BOSTON - The 2026-27 basketball season begins on Monday with all nine teams in action. UMBC is the first team to play, facing off against George Mason at 4 pm. The Retrievers are the defending champion and were picked second in the preseason poll. Preseason favorite Vermont, and last year's runner-up, squares off against Iona on Monday in another regional battle.
This year also marks the inagural America East - Metro Challenge, with all nine conference schools traveling to a Metro opponent on Thursday, November 5 and then hosting a Metro opponent the following Sunday. The conference which earns the most victories will be crowned the challenge champion.
The Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference team were released on Sept. 28, with the Catamounts picked first overall, followed by UMBC and Binghamton in third. Check out some of the most comprehensive America East Previews below, featuring breakdowns and predictions ahead of Monday's games.
Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN with all games airing on ESPN+ domestically and AmericaEast.TV internationally. To check and see if you can get ESPN+ for free with your TV provider check at americaeast.com/espn.
UAlbany
Record: 11-21 Overall, 7-9 AE (5th).
Offense: 72.0 PPG | Defense: 72.9 PPG
Last Game: Lost 81-76 at UMass Lowell (AE Quarterfinals)
Binghamton
Record: 8-23 Overall, 4-12 AE (9th).
Offense: 67.9 PPG | Defense: 74.9 PPG
Last Game: Won 74-67 vs. Maine (Regular Season; did not qualify for AE Playoffs)
Bryant
Record: 9-22 Overall, 5-11 AE (8th).
Offense: 64.8 PPG | Defense: 72.5 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 77-57 at Vermont (AE Quarterfinals)
Maine
Record: 8-24 Overall, 6-10 AE (6th).
Offense: 62.5 PPG | Defense: 68.4 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 60-58 at NJIT (AE Quarterfinals)
UMass Lowell
Record: 15-18 Overall, 9-7 AE (4th).
Offense: 74.9 PPG | Defense: 76.3 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 91-69 at UMBC (AE Semifinals)
UMBC
Record: 24-9 Overall, 14-2 AE (1st).
Offense: 76.4 PPG | Defense: 67.6 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 86-83 vs. Howard (NCAA First Four)
NJIT
Record: 16-17 Overall, 10-6 AE (3rd).
Offense: 67.0 PPG | Defense: 73.2 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 63-54 at Vermont (AE Semifinals)
New Hampshire
Record: 9-21 Overall, 5-11 AE (7th).
Offense: 69.2 PPG | Defense: 74.6 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 84-69 at UMBC (AE Quarterfinals)
Vermont
Record: 22-12 Overall, 12-4 AE (2nd).
Offense: 73.4 PPG | Defense: 68.5 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 74-59 at UMBC (AE Championship)
Conference action kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 2, with defending champion UMBC hosting NJIT and Vermont playing at Binghamton. Teams will via for home advantage in the 2027 #AEPlayoffs, where once again all games will be played at the higher seed.
The men’s regular season ends on Tuesday, March 2, with the top eight programs advancing to the #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 6. Semifinal action takes place on Tuesday, March 10 and the winners will advance to the Championship at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m.
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 and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -