Albany

Sunday Predictions: MVC Finals, AE Semis, MAAC Semis, More

Greg Mengelt — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 07:37:38 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking every conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP: AT ST. LOUIS

(2) Creighton (27-5, 14-4) vs. (4) Illinois State (20-12, 9-9)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: CBS. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 13 – Creighton 87-78*; Feb. 1 – Creighton 102-74. RPI: Creighton 28, Illinois State 100. Analysis: After a bit of a late-season swoon, Creighton is back. The Redbirds can’t get enough points to justify taking them. Line: Creighton -5. Pick: Creighton 89, Illinois State 67.

COLONIAL SEMIFINALS: AT RICHMOND, VA.

(1) Drexel (26-5, 16-2) vs. (4) Old Dominion (20-12, 13-5)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports Net/CAA TV. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 25 – Drexel 73-72*. RPI: Drexel 67, Old Dominion 106. Analysis: Drexel’s defense is among the best in the country. If the Dragons can slow Kent Bazemore, who scored 37 against them last week, they should roll. Line: Drexel -3. Pick: Drexel 67, Old Dominion 58.

(2) Virginia Commonwealth (26-6, 15-3) vs. (3) George Mason (24-8, 14-4)

Tipoff: Approx. 4:30 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports Net/CAA TV. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 14 – George Mason 62-61; Feb. 25 – VCU 89-77. RPI: VCU 65, George Mason 79. Analysis: This may be an NCAA Tournament elimination game. VCU appears to have the slightly better team. Line: VCU -6. Pick: Virginia Commonwealth 83, George Mason 76.

AMERICA EAST SEMIFINALS: AT WEST HARTFORD, CONN.

(1) Stony Brook (21-8, 14-2) vs. (4) Albany (19-13, 9-7)

Tipoff: 5:02 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Stony Brook 81-68; Feb. 4 – Stony Brook 76-69*. RPI: Stony Brook 158, Albany 219. Analysis: The top seed isn’t playing as well as it was in early February, and the Great Danes are playing their best basketball. Line: Stony Brook -3. Pick: Stony Brook 73, Albany 71.

(2) Vermont (21-11, 13-3) vs. (6) Hartford (9-21, 7-9)

Tipoff: Approx. 7:15 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Vermont 72-59*; Feb. 4 – Vermont 82-56. RPI: Vermont 156, Hartford 310. Analysis: Vermont has won 12 of 13 and may be poised for an America East title. Line: Vermont -8. Pick: Vermont 77, Hartford 55.

METRO ATLANTIC SEMIFINALS AT SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

(1) Iona (25-6, 15-3) vs. (4) Fairfield (18-13, 12-6)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 27 – Iona 71-62*; Feb. 24 – Iona 77-72. RPI: Iona 42, Fairfield 123. Analysis: Iona has scored at least 75 points in nine straight games, and the Stags simply can’t keep up. Line: Iona -5½. Pick: Iona 81, Fairfield 68.

(2) Loyola (Md.) (22-8, 13-5) vs. (6) Siena (14-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: Approx. 4:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Loyola 66-59*; Jan. 19 – Loyola 66-55. RPI: Loyola 83, Siena 245. Analysis: Siena has shown the ability to rise to the occasion – and the Saints may just do it again. They’ll at least cover. Line: Loyola -6½. Pick: Loyola 80, Siena 76.

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(3) Robert Morris (23-9, 13-5) at (2) Wagner (25-5, 15-3)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: MSG or FCS. Regular-season meeting: Feb. 2 – Wagner 80-69. RPI: Wagner 88, Robert Morris 118. Analysis: Both teams are capable of winning this game, plus a possible NCAA tourney game. Tough call – so take the home team (and the Hurley brothers). Line: Wagner -6½. Pick: Wagner 84, Robert Morris 77.

(5) Quinnipiac (18-12, 10-8) at (1) Long Island (23-8, 16-2)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: MSG or FCS. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Long Island 79-75*, Feb. 18 – Long Island 99-89. RPI: Long Island 99, Quinnipiac 162. Analysis: The Bobcats are playing very, very well and may just pull off this upset. Line: Long Island -3. Pick: Quinnipiac 80, Long Island 77.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: AT ASHEVILLE, N.C.

(1N) UNC-Greensboro (12-18, 10-8) vs. (3N) Western Carolina (15-17, 8-10)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Western Carolina 73-69; Jan. 28 – Greensboro 89-86 (OT). RPI: Greensboro 215, Western Carolina 231. Analysis: The Catamounts have won six straight and should upset UNCG. Line: Greensboro -7. Pick: Western Carolina 76, UNC-Greensboro 69.

(1S) Davidson (22-7, 16-2) vs. (2N) Elon (14-15, 9-9)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 23 – Davidson 66-45. RPI: Davidson 68, Elon 233. Analysis: It will be tough for the Wildcats to cover the spread because their starters will be resting early. Line: Davidson -13½. Pick: Davidson 73, Elon 59.

SUMMIT LEAGUE SEMIFINALS: AT SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

(4) Western Illinois (16-13, 9-9) vs. (5) North Dakota State (17-12, 9-9)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Western Illinois 55-51; Feb. 25 – Western Illinois 77-64. RPI: Western Illinois 191, North Dakota State 174. Analysis: NDSU really struggled from the field against the Bulldogs this season, especially from the 3-point line. And Terrell Parks has had his way with the Bison. Line: North Dakota State -1. Pick: Western Illinois 60, North Dakota State 55.

(3) Oakland (17-14, 11-7) vs. (6) Southern Utah (13-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: Approx. 9:30 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Oakland 72-63*; Feb. 15 – Oakland 76-68 (OT). RPI: Oakland 133, Southern Utah 244. Analysis: It’s been a strangely inconsistent season for Oakland, but Reggie Hamilton won’t let the Grizzlies go out early. Line: Oakland -7½. Pick: Oakland 80, Southern Utah 63.

SUN BELT QUARTERS: AT HOT SPRINGS, ARK.

(1) Middle Tennessee (25-5, 14-2) vs. (9) Arkansas State (13-19, 6-10)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: Sun Belt Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Middle Tennessee 59-46. RPI: Middle Tennessee 48, Arkansas State 243. Analysis: Arkansas State is playing well. The Red Wolves are seven points from a 5-game winning streak. They should make Middle Tennessee uncomfortable. Line: Middle Tennessee -8½. Pick: Middle Tennessee 66, Arkansas State 62.

(4) Louisiana-Lafayette (16-14, 10-6) vs. (5) North Texas (16-13, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7:15 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 25 – Louisiana-Lafayette 64-62; Feb. 18 – Louisiana-Lafayette 57-53*. RPI: North Texas 204, Louisiana-Lafayette 183. Analysis: North Texas probably has more talent. Tony Mitchell is the difference in a tight game. Line: North Texas -2. Pick: North Texas 69, Louisiana-Lafayette 66.

