American East Conference

The Catamounts, 22-9 overall last season (15-3 America East), received eight first-place votes and 80 points to outdistance defending regular-season champion Boston University. The Terriers received the two remaining first-place votes and 69 points. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams in the preseason voting.

Maine was chosen third with 64 points, followed by Northeastern (59). Binghamton, which finished fifth a season ago, was chosen in that position with 50 points. Hartford, one of two teams to advance to the semifinals in each of the last three years (Vermont is the other), was chosen sixth with 34 points.

Stony Brook (30), which advanced to the semifinals for the first time in its three-year history in America East, was selected seventh. Albany (28), New Hampshire (23) and UMBC (12) rounded out the poll.

Coach Tom Brennan, who announced he will retire as head coach at Vermont at the conclusion of the season, welcomes the return of two-time America East Player of the Year Taylor Coppenrath, who led the conference in scoring with 24.1 ppg and T.J. Sorrentine, the 2002 America East Player of the Year, who averaged 14.8 ppg with 142 assists (4.6 per game) last season after missing all of 2002-03 with broken bones in both wrists. David Hehn (5.3 ppg, 80 assists), who has started 62 of 64 games the past two seasons and Germain Mopa Njila, who was third on the team in both scoring and rebounding with 6.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg, are also back.

Boston University was enjoying arguably its best season in school history entering the 2004 Choice Hotels International America East Championship. The Terriers went 17-1 in America East play and had a 23-4 record including a win at Michigan. But the season was derailed by a 62-58 loss to Stony Brook in the quarterfinals. Although the Terriers lost five seniors, including two all-conference performers, the America East coaches expect Dennis Wolff’s team to challenge for the title again this season. The Terriers are led by the trio of Chaz Carr, a first-team all-conference choice last season after leading the balanced Terrier offense with 13.0 ppg, Rashad Bell, a first-team all-conference choice in 2002-03, who averaged 11.5 ppg and 6.8 rpg last season, and Shaun Wynn, a third-team all-conference selection, who was the America East Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-2 guard contributed 8.2 ppg and 2.9 apg while leading the Terriers with 60 steals.

New Maine head coach Ted Woodward is no stranger to the Black Bears’ success, having served as John Giannini’s assistant for eight seasons. Woodward, who helped guide Maine to two America East Championship appearances as an assistant, hopes to lead the Black Bears to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Kevin Reed (14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg), who led the conference in steals and was fifth in three-pointers, and Mark Flavin (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), a second-team all-conference choice last season, are the top returnees. Joe Campbell (8.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Freddy Petkus (4.9 ppg) have played more games (80 and 87, respectively) than any other Black Bears. Chris Markwood averaged 5.9 ppg and 2.5 apg in 24 games last season after his transfer from Notre Dame.

Northeastern has seen a steady improvement under fourth-year coach Ron Everhart from seven wins in his initial season to 16 in his second year to 19 in 2003-04. If the Huskies are to continue their rise among the conference’s elite, they will need contributions from three players who hail from warm climates. Jose Juan Barea (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) averaged 20.7 ppg and 5.8 apg last season as a unanimous first-team all-conference choice. Barea was second in America East in both scoring and assists. Marcus Barnes (Miami, Fla.) averaged 17.0 ppg in his first season with the Huskies after transferring from Miami (Fla.). The 6-2 guard had 81 three-pointers. Bennet Davis (Freeport, Bahamas) was an all-rookie choice after averaging 7.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg.

Binghamton, chosen fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll, will again lean on 7-0 center Nick Billings, one of four starters returning for coach Al Walker. Billings was a second-team all-conference choice for the second-straight year after averaging 12.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 3.5 bpg. The senior owns the Binghamton career record and is tied for second in America East history with 302 blocks. He needs 108 blocks to pass conference leader Kevin Roberson. Troy Hailey (9.7 ppg) was third among the conference rookies in scoring and led the Bearcats with 2.4 assists per game. Alex Adediran (8.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) enjoyed a solid first season with the Bearcats after transferring from Seward County Community College. Sebastian Hermenier (6.0 ppg) and Billy Williams (4.9 ppg) are other starters returning. Binghamton will also host the Choice Hotels International America East Men’s Basketball Championship at the new 5,511-seat Events Center on campus in Vestal. The $33.1 million facility opened before a capacity crowd on January 31, 2004 when the Bearcats played host to Hartford.

