Fall 2022 Basketball Issue

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Tuesday, November 2, 2021 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

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Knipes News Editor

Jacob Falko

Following his first season as a Bearcat after transferring from Gardner-Webb, senior guard Jacob Falko is looking to build off a successful inaugural year. Prior to his D1 career, Falko played two seasons of junior college (JUCO) ball at Cecil College in Maryland. Falko has grown tremendously with the BU program since his stays at Cecil and Gardner-Webb.

He commented on how he believes his role with the Binghamton men’s basketball team has developed.

“I kind of went into GardnerWebb, and I ended up having a different role than what I thought I was going to have,” Falko said. “So some things just didn’t work out, and I ended up transferring. I found Binghamton, and I really loved the coaching staff here and everything they told me was true, so that was what led me to come here.”

Falko described how on his past team he was kept in the corner, leaving the playmaking to others on his squad. Here at Binghamton, Falko found the ball in his hands more, giving him a greater deal of confidence.

“Having coaches that have confidence in you to go and make plays and stuff, and letting you take risks sometimes, really helps,” Falko said. “It gives you

confidence as a player and makes you want to go out there and not take some risky plays, but just try to … go make winning plays, I would say.”

With the confidence to show up and perform in crucial games, Falko found success down the stretch — averaging 12.9 points and 3.2 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. As a junior, he quickly made his way into the starting lineup, only coming off the bench for three games and starting in 24 of the 27 contests he played in. On the back of his performance, Falko became the

New Hampshire to be his favorite moment, a game in which Falko returned from injury early and contributed 21 points. BU would go on to lose to eventual AE champions Vermont, but Falko discussed how he’s only thinking about the positives from last year’s playoff run.

“Going on the road in a playoff game as a lower seed, and then we end up winning down there,” Falko said. “It was a crazy moment … I was banged up a little bit and I had a messed up ankle, so it was my first game back from my injury too. So to play well and close out that game there, I would say it is my top moment.”

first Bearcat in 12 years to earn first-team America East (AE) honors. Falko averaged 15.4 points per game in AE play, and achieved this mark on an efficient 49 percent shooting from the field. He also averaged 3.8 assists per game during conference matchups, the third highest in the AE.

Looking back on the success of last season, Falko pinpointed Binghamton’s quarterfinal upset against

Falko expressed how, coming into this season, he has continued to put in the work and improve his shooting and shot selection, in an effort to push toward bringing home the AE Player of the Year award. Falko’s main goals for the program, however, are to bring home the conference title and send Binghamton to the March Madness tournament. The main factor in this, as described by Falko, is sticking together as one unit.

“We have a really talented group of guys this year, but coach says it all the time, ‘talent can only get you so far,’ Falko said. “We’ve got to stick together, stick to the game plan we have been given and, if we play our game, we are going to be really successful.”

Jacob

We’ve got to stick together, stick to the game plan we have been given and, if we play our game, we are going to be really successful.

Schlank Sports Contributor

UMass Lowell on Feb. 19, shooting an efficient 9-14 from the field. The Bearcat had 16 double-digit scoring games, with six in a row to close out the regular season. He will look to continue this type of offensive output and play an active role for BU season this year.

Junior guard John McGriff, a 6-foot point guard from Prince George County, Maryland, is entering his second season on the Binghamton men’s basketball team. A 2021 transfer from St. John’s University, McGriff played in 25 games last season with 23 starts, and averaged 11 points and 2.6 assists per game, both stats being the second-highest on the Bearcats. He also shot 40 percent from the floor and 68 percent from the free-throw line through the year. In America East (AE) play last season, McGriff bumped up his scoring to 12.1 points per game.

“This year, I want to focus on getting better each and every day, and to develop winning habits and to instill the winning habits from my teammates,” McGriff said.

BU made it to the semifinals in the AE tournament this past season, before falling to the eventual champions UVM. The team is looking forward to a fresh start. McGriff felt like, last year, he was in a different role than the rest of the team — being fresh off a transfer from St. John’s and stepping into bigger shoes at Binghamton.

