EAST GREENSBORO – It's become routine. But it's not routine.  

Like most of the North Carolina A&T athletics department, the men's basketball team will be moving into its third different conference in three seasons, as the 2022-23 season will mark the program's first in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). 

The Aggies played their first season in the Big South Conference in 2021-22, a year after playing their final season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference during the 2020-21 campaign, ending their 50-year membership with a league they co-founded. 

"We're used to the changes and adversity, said interim head coach Phillip Shumpert during the CAA's Media Day during a Zoom call Wednesday morning. "It's starting to become normal for us, so it's been a pretty easy transition. As we moved leagues, we were able to move up a step higher and a step higher each time. That shows our university and athletics programs are growing. It is an exciting time for us to play in the CAA because it has become one of the better leagues in the country."

On Wednesday, the Aggies' new league released its preseason predicted order of finish and all-conference teams. CAA head coaches voted the Aggies to finish 11th out of 13 teams, and junior forward Marcus Watson made the preseason honorable mention team. 

"It's not the ranking we wanted," said Watson. "But we come in every day knowing that's not who we are. And once we start playing games, we have a chance to show who we really are as a team. They have us at the bottom of the food chain, so that gives us an underdog mentality. We're ready to show what we've got." 

A year ago, during their inaugural season in the Big South, the league picked the Aggies to finish third in the Northern Division before A&T finished fifth in the division at 12-20 overall and 6-10 in league play. 

Interim head coach Phillip Shumpert chalked the preseason prediction to being the new kids on the block, noticing that many of the newer teams in the league -- A&T, Monmouth and Hampton -- were all picked near the bottom. Shumpert and the Aggies are ready to take on the challenge of trying to prove their better than 11th, but as the season progresses, there will be other challenges to playing in the CAA. 

"The biggest change will be playing in all new gyms, "said Watson. "When you play in the same conference routinely, you get a feel for the gym and the opposing fans. But you don't know what to expect this year when you go on the road. I think we can handle it, but it will be new for us." 

A&T's first two conference games are at Northeastern and Hofstra on Dec. 29 and 31 before returning to the comforts of Corbett Sports Center on Jan. 4 to face the College of Charleston. 

Shumpert and the Aggies will take on the rigors of the CAA with eight returning players, including Watson, who led the team in scoring (12.6 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg) and minutes (27.2 mpg). Watson had a terrific Big South tournament showing. He had 18 points and 11 rebounds on 7-for-11 shooting in a win over Radford before scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds on 10-for-17 shooting in a loss to eventual Big South champion Longwood. 

The Aggies other returning starter is senior guard Demetric Horton, who was the second-leading scorer (10.7) and rebounder (4.9) a year ago. 

"We're going to play uptempo and get after it on defense," said Shumpert. "We brought in some really quick guards from the JUCO ranks, and we have great high school freshmen who can really push the tempo. We'll play pressure man-to-man defense a little more too. We have good bigs who are rim runners and rim protectors, so we're excited about how we will be able to play this year." 

And they will be able to show that in a brand new league again. 

"We found out in the middle of the season last year while competing in the Big South that we were going to the CAA next year," said Watson. So, we prepared for the change mentally last year as far as the returning guys. We know we've done it before and are ready to do it again. We know it's an outstanding league, but we are prepared to push forward."

2022-23 CAA Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

 
Honorable Mention: Ben Burnham, So., F, Charleston; Aaron Clarke, Gr., G, Stony Brook; Deuce Dean, Sr., G, Hampton; Chris Doherty, R-Sr., F, Northeastern; Darlinstone Dubar, So., G, Hofstra; Marcus Watson, R-Jr., F, North Carolina A&T; Ben Wight, Jr., F, William & Mary