BOSTON – With the 2023-24 college basketball season set to begin in less than three weeks, Vermont is once again the preseason America East favorite. The Catamounts won their fourth #AEHoops Championship in the past five seasons a year ago and have been picked atop the 2023-24 America East Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll. The Conference also announced the release of its Preseason All-Conference team.
The Catamounts, who went 14-2 a season ago and captured their seventh consecutive regular season conference title, were picked first with 62 points and six first place votes. They return two of their top four scorers from last year, including two-time America East Sixth Man of the Year, Aaron Deloney.
After reaching the program’s second #AEHoops Championship game in the last three years, UMass Lowell claimed the final three first place votes and 55 points overall. The River Hawks return a wealth of talent, including three of their starters from a season ago. Bryant was picked third with 51 points, thanks in part to a pair of preseason All-Conference honorees Sherif Gross-Bullock and Earl Timberlake. Binghamton was selected fourth with 44 points while Maine rounded out the top five with 36 points.
Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
| School |
Points (1st Place) |
| 1. Vermont |
62 (6) |
| 2. UMass Lowell |
55 (3) |
| 3. Bryant |
51 |
| 4. Binghamton |
44 |
| 5. Maine |
36 |
| 6. UMBC |
25 |
| 7. UAlbany |
23 |
| 8. New Hampshire |
18 |
| 9. NJIT |
10 |
This year’s Preseason All-Conference team features five players who earned All-Conference honors a season ago and three major award winners. Sherif Gross-Bullock and Clarence Daniels are the lone returning First-Team All-Conference selections from last season.
Men’s #AEHOOPS Preseason All-Conference Team
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, UMass Lowell – Gr., Forward
- 2022-23 Second-Team All-Conference
- Averaged 11.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, shooting a league-best 57.6 percent from the floor.
- Help River Hawks reach #AEHoops Championship Game for second time in program history.
- Has appeared in 113 contests over four seasons of collegiate basketball.
Clarence Daniels, New Hampshire – Sr., Forward
- 2022-23 First-Team All-Conference.
- Averaged 15.3 points, 10.7 rebounds per game and 1.3 steals per game.
- Led conference and ranked 7th nationally in rebounds per game.
- Posted a league-best 15 double-doubles, which was 15th nationally.
Sherif Gross-Bullock, Bryant – Gr., Guard
- 2022-23 America East Newcomer of the Year
- 2022-23 First-Team All-Conference
- Led the league in scoring at 17.1 points per game with 65 3pt field goals.
- Averaged 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Aaron Deloney, Vermont – Gr., Guard
- Two-time America East Sixth Man of the Year
- Averaged 11.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 40.3% from three with 64 3pt field goals
- Has appeared in 107 career contests.
- Member of 2022-23 America East All-Championship Team.
Earl Timberlake, Bryant – Sr., Guard
- 2022-23 Second-Team All-Conference.
- Averaged 13.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 52.6% from the field.
- Posted nine double-doubles and ranked third in the league in rebounding.
- Member of 2022-23 Preseason All-Conference Team.
Kellen Tynes, Maine – Jr., Guard
- 2022-23 America East Defensive Player of the Year.
- 2022-23 Third-Team All-Conference.
- Averaged 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 rebounds per game.
- Led the nation with 98 steals and 3.3 steals per game.
The preseason poll and preseason all-conference team were voted on by the league’s nine head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The 2023-24 season begins on November 6 with conference play starting on Jan. 4. Conference positioning will again prove key for the Jersey Mikes #AEPlayoffs. Every round of the Jersey Mikes #AEPlayoffs will take place on the higher seed’s home court and earning home court advantage will prove crucial once again. Full Composite Schedule
The league champion will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, where America East teams have won nine games all-time, including UMBC’s historic upset of Virginia in 2018.
Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN with all games airing on ESPN+ or ESPN3 domestically and AmericaEast.TV internationally.
Follow the @AEHoopsNews X (Formerly Twitter) account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long.
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.
- Building the Complete Student-Athlete –