While Athlon (Stony Brook) and Sporting News (University of Maine) selected different America East Conference champions, both publications think that the America East will have a school making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Although the magazines disagree on how the top-half of the conference will look, all three believe that Binghamton, Hartford, Albany and UMBC will finish 6-9 respectively.
After winning the America East regular season championship in 2009-10, Athlon believes that the Seawolves will take the next step this season and advance to the NCAA Tournament. While they expect the Seawolves to miss 2010 America East Player of the Year Muhammad El-Amin’s production, the hope is that junior forward Tommy Brenton will fill the void. Joining Brenton on the predicted All-America East first team is UNH senior guard Alvin Abreu, Maine junior guard Gerald McLemore, Binghamton senior forward Greer Wright and Boston University senior guard John Holland. Athlon believes that Holland will emerge as the America East Player of the Year. Here is the complete America East Conference Standings prediction from Athlon:
1) Stony Brook
2) Boston University
3) New Hampshire
4) Maine
5) Vermont
6) Binghamton
7) Hartford
8) Albany
9) UMBC
Sporting News believes that the return of four starters should be enough to help Maine win its first-ever America East conference championship. Along with the return of the four starters, the publication thinks that junior college newcomer Raheem Singleton could be the key to pushing the team to the next level. Leading the way for the Black Bears is Gerald McLemore, who is joined on the predicted All-America East first team by UNH’s Alvin Abreu, Stony Brook junior guard Bryan Dougher, Hartford senior guard Joe Zeglinski and Boston University’s John Holland. In similar fashion to Athlon, Sporting News believes that Holland will emerge as the America East Player of the Year. Here is the complete America East conference standings prediction from Sporting News:
1) Maine
2) Stony Brook
3) Boston University
4) Vermont
5) New Hampshire
6) Binghamton
7) Hartford
8) Albany
9) UMBC
Lindy's predicts that the Seawolves will take the next step this season and advance to the NCAA Tournament. The depth and strong leadership in the backcourt is what gives Stony Brook the slight edge over Maine in this publication. Stony Brook's Bryan Dougher is the lone member of the Seawolves to make the predicted All-America East first team, and he is joined by Maine's Gerald McLemore, Hartford's Joe Zeglinski, Binghamton's Greer Wright and Boston University's John Holland. Just as Athlon and Sporting News predicted, Lindy's has Holland emerging as the Player of the Year. Here is the complete America East conference standings prediction from Lindy's.
1) Stony Brook
2) Maine
3) Boston University
4) New Hampshire
5) Vermont
6) Binghamton
7) Hartford
8) Albany
9) UMBC
