The 2011-12 NCAA men's basketball season officially came to an end Monday evening with Kentucky claiming the national title in New Orleans. With the season in the books, several America East individuals and teams finished the season ranked among the nation's best in various statistical categories.
Individually, Albany's Gerardo Suero was the nation's seventh-leading scorer in his first season as a Great Dane, scoring 21.5 points per game, the league's highest mark since Vermont's Taylor Coppenrath averaged 25.1 ppg during the 2004-05 season. Boston University's Darryl Partin, the league's Player of the Year, came in 21st averaging 19.6 ppg.
Suero also worked his way into America East's record books via his work from the free throw line. Suero's 220 free throws made and 265 attempts both rank second on the league's all-time single-season list, trailing only Coppenrath's 226 makes and 295 attempts in 2004-05. Suero's teammate, Logan Aronhalt and Vermont's Four McGlynn, the America East Rookie of the Year, finished tied for 10th nationally in free throw percentage hitting 88.9 percent of their attempts. That mark is tied for third-best in America East history. Maine's Gerald McLemore set the league all-time mark this season (but did not meet NCAA minimum attempts) by hitting 92.5 percent of his tries.
Additionally, Maine's Andrew Rogers, an America East All-Academic selection, came in ninth nationally in assist-to-turnover ration (2.79-to-1) while Stony Brook's Bryan Dougher, a first-team all-conference choice, was 24th in three-pointers per game (2.78 pg). He finished his career with 337 made three-pointers, the third most all time in America East.
On the team side, Stony Brook ranked fourth in the country in rebound margin, grabbing 8.3 more boards per game than its opponent. The Seawolves, which captured the America East regular-season title, also ranked among the country's best defensive teams, holding foes to just 59.1 points per game, which was 13th best. The 59.1 points allowed per game is the fourth-best mark in league history and best since Boston U. allowed 55.7 ppg during the 2004-05 season.
Additionally, New Hampshire ranked 13th as a team in three-point field goal defense holding opponents to just 29.7 percent from behind the arc. Also, Albany ranked 19th as a team in free throw percentage, knocking down 75.5 percent of its attempts.