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'Sophomore jump': Towson basketball vies for CAA Championship as Tyler Tejada grows in second year

Tigers explosive in 6-1 start to CAA play — best start to conference play in program history

towson basketball
WBAL-TV\Jake Shindel
towson basketball
SOURCE: WBAL-TV\Jake Shindel
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'Sophomore jump': Towson basketball vies for CAA Championship as Tyler Tejada grows in second year

Tigers explosive in 6-1 start to CAA play — best start to conference play in program history

Hanging high in TU Arena is a banner that lists each year the Towson men's basketball team has made it to the NCAA Tournament — most recently in 1991.With its mixture of young talent and veteran leadership, the team has high expectations this season — not only from the coaches who voted Towson as the preseason favorite in the Coastal Athletic Association, but also high expectations from themselves. The team doesn't listen to the outside noise, though. "We don't really care what people outside of our team have to say about us because we know what we can do," said sophomore guard Tyler Tejada, who was named 2023-24 CAA Rookie of the Year. "We know who we are as a team, and we know that we can accomplish those goals."It has been an up-and-down season so far. The team started 4-2 before dropping their next six games, culminating with a loss to Robert Morris University — a game in which the Tigers led by seven points with less than two minutes remaining. Since the loss against Robert Morris, the Tigers are 7-1, including a 6-1 start to CAA play — the best start to conference play in program history.A short break during the holidays played a role in righting the ship. "I think we kind of reset over our little break we had at Christmas, (we) had like four days off to get our mental right, came back, had some tough practices and really came together, kind of put that (losing streak) behind us," junior guard Christian May told WBALTV.com.The team's recent play is more indicative of what their expectations were, but they understand they are far from the goal.Tejada believes if the team plays like they know they can, they'll have a chance to make it to the NCAA Tournament."We've got to stick together, just play hard all the time," Tejada told WBALTV.com. "We have to just compete. We know when we're playing our 'A' game, there aren't a lot of teams that could beat us."Tejada's key contributionsTejada has played a significant role in the team's success this season. He leads the team with nearly 17 points per game, which is top-10 in the CAA. He's scored 10 or more points in 13 of his 14 games this season.Over the offseason, Tejada improved his versatility to different situations in both on-ball and off-ball situations. He watched lots of film, which helped him get better in pick-and-roll situations and knowing when to cut to the basket or space the floor.His offseason improvement has not gone unnoticed by Towson coach Pat Skerry."This is my 33rd year coaching. (Tejada) puts in as much time as anyone I've been around," Skerry told WBALTV.com. "He puts in as much time as anyone I've been around ... The success he's having is a credit to his work ethic and his talent."In addition to working on improving his game over the offseason, Tejada learned from May, who led the team in points last season."It's been great to play with him, grow with him, kind of teach him a few things as well," May told WBALTV.com. "It's been really fun. I like playing with him. I feel like it's really hard for teams to guard me and him together."May said he has taught Tejada different things on defense, and Tejada has always been receptive and a good listener.Supporting castTejada isn't the only reason people think Towson has a chance to make it far, though. The team has five players averaging four or more rebounds per contest and allows 66.4 points per game, the third-lowest mark in the conference.Redshirt sophomore guard Dylan Williamson averages more than 12 points per game and leads the team in assists.Redshirt senior guard Nendah Tarke averages nearly 11 points per game, while May is second on the team in rebounding.It helps to have multiple different people with the ability to score on any given night – and it makes it difficult for teams to strategize against them."It makes it super hard, because if you want to focus everything on Tyler, then that's OK, me, (Williamson) or (Nendah) will have a good night," May told WBALTV.com.Building something specialMax Mackinnon, the 2022-23 CAA Rookie of the Year, transferred from Elon University to the University of Portland, jumping to a higher mid-major conference after his freshman year. Tejada most likely would have had suitors at a higher level had he chosen to enter the transfer portal, but he decided to stay at Towson with hopes of winning the CAA Men's Basketball Championship and making it to the NCAA Tournament. While there is still much time before the CAA Men's Basketball Championship begins on March 7, Tejada thinks this is the team that could get the Tigers back to the promised land — it's a significant reason why he stayed at Towson."My teammates. Everybody said they were coming back, and I wanted to be a part of something special here. And, with everyone coming back, basically, from last year, it was a no-brainer to run it back and push for a CAA Championship," Tejada told WBALTV.com.Tap here to buy tickets to Towson basketball games

Hanging high in TU Arena is a banner that lists each year the Towson men's basketball team has made it to the NCAA Tournament — most recently in 1991.

