The 2015 #AEPlayoffs are finally here. Action begins Wednesday night with games at each of the top four seeds for the first time since 1995.
All four games start at 7 p.m. and will air live on AmericaEast.TV. Fans can watch on their computers, via set top device or on tablets and smartphones all for free. How to Access Live Events
Visit Playoff Central for all live coverage links, including live stats and live video. Ticket information for each site can also be found there. Capacity crowds are expected at all four venues.
The four winners will advance to Sunday's semifinals. The field will be re-seeded with the highest-remaining seed hosting the lowest-remaining seed and the second-highest remaining seed hosting the second-lowest remaining seed. Game times are TBD.
Men's Basketball Quarterfinals
#8 Maine at #1 Albany - 7 p.m.
- Albany is the top seed for the first time since the 2005-06 season after capturing the league's regular-season title.
- The Great Danes have won the last two league titles and six straight tournament games. They are attempting join Northeastern, Drexel and Vermont as the only programs to win three straight championships.
- Maine will try to join the 1988 UNH and 2004 Stony Brook teams as the only No. 8 seeds to upset the top seed.
- Albany beat Maine in two teams' only previous tournament meeting, 50-49, in the 2013 quarterfinals.
#7 UMBC at #2 Vermont - 7 p.m.
- Vermont is the No. 2 seed, the 12th time in the last 14 years its been seeded second or better.
- The Catamounts are 14-2 all-time as the No. 2 seed.
- UMBC is trying to become just the second No. 7 seed to upset the No. 2 seed. Vermont was the victim, falling to Albany in 2009, the last time the Catamounts did not reach the semifinals.
- Vermont has won three of the four all-time tournament meetings with UMBC. When these two teams have met in the tournament, the winner has gone on to win the title three times (Vermont - 2005, '10; UMBC - 2008).
#6 Binghamton at #3 Stony Brook - 7 p.m.
- Stony Brook has posted its fourth-straight 20-win season and fifth in the last six years.
- The Seawolves have reached the championship game three of the last four years, but still seek their first conference title.
- Binghamton's five conference wins were its most since the 2009-10 season. It tries to become the seventh No. 6 seed to win a quarterfinal game in the last eight years.
- The Seawolves won the two previous meetings with Bingahmton in the tournament.
#5 Hartford at #4 New Hampshire - 7 p.m.
- New Hampshire has its best seed since 2009.
- The Wildcats' 18 wins are its most since the 1994-95 season.
- Hartford has reached the semifinals in three of the last four years.
- The Hawks and Wildcats have met three times previously in the tournament with Hartford holding a slight 2-1 edge.