The basketball season is upon us! This year in the America East is going to feature many new faces. Every team (except for Hartford) is replacing a significant portion of their starting lineup. This should add some intrigue to the league as there will be new players playing significant roles on each team. With the influx of freshman comes what should be a significant influx of talent. Many of the incoming freshman are hyped to be bringing a new level of basketball to the America East. It should make for an exciting season. Many of last year's stars will return but their supporting casts will look very different. With all of that in mind here is how I believe they will finish.
1. Stony Brook- With Jameel Warney returning as the reigning America East player of the year and Carson Puriefoy running the point, Stony Brook enters the season with high expectations. Playoff disappointments aside, Stony Brook has been a dominant regular season team for quite some time. This year will be no different. The Seawolves should breeze through the regular season with one or two losses. They will however be under intense pressure to prove they can win in the postseason. Last year's Vermont team can serve as a cautionary tale about the pressure of sustained success.
2. Albany- For a team that returns their top two players in Sam Rowley and Peter Hooley, and a team coming off back to back titles, there are many question marks. With nine new faces on the team, the supporting class is going to be in flux. There are some nice pieces coming in and as a result I believe they will hang on to the number two spot. However, it matters very little what they do in the regular season as they have been a mediocre regular season team in each of their championship seasons. You can bet on one thing: they will be playing their best basketball in March.
3. Hartford- Can they finally put it all together? By far the most experienced team in the league and the only team not replacing a large chunk of their rotation. If they can't pull it off with this group, they may not have another chance. I have them finishing in the three spot because I still do not believe that their style over the course of an entire season brings the consistency they need to put winning streaks together. They will be scrappy and competitive as always, I am just not sure they can sustain the shooting percentage they need to make a push to the top of the league.
4. Vermont- Replacing and entire team can be difficult but Vermont looks like they will be up to the task. With a much heralded freshman class and Brendan Kilpatrick returning from a medical redshirt, Vermont has the personnel to make a swift change. The offense will be faster and with more shooters for the first time in many years, Vermont will be relying on their offense to carry the team. There will be mistakes and growing pains but this Vermont team has the pieces to keep pace in the top half of the league.
5. Binghamton- Another team with a large freshman class, Binghamton will be heavy on athleticism and light on experience. Returning the all out, all league Jordan Reed will help the young players come along quickly. With what will likely be the most athletic team in the league, Binghamton will get up and down and put a ton of pressure on their opponents. The inexperience is the only reason they are this low and in a few years they may very well be competing for a title. The 4/5 battle between Binghamton and Vermont will likely be very close and could come down to the last game of the season.
6. New Hampshire- The next four spots are going to be far behind the first 5 in the league this year. This is where the talent level begins to drop off significantly. New Hampshire is going to be big on grit and will push teams to the brink. They just do not have enough talent to win the battles over a 40 minute game with any consistency. There are a few nice young players that may make New Hampshire competitive in a few years, but they are not close this season.
7. UMBC- Another team with some great young pieces. Rodney Elliot is a future star in this league but he will have very little around him. Last years group had several character issues and you hope that that is now behind this team and there will be no lingering affects. Not enough talent to compete with the top half of the league.
8. UMass Lowell- This team is well coached and surprised many people by finishing 8-8 last year. One of the other teams with a large freshman class, Lowell will need those newcomers to grow up very fast in order to compete. This will be the most difficult year of their D1 transition.
9. Maine- Woodward is finally gone and that gives Maine fans hope that they will be competitive again sometime in the near future. This will not be that year. New coach Bob Walsh will get Maine back to being competitive, but they will not have the players to do it this year. It will be a very trying year as it has been for several years. The difference is now there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
There you have it! I will be completing a Vermont season preview in the coming weeks.
