BOSTON – The 2024-25 basketball season begins on Monday with all nine conference teams in action. Vermont may be the three-time defending champions but each program has reasons to be optimistic about the future of their program. Get a breakdown of each of the nine men's programs below, before they hit the court in a few days.
The Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team were released on Oct. 21 and can be viewed here. The three-time reigning champion Catamounts were picked first once again, while UMass Lowell was selected second. Fans can watch the entire #AEHoops Media Day, hosted by The Field of 68 below.
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.
UAlbany Great Danes
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 13-19 Overall, 5-11 AE (8th)
Offense: 78.7 PPG (T-3rd) | Defense: 78.8 PPG (8th)
Returning Starters: 3
Last Game: at No. 1 Vermont (Quarterfinals, America East Tournament), 75-72
Dwayne Killings looks to reach new heights in his fourth season at the helm of the Great Danes. UAlbany was picked seventh in the preseason poll but returns three starters and adds nine newcomers to its roster. Last season, the Great Danes were 13-6 when they held opponents under 80 points. UAlbany will travel to Army on November 4 to open the season, Georgetown on November 30th, and Syracuse on December 10th in their non-conference slate.
A key piece that remained at UAlbany was Amar’e Marshall, a third-team all-conference selection in 2023-24. Marshall notched 16.7 points per game (PPG) on 37.2% from 3PT, 5.0 rebounds per game (RPG), and 1.8 steals per game (SPG). Aaron Reddish returns to Albany for his senior season, following a 7.6 PPG and 3.5 RPG campaign. Killings and his coaching staff added DeMarr Langford who had stints at Boston College where he averaged 7.0 PPG his freshman season and later transferred to UCF for the 2023-24 season. Kacper Klaczek (St. Joesph’s), Byron Joshua (Alcorn State), and Sultan Adewale (Iona) were also added from the transfer portal.
Binghamton Bearcats
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 15-15 Overall, 7-9 AE (5th)
Offense: 72.1 PPG (6th) | Defense: 72.2 PPG (4th)
Returning Starters: 2
Last Game: at No. 4 New Hampshire (Quarterfinals, America East Tournament), 77-64
Levell Sanders is fresh off his best season at Binghamton and looks to continue the success in 2024-25. The Bearcats are 6th in the preseason poll following their 77-64 Quarterfinal loss to New Hampshire in the America East Championship. The Bearcats will look to start fast in the opening halves again this year, as they finished 13-4 when leading at halftime in 2023-24. Binghamton opens the season at Penn State on Monday, November 4th, and soon after takes on Miami on Sunday, November 10th.
The Bearcats retained playmakers Tymu Chenery, Nehemiah Benson, and Gavin Walsh. Chenery led Binghamton with 14.9 PPG, including 23 games in double-figures, 5.0 RPG, and 1.5 BPG, while Benson netted 10.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG in 2023-24. Walsh was named to the #AEHoops All-Rookie Team with 5.3 PPG and 4.3 RPG in his first collegiate season. Transfers Ben Callahan-Gold, from Division III semifinalist Trinity (Conn.), led the Bantams to a 30-2 record in 2023-24, and Jayden Lemond (William & Mary) provides a pass-first ability at the point for the 2024-25 Bearcats.
Bryant Bulldogs
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 20-13 Overall, 11-5 AE (3rd)
Offense: 78.7 PPG (3rd) | Defense: 75.4 PPG (7th)
Returning Starters: 3
Last Game: at No. 2 UMass Lowell (Semifinals, America East Tournament), 77-70
Phil Martelli Jr. finished his first season as the Bulldogs head coach 20-13 overall and advanced to the America East Semifinals. Martelli Jr. was a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Mid-Major Coach of the Year and the Joe B. Hall Award, which is an awarded to the top first-year coach. The Bulldogs were picked 3rd in the preseason poll after a strong showing in 2023-24. Bryant looks to play from ahead as last season they finished 19-0 when leading with two minutes remaining in regulation. The Black and Gold take on Dean College on November 4, before visiting St. John’s (12/11) and Grand Canyon (12/30) in non-conference action, both received votes in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25 poll.
The Bulldogs return two-time All-Conference guard Earl Timberlake after a do-it-all season, where he averaged 14.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, and shot 62% from the floor. The senior was named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team after showcasing his versatility last season. The Black and Gold brought back key assets in Rafael Pinzon (13.0 PPG) and Connor Withers (6.6 PPG) for the 2024-25 campaign. Bryant added Barry Evans (St. Bonaventure) who appeared in 33 games with the Bonnies, while shooting 59% from the floor. The Bulldogs brought in a plethora of transfers along with Evans, including Devean Williams (Canisius), Kam Farris (Marist), Favour Aire (Penn State) and Jakai Robinson (Miami).