(2) Arkansas-Little Rock (15-15, 12-4) vs. (7) Western Kentucky (12-18, 7-9)

Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. TV: Sun Belt Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 21 – Western Kentucky 65-53. RPI: Little Rock 166, Western Kentucky 220. Analysis: The Hilltoppers are playing their best basketball of the season. They probably won’t upset UALR, but they’ll stick with them. Line: Little Rock -2. Pick: Arkansas-Little Rock 61, Western Kentucky 60.

(3) Denver (21-8, 11-5) vs. (6) South Alabama (17-11, 8-8)

Tipoff: 9:45 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Denver 67-50*. RPI: Denver 94, South Alabama 172. Analysis: Denver will pull away late for a double-digit win. Line: Denver -8½. Pick: Denver 72, South Alabama 61.

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 117-87-2

Monday Recap: The More Things Change...

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:05:39 -0800

Monday's showdown between #3 Baylor and #7 Kansas gave the visiting Bears a great chance to make the statement that they were ready to dethrone a program that's won at least a share of the last seven Big 12 titles. Well while there's still plenty of basketball to be played before the regular season champion is determined, it's safe to say that Bill Self's team has no plans to simply hand over the top spot. Thomas Robinson outplayed the highly-touted Baylor frontcourt, scoring 27 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, and Tyshawn Taylor scored a game-high 28 points and dished out six assists as the Jayhawks rolled to the 92-74 victory.

"We played terrific. That's the best game we've played all year," remarked Self. "The energy level was great and we got off to a great start."

Baylor looked to be every bit Kansas' equal after the Jayhawks jumped out to a 17-9 lead, putting together an 18-5 run over a nearly seven-minute stretch to take a 27-22 lead with 6:01 remaining. But to sustain such play at Allen Fieldhouse is difficult to say the least, and Kansas would close the half on a 17-2 run to take a 39-29 lead into the break. Taylor, who capped the half with a three-pointer from the top of the key, led the way with 14 points while Robinson added 12 and five boards. Rebounding was an issue all night for Baylor, who ignored the need to box out and it cost them.

Kansas grabbed 15 offensive rebounds on the night, scoring 17 second-chance points, and out-rebounded the Bears 39-24. And if that wasn't enough the Jayhawks outscored Baylor 48-34 in the paint and all five starters reached double figures in scoring. Jeff Withey, the player who had to show up lest Robinson be left to deal with the Baylor frontcourt by himself, posted a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds in addition to three blocked shots. With Baylor's starting frontcourt scoring 49 of their 74 points Withey had to be a factor and he was.

"When we get Jeff going, it really gets a lot of us going, and a lot of people don't know that," said Elijah Johnson, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds. "Jeff is a key player to our team, especially with getting us started. When he is on track, it can be a long night for some teams."

Perry Jones III led Scott Drew's club with 18 points and Quincy Miller scored 17 but it wasn't enough to avoid their first defeat of the year. Pierre Jackson scored 11 points off the bench in his sixth-man role to go along with 11 assists, but his solid performance was eclipsed by what Taylor was able to do. Provided they improve their rebounding, which is surprisingly mediocre given their size, Baylor will be a factor in both the Big 12 and national title races. But the biggest lesson to come out of Monday night is that to win the Big 12 the road once again goes through Lawrence.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Marquette climbs out of an 18-2 hole to beat Louisville at home.
Down 18-2, Marquette head coach Buzz Williams took what many would judge to be an unconventional approach to dealing with his team. He didn't flip out or panic, and as a result his lack of an overreaction proved to be the best move. The Golden Eagles would outscore Louisville 32-12 from that point forward to take a 34-30 halftime lead on their way to the 74-63 win at the Bradley Center. Darius Johnson-Odom led four Marquette players in double figures with 19 points, Davante Gardner scored 17 and grabbed six rebounds and Jae Crowder posted a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds), but the foul line proved to be the difference on Monday afternoon.

Marquette made 16 of their 18 free throws while Louisville failed to take advantage of their opportunities, making four of ten from the charity stripe. Russ Smith scored 20 points to lead the Cardinals, who were once again without the injured Kyle Kuric, and their half-court offense remains an issue. Louisville finished with 17 assists but also turned the ball over 17 times, and the absence of Kuric severely hampers the bench production as Smith moves into the starting lineup. Marquette's reserves, led by Todd Mayo (11 points), outscored the Louisville reserves 15-3. Marquette could have lost their composure and allowed the Cardinals to run away with the game at 18-2 but they stayed the course and ultimately won.

2. Syracuse continues the best start in school history with a win over Pittsburgh.
Despite their recent track record of futility against Pittsburgh heading into Monday's game at the Carrier Dome (no current player had ever beaten the Panthers), few expected the top-ranked Orange to struggle with Jamie Dixon's club. And after 20 minutes of play it looked as if Syracuse was going to roll to their 20th consecutive win as they led 35-26. Pitt couldn't take care of the basketball, and their 11 first-half turnovers led to 12 Syracuse points. But the Panthers were able to remain within striking distance by hitting the glass,out-rebounding the Orange 22-14. That would continue in the second half, and while the Orange went on to win 71-63 the 40-28 disadvantage on the glass is something that sticks out for Jim Boeheim's 20-0 squad.

Dion Waiters led five players in double figures with 16 points and Fab Melo posted a double-double with ten points and ten assists while Pitt was led by three players who scored ten points apiece. But just like Louisville, the Panthers' woes at the foul line prevented them from making the game uncomfortably close for Syracuse. Syracuse made 20 of their 23 free throws while the Panthers shot 12-for-23 with Nasir Robinson missing six of his eight attempts.

Be it free throws or layups Pittsburgh is not completing the "simple" plays right now, and that's a big reason why they're off to their worst start in Big East play since the 1995-96 season. As for Syracuse, while they were the unanimous choice for the top spot in the coaches' poll this week there's still plenty to improve upon. For a team that can achieve special things this season, this is just one step on the road they hope leads them to New Orleans.

3. So much for the SWAC showdown, as Mississippi Valley State rolls Southern.
With Southern entering their road game in Itta Bena just a game out of first place in the loss column there was reason to believe that Rob Spivery's Jaguars would challenge the Delta Devils. Twenty-one turnovers later however Southern found themselves on the wrong end of a 77-56 result, as they also shot 38.8% from the field and gave up 19 offensive rebounds. Five MVSU players reached double figures with Cor-J Cox scoring a game-high 23 off the bench and Paul Crosby grabbed 14 rebounds in addition to scoring 18 points.

To say the least it's a lot easier to win when scoring 27 points off of 21 turnovers and 23 second-chance points, and as a result Sean Woods' Delta Devils find themselves in sole possession of first place with a 5-0 league mark. With five teams within two games of each other in the loss column it's anyone's guess as to how the race will shake out, but the Delta Devils' win keeps them above the rest for the time being.

Quick Hitters

1. From Sunday, there were two huge differences between Ohio State's 80-63 win over Indiana and their loss to the Hoosiers in the first meeting. One, Aaron Craft was much better running the show (seven assists and no turnovers; had six turnovers in Bloomington). And two, Lenzelle Smith Jr. went off to the tune of 28 points and seven rebounds on 10-for-12 shooting. If Smith Jr. can be a consistent supplement to William Buford, Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas, look out.

2. Missouri took care of business ahead of their meeting with Baylor in Waco on Saturday, beating Texas A&M 70-51. The point guard play wasn't close with Phil Pressey outplaying Dash Harris and that's one reason as to why Billy Kennedy's team has struggled this season. The Aggies need more from their guards if they're to have a shot at climbing into the middle of the Big 12 pack.

3. Logan Aronhalt scored 20 points and Mike Black 13 to lead Albany, but when two starters manage to go scoreless it's tough to win on the road. Guards D.J. Irving and Darryl Partin combined to score 32 points as Boston University beat the Great Danes 70-57 to move to 4-1 in America East play. The Terriers are a half-game behind Stony Brook for first place, as the Seawolves moved to 5-1 with a 71-62 win over New Hampshire.

4. In a matchup of undefeated (in league play) teams Norfolk State won 74-66 at Coppin State. Kyle O'Quinn, who has to be the frontrunner for MEAC Player of the Year right now, scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds and Pendarvis Williams scored a game-high 25 points. The Spartans sit atop the MEAC standings with a 4-0 record.

5. Christian Williams made just three of twelve shots from the field but his three-pointer with 22 seconds remaining gave Jackson State a 52-51 lead on their way to the 54-51 win over previously undefeated Texas Southern. Jenirro Bush led the Tigers with 23 points and eight rebounds.

6. Memphis freshman Adonis Thomas could be done for the season due to an injury suffered in practice on Friday, according to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. A surgery that would repair a tendon between Thomas' ankle and foot would necessitate a recovery period of two to three months.

Three Notable Performances

1. F/C Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State)
24 points and 19 rebounds in the Spartans' 74-66 win over Coppin State.

2. F Thomas Robinson and G Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas)
Robinson scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Taylor put up 28 points and six assists in the Jayhawks' 92-74 whipping of #3 Baylor.

3. G Melquan Bolding (Fairleigh Dickinson)
38 points, five rebounds and three steals in the Knights' 87-83 loss to Longwood.

Who Will Win the 2011-12 America East Title?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:39:40 -0800

College Hoops Monday Recap: Pangos Catches Fire in Spokane

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:27:37 -0800

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have some impressive offensive performers that Washington State likely made themselves very aware of in preparation for their game at midnight. Elias Harris and Robert Sacre are formidable frontcourt players while Marquise Carter is a jet-quick point guard who is more than willing to attack defenses. But if the Cougars had a plan for how to slow down freshman guard Kevin Pangos it sure didn't look like it. Pangos knocked down nine three pointers, tying the school record held by Dan Dickau (he did it twice) and scoring 33 points in an 89-81 victory that ended up being closer than it needed to be.

"We knew he was a very good shooter and he was a concern of ours when the game started," remarked Washington State head coach Ken Bone after the game.

The problem for Washington State defensively is that rarely was Pangos forced to take a hurried shot, and the majority of his threes that fell came without a hand in his face. Gonzaga rode the Canadian's hot shooting to a lead that would be as large as 21 points in the second half, but they had to hang on as Washington State fought back to within three points late in the second half. Harris (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Sacre (15 and 10) both posted double-doubles for Gonzaga and freshman Gary Bell Jr. added 14 points off the bench, and Gonzaga also held a 16-point edge (30-14) at the charity stripe.

Brock Motum led five Washington State players in double figures with 17 points, and Cougars shot 47.5% from the field. But they were outrebounded 41-33, and Gonzaga's edge of nearly eleven percentage points in the offensive rebounding percentage category (Gonzaga rebounded 37.8% of their misses to 27% for Wazzu) was a factor. Harris and Sacre combined for eight of Gonzaga's 14 offensive rebounds on the night, and keeping them off the boards proved to be a problem for a Washington State team that lacks bulk inside. That will need to improve, but the big news was Kevin Pangos putting future Gonzaga opponents on notice. If this becomes a habit, the Bulldogs become that much tougher to guard.

Other Notable Happenings

1. UCLA suspends Reeves Nelson indefinitely.
Already owning a loss on the season, things took another turn for Ben Howland's UCLA Bruins on Monday night as it was announced that he'd suspended forward Reeves Nelson indefinitely. The two were supposed to meet to talk things over on Monday but the coach instead made the move to suspend Nelson and delay the talk until after the Bruins play Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday. There have been attitude issues in regards to Nelson, who was a preseason All-Pac 12 selection and a player of the year candidate in the league. But it's tough to play at that level when not fully invested in what the coach wants done. This is just the latest happening in what could develop into a soap opera of sorts if the Bruins aren't careful. Better to try to handle these issues now, because the longer they're allowed to fester the more damaging the issues can be.

2. Florida State clamps down on UCF in the second half, winning by 23.
From an efficiency standpoint the UCF Knights haven't been at their best this season. But those numbers hit a new low on Monday night in Tallahassee as they ran into one of the toughest defenses in the country. Florida State limited UCF to 30.5% shooting from the field and an offensive efficiency of 72.5 in their 73-50 win over the Knights to move to 2-0. But it wasn't just Florida State's abilty to defend that did in the Knights. Florida State finished with a rebounding advantage of 46-31, with their 16 offensive rebounds helping to make up for 19 turnovers. Bernard James led four Seminoles in double figures with 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds, while Tristan Spurlock led the Knights with 12. UCF is a bit shorthanded with A.J. Rompza and Josh Crittle out of the lineup, but it likely wouldn't have mattered on Monday. FSU was that good defensively.

3. Northern Iowa can't make a shot in Moraga as Saint Mary's picks up the convincing win.
Northern Iowa put together one of the best defensive performances of the season to date this weekend in holding Old Dominion to 46 points on the road. But the tables were turned early Tuesday morning at Saint Mary's as the Panthers struggled mightily offensively and fell 57-41. It wasn't pretty for either team in the first half but the Gaels closed the half on a 14-2 run to lead 26-13 at the break. Things only got worse for the Panthers, especially Anthony James as he shot 1-for-15 from the field on the night. Matthew Dellavedova led Saint Mary's with 11 points but it was UNI's inability to score that provided the headline. UNI shot 27.1% from the field, making just 25% of their two-point shots. Can't win on the road shooting that poorly, especially at a place as tough to win in as Saint Mary's.

Quick Hitters

1. Don't underestimate Providence's 80-72 win at Fairfield in Ed Cooley's return to his previous employer. Rakim Sanders' second half foul trouble triggered a Friar run, and they ultimately held on. This is good win for a program still looking to build its foundation.

2. Temple picked up an important Big 5 victory, outlasting Penn 73-67 in overtime at the Palestra. Juan Fernandez's 19 points and five assists led the way as the Owls survived a 27-point effort from Penn's Zach Rosen.

3. UNLV led by 14 points with just over four minutes left in their game against rival Nevada but had to do everything in their power to get the 71-67 win. Justin Hawkins led a balanced scoring effort with 13 points and the Rebels assisted on 18 of their 26 field goals while also outrebounding the Wolf Pack 47-40.

4. In a game that could linger throughout the season George Mason fell to FIU 79-76 in overtime in the Blackburg regional of the Preseason NIT. Paul Hewitt's team thus allows a resume-building opportunity against Virginia Tech slip away as a result.

5. Eric Atkins and Joey Brooks scored 13 points apiece to lead Notre Dame to a 59-53 win over Detroit, with the game changing once the Titans' LaMarcus Lowe fouled out. Lowe finished the game with eight points, ten rebounds and five blocks but with him no longer in the middle things became easier for the Irish offensively.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Kevin Pangos (Gonzaga)
33 points (9-for-13 3PT) and six assists in the Bulldogs' 89-81 win over Washington State, tying Dan Dickau's school record for made threes in a game.

2. G Kyle Vinales (Central Connecticut State)
39 points (15-23 FG) in just 26 minutes of action for the Blue Devils, who lost 103-96 in overtime at Niagara. CCSU led by as much as 17 in the first half.

3. G Gerald Suero (Albany)
29 points (9-12 FG), nine rebounds, three assists and three steals in the Great Danes' 77-68 win over Brown.

Thirty-Two Regular Season Champions, Part One

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:05:04 -0700

With the college basketball season finally on the horizon, the game that's been overlooked by many in conference realignment will once again have the center stage. Perennial contenders will once again make a run at a national title while some new faces will pop up as well. The first four-part preview will focus on the conferences, and more specifically who will win each of the 32 leagues.

America East: Albany
There were some important coaching changes in America East this offseason, with Patrick Chambers leaving the defending conference tournament champs (Boston University) to take over Penn State and Mike Lonergan leaving regular season champ Vermont for George Washington. While both teams, along with tournament finalist Stony Brook, return some key pieces the Great Danes of Albany return four starters. Tim Ambrose departs but Third Team All-America East performers Logan Aronhalt (14.6 ppg) and Mike Black (12.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 apg) return as does All-Rookie Team member Luke Devlin (7.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg). In a tight race throughout league play, look for Will Brown's team to win the title.

Atlantic 10: Xavier
In the A-10 it's tough to pick against Chris Mack's Musketeers, who have won at least a share of the last five regular season titles. Point guard Tu Holloway (19.7 ppg, 5.9 apg) was a Third Team All-America selection last season and the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, and he'll have help on the perimeter from Mark Lyons (13.6 ppg) and sharpshooter Brad Redford, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. Kenny Frease (suspended indefinitely on Friday; Xavier hopes that he'll return at some point) and transfers Travis Taylor (Monmouth) and Andre Walker (Vanderbilt) will handle things inside, and freshmen Dezmine Wells and Justin Martin will also factor into the rotation. Their biggest challenger will likely be Temple, but the Musketeers look poised to run their streak to six.

ACC: North Carolina
The moment Roy Williams' talented cast decided to return to Chapel Hill the bar was set: anything less than a national title would be a disappointment. Harrison Barnes (15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) , John Henson (11.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Tyler Zeller (15.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) all return along with point guard Kendall Marshall (6.2 ppg, 6.2 apg), and the Heels' talent and depth make them the early favorite to win it all. All five starters and some key reserves return in addition to a talented recruiting class led by P.J. Hairston, Desmond Hubert and James Michael McAdoo. Duke and Florida State look to be the teams with the best ability to make a run at the top, but Carolina's the head of the class right now.

Atlantic Sun: Belmont
2010-11 was supposed to shape up as a "they're a year away" kind of campaign for Rick Byrd's Bruins. All Belmont did in response was go 30-5 overall with a 19-1 record in conference play. Four starters and ten letterwinners from last season return for Belmont, including forwards Mick Hedgepeth (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Scott Saunders (9.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and guard Drew Hanlen (6.4 ppg, 4.0 apg). Hanlen and the rest of the backcourt will have to make up for the losses of Jon House and Jordan Campbell but they've got more than enough tools to do so. And if Belmont can get back to the Big Dance and get a favorable matchup style-wise, look out.

Big East: Syracuse
The Big East produced its first national champion since 2004 last season, and the fact that a team that tied for ninth (Connecticut) was the one to do it surprised many. That goes to show how tough the league can be on a nightly basis, so even though many see four teams (UConn, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse) separate from the pack in October things can change by March. The pick here is Syracuse, with Jim Boeheim returning many talented pieces in addition to welcoming in a highly-touted recruiting class led by forward Rakeem Christmas. Seniors Kris Joseph (14.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Scoop Jardine (12.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) will be expected to lead as will junior Brandon Triche (11.1 ppg), and keep an eye on sophomores C.J. Fair (6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Dion Waiters (6.6 ppg) as well. But whether or not Syracuse wins the Big East could ultimately come down to how the bigs perform with Rick Jackson having graduated.

Big Sky: Montana
Wayne Tinkle's Grizzlies were one win away from a trip to the NCAA Tournament as they fell at Northern Colorado in the tournament final, and with four starters back Montana is well-equipped to move to the top of the league. First Team All-Big Sky performer Will Cherry (14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg) returns as does 7-footer Derek Selvig (10.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and sophomore guard Kareem Jamar (8.1 ppg). Freshman wing Kevin Henderson is a rookie some have pegged as a player to watch within the league as well, and Montana has the pieces needed to win the league crown.

Big South: UNC Asheville
Led by guards Matt Dickey (15.7 ppg, 3.3 apg) and J.P. Primm (14.6 ppg, 4.5 apg), Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs won the conference tournament title as well as a game in the NCAA Tournament. And with those two returning in addition to two other starters it's tough not to pick UNC Asheville to do what they could not do last season and win the regular season crown. Coastal Carolina won the regular season crown a season ago but eligibility issues in the second half of the season helped submarine their run, and they'll likely be the Bulldogs' biggest challenger this season.

