in 2005.

Key Losses:

• Jawan Carter: After transferring from St. Joseph’s, Carter played three seasons in Newark for the Hens and was one of the most consistent performers in a Delaware uniform. Last season he earned All-CAA second team recognition after leading his team in scoring at 16 points-per-game while also averaging 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.9 steals-per-game. He led the CAA in three-pointers made per game with a 2.7 average and was third in the league with an 84.7 average from the free throw line. One of the most durable players in school history, Carter started all 94 games of his career for Delaware and as a junior had the highest minutes-per-game average in the nation at 39.2. He is ranked fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,542 points.
• Alphonso Dawson: At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds Dawson was one of the bigger guards in the CAA in size, and he used his frame to average 3.1 rebounds-per-game last season. In his first three seasons for UD the Harrisburg, Pa., native averaged over 11 points-per-game, but injuries limited his scoring to 7.6 per contest. Dawson’s college career came to an abrupt end when he was suspended by the university for a violation of team rules and missed the final 11 games of the season. Following his suspension, the Hens finished 3-8 without him.
• Brian Johnson: After two promising seasons with the Hens knee injuries limited the effectiveness of Johnson. The 5-10 guard started the first 94 games of his career, but a torn ACL in his left knee forced him to redshirt in 2009-10. During preseason practice last season, Johnson re-aggrivated the injury and needed arthroscopic surgery, forcing him to miss the first three games. Relegated to a role off the bench, Johnson averaged only 3.8 points-per-game last season, but did have 10 off the bench in the CAA Tournament victory over Northeastern. He leaves Delaware third in minutes-played with 3,978 and is third in school history with 510 assists.
• D.J. Boney: A four-year letter winner for the Hens, Boney finished his career with 532 points but never averaged more than 5.7 points-per-game in any season. His best offensive output last season was the 11 points he dropped on Northeastern on Feb. 15, a game in which he was a perfect 3 for 3 from the field and 3 for 3 from the charity stripe.

Key Returns:

• Devon Saddler: The CAA’s Rookie of the Year last season, Saddler emerged as one of the top scorers in the Colonial by averaging 13.3 points-per-game as a freshman. The Maryland-native scored 12 points or more in 17 of his final 19 games, including four contests in which he went off for over 20 points. The freshman led his team in assists last season with 88 and will be expected to shoulder more of the scoring load as a sophomore this season with Carter graduated.
• Jamelle Hagins: Ranked 15th in the nation with 3.0 blocks-per-game, Hagins is perhaps the biggest game-changer on defense in the CAA. His eight blocks against Northeastern helped UD preserve a 54-52 win on Jan. 19 and helped him in being named to the league’s All-Defensive team after the season. A force in the paint at 6-8 and 220 pounds, Hagins finished third on the Blue Hens with 8.4 points -per-game and was the squad’s leading rebounder with 7.3 boards per contest.
• Josh Brinkley: Though a stress fracture in his left foot limited his freshman season and another foot injury prematurely ended his sophomore year, Brinkley still has plenty of upside if he can stay healthy as a junior this season. The 6-6 forward averaged 7.5 points-per-game off the bench last season and was second on the club with 5.2 rebounds. Brinkley has shown the ability to put up big games, scoring in souble figures in five contests despite playing in only 20 games on the season.

What to Expect: Head coach Monte Ross led a radical turnaround for the Hens, who finished dead last in the CAA in 2009-10 and jumped up to seventh last season. UD proved to be a much better team on the road last season, going 4-5 in CAA road games to break a 23-game league winless streak on the road. Though the graduation of Carter hurts, Saddler appears to be a star in the making and will undoubtedly be the most dangerous threat to opponents this season. Hagins will again be the rock in the center of the defense and should be able to bump up his average into the double-digit territory. If Brinkley can stay healthy, that gives the Hens three top starters to build around an improved recruiting class. A top four league finish may still be a year away for this team, but UD is a squad on the rise and will likely push past the .500 mark and are outside contenders for a postseason tournament.

Patrick McHugh Basketball CAA, Delaware, Fall Preview