America east preview

It is that time when predictions are made and typically proved very wrong. The regular season is often somewhat of an enigma in the America East. The preseason pick to win the league rarely finishes first and the regular season champ also struggles to win in the tournament. Albany was able to complete the sweep last season for the first time since 2009 but they were not picked to win the league in the preseason last year. Predictions are still fun to make and that one time you hit the nail on the head erases all of the things you got wrong. Without further ado here is how I think they will finish and a few thoughts about each team.

1. Stony Brook 

    This is the year that Stony Brook has to cash in and win a title. They have had the most dominant player in the league for the last 3 years and have come up short each time. That is a tremendous amount of pressure and in Stony Brook's recent history they have struggled to overcome high pressure situations. This year however they are well equipped to not just dominate the America East, but be a top mid major team across the country. Carson Puriefoy and Jameel Warney are the big names and they have carried this team without a consistent supporting cast over the last three years. This year will be the best surrounding talent that Stony Brook has had in the Warney/Puriefoy era. Adding Lucas Woodhouse, a transfer from Longwood will give them another strong point guard to take the pressure off Puriefoy. They also bring back Ahmad Walker after a year at a junior college who will give them a tenacious defender and rebounder. There is no excuse for Stony Brook not to win the title this year, they are the best team in the conference. 

2. Albany

    A four year sweep is what Peter Hooley and the Great Danes are looking for this season. That would be an unbelievable accomplishment and you know that Albany is always ready to step up to and overcome any challenge. Replacing Sam Rowley is going to be tough as he was the engine that drove Albany for the past four years. They still have the heart of their team in Hooley who always steps up when the team is in need of a hero. Bringing back the rest of their backcourt with Evan Singletary and Ray Sanders will keep them at the top of the league. Replacing someone like Rowley will take a team effort and Albany has a few big men joining the team who are aiming to do just that. No matter what, come playoff time Albany will be locked and loaded for another title run.

3. Vermont

     The Catamounts always find a way to compete for a title. The consistency of the program is exceptional and as such they will be looking for their 8th consecutive 20 win season. This year they return most of their team and welcome Ernie Duncan back from injury. If Duncan can perform to the level he showed in limited minutes at the beginning of last season, Vermont will again be competing for a title. Ethan O'Day is looking to go out on top as he wraps up a strong career in a Catamount uniform. The big question mark for Vermont is who will step up alongside O'Day in a thin, inexperienced frontcourt. Hofstra transfer Darren Payen is looking to make an immediate impact and Drew Urquhart will be trying to build off a strong finish to last season.

4. New Hampshire

    After a surprising run last year, New Hampshire is poised to be the team that finally splits the triple team at the top of the America East. Returning most of their top contributors the Wildcats are looking to maintain the momentum they built last year. Tanner Leissner leads the team and will look to build off a great rookie year. Daniel Dion, Jacoby Armstong, and Jaleen Smith all enter their junior year as the elder statesmen and look to be the veteran presence for the Wildcats. Matt Miller not being granted an extra year of eligibility was a big blow as he was their best offensive threat at times last season. They will look to have some of their young players step up and fill that void. 

5. Hartford 

    If there was any year that Hartford was going to break through, it was with the 6 returning seniors they had last year. Alas, that group underachieved for 3 years following a strong freshman campaign. It is hard to judge where Hartford will end up this year as they are relying on several transfers to round out their team. Pancake Thomas (yep Pancake) and Jalen Ross have both been hyped as instant impact transfers. It remains to be seen what their impact will be. They do return their best player in Taylor Dyson and because they play tough defense, I actually think this may be addition by subtraction. The group of seniors never seemed to gel and grow as a team. I see this years group as being more competitive because it will give this program a fresh start. Unfortunately that still puts them fighting for the best of the rest spot in the America East.

6. Binghamton 

    The Bearcats finished strong last year and started to live up to the hype that has been surrounding this program since Tommy Dempsey took over. Last year they dealt with several injuries and the untimely departure of Jordan Reed. A fully healthy, fully focused Binghamton squad has a chance to push up the standings and compete with New Hampshire for the home playoff game. So one might wonder why rank them so low? The answer is: I will believe it when I see it. Every time this program begins to become relevant again, some chain of events results in its slide back to mediocrity. Whether it be an injury or a transfer, Binghamton has struggled to maintain programmatic momentum. As a result I am putting them lower in my rankings. However, they have a very talented group pf players and may be the most athletic team in the conference With Willie Rodriguez and Romello Walker leading the way and Dusan Perovic returning from injury, Binghamton has a chance to make the leap this season. But only if they can avoid the pitfalls that have plagued this program.

7. UMBC
    Last year with sometimes only seven players dressing for games, UMBC left it all on the floor and competed night in and night out. The Retrievers were often leading at half time against the upper echelon of the America East before succumbing to fatigue. With most of the team returning, newcomers to lengthen the bench, and Rodney Elliott coming back from injury, UMBC has a chance to increase their win total. They will still be in the lower half of the league, but they may be able to build some momentum and begin the climb out of the basement. Always scrappy and competitive, they will look to be a thorn in the side of the teams competing for the title. 

8. UMass Lowell
    Transitioning to a Division I program is a difficult task and Lowell is still early in the process. Last year they red-shirted several of their freshman in an attempt to maximize their years of eligibility in hopes that they could form a more competitive team several years down the road. Several key injuries, including one to all league performer Jahad Thomas, rendered them helpless down the stretch last season. With Thomas back and a full roster of players, Lowell will begin the process of forming an identity as a program. 

9. Maine
    Ted Woodward left this program in shambles and his ineptitude will unfortunately continue to put Maine at a disadvantage this year. Overhauling a program involves changing the culture while finding players who fit a new and different style of play. Maine has talented players in Kevin Little and Aaron Calixte, but they will struggle to fill out their rotation. Like Lowell, Maine is very young and inexperienced and their goals are far more in the long term. This year will be about teaching the players the right way to play basketball and having the team buy in to the way that Bob Walsh wants them to play.

I hope you enjoyed the league preview and a Vermont specific preview will be coming next week.

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