BOSTON — For the second-straight year, Stony Brook is America East’s preseason favorite in men’s basketball as the league’s 2015-16 preseason poll was unveiled Thursday morning. The poll results were determined via a vote by the conference’s nine head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team,
The Seawolves, who return nearly their entire roster from last season, received seven of eight possible first-place votes and 63 points to top the poll. Three-time defending America East champion Albany received the other two first-place votes and 55 points to place second. Vermont, coming off its 12th 20-win campaign in its last 14 seasons, is third with 49 points, followed by New Hampshire, which tied its program record for wins last season, in fourth with 47 points. Binghamton is fifth (32 points), followed by Hartford in sixth (24) and UMBC just behind seventh (23). UMass Lowell (19) and Maine (12) round out the nine-team poll.
The 2015-16 season begins on November 13 with conference play starting on January 6. Conference positioning will again prove key for the #AEPlayoffs as each round will take place on the higher seed’s home court for the second-straight season. The quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday, March 2 with the semifinals slated for Monday, March 7. The league champion will be crowned on Saturday, March 12 with the winner will earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, where America East teams have won eight games all-time including Albany in 2014 and Vermont in 2012.
2015-16 Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Stony Brook (7 1st place votes), 63 pts.
2. Albany (2), 55
3. Vermont, 49
4. New Hampshire, 47
5. Binghamton, 32
6. Hartford, 24
7. UMBC, 23
8. UMass Lowell, 19
9. Maine, 12
Team Capsules...
1. Stony Brook Seawolves
2014-15 record: 23-13, 12-4 AE, America East Runner Up (T-2nd), CBI 1st Round
- Stony Brook is the preseason favorite after posting its fifth 20-win season in its last six and appearing in the postseason for the fifth time in that span.
- The Seawolves have nine letterwinners from last year's squad back, including all five starters.
- Two-time America East Player of the Year Jameel Warney headlines the group after leading the league in scoring (16.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.7 rpg) a year ago.
- First-teamer Carson Puriefoy ranked second in scoring (14.4 ppg) and Rayshaun McGrew, a third-team choice, was second in rebounding (8.7 rpg).
- The Seawolves, who have averaged 21.6 wins per season over the last six years, open their season Sat., Nov. 14 against U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
2. Albany Great Danes
2014-15 record: 24-9, 15-1 AE, America East Champion (1st), NCAA 2nd Round
- Albany is coming off one its best seasons in program history after winning a Division I program record tying 24 games, its first regular-season title since 2005-06 and its third straight conference title.
- The Great Danes will try to join Northeastern (1984-87) as the only America East program to win four consecutive conference championships.
- A trio of all-conference selections, first-team selection Evan Singletary, second-teamer Peter Hooley and third-teamer Ray Sanders will lead Albany.
- Hooley is one of just five players in league history to win two America East Championship Most Outstanding Player awards.
- The Great Danes visit Kentucky in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Classic to open their season Nov. 13.
3. Vermont Catamounts
2014-15 record: 20-14, 12-4 AE, America East Semifinals (T-2nd), CBI Semifinals
- Tabbed third, Vermont is coming off its seventh-straight season of at least 20 wins with a postseason appearance. The Catamounts advanced all the way to the CBI semifinals in March.
- The Catamounts return nine letterwinners and four starters from last year's squad, including three All-Conference standouts.
- Among the trio is senior forward Ethan O'Day, a preseason All-Conference selection, who earned first-team honors a year ago.
- The Catamounts, one of the best teams in the league a year ago, allowing a league best 59.2 points per game, open up their season Nov. 13 at Eastern Michigan.
4. New Hampshire Wildcats
2014-15 record: 19-13, 11-5 AE, America East Semifinals (4th), CIT 1st Round
- New Hampshire tied a program record with 19 wins and made its first-ever postseason appearance (CIT) last season.
- The Wildcats led the league in scoring (67.0 ppg) for the first time in seasons last year.
- Tanner Leissner leads four returning starters and nine letterwinners. He earned All-Rookie honors a year ago after averaging 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season and is a preseason all-conference choice.
- UNH opens against Lyndon State on Nov. 13.
5. Binghamton Bearcats
2014-15 record: 6-26, 5-11 AE, America East Quarterfinals (7th)
- Binghamton is poised to make big strides this season after sporting the youngest team in the country last season.
- The only team whose top three scorers were freshmen, have 10 letterwinners and all five starters returning.
- All-Rookie selection Willie Rodriguez (11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is back as is Dusan Perovic, who was the Bearcats' second-leading scorer before injuring his knee in December.
- The Bearcats kick off their season on Nov. 13 at St. Bonaventure.
6. Hartford Hawks
2014-15 record: 14-16, 7-9 AE, America East Quarterfinals (5th)
- Hartford will need to replace four starters and 63 percent of its scoring from last year's squad in 2015-16.
- A mix of solid returnees, including Co-Sixth Man of the Year Justin Graham (6.9 ppg), and impact transfers, Jalen Ross (Eastern Michigan) and Pancake Thomas (New Mexico)
- Hartford begins play against Central Conn. State in the Connecticut 6 Classic on Nov. 13.
7. UMBC Retrievers
2014-15 record: 4-24, 2-14 AE, America East Quarterfinals (T-8th)
- UMBC will welcome the return of 2013-14 America East Rookie of the Year and third-team All-Conference selection Rodney Elliot to lead a team that was ravaged by injuries last season.
- Elliott ranked fifth in scoring (15.0 ppg) and fourth in assists (3.6 apg) two years ago.
- Cody Joyce is one of four returning starters for UMBC. He earned second-team all-league honors last year (13.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and ranked fifth in the league in scoring.
- The Retrievers, who will feature eight newcomers this season, open up at Wake Forest on Nov. 13.
8. UMass Lowell River Hawks
2014-15 record: 12-17, 6-10 AE, N/A (6th)
- UMass Lowell will look to exceed expectations for the third-straight year as the River Hawks were picked ninth in each of the last two seasons but finished fifth (2013-14) and sixth (2014-15) in the conference standings.
- Jahad Thomas will lead UMass Lowell's five returnees. He earned All-Rookie and third-team All-Conference honors after ranking third in the league in scoring (14.3 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (6.5 rpg).
- The River Hawks, who will have eight newcomers to integrate this season, open play at Northwestern on Nov. 13.
9. Maine Black Bears
2014-15 record: 3-27, 2-14 AE, America East Quarterfinals (T-8th)
- Second-year head coach Bob Walsh returns four starters from last year's team.
- Kevin Little, an America East All-Rookie choice last year, is Maine's top returning scoring after averaging 12.5 points per game last year.
- The Black Bears, who have nine new players on their roster, start play Nov. 13 at UConn.