“Based on certain games and certain situations, I learned so much on the court … that I can use to help me grow,” McGriff said.

McGriff scored his season-high 21 points in a road win at

On the court, McGriff sees himself as an energetic and vocal leader, always looking to play a part in the game. Last season, the transfer was adapting to Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders’ playbook and filling in the role where he was needed. McGriff credits his leadership skills to his father,

a quarterfinal berth in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. This earned him a No. 33 point guard ranking in the nation, No. 2 in state of Maryland for 2019, per 247Sports. Additionally, McGriff gained three-star recruit status, per ESPN and 247Sports, to aid his journey into college basketball.

On the court, McGriff credits NBA star Chris Paul in how he has developed into a basketball player. His style of play is reflective of how McGriff sees himself on the court and how he hopes to see his role for the Bearcats adapt this season. Paul, an efficient mid-range shooter and exceptional passer, inspired McGriff’s style of play on the hardwood.

“I study how he gets to his spots and sets up his teammates,” McGriff said. “[I like] how effective he is on the court, and I love how he gives everyone the ball.”

saying that he helped him become the player and person he is now.

“In life, I look up [to] my father for his leadership and the impact that he had played in my life,” McGriff said. “[He] helped me develop into the young man I am today.”

In high school, McGriff accumulated an impressive resume. At Bishop McNamara High School, McGriff led the team in his senior year to a 21-11 record and

McGriff works hard every day in practice to be his best self. The junior takes the difficult shots and runs the tough plays. The Bearcats, who are looking to take the next step this season, will look to McGriff to make the big plays when they matter in order to secure more wins in tightly contested AE conference.

“Watching film from last year and from offseason practice has definitely made us a better basketball team,” McGriff said. “My [basketball] IQ has gotten better and better. For me to be the top-notch basketball player, it’s all about consistency. All about getting shots and making the game simpler.”

Seth

Junior guard Armon Harried has just come off two productive seasons with Canisius College before transferring to Binghamton University. The 6-foot-5-inch guard racked up 663 points across his two years at his former school, and will now try and replicate his success as a Bearcat. Binghamton has certainly been an adjustment for Harried, but nothing he can’t handle.

“It’s been a nice experience actually, you know, day-to-day it’s definitely a change of pace from Canisius,” Harried said. “Canisius is more of a city environment, less students. Here there’s like 16,000 students, so that’s the biggest change. But I’m just really happy to be here.”

Born and raised in Baltimore, Harried has been around basketball his entire life. He made his mark, however, playing for Lake Clifton High School, where he racked up a plethora of individual and team awards during for his hometown. Harried’s parents were basketball people as well, which is no surprise considering his lifelong involvement and infatuation with the sport. His father, Herman “Tree” Harried, is no stranger to New York basketball, as he played four years at Syracuse University and coached his son at Lake Clifton High School. His

mother, Delora Walker, also played basketball at Coppin State and was a huge influence in Harried’s successful transition to college ball.

“My dad coached for so long that I picked up on a lot of things as a young kid,” Harried said. “My mom contributed a lot to my success as far as getting to college. Senior year I had no offers from any school. That summer me and mom worked out every day … I say it

per game established him as a consistent contributor, his most notable contribution being scoring a career-high 22 points on three separate occasions and grabbing a careerhigh 14 rebounds against Quinnipiac. The junior looks to keep up these numbers for the Bearcats this year.

“Athletically, the goal is never different than it is every year,” Harried said. “Individual honors are always nice, but I’ve been in college long enough to know that the individual honors don’t come unless you win. So for me, the most important thing, and what I’m looking forward to, is winning and having a successful season and eventually hoisting up the America East (AE) championship title.”

Last year, the Binghamton men’s basketball team fell to Vermont in the semi-finals of the AE conference playoffs. They’ll look to bounce back with the addition of several new faces. The team will be led by head coach Levell Sanders, who will be beginning his second season at the helm. Harried talked about the impact Sanders has had on him so far, and what he expects from the team this season.

all the time but, without my mom, I wouldn’t be here … The rest is history after that. I got some offers and now I’m here. So my mom played a vital role in my career and, of course, my dad because [when] I played for my dad we won multiple championships together, so that was great.”

Harried has already proved his reliability playing for the Griffs, starting all 32 games last season and averaging 30 minutes per game. His 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds

“Going to the transfer portal, you talk to a lot of coaches,” Harried said. “For me, I was blessed enough to talk to a lot of schools. Coach Sanders was probably one of the most genuine coaches I talked to in the transfer portal. So, what I’ve learned about Coach Sanders is what you see is what you get. He’ll tell you the truth, and he wants the best for every player… and he wants to win.”

Aidan Jennings Sports Intern

As the Bearcats look to adjust to a revamped roster heading into the 2022-23 season, graduate student guard Christian Hinckson is expected to play a big role in the team’s success. Hinckson enters this year coming off his best scoring and rebounding season for the Bearcats, where he was named to the America East (AE) All-Defensive team.

“[Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders] has been trying to get me to be a little more vocal,” Hinckson said. “Since I was here the previous year, he wants me to pass on the culture of the program to the newer players, and let them know how to do things.”

The Bearcats have lost eight players from last season due to several players graduating and transferring. However, the Bearcats were able to bring in four transfers and one freshman in order to add depth to their squad. With the addition of some new faces, there is a positive feeling about what the newcomers can bring to the team this season.

“I think our transfers and our freshman will impact the team in a positive way,” Hinckson said. “They will play a huge role in our success.”

Hinckson led the team in rebounds per game during his senior campaign with 6.6. He also recorded team highs with 28 blocks and 29 steals on the year, numbers that helped him earn his All-Defensive team honors.

“We’re ready for anybody”, Hinckson said. “We’re not backing down from any type of competition, and at the end of the day, this is basketball. So we’re going to compete no matter who it is, whether it is Bryant or Duke. We’re going to go out there and play as hard as we can.”

Last season Hinckson averaged 7.9 points per game for the Bearcats on 44 percent shooting from the field, 41 percent from three-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line which was an improvement across the board from his previous season. During AE play in the 2021-22 season, Hinckson’s scoring improved to 10.1

student knows that his game will continue to improve throughout the season as he keeps putting in the work.

“By staying consistent and working hard at it every day,” Hinckson said. “Getting in [the gym] with the coaches, and watching film, the results will show [themselves].”

Hinckson attributes the steady improvement in his game to his work with the Bearcats coaching staff. The graduate student explained how they helped him fix the mechanics of his shot over the last two seasons to have a more fluid and consistent form. This has helped him shoot more efficiently from the field. The coaching staff has also let Hinckson know that they trust him to take more shots in games this year.

“The whole coaching staff wants me to shoot,” Hinckson said. “There were a few mechanical issues with my shot earlier on that I fixed and cleaned up. I had to rework most of my shots from the base up. Sometimes I had a little thumb flick in there. I had to watch film and restructure my whole shot. Overall coach [Sanders] and the coaching staff have given me the green light to shoot the basketball.”

With another season on the horizon, Hinckson stated that the team is ready to compete for a championship this season, and that the slew of new faces on the team will play an integral part in the Bearcats reaching their goals this season.

points per game, and he grabbed 7.6 rebounds per game, which was the second-highest in the AE. In addition , Hinckson averaged 1.1 blocks per game, good enough for fourth in the AE. The graduate

“I feel that we have so much depth this year that we’re going to have to make sacrifices as a team, so I’m ready for that,” Hinckson said. “We have a bunch of new guys, so we’re just looking to get acclimated to playing with each other and hopefully win a championship.”

Jared Castro Sports Contributor

“We’re not backing down from any type of competition, and at the end of the day, this is basketball. So we’re going to compete no matter who it is, whether it is Bryant or Duke. We’re going to go out there and play as hard as we can.”

Mills Assistant Sports Editor

Balogun

Junior forward Tariq Balogun comes to the Bearcats as no stranger to traveling. The Eastern Kentucky transfer hails from London, England and is looking to bring some flair to the America East (AE) as a high-flying shot blocker.

“Just a little bit of swagger and having fun with it,” Balogun said. “I’m a guy that, if I’m doing well, stuff’s going well, I’m not really quiet. I get engaged, I love it and I pump it up. That’s in my system. Just having fun, but still determined.”

Balogun played three seasons with the Colonels, where he started 10 games last year, averaging 4.0 points per game and 1.4 blocks per game, which would have been tied for second in the AE last season. He maintains an unselfish style of play that he feels resonates within this BU team.

“There are no egos on this team,” Balogun said. “That’s what I like, everyone wants everyone to be good … There’s no sense of selfishness. We’re always trying to move the ball. It’s never really a thing where I’ve felt like I’m not getting the ball or this person doesn’t want me to be great. Everyone’s just happy to be here and our main goal, really, we just all really want to win.”

Though Balogun’s defensive efforts would help any team, numbers only tell half the story. The best way the London native makes an impact is through the excitement he brings to the court. Whether it’s momentum-shifting blocks or rim-

rattling dunks, Balogun knows the fans at the Events Center will get on their feet if he shows them what he can do.

“Expect to see some blocks, some dunks, energy, hustle, grit, commitment,” Balogun said. “An overall guy that’s just gonna do everything I can in order to win. There’s no you without winning. You could have had three points, but if you don’t win, it’s not nearly as good.”

season, it

to Vestal. One of the main draws to coming to BU was the ability to be a part of the foundation of the school’s resurgence in the AE.

“When I visited Binghamton, I really liked [Sanders] and how he just explained what it was from the beginning,” Balogun said. “They’re gonna push me and just gonna work me to be great … I like the school, also the environment and how New York is right there. Like it was really just the perfect school plus the education too …. It just felt like a perfect fit.”

For the Bearcat, the most satisfying play of basketball isn’t a perfectly-executed alley-oop or even a game-changing threepointer. It’s all about making defensive fundamentals look cinematic. But, that doesn’t mean this team doesn’t appreciate the thundering dunks the 6-foot-10-inch big will ignite the Events Center with.

“A real, whole hand on [a block], the crowd always loves that,” Balogun said. “I mean, dunks, they’re gonna love that too. There’s gonna be times when I dunk on a couple of people. It’s definitely gonna be fun.”

The Italy-born forward came a long way to upstate New York. Balogun came to the United States as a high school sophomore and then transferred to the Miller School of Albemarle in Virginia to finish out his high school career a year later.

“It’s been an interesting parallel, basketball’s taken me around to so many places,” Balogun said. “It’s taken me to many states. I’ve been almost everywhere … I’ve met so many people and now I’m in Binghamton, New York.”

After deciding to enter the transfer portal following last

Although Balogun has yet to play a live game at the Events Center, the free-flowing forward is counting down the days until he can show off and hear the roar of the Binghamton University faithful.

“I’m definitely excited about the crowd, and I know we got good fans,” Balogun said. “I’ve met some of the fans, and some alumni too already. The energy has been great, everyone’s excited, so I really just can’t wait to get out and just show what we got and what we’ve been working on.”

was ultimately head coach Levell Sanders that brought Balogun

Ian

America East men’s team previews

Aidan Jennings Sports Contributor

Head Coach: John Becker

Season Record: 28-6 Conference Record: 17-1

Offensive: 74.8 PPG 35 RPG 15.15 APG

Defensive: 60.7 PPG 5.09 SPG 2.47 BPG

At this point, it’s not much of a surprise who falls at the top spot in this year’s America East (AE) Conference preseason rankings. With 63 poll points, including seven first place votes, Vermont has continued to impress year after year, and the reigning champions will be frontrunners in the 2022-23 season. Despite losing key players from last year’s title run, reigning coach