Maine Black Bears
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 15-17 Overall, 7-9 AE (6th)
Offense: 67.6 PPG (9th) | Defense: 67.5 PPG (2nd)
Returning Starters: 2
Last Game: at No. 3 Bryant (Quarterfinals, America East Tournament), 84-58
Chris Markwood first two seasons at the helm have been the best in over a decade for Maine. He seeks to continue his team's strong play in his home state after going 8-4 at home last season. The Black Bears were picked 4th in the preseason poll. Maine’s suffocating defense will return due to the impact of two-time defensive player of the year, Kellen Tynes Jr. returning to Orono. The Black Bears will visit No. 7 Duke on November 4, alongside the reigning Atlantic 10 champion Duquesne Dukes on December 8.
Tynes Jr. leads the Black Bears returners with 12.6 PPG, 3.6 APG, and 2.3 SPG. Last season, the graduate student was ranked 16th in the country in steals per game and became the fourth player to earn Defensive Player of the Year a second time, joining a prestigious list of Marqus Blakely, Tommy Brenton, and Jameel Warney. Maine retained experienced guards in the backcourt courtesy of Jaden Clayton (9.2 PPG) and AJ Lopez (8.6 PPG). The Black Bears brought in three transfers and freshmen to complement four of their top seven returning scorers from a season ago.
UMBC Retrievers
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 11-21 Overall, 6-10 AE (7th)
Offense: 78.7 PPG (3rd) | Defense: 80.7 PPG (9th)
Returning Starters: 3
Last Game: at No. 2 UMass Lowell (Quarterfinals, America East Tournament), 94-89 (OT)
Jim Ferry looks to have his Retrievers make another postseason run like 2021-22. Last season, the Retrievers' last game of the 2023-24 campaign ended with a hard-fought 94-89 defeat in overtime at No. 2-seeded UMass Lowell in the America East Quarterfinals. UMBC was projected 5th in the preseason poll earlier this month. The Retrievers open the season with Penn State York on November 4 and look to compete on the road against power-five opponents in Penn State (11/8), Georgetown (12/2), and Georgia Tech (12/18) before America East play begins.
Marcus Banks Jr. garnered Preseason All-Conference Team honors after his strong junior season. Banks Jr. put up 15.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 1.8 APG in 2023-24. During America East play, Banks turned up his aggressiveness with 18.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 2.1 APG. The Retrievers offense looks to continue its strong play with Bryce Johnson (10.6 PPG) and Ace Valentine (6.3 PPG & 2.7 APG) in the backcourt along with Banks. Ferry and his staff added a key piece to the frontcourt in Josh Odunowo from Columbia, who led the Ivy League with a 61.1% field goal percentage4. They also added three other transfers and freshmen to the 2024-25 roster.
UMass Lowell River Hawks
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 22-10 Overall, 11-5 AE (2nd)
Offense: 80.0 PPG (1st) | Defense: 70.7 PPG (3rd)
Returning Starters: 3
Last Game: at No. 1 Vermont (Championship, America East Tournament), 66-61
Following his second-straight 20-win season, Pat Duquette looks to get UMass Lowell over the hump and into the NCAA Tournament. The River Hawks have fallen to Vermont in back-to-back seasons, despite leading each championship at the half. With that, UMass Lowell has been picked second in the preseason poll this season. The UMass Lowell offense handles the ball as well as any squad in college basketball, as the River Hawks went 9-1 when turning the ball over less than their opponent. The River Hawks will take on Rivier on November 4 to kick off the 2024-25 season, as well as taking on No. 6 Gonzaga (11/15) and Saint Louis (11/27), who received votes in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25 poll.
The River Hawks have familiar faces in Max Brooks, Quinton Mincey, and Cam Morris. Brooks was named Preseason All-Conference after averaging 12.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.6 APG, and shot a league-high and 13th best nationally 62.1% from the field. The graduate student was First-Team All-Conference in 2023-24 and is a three-time #AEHoops All-Defensive Team honoree. As for Mincey, the senior returns to Lowell after a 14.1 PPG and 6.6 RPG season in 2023-24, while Morris produced 11.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG. Duquette and his staff added former No. 72 player in the nation by ESPN, Caleb Murphy. The Atlanta, Ga. native appeared in 23 games for DePaul last season and averaged 5.4 PPG and 2.1 APG. The River Hawks also acquired two transfers and four freshmen to round out the roster.
