The Terriers garnered six of eight possible first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their team) and 62 points, followed by reigning regular-season champion Stony Brook University, which received two first-place votes and 57 points. University of Maine picked up the last first-place tally and followed in third place with 51 points. University of New Hampshire was next in fourth place with 41 points, just ahead of defending champion University of Vermont, which collected 35 points. University of Hartford (24 points), Binghamton University (23) and University at Albany (22) were closely bunched together at sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. UMBC finished with nine points and rounded out the nine-team poll.
The 2011 America East Championship first, quarter and semifinal rounds will take place March 3-6 at Hartford’s Chase Family Arena in The Reich Family Pavilion. The title game will be hosted March 12 by the highest remaining seed with the winner earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
Boston University (21-14 overall, 11-5 America East in 2009-10) made its first America East title game appearance since 2003 and reached the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational last year. The Terriers, who averaged a league-best 72.2 points per game in 2009-10, return three starters from that squad, including the all-league tandem of senior John Holland and junior Jake O’Brien. Holland earned first-team recognition for the second straight season after contributing a league-high 19.2 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per contest. O’Brien also ranked among the conference’s best in both categories, ranking 11th in scoring (13.8 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (6.4 rpg). The Terriers also return junior forward Jeff Pelage, who grabbed 5.7 rebounds per outing against conference foes. Boston U. will need immediate production from 10 players who have never before donned the Scarlet & White, including seven freshmen and three transfers.
Stony Brook (22-10, 13-3) had its most successful season as a Division I program last year, winning a record 22 games, capturing its first America East regular-season crown and making its first-ever postseason appearance. The Seawolves, who hosted Illinois in an NIT first-round matchup in March, bring back eight letterwinners and four starters from that squad, including second-team all-conference guard Bryan Dougher. Dougher ranked 10th among league leaders in scoring (13.8 ppg) and made 95 three-pointers while shooting 42.4 percent from long range. Reigning America East Coach of the Year Steve Pikiell will rely on senior Chris Martin (10.8 ppg) and junior forward Dallis Joyner (8.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg) to replace 2010 Player of the Year Muhammad El-Amin and all-conference forward Tommy Brenton, who was lost indefinitely after suffering a knee injury.
Maine (19-10, 11-5) won 19 games last year for the first time since 2004 and finished third in the league standings for the first time since 2000. The Black Bears had success by dominating on the defensive end of the court, holding opponents to just 62.1 points per game and 39.5 percent shooting, which ranked 19th in the nation. One of three teams to return multiple all-conference performers, Maine brings back eight letterwinners and four starters, including all-conference performers Gerald McLemore and Sean McNally. McLemore became the first Black Bear since 2003 to earn first-team honors after he averaged 14.6 ppg and became just the third player in league history to sink over 100 three pointers (102). McNally, a third-team choice, scored 10.3 ppg and grabbed 7.4 rpg, good for fourth in the league.
New Hampshire (13-17, 6-10) reached the semifinals of the America East Championship for the second straight season. It was the first time UNH won a quarterfinal contest in consecutive years since the 1993-94 and 1994-95 campaigns. The Wildcats, who ranked second in the league in scoring defense by allowing just 62.4 ppg, are experienced and bring back three seniors that have combined to play in 261 games as collegians. Second-team all-conference guard Alvin Abreu leads the group after contributing 14.4 ppg last year, while Tyrone Conley (11.7 ppg) and Dane DiLiegro (8.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) will also need to contribute for the Wildcats to win their first conference crown. Sophomore Ferg Myrick (7.6 ppg) is poised for a breakout season after earning all-rookie accolades as a freshman.
Vermont (25-10, 12-4) lost the bulk of its firepower from last year’s championship squad that tied a school record with 25 victories and won its fourth conference title since 2003. Gone are four starters from that team, including two-time America East Player of the Year Marqus Blakely, but the Catamounts do bring back senior forward Evan Fjeld, who averaged 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds en route to earning third-team All-America East honors. UVM will suit up seven new players who will need to contribute immediately, including junior transfer Matt Glass, who appeared in 63 games at UMass.
Hartford (8-22, 6-10) enters its first season under head coach John Gallagher, who previously served as an assistant for the Hawks for two years, including in 2007-08 when they won a program-record 18 games and reached the America East Championship game for the first time. All five starters and 82 percent of the scoring output returns for Hartford, including Joe Zeglinski, the league’s active leading scorer with 1,577 points,. He ranked fourth in scoring (16.4 ppg) and earned second-team all-conference recognition. Senior Morgan Sabia will look to build off a solid season as well (11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
Binghamton (13-18, 8-8) exceeded expectations last year by finishing fifth in the conference standings with a .500 mark despite having just eight scholarship players on its roster. Senior forward Greer Wright is one of four starters returning for the Bearcats. He earned first-team all-league honors after averaging 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds overall and increased those numbers to 16.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg against league foes. Senior Mahamoud Jabbi also broke out in league play, averaging 8.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg and a league-best 2.1 blocks.
Albany (7-25, 2-14) hopes to rebound from a tough season and will rely on its backcourt to do so. Senior Tim Ambrose (12.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), an all-conference selection two seasons ago, is the team’s top returning scorer, and sophomore Mike Black is poised for a breakout season. An America East All-Rookie choice last season, Black led the league in three-point percentage (.434), averaged 10.4 ppg and 3.4 assists in league play, and scored 14 or more points in five of his last seven games.
UMBC (4-26, 3-13) struggled in 2009-10 after reaching consecutive league title games the previous two years. The Retrievers will welcome back their last remaining link to those teams in senior forward Justin Fry, who averaged 8.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 2008-09, but missed all of last season to injury. Junior Chris De La Rosa made an impact during his first season in Baltimore, averaging 11.7 points and a league-best 5.1 assists.
2010-11 Preseason Poll
Rank Team (1st-place votes) Total Points
1. Boston U. (6) 62
2. Stony Brook (2) 57
3. Maine (1) 51
4. New Hampshire 41
5. Vermont 35
6 Hartford 24
7. Binghamton 23
8. Albany 22
9. UMBC 9
