2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: Vermont
Best Overall Player: Earl Timberlake, Bryant
Best Shooter: Dom Capriotti, Binghampton
Best Defenseman: Kellen Tynes, Maine
Sleeper Team (Conference): UAlbany
Sleeper Team (March): UMass Lowell
Bryant guard Earl Timberlake; earl timberlake/swiftzphotos1. Vermont Catamounts*
2023 Record: 28-7
The America East representees in five of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, Vermont has built a dynasty in Burlington behind gritty defensive play and reliable scoring from nearly every position. The Catamounts reload in 2024 by returning nearly the entire starting lineup, headlined by ace Shamir Bogues and leading scorer TJ Long.
2. UMass Lowell Riverhawks
2023 Record: 22-10
The River Hawks were a quarter away from dethroning Vermont atop of the conference but fell short following a scrambled fourth quarter in the AE title game. Four of the top five scorers return in 2024, and with the help of coach Pat Duquette’s portal class which saw NJIT guard Mekhi Gray migrate north to Lowell, there are proven scorers at every level of the offense.
3. Bryant Bulldogs
2023 Record: 20-13
The Bulldogs will revolve around the offensive prowess of CPOTY candidate Earl Timberlake, but coach Phil Martelli surrounded the all-league guard with help in the form of Rafael Pinzon (27, 35, 24 points in last three games of 2023). Although star power runs deep depth is a concern in Smithfield, especially in the frontcourt where the Bulldogs’ average height was just 6’6 last season.
4. UMBC Retrievers
2023 Record: 24-12
The Retrievers rim-running offensive style admittedly flopped last season, ranking 201st in adjusted offensive efficiency behind a defense which ranked 325th in the nation. Multi-faceted guard Marcus Banks (15.1 ppg) will pair up with Columbia transferJosh Odunowo in hopes of re-kindling the lost 2018 flame in Baltimore.
5. UAlbany Great Danes
2023 Record: 13-19
Pairing explosive guard Amar’e Marshall with top-tier assist specialist and Alcorn State transfer Byron Joshua will be a lethal combination for the Great Danes who look to rebound (quite literally) from a disappointing 13-win campaign last season. The Great Danes were hurt by a lack of defensive rebounding, ranking outside the top-200, but look to shape up better following an increase in team height thru the transfer portal.
6. Maine Black Bears
2023 Record: 15-17
The Black Bears completed its best season in nearly two decades behind the tenacious defensive play of all-league guard Kellen Tynes who led the league in steals. The Black Bear defense ranked 102nd nationally last season and will look for a revamped offensive approach behind a bevy of frontcourt transfers.
7. NJIT Highlanders
2023 Record: 7-21
Statistically the worst team in the America East in almost every advanced category, the Highlanders shedded most of its production from a team that won just seven contests a year ago. Returning are a plethora of young, homegrown Highlanders who were the centerpiece in a signature win over Vermont last season. A more formidable attack in the frontcourt is needed for any progression in coach Grant Billmeier’s second season.
8. New Hampshire Wildcats
2023 Record: 16-15
Top-100 junior college transfer Sam Pissis will look to run the offense alongside lone returner Trey Woodyard, as the Wildcats — who lost last year’s conference player of the year Clarence Daniels — will look to reinvent themselves under defensive toughness and a fast-paced tempo on the offensive side of the ball.
9. Binghampton Bearcats
2023 Record: 15-15
The Bearcats lost four starters from last season yet return its top two scorers in Tymu Chenery and Nehemiah Benson. There is a decent core returning, but the Bearcats’ bench accounted for under 30% of team minutes last season — 240th in the nation — as Binghampton looks to run past inevitable growing pains with its new roster.