New Hampshire Wildcats
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 16-15 Overall, 7-9 AE (4th)
Offense: 74.1 PPG (5th) | Defense: 74.1 PPG (5th)
Returning Starters: 2
Last Game: at No. 1 Vermont (Semifinals, America East Tournament), 66-61
Former two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year at Bucknell, Nathan Davis, produced a semifinal berth in the America East Tournament before falling to eventual champion No. 1 Vermont, 66-61. Last year Davis had Player of the Year Clarence Daniels, who led the conference in scoring with 19.6 PPG. The 2024-25 Wildcats look to rebuild the foundation they lost from last season, as they were picked 9th in the preseason poll. New Hampshire begins its season on the road at UMass on November 4, soon after they take on the reigning national champions No. 3 UConn and round out non-conference play with Iowa on December 30.
The Wildcats bring back Trey Woodyard who started 25 games a year ago, averaging 7.7 PPG and 3.9 PPG. Rex Sunderland returns to the backcourt for the Wildcats after starting 15 games and appearing in all 31 games last season. UNH brings in 11 newcomers for the 2024-25 season looking to make an immediate impact. New Hampshire added front court depth with a graduate student transfer in Emmanuel Okpomo from Temple, who appeared in 45 games for the Owls in three seasons. Okpomo, previously played at Wake Forest for a season, before his college career he played at the prestigious Oak Hill Academy.
NJIT Highlanders
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 7-21 Overall, 3-13 AE (9th)
Offense: 67.9 PPG (8th) | Defense: 75.0 PPG (6th)
Returning Starters: 2
Last Game: at Bryant 3/2, 101-82
Grant Billmeier enters his second season at NJIT and is looking for improvement from his first season as a Highlander. Despite only winning three conference games, NJIT knocked off America East’s two best teams in Vermont (63-61, 2/8/24) and UMass Lowell (71-64, 2/10/24) in the same weekend. Billmeier and his coaching staff retained two major players in their lineup in 2023-24, Tariq Francis and Levi Lawal. The Highlanders begin the season at home against Penn on November 4, then take on a pair of BIG EAST opponents in Villanova (11/8) and Billmeier’s alma mater Seton Hall (12/4) to highlight the non-conference schedule.
Francis took home Rookie of the Year honors last season after ranking ninth in scoring 14.3 PPG while adding 4.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 1.5 SPG. During the 2023-24 regular season, Francis was named Rookie of the Week a conference-best eight times, the third-most in league history. Lawal tallied 6.5 PPG on 61.8% from the floor and 6.0 RPG. NJIT added five freshmen in the 2025 class, bringing a bright future to Newark.
Vermont Catamounts
Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Record: 28-7 Overall, 15-1 AE (1st)
Offense: 71.6 PPG (7th) | Defense: 63.0 PPG (1st)
Returning Starters: 4
Last Game: No. 4 Duke (Round of 64, NCAA Tournament), 64-47
The Vermont Catamounts have the longest active streak in the country with eight-straight conference regular-season titles. John Becker, has led UVM to three straight tournament titles and five of the last six. Vermont (103) has finished with the conference’s best NET in each of the six seasons since the metric was introduced. Vermont basketball begins and ends with defense; it showed true as they held opponents to a conference-best, 63.0 PPG a season ago. The Catamounts visit UAB to open the 2024-25 slate on November 4. Vermont looks to return to the NCAA Tournament and will take on No. 11 Auburn (11/6), Yale (12/7), and Colgate (12/15), who all played in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Vermont brings back a strong nucleus of players for the 2024-25 campaign. The Catamounts return two Preseason All-Conference honorees, T.J. Long and Shamir Bogues. Long was named to the 2023-24 #AEPlayoffs All-Championship Team and Third-Team All-Conference. The senior guard averaged 12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 1.4 APG, while shooting 36.3% from three. Bogues was named Most Outstanding Player of #AEPlayoffs, 2023-24 First-Team All-Conference, and Newcomer of the Year. He poured in 11.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 1.9 SPG, while shooting 51.3% from the floor. The also brings back starters Ileri Ayo-Faleye and Nick Fiorillo in the front court to anchor the defense. The Catamounts acquired two transfers and four freshmen in the class of 2024-25. A key pick-up in the transfer portal was Shy Odom, from Howard, who averaged 9.9 PPG and 4.1 RPG in two seasons for the Bison.
The 2024-25 season begins on November 4 with all nine teams in action. Conference play starts on January 4 and concludes on March 4. 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.
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -