February’s end is bittersweet for basketball fans. It marks an important milestone, signifying the end of the regular season, but it’s also the milestone at which the game hits a fever pitch. 

In other words, the time for Madness is here. 

Colonial Athletic Association squads take to Washington, D.C. next week in pursuit of a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Recent CAA Tournaments have been wildly unpredictable, most notably last season when Drexel and Elon met in the championship game after remarkable runs. 

An underdog could again emerge as the Colonial’s representative in March Madness, but until then, seeding isn’t even set. The final games of the regular season will determine which teams face in the Nation’s Capital and how the bracket breaks down. 

William & Mary Vs. Hofstra 

Both the Tribe and Pride come into Saturday’s matchup off bitter losses in their last contests. William & Mary scored just 28 points at Northeastern, and the loss locked the Tribe into the CAA Tournament play-in game against that same Huskies bunch. 

While William & Mary’s postseason fate is set, Hofstra’s is not. The Pride hold a one-game lead over Delaware going into the final days of the regular season, maintaining their edge despite a lackluster performance Thursday against Elon. 

Hofstra had no answer for Hunter McIntosh in the first half, and a listless start to the second half doomed the Pride to an 81-55 blowout loss. But with Delaware also falling in a nailbiter, Hofstra can win out to ensure itself the No. 3 seed. 

Towson Vs. James Madison 

A rout of the Dukes on Wednesday powered Towson to its fifth straight win, and kept the Tigers on pace with UNC Wilmington in pursuit of the regular-season championship. Towson aims for the back-to-back when it visits Harrisonburg on Saturday. 

Pat Skerry’s Tigers have climbed to No. 71 in the KenPom.com overall rankings, and No. 70 in NET. While an at-large bid, if it falters in the CAA Tournament, is unlikely, Towson has at least placed itself in the same neighborhood of power-conference teams like Rutgers, Oregon and Virginia, all vying for the NCAA Tournament bubble. 

Charleston Vs. Drexel 

Just a half-game separates Charleston and Drexel heading into Saturday’s action after both teams came out on opposite ends of thrillers on Thursday. 

Drexel became the latest victim of UNC Wilmington’s comeback magic, as the Seahawks won the second half en route to a 69-63 road victory. The Dragons can lock themselves into the 4 vs. 5 matchup with a rebound win over Charleston. 

The Cougars, meanwhile, survived a 99-96 shootout at Delaware to remain in play for the 4-5 slot. Charleston cannot slip any lower than the No. 6 spot it currently occupies, but climbing to No. 5 means avoiding back-to-back games with Hofstra. 

UNC Wilmington Vs. Delaware 

UNCW’s continued pace atop the CAA has not come easy: The Seahawks needed a furious rally in both regulation and overtime last weekend to hold off James Madison on the night of Davontae Cacok’s jersey retirement. 

UNCW then came back Thursday to break a halftime tie and sweep a tough Drexel bunch. 

It’s been a challenge, but here the Seahawks enter their regular-season finale needing only to win to guarantee themselves a share of the conference championship. And, with a big game, Jaylen Sims just might be able to lock up CAA Player of the Year. 

He’s had plenty of help, of course, including the late emergence of James Baker. His scoring pop in the last month adds a dangerous element UNCW lacked when it last faced Delaware on Dec. 29—Baker went 1-of-4 from the floor for two points in that one. He is averaging about nine points over the last nine games. 

Delaware needs either a win or Charleston loss in each of the team’s last two games – 1.5 games in the Blue Hens’ case – to lock a place in the 4-5 game. 

Delaware Vs. Towson (2nd Half) 

Half-a-game with potentially historic consequences. Delaware returns to Towson for the resumption of a game suspended due to court conditions on Jan. 27. 

The Blue Hens held a 38-29 lead early into the second half when play stopped. The conclusion of that could determine if Towson wins its first CAA regular-season and first league title of any kind since 1994. 

Charleston Vs. Hofstra 

In the last regular-season game of the entire CAA season, Hofstra looks to complete a season sweep of a tough Charleston bunch. The two went to the wire in a 76-73 Pride win at Charleston on Jan. 27, a game punctuated by Aaron Estrada’s torrid scoring touch (https://www.flohoops.com/articles/7425463-hofstras-aaron-estrada-is-more-than-mr-mid-range). He posted 30 points in the Hofstra win.