What Is 2009 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 2009 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason championship for the Colonial Athletic Association during the 2008–2009 NCAA Division I season. It determined which team would receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Hosted at the Richmond Coliseum, the event brought together the top 12 teams from the CAA based on regular-season performance. VCU emerged as champions, capturing their first CAA title since 2004.

• Twelve teams participated in the 2009 CAA Tournament, marking one of the largest fields in conference history at the time.
• The tournament was held from March 6 to March 9, 2009, with early-round games on Friday and Saturday, semifinals on Sunday, and the final on Monday.
• VCU defeated George Mason 63–51 in the championship game, avenging a regular-season loss to the Patriots.
• Eric Maynor of VCU was named Tournament MVP after leading his team with clutch performances throughout the weekend.
• The winner, VCU, earned the CAA’s automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, where they were seeded #12 in the Midwest Region.

How It Works

The CAA Men's Basketball Tournament uses a seeded, single-elimination format to determine the conference champion and NCAA Tournament representative.

• Format: The tournament includes the top 12 teams in the CAA based on regular-season conference winning percentage. It is a single-elimination bracket.
• Seeding: Teams are seeded 1 through 12 based on conference records, with tiebreakers used if necessary to determine final rankings.
• Location: The 2009 edition was held at the Richmond Coliseum, a venue that hosted the CAA Tournament multiple times between 2008 and 2012.
• Game Structure: First-round games involve seeds 5–12, with higher seeds hosting lower seeds until the semifinals and final, which are held at a neutral site.
• Championship Game: The final is traditionally played on the Monday before Selection Sunday, allowing the winner to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.
• NCAA Bid: The winner receives the CAA’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament, regardless of their regular-season or overall record.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2009 CAA Tournament compared to other editions in recent years:

The 2009 tournament was notable for VCU’s defensive dominance in the final, holding George Mason to just 51 points—the lowest scoring output by a finalist since 2005. It also marked a shift in power, as VCU reclaimed the title after George Mason had won three of the previous four championships.

Why It Matters

The 2009 CAA Tournament had lasting implications for both the conference and its member institutions, particularly in terms of national exposure and NCAA Tournament success.

• VCU’s victory gave them their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007, where they eventually advanced to the Sweet 16.
• George Mason’s loss was significant because they entered the final as the #1 seed and were considered a potential NCAA at-large team.
• The tournament highlighted the growing competitiveness of mid-major conferences in college basketball’s postseason landscape.
• Richmond’s hosting of the event for five consecutive years helped stabilize attendance and media coverage for the CAA.
• VCU’s defensive strategy in the final became a model for future CAA teams facing high-powered offenses.
• The 2009 tournament was one of the last before VCU left the CAA in 2012 to join the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Ultimately, the 2009 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament was a pivotal moment in the conference's history, showcasing rising programs and setting the stage for future realignment and national success.