Big Ten: Ohio State
Much like North Carolina, Ohio State's status as a national title contender was cemented the moment its biggest star committed to returning to school. Jared Sullinger returns for his sophomore campaign in better shape, and all he did was dominate the Big Ten as a freshman. The Buckeyes do have to make up for the loss of David Lighty, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale, but they have enough talent both returning (Will Buford and Aaron Craft being two other returnees) and incoming (Sam Thompson and Shannon Scott being two of the four) to merit their status as clear favorites to win the conference.

Next (Sunday): Big 12 through MAAC

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Albany Legend Jamar Wilson

Jon Teitel — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 09:32:58 -0700

In the most recent installment of his "Forgotten Legends" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time talking with Albany legend Jamar Wilson. Wilson led the Great Danes to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, the first of which came in 2006 when he and his teammates controlled the flow of play for 30 minutes against top-seed UConn in 2006. The school's all-time leading scorer, Wilson is now playing in Europe.

Jon Teitel: You were named All-America East during each of your 4 years at Albany. How were you able to play at such a high level for your entire college career?
Jamar Wilson: Since the day I arrived on campus I had the opportunity to play right away. The coaches did a great job of staying on us to making sure we could achieve as much as possible.

JT: In 2003 as a freshman you scored a career-high 39 points on 14-17 FG against New Hampshire. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?
JW: I approached it just like every other game, but I remember that I hit a few shots and felt like I could not miss.

JT: You only played one game during the 2003-2004 season due to a right knee injury. Were you nervous about your ability to come back the following year?
JW: Not at all. I injured myself during the preseason, and we could not figure out what was going on. I continued to practice with the team, but would always be in excruciating pain after only a few minutes. We found that my kneecap was dislocated, and it was devastating because I was ready to play and produce. It might have been one of my best moves because I was able to observe everything from the sideline in practice.

JT: In 2006 during an upset of Utah, you tumbled backwards over an opponent, hit the back of your head on the court, and ended up with a sprained neck, but you returned to play in the second half. How bad was the injury, and did you worry that it might have derailed your basketball career forever?
JW: I actually fell on my head. I was out of it and do not remember too much, which is a shame because it was a game to remember after beating such a high-caliber team. The trainer told me that I had a concussion, and some of my teammates said that I was not even able to drink a cup of Gatorade without spilling it all over myself!

JT: In 2006 and 2007 you were named conference Player of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?
JW: It was an amazing feeling, but I attribute it all to my teammates and coaches because I would not have had as good a career without them. They were there every day to push all of us to be the best that we could be.

JT: What are your memories of the 2006 NCAA Tournament (Wilson scored 17 points and had a school tournament record six assists in Albany's first-ever tournament game, a loss to Connecticut)?
JW: It was a bittersweet memory right after the game, because we left everything out on the floor. It felt good knowing that we would get some respect for playing so well, but looking back now it bothers me a little bit because we had a chance to win that game. It would have changed our lives forever; they might have even made a movie about that!

JT: What are your memories of the 2007 America East Tournament final (Wilson scored 22 points and were named tournament MOP in a one-point win over Vermont on their home floor)?
JW: My fondest memory is of the final 17 seconds, which felt like it took eight hours; I have never been so nervous in my life. Vermont coach Mike Lonergan decided not to call a timeout, and I was pretty much shaking in my shoes. Once we got the ball back it just felt surreal. All I could think of was why it took so long for the seconds to tick off the clock.

JT: What are your memories of the 2007 NCAA Tournament (Wilson scored a school tournament record 25 points in a loss to Virginia)?
JW: That was another bittersweet memory, but kind of a nightmare. We were more prepared than we had ever been, and we were very confident going into that game. The thing that hurt us was that Virginia was on a losing streak entering the tourney, so they came out very tough and played very hungry. If we had caught them on a different night, we might have had a chance to win.

JT: Since graduation you have played professionally in Europe. What have you learned from the experience, and how does it compare to college basketball?
JW: Pro ball in Europe is amazing due to the different culture. You learn how to treat your body a lot better. In college you eat whenever you can and everything is provided for you. My first year in Europe was a wake up call. You are by yourself, have to pay your own bills, and make your own meals. I had a tendency to skip meals occasionally, so I have had to become less lazy and make sure that I eat the right things.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?
JW: I always chose the team aspect over the individual aspect, so my team will be more of a legacy than I am. I want to be remembered as being a positive person who played hard. We had such a tight-knit group, and it was one of the best feelings in the world to be a part of that team.

Jamar is also on on Jon's list of best fantasy players in America East history.

Albany: Jamar Wilson (2007) 2,164 PTS (#1), 488 AST (#2), 80.9 FT% (#5), two-time All-American, two-time conference Player of the Year

Binghamton: Jeff Merrill (1994) 1,603 PTS (#3), 757 REB (#1), 58.9 FG% (#1)

Boston University: Tunji Awojobi (1997) 2,308 PTS (#1), 1,237 REB (#1), 302 BLK (#1), conference Player of the Year

Hartford: Vin Baker (1993) 2,238 PTS (#1), 951 REB (#3), 279 BLK (#1), two-time All-American, conference Player of the Year

Maine: Rufus Harris (1980) 2,206 PTS (#1), 806 REB (#4), conference Player of the Year

UMBC: Larry Simmons (1990) 1,805 PTS (#1), 413 AST (#4), 240 STL (#1), 250 3PM (#2)

New Hampshire: Al McClain (1984) 1,861 PTS (#1), 415 AST (#2), 306 STL (#1)

Stony Brook: Emeka Smith (1993) 1,978 PTS (#1), 387 AST (#2), 194 STL (#1), 185 3PM (#2), 84.6 FT% (#3)

Vermont: Taylor Coppenrath (2005) 2,452 PTS (#2), 839 REB (#4), three-time All-American, three-time conference Player of the Year

Jon Teitel's Coaches Interview Series: Albany's Richard "Doc" Sauers

Jon Teitel — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:58:48 -0700

CHN writer Jon Teitel has continues his interview series, this time focusing on some of the best coaches that have worked at the collegiate level. America East leads it off, with Teitel spending some time with former UAlbany head coach Richard "Doc" Sauers. Sauers coached the Great Danes for forty-two seasons, winning more than seven hundred games and helping the school move from Divison III to their current Division I status. He is now the women's golf coach at UAlbany.

Jon Teitel: In 1973 you wrote a book called "Basketball's Stack Offense and 20 Defense". Why did you write it, and what was it about?

Richard "Doc" Sauers: It was about our system of play in Albany. A lot of high school coaches in this part of the country copied it. By getting something published, it helped me get promoted from assistant professor to full professor.