of the year John Becker still looks like he can lead this team to another chip. Forward and twotime AE Player of the Year Ryan Davis, as well as guard Ben Shungu, are the biggest losses for the Catamounts this season. The duo were selected to last year’s AE All-Conference First-Team and finished first and third in scoring, respectively. With Davis and Shungu leaving the program,

fifth-year guard Finn Sullivan, who was named to the AE All-Championship Team last season, is a player who will look to fill their role. In his first season at Vermont, he averaged 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds a game, including a 14-point performance in the AE championship win against UMBC. New to the UVM roster is fifth-year guard Dylan Penn, a transfer who led Bellarmine to the

Atlantic Sun Championship (ASUN) and was the tournament’s MVP. Posting 16.6 points and 5.0 assists per game last year, Penn will be vital in ensuring the Catamount offense is as efficient as ever. The eight-time AE champions are clear favorites based on last year’s run, but only time can tell whether they go back-to-back.

Head Coach: Jared Grasso Season Record: 22-10 Conference Record: 15-2 (NEC)

With the departures of Hartford and Stony Brook within the AE lineup, Bryant has become the newest addition to the conference. The Bulldogs, albeit being newcomers, are still Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season and tournament winners, earning a Division I program-record 22 wins in the 2021-22 season. Coach Jared Grasso has transformed the

Bulldogs into an established basketball program in the northeast, winning 15 or more games in their past three campaigns, and boasting a 24-2 home record in the past two. These successes place them just behind last season’s champions with 58 poll points, and even though they have yet to prove themselves in the AE, they earned two first place votes. Junior guard Earl

Timberlake and senior guard Charles Pride are ones to watch on this squad. Pride, going into his fourth year at Bryant, is the most go-togo guy on this team, playing every game last year and making all-conference and all-district teams. He combined with former Bryant guard Peter Kiss to be the nation’s highest-scoring duo, contributing with 17.7 points and 8.6

Head Coach: Pat Duquette

Despite finishing seventh in the conference last season, and getting knocked out by eventual finalists UMBC in the playoff quarterfinals, UMass Lowell still has plenty to build off of in the 202223 season. The River Hawks, last year, had a new program-best record of 15-16, with coach Pat Duquette setting up a team that prioritized defense

1. Vermont 2. Bryant 3. UMass Lowell 4. Binghamton

over everything. Duquette’s squad led the AE in steals (7.3), blocks (4.2) and rebounds per game (36.1), in addition to holding their opponents to an average of 65.8 points per game, another conference best. While it may have not been seeded as high, earning 47 poll points, UMass Lowell’s stats prove it will only improve this year. On the floor, the

Carbone Assistant Sports Editor

As winter approaches, the Binghamton men’s basketball team returns to the court after the team’s best finish in the America East (AE) in 12 years. The Bearcats were picked to place last in 2021’s preseason coaches’ poll, yet went on to be the sixth seed, finishing the postseason with one road win. With Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders at the helm, BU finished with a 12-17 overall record along with an 8-10 conference record and a trip to the AE semi-finals. After exceeding expectations last season and adding new faces to the roster, BU was picked to finish fourth in this year’s poll. Sanders, however, does not want his players to focus on that.

“We don’t focus on any kind of expectations,” Sanders said. “We just try to prepare ourselves as best as possible day by day. I think I always try to put more expectations on myself than anybody else, and that’s what we do with our players. We try to put a lot of pressure on our guys to execute and be the best version of themselves. Being picked fourth in the coach’s poll is not really anything that we gotta worry about.”

This past off-season marks Sanders’ first full

offseason as Binghamton’s head coach, having yet to be promoted from his interim position last year. Sanders admitted that the position hindered his ability to make much change in the previous offseason, but after being named to the full-time position in February of this year, he wasted no time in using his new title to bring in several new faces. The Bearcats have five new players joining the roster in 2022, one freshman along with four transfers.

