2021 Hercules Tires Men's #AEPlayoffs Matchups Set 2/21/2021 5:45:08 PM BOSTON – After as unique a season #AEHoops has ever seen, the seeds and matchups for the Hercules Tires America East Men’s Basketball Playoffs are set as the regular season concluded on Sunday. The tournament, which a new format was announced for on Feb. 17, will start on Saturday, Feb. 27 with pod play. UMBC and Vermont shared the regular-season season crown and earned byes to the semifinals. The Retrievers, who are the regular-season champs for the first time since the 2007-08 season, are the top seed while the Catamounts have earned at least a share of the crown for the fifth-straight season, a conference record. Vermont will be the #2 seed. The 2021 Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs start on Saturday, Feb. 27 with pod play. Third-seeded New Hampshire and fourth-seeded Hartford will host the pods. Pod Schedule: Saturday, Feb. 27 At UNH #6 UMass Lowell vs. #7 Stony Brook, 1 p.m. At Hartford #4 Hartford vs. #9 Binghamton, 2 p.m. #5 UAlbany vs. #8 NJIT, 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28 At UNH #3 UNH vs. UMass Lowell/Stony Brook Winner, 1 p.m. At Hartford Hartford/Binghamton Winner vs. UAlbany/NJIT Winner, 3 p.m. The pod winners will advance to the semifinals where the Catamounts and Retrievers await for matchups on Saturday, March 6. The field will re-seed after the pods with the lowest-remaining seed playing at UMBC at 2 p.m. and the highest-remaining seed playing at Vermont at 4 p.m. The two semifinal winners will play for the America East title and an automatic NCAA bid on Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m. at the highest remaining seed’s home court. All 2021 Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs action can be watched on ESPN networks. The quarter and semifinals will air on ESPN+ as part of The AE on ESPN with a simulcast for international viewers on AmericaEast.TV. The championship game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. All rounds will also be available via the ESPN app. Fans will not be permitted to attend #AEPlayoffs games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow @AEHoopsNews on Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest #AEHoops news. Complete Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs information can be found at Playoffs Central. About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field. - #3Pillars – Building the Complete Student-Athlete -