BOSTON-- Boston University (17-1 America East, 23-4 overall) has clinched the top seed in the 2004 Choice Hotels America East Men’s Basketball Championship. It is the second-straight year the Terriers enter the conference championship as the No. 1 seed. Complete Bracket (PDF).
Defending America East Champion University of Vermont (15-3, 19-8) is the No. 2 seed for the second year in a row. Last season the Catamounts defeated Boston University, 57-56, at Case Gym to earn the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
Northeastern University (13-5, 19-10) is the No. 3 seed. It is the highest seed for the Huskies since 1995 when Northeastern advanced to the conference title game, losing 72-52 at Drexel.
University of Maine (12-6, 18-9) is the No. 4 seed for the second-straight year.
Binghamton University (10-8, 14-15) earns the No. 5 seed in its first appearance in the America East Championship. The Bearcats, who joined America East prior to the start of the 2001-02 season, were ineligible for the past two conference championships in their transition to Division I.
University of Hartford (6-12, 11-16) is the No. 6 seed.
No. 7 University of New Hampshire (5-13, 9-19), No. 8 Stony Brook University (5-13, 8-19), No. 9 UMBC (4-14, 7-20) and No. 10 University at Albany (3-15, 5-22) will be forced to play first-round games in the 10-team championship, which will be held March 5-7 at Walter Brown Arena on the Boston University campus, with the championship game at the higher remaining seed on March 13.
Stony Brook and UMBC start the championship Friday at 7 p.m. New Hampshire and Albany will tip-off 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game.
Saturday’s quarterfinals include Maine vs. Binghamton at 12 noon with the winner of Stony Brook and UMBC vs. Boston University to follow. Vermont will play the winner of the UNH-Albany game to begin the evening quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Northeastern and Hartford will follow.
Sunday’s semifinals feature the No. 1 bracket winners at 12 noon and the No. 2 bracket winners at 2:30 p.m.
For ticket information log on to AmericaEast.com or call the Boston University ticket office at 617-353-GoBU.
Choice Hotels America East Men’s Basketball Championship
Friday, March 5
at Walter Brown Arena, Boston University
First Round
Game 1-- No. 8 Stony Brook vs. No. 9 UMBC, 7 p.m.
Game 2-- No. 7 New Hampshire vs. No. 10 Albany, 30 minutes following completion of Game 1
Saturday, March 6
at Walter Brown Arena, Boston University
Quarterfinals
Game 3-- No. 4 Maine vs. No. 5 Binghamton, 12 noon
Game 4-- No. 1 Boston University vs. Winner Game 1, 30 minutes following completion of Game 3
Game 5-- No. 2 Vermont vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.
Game 6-- No. 3 Northeastern vs. No. 6 Hartford, 30 minutes following completion of Game 5
Sunday, March 7
at Walter Brown Arena, Boston University
Semifinals
Game 7-- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (AE-TV), 12 noon
Game 8-- Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (AE-TV), 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 13
at higher remaining seed
Championship
Game 9-- Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (ESPN), 11:30 a.m.