Hartford and Vermont are the only teams to have reached the America East semifinals in each of the last three years. Coach Larry Harrison’s team is experienced, despite its youth, with juniors Aaron Cook, who ranked No. 5 in America East in scoring (15.0 ppg) and led the conference with 82 three-pointers, and Charles Ford (9.2 ppg) leading the way. Sophomores Bo Taylor (7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Rich Baker (4.6 ppg) and Alex Zimnickas (3.6 ppg) each saw significant playing time as rookies. Sean Regan, who led the Hawks in rebounding with 6.2 rpg, and Trevor Goode are the only seniors on the roster.

Stony Brook hopes to ride the momentum of last season when the Seawolves won two games in the Choice Hotels International America East Championship, including an upset of top-seed Boston University. Cori Spencer, who was second on the team in both scoring (10.3 ppg) and rebounding (4.8 rpg), returns for his senior season. Mike Popoko (8.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Mitchell Beauford (10.1 ppg) were among the conference’s top rookies a season ago.

Albany coach Will Brown expects his Great Danes to make great strides this season. After having as few as six players on his roster at times last season, Brown should have depth this season thanks to a pair of transfers and the return from injury of 2002-03 America East Rookie of the Year Jamar Wilson. Wilson, who finished second in the conference in scoring (18.9 ppg) in 2002-03, missed all but one game last year due to a broken knee cap. Levi Levine (14.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) led the Great Danes in scoring and was second in rebounding. Jon Iati became the second-straight Great Dane named America East Rookie of the Year after leading all first-year players in scoring with 14.0 ppg. The 5-9 guard also led the nation in minutes played with 40.0 per game. Aquawasi St. Hillaire (9.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) ranked No. 6 in America East in rebounding in his first season after transferring from SUNY-Delhi. Brown also adds transfers Lucious Jordan (Loyola (Md.)) and Kirsten Zoellner (Boston College). Jordan, a 6-2 junior guard, led Loyola in scoring with 13.2 ppg in 2002-03. Zoellner is a 7-1 junior center who played 15 games in two seasons at Boston College.

New Hampshire doubled its win total from five in 2002-03 to 10 a season ago. In addition, the Wildcats lost eight games by five points or less. Coach Phil Rowe’s team returns Ben Sturgill, who averaged 13.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg but did not qualify for the conference leaders after missing 14 games with foot injuries, and junior college transfer Craig Walls (9.2 ppg), who ranked No. 4 in America East with 7.1 rpg in his first season with the Wildcats. The Wildcats also feature an international flavor as Australian recruit Phil Collins joins fellow countryman Blagoj Janev and Ioannis Karalis of Greece. Janev averaged 10.2 ppg with 35 three-pointers in 22 games last season after joining the Wildcats at the semester break.

A year ago, UMBC changed conferences, departing the Northeast Conference for America East. This season, the Retrievers change head coaches, although Randy Monroe is a familiar face to his UMBC squad. Monroe, an assistant coach at UMBC since 1994, was named acting coach for the Retrievers’ first Choice Hotels International America East Championship appearance last season. Monroe welcomes the return of six players who played prominent roles a season ago. Rob Gogerty led the Retrievers in assists (112) and minutes played (35.6) while averaging 10.5 ppg, second on the team. Cory McJimson averaged 9.6 ppg and 5.5 rpg in his first season with the Retrievers after transferring from Pierce College. John Zito (9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Andrew Feeley (6.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Seth Davis (4.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Chris Pugh (4.3 ppg, 63 assists) each started at least 16 games a season ago.