JT: In 1985 you were named Division III Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

RS: It was great. It was the year that I won my 500th game, and they announced it in front of everyone at the coaches' convention at the Final Four. I also won the golf tournament at that convention, so it was a pretty good week.

JT: In 1992 you were inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame. How big a deal was that for you, and did you see that as a validation of your career?

RS: I was in the 2nd class to ever be inducted, and since a lot of big names got in first, it was really an honor.

JT: You graduated almost every one of your players and had 39 straight winning seasons despite never coaching a First Team All-American and working in Division III without scholarships for most of your career. How were you able to maintain your success without having a single down year, and what role do you place on academics?

RS: We did not give out scholarships until my 40th year at Albany. We always recruited guys who were pretty good students, so we only had to sweat the midterm grades a couple of times. They were not big stars: all they wanted was a chance to play.

JT: In your career of 1,000-plus games, you were only called for 6 technical fouls. What do you think about coaches who pick them up in an effort to get their team motivated, and what would cause you to actually get called for one?

RS: I did my loudest yelling while the crowd was also yelling, so hopefully the refs could not hear me. I was too cheap to motivate my team that way, so I never did that. I got a technical foul in a game at Buffalo when we were playing horribly 1 night, so I yelled at the ref: I deserved it, but it did not help us win.

JT: What is the biggest change you have seen in the sport from the start of your career to now?

RS: The biggest change was the three-point shot, and I was on the rules committee when it got voted on.

JT: You currently serve as the women's golf coach at Albany for 12 years. Why did you make the switch from men's basketball to women's golf, and what are the biggest differences between the two?

RS: I just had enough of basketball and needed a change (basketball is a long season), so the school asked me to start the team. The biggest difference is that in an individual sport, you never get the players together for practice, just for matches.

JT: You previously served as the men's golf coach. What made you make the switch later on to women's golf coach?

RS: They dropped the men's golf team in the past due to Title IX.

JT: Your son Stephen is director of basketball operations at Seton Hall. What was it like to coach him back in the 1980s, and what is the most important part of his current job?

RS: He does all the scheduling and coordinates the use of the facilities. He also does a lot of scouting and advance preparation. He is more than ready for a head coaching position. It was nice to coach him: he would even call me "Doc" at home. I treated him just like any other player.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

RS: I got the most out of my players, and had them prepared for most any situation. Most of them still even talk to me, so that is nice.

AMERICA EAST'S BEST COACHES

Albany: Richard "Doc" Sauers (1955-1997): 702-330, 11 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, one-time national Coach of the Year

Binghamton: NO COACH HAS BEEN THERE FOR 5 YEARS

Boston University: Dennis Wolff (1994-2009): 247-197, 2 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, three-time conference Coach of the Year

Hartford: Paul Brazeau (1992-2000): 100-122

Maine: John Giannini (1996-2004): 125-111

UMBC: Randy Monroe (2004-present): 72-82, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, one-time conference Coach of the Year

New Hampshire: Gerry Friel (1969-1989): 188-335, 1 conference title, one-time conference Coach of the Year

Stony Brook: Steve Pikiell (2005-present): 58-91, 1 conference title, one-time conference Coach of the Year

Vermont: Tom Brennan (1986-2005): 264-276, 3 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, three-time conference Coach of the Year

America East Preseason Poll: BU #1

Press Release — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:29:52 -0700

HARTFORD, Conn.-- In search of its first league title since 2002, Boston University is the unanimous preseason choice of the coaches to win its sixth America East Men’s Basketball title in 2009-10. The selections were announced today as part of the America East Basketball Tip-Off Luncheon held at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, host city for the 2010 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Presented by Newman’s Own on March 4-7.

The Terriers received all eight possible first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their team) and 64 points, followed by University of Vermont, which received the remaining first-place vote and 56 points. University at Albany barely edged Stony Brook University for third place with 43 points, while the Seawolves came in one point behind with 42, just ahead of University of New Hampshire’s 39. University of Hartford and UMBC tied for sixth with 28 points apiece, while University of Maine (14 points) and Binghamton University (12) rounded out the poll.

The 2010 America East Championship first, quarter and semifinal rounds will take place March 4-7 at Hartford’s Chase Arena in the Reich Family Pavilion. The title game will be hosted a week later by the highest remaining seed with the winner earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Boston University (17-11 overall, 11-5 America East in 2008-09) begins its first season under head coach Patrick Chambers, who helped lead Villanova to the Final Four last season as Jay Wright’s associate head coach. Chambers will inherit a wealth of talent as the Terriers return their top six scorers and 91.5 percent of their scoring from a year ago. Leading the charge will be first-team All-America East performers John Holland (18.1 ppg) and Corey Lowe (17.2 ppg), who ranked third and fourth, respectively, among league leaders in scoring. Reigning Rookie of the Year Jake O’Brien also returns for his sophomore season after averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest as a freshman.

Vermont (24-9, 13-3) captured a share of the America East regular-season crown and earned a postseason bid for the fifth time in seven years last season, reaching the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. The Catamounts lost four-time all-conference selection Mike Trimboli, who finished his career 12th on the conference’s all-time scoring list, but welcome back the premier player in the league in senior forward Marqus Blakely. The two-time America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Blakely ranked among league leaders in nearly every category, leading in rebounding (9.0 rpg), blocked shots (2.7 bpg) and steals (2.0 spg) and finishing fifth in scoring (16.1 ppg).

Albany (15-16, 6-10) reached the semifinals of the America East tournament for the third time in four years last March despite suffering its first sub-.500 conference mark since the 2003-04 season. The Great Danes are one of two teams (Boston U.) to welcome back multiple all-conference players in junior guard Tim Ambrose and junior forward Will Harris, both third-team honorees a year ago. Ambrose ranked ninth among league leaders in scoring (14.3 ppg) and 13th in rebounding (5.1 rpg), while Harris was 10th in scoring (12.9 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (6.5 rpg).

Stony Brook (16-14, 8-8) is coming off one of its best season as Division I program, winning its most games since 2000-01 and setting a program record for America East victories. The Seawolves return four starters, including second-team all-league choice Muhammad El-Amin, a preseason all-conference pick this year. El-Amin, who finished seventh with 15.7 points per game last year, is joined by a pair of All-Rookie selections in sophomores Tommy Brenton and Bryan Dougher. Brenton was the second-best rebounder in the league as a freshman with 8.9 rebounds per game, while Dougher was Seawolves’ second-leading scorer and among the league’s best in free throw (.772) and 3-point percentage (.363).