With its mixture of young talent and veteran leadership, the team has high expectations this season — not only from the coaches who voted Towson as the preseason favorite in the Coastal Athletic Association, but also high expectations from themselves.

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The team doesn't listen to the outside noise, though.

"We don't really care what people outside of our team have to say about us because we know what we can do," said sophomore guard Tyler Tejada, who was named 2023-24 CAA Rookie of the Year. "We know who we are as a team, and we know that we can accomplish those goals."

It has been an up-and-down season so far. The team started 4-2 before dropping their next six games, culminating with a loss to Robert Morris University — a game in which the Tigers led by seven points with less than two minutes remaining.

Since the loss against Robert Morris, the Tigers are 7-1, including a 6-1 start to CAA play — the best start to conference play in program history.

A short break during the holidays played a role in righting the ship.

"I think we kind of reset over our little break we had at Christmas, (we) had like four days off to get our mental right, came back, had some tough practices and really came together, kind of put that (losing streak) behind us," junior guard Christian May told WBALTV.com.

The team's recent play is more indicative of what their expectations were, but they understand they are far from the goal.

Everybody said they were coming back, and I wanted to be a part of something special here.

Tejada believes if the team plays like they know they can, they'll have a chance to make it to the NCAA Tournament.

"We've got to stick together, just play hard all the time," Tejada told WBALTV.com. "We have to just compete. We know when we're playing our 'A' game, there aren't a lot of teams that could beat us."

Tejada's key contributions

Tejada has played a significant role in the team's success this season. He leads the team with nearly 17 points per game, which is top-10 in the CAA. He's scored 10 or more points in 13 of his 14 games this season.

Over the offseason, Tejada improved his versatility to different situations in both on-ball and off-ball situations. He watched lots of film, which helped him get better in pick-and-roll situations and knowing when to cut to the basket or space the floor.

His offseason improvement has not gone unnoticed by Towson coach Pat Skerry.

"This is my 33rd year coaching. (Tejada) puts in as much time as anyone I've been around," Skerry told WBALTV.com. "He puts in as much time as anyone I've been around ... The success he's having is a credit to his work ethic and his talent."

In addition to working on improving his game over the offseason, Tejada learned from May, who led the team in points last season.

"It's been great to play with him, grow with him, kind of teach him a few things as well," May told WBALTV.com. "It's been really fun. I like playing with him. I feel like it's really hard for teams to guard me and him together."

May said he has taught Tejada different things on defense, and Tejada has always been receptive and a good listener.

Supporting cast

Tejada isn't the only reason people think Towson has a chance to make it far, though. The team has five players averaging four or more rebounds per contest and allows 66.4 points per game, the third-lowest mark in the conference.

Redshirt sophomore guard Dylan Williamson averages more than 12 points per game and leads the team in assists.

"We know when we're playing our 'A' game, there aren't a lot of teams that could beat us."

Redshirt senior guard Nendah Tarke averages nearly 11 points per game, while May is second on the team in rebounding.

It helps to have multiple different people with the ability to score on any given night – and it makes it difficult for teams to strategize against them.

"It makes it super hard, because if you want to focus everything on Tyler, then that's OK, me, (Williamson) or (Nendah) will have a good night," May told WBALTV.com.

Building something special

Max Mackinnon, the 2022-23 CAA Rookie of the Year, transferred from Elon University to the University of Portland, jumping to a higher mid-major conference after his freshman year. Tejada most likely would have had suitors at a higher level had he chosen to enter the transfer portal, but he decided to stay at Towson with hopes of winning the CAA Men's Basketball Championship and making it to the NCAA Tournament.

While there is still much time before the CAA Men's Basketball Championship begins on March 7, Tejada thinks this is the team that could get the Tigers back to the promised land — it's a significant reason why he stayed at Towson.

"My teammates. Everybody said they were coming back, and I wanted to be a part of something special here. And, with everyone coming back, basically, from last year, it was a no-brainer to run it back and push for a CAA Championship," Tejada told WBALTV.com.

  • Tap here to buy tickets to Towson basketball games