UNCW basketball: What to know as Seahawks host nationally ranked Charleston in CAA showdown

The UNCW men's basketball team will enter uncharted territory as it hosts nationally ranked College of Charleston on Wednesday.

Both teams are coming into the matchup on hot win streaks that stretch back to November and are undefeated in conference play.

The winner of this matchup will walk away with the longest winning streak in the nation. Game time is 7 p.m. at Trask Coliseum and is expected to be a sellout.

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UNCW's new record win streak

The Seahawks (14-3, 4-0 CAA) haven't lost since Nov. 21, most recently defeating North Carolina A&T 66-61 on Saturday and setting a program record with 13 consecutive wins. Coach Takayo Siddle's side have led by at least 15 points in the second half of all four conference games, but the Aggies made a huge push at home on Saturday before the Seahawks held on.

UNCW is now home at Trask Coliseum for its next three games after playing four of its past five games on the road.

The Seahawks have won every matchup of the 2022-2023 season in which they scored at least 80 points (6-0), and the Cougars like to play up-tempo, averaging 81 points per game themselves. Fans could see UNCW guard Shykeim Phillips back near full strength; his playing time is growing after returning from an illness at the end of December.

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It's never happened before

This will be UNCW's first game against a ranked conference opponent. In its Division I history, the Seahawks have played 38 games against ranked teams, going 1-37. The lone win was its NCAA Tournament upset of Southern California in 2002. Two of those games have occurred this season, at North Carolina on Nov. 7, and at Connecticut on Nov. 18.

Only three of those previous games against ranked foes came at Trask, however: Nov. 8, 2019 vs. No. 9 North Carolina (78-62 loss); Jan. 6, 1992 vs. No. 21 Charlotte (99-89 in OT); and the building's inaugural game, Nov. 26, 1977 vs. #17 Wake Forest (83-79).

Who to watch for UNCW

Trazarien White leads the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game this season, posting a career-high 26 points in the Seahawks' 81-66 win over Elon on Wednesday. He's also the leading rebounder at 5.8 per game, with 75% of them on the defensive glass.

Forward Amari Kelly is coming off a season-high 15-point and seven-rebound performance against Elon and has scored in double figures in three of four conference games. Besides White, Kelly is the only UNCW player to start all 16 games this season.

Forward Maleeck Harden-Hayes reset his career high in points on Saturday vs. the Aggies, with 25 and six rebounds. He's the team's second-leading scorer in conference games. Guard Jamarii Thomas also has turned in solid performances in CAA play, combining for 39 points and 14 assists in four games.

Expect to see more from Philips, who had been on a minutes restriction after missing the conference opener at Monmouth on Dec. 28 with an illness. The Seahawks' second-leading scorer had 14 on Saturday in only 20 minutes after a healthy December that saw him score 13 points or more in three straight games.

Who to watch for Charleston

The College of Charleston's only loss of the season came to then-No. 1 North Carolina on Nov. 11 and the Cougars' broke through into the national polls last week, thanks to a three-game sweep of the Charleston Classic on its home floor in November vs. Davidson, Colorado State and Virginia Tech, followed by a two-point win vs. another well-regarded midmajor in Kent State.

Now at No. 22, the Cougars (16-1, 4-0) extended the nation's longest win streak to 15 on Saturday as they defeated Delaware, 75-64. Like UNCW, they have depth and multiple players that can score in bunches if a top player is shut down. Charleston has five players averaging in double figures, but no one with more than 12.9 (forward Dalton Bolon).

Grad transfer Ryan Larson from Wofford leads the team in assists and steals and shoots 37% from 3-point range, while Ante Brzovic has led the way in CAA play, averaging 15 points and has twice hit 12 rebounds in a game in four conference matchups.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: UNCW basketball gets undefeated league showdown with Charleston