New Hampshire (14-16, 8-8) reached the semifinals of the America East Championship for the second time in four seasons under head coach Bill Herrion after not reaching the league’s Final Four since 1995. Junior guard Alvin Abreu will shoulder the load on the offensive end with the graduation of All-America East performer Tyrece Gibbs. Abreu, an all-rookie choice two years ago, ranked second on UNH with 12.8 points and 2.2 assists per game. Fellow juniors Tyrone Conley (8.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Dane DiLiegro (5.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg) will be important if the Wildcats are to capture their first conference title.

Hartford (7-26, 2-14) took a step back from its record-setting season of 2007-08 but was without leading scorer Joe Zeglinski, a first-team all-conference choice two years ago and a preseason selection each of the past two years, who missed all but 10 games with an ankle injury. Zeglinski, who has averaged 16.0 points per game over the last two seasons and is one of three players that have eclipsed the 1,000-point mark (1,099), should drastically help Hartford improve on its league-worst 60.5 points per game output.

UMBC (15-17, 7-9) reached the title game of the America East Championship for the second straight year in 2009, becoming just the second No. 6 seed to reach the league final. Gone are all-conference performers Jay Greene, who finished his career third on America East’s all-time assist list, and Darryl Proctor, who racked up 1,138 points and 558 rebounds in just two seasons at UMBC, but back is senior forward Matt Spadafora, who has started 44 straight games for the Retrievers and averaged 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest last year.

Maine (9-21, 4-12) returns four starters from a year ago, including All-Rookie honoree Gerald McLemore, who ranked second among first-year players with 12.1 points per game. Junior forwards Troy Barnies (7.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Sean McNally (9.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg) ranked fourth and 15th, respectively, in rebounding last year. Junior college transfers Jerrell Boswell and Terrance Mitchell, who combined to average 39 points per game last season, should make the Black Bear offense, which was fourth in the league (66.0 ppg) last year get ever better.

Binghamton (23-9, 13-3) return three players from a squad that set a school record with 23 wins, won its first-ever America East title and made its first NCAA appearance. Junior guard Chretian Lukusa started 11 games for the Bearcats down the stretch last season in which they went 9-2. Sophomore center Kyrie Sutton started 15 games and ranked fifth among league leaders in blocked shots (1.2 bpg).

Poll: Who Wil Win the America East?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:05:18 -0700

America East Tournament: Preview & Predictions

Evan Dorey — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:04:40 -0800

This is one in a series of conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, give a brief statistical review and present the log5 projections, using in-conference offensive and defensive efficiency. The basic log5 methodology comes from Bill James, and this is an area Ken Pomeroy has looked at in the past as well. I claim nothing new in the application, but obviously with slightly different methodologies, these numbers may differ from others you find. I don’t claim to be an expert on any particular conference, and I’m sure there are some mis-characterizations on some players I’ve seen sparingly at best, so please add your thoughts in the comments. Anyway, with no further ado, the preview follows below:

America East

The first three rounds will be played in Albany’s home court, SECFU Arena, with the final happening on Saturday morning at the higher remaining seed.

#	Team	QF	SF	F	W
1	Binghamton	100.00%	85.45%	53.64%	26.52%
2	Vermont	100.00%	87.92%	62.85%	45.92%
3	Boston University	100.00%	86.45%	32.33%	18.97%
4	New Hampshire	100.00%	28.09%	7.94%	0.82%
5	Stony Brook	100.00%	71.91%	34.71%	6.86%
6	UMBC	100.00%	13.55%	1.39%	0.19%
7	Albany	100.00%	12.08%	3.43%	0.47%
8	Maine	75.37%	12.98%	3.54%	0.24%
9	Hartford	24.63%	1.57%	0.18%	0.00%

Hometown team Albany got the worst possible opening draw, as the favorite, #2 Vermont will be a tough task. Binghamton and BU should be the main challengers, with Stony Brook a team from outside the top 4 that could cause a big surprise.

#1 – Binghamton Bearcats (20-8, 13-3) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.072

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Binghamton is the hottest team in the conference, having won each of its last eight games, but it’s only been the third best team in the league by efficiency margin standards. The Bearcats have been good defenders, holding opponents to a low percentage and forcing a lot of turnovers, but they have had problems with rebounding and commit a lot of fouls. Offensively, they’ve been an average team, not making a lot of mistakes, but not excelling in any area either.

Players to watch:

6-4 JR D.J. Rivera, 20.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 52.5 eFG% - Rivera is the conference’s leading scorer, and the St. Joe’s transfer is the only America East player to average more than 20 points a game. His long-distance shooting leaves something to be desired, but he’s an efficient player because of his ability to score inside and his remarkable turnover rate, giving the ball up just 46 times on the year.

6-6 SR Reggie Fuller, 10.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 55.6 eFG% - Fuller is only the 5^th ranked scorer on the team, but he’s a good inside shooter who puts up solid rebounding and shot-blocking numbers. He’s also improved his play of late, averaging more than 15 points in his last six games.

#2 – Vermont Catamounts (23-7, 13-3) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.1637

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2005 (2^nd Round)

Vermont has easily been the best team in the conference, except when it came to games against Binghamton, as it was swept in the season series with the Bearcats. The Catamounts have the America East’s best offense, shooting 48% from the floor and getting to the free-throw line very often. They also defend well, dominating the inside while forcing a lot of turnovers. Opponents have successfully shot over them, and they’ll need to be careful against teams with good long-range shooters.

Players to watch:

6-5 JR Marqus Blakely, 15.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 60.3 eFG% - Blakely is the conference’s best forward, leading the league in rebounds, steals and blocks. He’s a 60% shooter who does a lot of good work inside, with his only real weakness being his 56% free-throw shooting.

6-1 SR Mike Trimboli, 16.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 53.8 eFG% - There are some questions about Trimboli’s health heading into the tournament, and as the team’s best guard, his return will be criticaly important for the Catamounts’ chances. He’s a good three-point shooter who also distributes the ball efficiently.

#3 – Boston University Terriers (17-12, 11-5) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.095

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2002 (1^st Round)

Boston University is the 2^nd ranked team by EM, but faces a tough path to the title game with a potential semifinal against Vermont. The Terriers are a heavily perimeter-oriented team, taking a lot of their shots from behind the arc, and doing a pretty job of making them. They’ve also been good at defending threes, but poor interior defense and weak offensive rebounding have held them back in overall defensive efficiency.

Players to watch:

6-5 SO John Holland, 18.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 56.2 eFG% - Holland leads the team in points and rebounds, and has split his shooting almost evenly between twos and threes, putting up a good percentage in both areas.

6-2 JR Corey Lowe, 16.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.1 APG, 53.3 eFG% - Lowe is the other player on the Terriers who puts up a lot of shots, and is another good three-point shooter who also manages to distribute the ball to teammates.

