Along with a new year, the Colonial Athletic Association ushers in a new phase to the unusual 2020-21 season with the upcoming tipoff of the conference slate. 

Let the record show the first Division I team in the 2020-21 season to sweep the same opponent on back-to-back days was Drexel.

The number of unbeaten teams in the Big East is down to three, with UConn flexing their muscles last week against Villanova. Here's a look at last week’s takeaways and what to watch for this week:

It's a shortened week in Big East women's basketball with one set of games on Tuesday before teams go quiet until after Christmas. Here's a look at last week’s takeaways and what to watch for this week:

Just over half of the Big East has started conference play, but that’s about to change this week with the remaining teams getting their feet wet against conference foes. Here’s what to watch for across the conference. 

Drexel’s early-season success shows why a breakout season is possible after finishing eighth in the conference last season. 

Delaware’s first month of the season has been hampered by canceled games, a rearranged schedule, and a pause of team activities due to COVID. The result? The Blue Hens have only played two games thus far and their 1-1 record gives little indication of where they stand. 

After three games, there’s no sign of a sophomore slump for Maddy Siegrist.

The irregularities of a season impacted by COVID-19 will be on full display when Providence takes on Butler on Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The game will be Providence’s sixth of the season, and the second game in two days. But for Butler, this is the season opener after their previously scheduled Friday night match-up with Seton Hall was called off. 

Both Creighton and Xavier women’s basketball teams enter Friday’s Big EAST opener looking to end losing streaks. The Blue Jays (0-3) are hoping to pick up their first victory of the season as they travel to Cincinnati, while the 1-0 Xavier Musketeers have not beaten Creighton in their last eight matchups.

One of the many questions heading into the women’s college basketball season is how teams handle the truncated non-conference schedule. 

Three top 25 ranked women’s teams will open their 2020-2021 seasons in the Beach Bubble at the Gulf Coast Showcase, with No. 12 Maryland, No. 14 Arkansas and 24th ranked Missouri State among six schools competing in the Nov. 27-29 tournament in Fort Myers, Florida.

This is the message coach Mike Schrage has for his Elon Phoenix in Year 2 at the helm, coming off a strong finish to Year 1: “Be confident, not comfortable.” 

The Rhode Island men figure to lean heavily on leading scorer and preseason A10 first team member Fatts Russell in 2020-2021 as they look to fill the void left by three departed starters from last season.

A season of inevitable schedule changes and new faces for the Washington and San Diego State women’s basketball programs begins on Tuesday night.