CIAA week is finally here. In addition to the parties everyone has come to expect, fans can look forward to some good basketball as well.

Johnson C. Smith University took home the men’s and women’s titles, but more than a few schools are looking to dethrone the defending champs.

Basketball action gets started in Time Warner Cable Arena on Tuesday with the women’s squads, followed by the men on Wednesday. The championship games are on Saturday.

Women’s Tournament
The Lady Trojans of Virginia State University (21-5, 16-4 CIAA), ranked 25th in the latest USA Today ESPN Division II Coaches Poll, are clear favorites to win it all. They’re led by All-CIAA pick Rhon’Neisha Taylor, a junior guard.

The St. Augustine’s College Lady Falcons (18-9, 14-6) are also in the hunt, paced by All-CIAA players Allison Sikes, a junior forward, and center Keyona Bryant, a sophomore. St. Aug. also got good play from newcomer Scharlawn Hubbard, a forward, who was voted to the women’s All –Rookie team this year.

My sleeper of the women’s side is Fayetteville State University. The lady Broncos (17-9, 13-7), runners-up to St. Augustine’s for the Western Division title, are playing well under new coach Eva Patterson-Heath, with solid play from All-CIAA player Tiffany Haywood, a junior forward, and Defensive Player of the Year Deja Middleton, a sophomore center.

Women’s CIAA Tournament Championship Winner: St. Augustine’s College

Men’s Tournament
St. Augustine’s (23-4, 17-3), led by All-CIAA players Chris Jordan, a senior guard, and junior Hayward Fain, a forward, were a solid team heading into the tournament, but that won’t phase the title hopes of Bowie State University (16-9, 14-6), led by CIAA Player of Year Duke Crews, a senior forward, or Virginia Union University (19-8, 14-6), who is paced by All-CIAA guard Braxton Byerson, a junior.

A couple of other teams will make some noise this week on the men’s side, including JCSU (18-9, 12-8) and Chowan University.

Despite some up-and-down play this season, the Golden Bulls are right where they want to be, and seniors Jerry Hollis and James Dillard, All-CIAA frontcourt players, are leading the charge for JCSU. Can coach Steve Joyner work his magic again and keep the tournament title in Charlotte?

Chowan, my sleeper for the men’s tournament, will have something to say about that. The new kids on the block in the CIAA have not disappointed this season, coming into this week with a record of 17-9 overall, 13-7 in the conference. Clearly, the atmosphere and tradition of the tournament maybe a little overwhelming at first for the Hawks but don’t be surprised if they turn things upside down this week.

Men’s CIAA Tournament Championship Winner: Virginia Union University

Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte.

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