#4 – New Hampshire Wildcats (13-15, 8-8) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.033

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

With the top three teams separating themselves from the pack, New Hampshire will have a tough time making any progress in Albany, and are actually the only top 4 team not favored to advance to the semis. The problem has been the Wildcat offense, which has been one of the conference’s worst. It uses a slow style, but doesn’t do it very well, putting up one of the country’s worst field goal percentages and giving the ball up often. This has left it to the defense to bail out UNH, something it has occasionally managed to do with excellent rebounding. New Hampshire needs to watch out for fouls, which were a problem in the non-conference, but have improved in America East play.

Players to watch:

6-3 SR Tyrece Gibbs, 14.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 51.7 eFG% - Gibbs is an excellent three-point shooter, and while his shots from inside the arc aren’t as effective, he takes enough threes to make him a decently efficient player.

6-8 SO Dane Diliegro, 5.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 54.3 eFG% - Diliegro isn’t much of an offensive threat, but he’s an excellent rebounder who takes his chances well when he gets them.

#5 – Stony Brook Seawolves (16-13, 8-8) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.045

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Four of Stony Brook’s eight conference losses have come in overtime (one in quadruple OT), so it’s not really a surprise that they are under-seeded, relative to their EM performance. They should be slight favorites against New Hampshire, mostly because of the conference’s best defense. The Seawolves get opponents to attempt a lot of threes, and manage to hold them to a pretty poor percentage, while also getting their hands on the ball a lot, either through turnovers or rebounds. Offensively, they tend to focus on getting the ball inside, a strategy that has been fairly unsuccessful, when you consider their conference-worst 44% shooting from two.

Players to watch:

6-5JR Muhammad El-Amin, 15.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 50.4 eFG% - El-Amin is one of the rare three-point threats on the Seawolves, and the Ju-Co transfer has not been afraid to shoot with impunity. He takes nearly a third of the team’s shots when he’s on the floor, and makes just enough to justify it.

6-6 SR Demetrius Young, 9.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 67.5 eFG% - His season-long numbers haven’t been that impressive, but Young is a guy who has really stepped up his play in recent days, and as the conference’s leader in FG%, will cause a lot of problems for opponents inside. He’s started just 4 games all year, but averaged 14 points a game in the month of February.

#6 –Maryland Baltimore County (13-16, 7-9) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.069

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (1^st Round)

The defending champions lost a lot from their 2008 team, and have really felt it on the defensive end of the floor, where they’ve had the worst record in the conference. They force few turnovers, and while they’ve defended the inside shot decently, teams have lit them up from three. One interesting thing about UMBC is its ability to avoid turnovers, as it’s put up one of the country’s lowest rates in that area. It hasn’t been too much of a help to the offense, though, as too many of its possessions have ended with missed shots. The wide majority of these shots have come from inside the arc, as UMBC has taken a lower percentage of threes than all but two other teams in the country.

Players to watch:

5-8 SR Jay Greene, 12.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 52.1 eFG% - Greene is the only Retriever who is a threat from behind the arc, taking the majority of his shots from three. He also leads the conference in assists, and is an excellent outside complement to his team’s inside-oriented attack.

6-4 SR Darryl Proctor, 20.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 47.6 eFG% - No player in the nation has played more minutes than Proctor, who averages 39.6 per game, and had his biggest night off when he played 33 against Pitt. He’s not just a guy who plays a lot, though, as he takes a huge role in the offense, and is a very good rebounder. He’s also committed just 64 turnovers all season, which is a very impressive number when you consider how much he plays.

#7 – Albany Great Danes (14-15, 6-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.069

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2007 (1^st Round)

Albany isn’t the kind of team you’d look at for an upset run, seventh in the league in offense and defense, but the fact that the tournament will be on its home floor at SEFCU Arena means that they will have a shot at causing some trouble. The Great Danes got the worst possible draw in Vermont, however, and could easily find themselves drummed out fast. They are spectacular rebounders, putting up one of the best rates in the entire country. They get a lot of chances to practice, as they are pretty bad shooters, especially from behind the arc. They also find themselves on the wrong side of turnover margin more often than not, and don’t force a lot of misses from opponents.

Players to watch:

6-0 SO Tim Ambrose, 14.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 49.1 eFG% - Ambrose leads the team in scoring, despite playing just 24 minutes a game, mostly because he has really struggled with foul trouble. He’s a solid shooter and has a very good assist rate, but just can’t stay on the court enough to really put up big averages.

6-6 JR Will Harris, 12.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 47.7 eFG% - Harris had a strong run at the start of the conference season, but has really cooled off towards the end of the year. He’s a decent percentage player, but not overly notable.

#8 – Maine Black Bears (9-20, 4-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.065

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

A 4-12 record in conference play is a little harsh for a team that has been about the same as the two teams ahead of them, and the Black Bears will be a little unfortunate to have to play an opening round game against Hartford. Defensively, they struggle inside, but manage to get opponents to shoot mostly three-pointers, where they are pretty effective. However, they’re also terrible defensive rebounders, so forcing a stop isn’t necessarily good enough to help them out.

Players to watch:

6-7 SO Sean McNally, 9.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 44.5 eFG% - McNally doesn’t play a big role in the offense, but is the Bears’ most effective offensive player, due to his ability to pick up offensive rebounds. He’s a decent shooter, but takes a few too many fruitless threes.

6-5 JR Mark Socoby, 12.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 45.7 eFG% - Socoby leads the team in scoring, but he’s a bit of a liability for Maine, as most of his shots come from behind the arc, where he barely cracks 30%.

#9 – Hartford Hawks (6-25, 2-14) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.154

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Hartford’s last win came on January 14^th, and it looks likely that it’ll finish the season on a 15-game losing streak. The Hawks’ offense has been simply terrible, one of the worst in the nation in getting to the free throw line and rebounding, and putting up a lot of threes, while hitting just 29% as a team from behind the arc. The Hartford defense has actually been decent, forcing teams to the outside and getting a lot of turnovers, but only having half a decent team isn’t good enough.

Players to watch:

6-2 SR Jaret Von Rosenberg, 12.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 45.7 eFG% - Von Rosenberg averages more than 38 minutes a game, and while he does a good job getting the ball to teammates, and is a good scorer inside the arc, his 27% three-point shooting really limits his effectiveness.

6-5 SR Michael Turner, 11.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 50.4 eFG% - Turner is a key player to any potential Hartford success, the only player who hits a solid percentage of long-distance shots and the team’s best rebounder.

My statistical all-America East team:

UMBC SR G Jay Greene, 12.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 52.1 eFG%

Vermont SR G Mike Trimboli, 16.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 53.8 eFG%

Boston University SO G/F John Holland, 18.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 56.2 eFG%

Binghamton JR F D.J. Rivera, 20.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 52.5 eFG%

Vermont JR F Marqus Blakely, 15.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG,1.9 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 60.3 eFG%