“The biggest thing for us was that we didn’t have the interim tag title attached to what we were doing,” Sanders said. “The previous summer was difficult in recruiting because a lot of the questions that we had were about the future and our future. That’s helped us out a lot that we didn’t have to talk about that, and we can just promote our program, promote ourselves as coaches and promote how we can help individuals achieve the goals they wanna achieve. That was the biggest thing for this past summer.”

Although BU brought in new talent, it also retained many of its important pieces. Its leading scorers, senior guard Jacob Falko and junior guard John McGriff, remain a part of the

example was set for the River Hawks by graduate student forward Allin Blunt, who has played nearly every game for his school since he was a freshman. Blunt dropped a career-high 33 points in the AE quarterfinals against UMBC, helping to push the game into overtime, but couldn’t find the win. Lining up with Blunt will be junior forward Max

Season Record: 15-16 Conference Record: 7-11

Offensive: 78 PPG 41.3 RPG 13.9 APG Offensive: 70.7 PPG 36.1 RPG 11.68 APG

rebounds per game. Kiss’ 25.2 points per game was ranked first in the NCAA Division I, a tough pair of shoes to fill for new transfer Timberlake (4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season at Memphis). Timberlake will look to form a similar partnership with Pride in hopes of grabbing the glory in Bryant’s first AE season.

Brooks, who is coming off a breakout season and an AE All-Defensive Team selection. Brooks nearly doubled the previous UMass Lowell record for blocks last year with 67. Moreover, Brooks’ shooting percentage of 63.1 percent, an AE high, proves that he will be a crucial two-way player this season as his team looks to climb the ladder even further.

Head Coach: Levell Sanders

Season Record: 12-17 Conference Record: 8-10

BU core. Seemingly satisfied with the guard play, Sanders used the offseason to bring in front-court players that he feels have a lot to contribute to Binghamton’s success in 202223. With transfers like junior forward Tariq Balogun and graduate student forward Miles Gibson, Sanders believes the Bearcats can more effectively work the ball into the paint and size up their opponents better than last year.

“We have a guy like [Balogun] that I think is gonna surprise a lot of people,” Sanders said. “Having a guy like him and his ability and athleticism and the way he can score inside, we’re definitely gonna use that. Gibson has been a pleasant surprise for us. He can play a ton of different positions. You can use him inside. He can score inside. I think our front court will be a lot more productive this year than it was in the past.”

Other returners in the Binghamton squad include senior guard Dan Petcash and graduate student guard Christian Hinckson, who each were top five on the team in minutes played last season. Both players will look to fill the void that guard Tyler Bertram left when he departed in the transfer portal this offseason.

Offensive: 67.7 PPG 36.1 RPG 11.34 APG

Defensive: 73.4 PPG 6.5 SPG 4.5 BPG Defensive: 65.8 PPG 7.32 SPG 4.16 BPG Defensive: 68.4 PPG 5.66 SPG 3.66 BPG

While Bertram was the team’s leading threepoint scorer last year, Petcash and Hinckson rounded out as BU’s two most efficient shooters from beyond the arc. The two guards will likely see an increase in volume this season and will attempt to maintain their past efficiency. In order to help the shooting output, Sanders also bought in transfer sophomore guard Matt Solomon, who drilled 71 threes last season at Allan Hancock College.

“The biggest thing for [Petcash] is he just needs to be a little bit more aggressive offensively,” Sanders said. “He shot 46 percent from the three-point line last year, but he didn’t take a lot of shots … We just need him to be more aggressive, and if he can get that mindset of being more aggressive offensively, it will help him and it will help us as a team.”

The Bearcats’ season officially starts on Monday, Nov. 7, but they will not begin conference play until Dec. 31 against Bryant. In the meantime, they will face nonconference opponents, beginning with their season opener against Cazenovia at home. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Dr. Bai Lee Court in Vestal, New York.

Michael

As last year’s runner-up in both regular season and tournament play, UMBC will have to work past some setbacks in order to reach the same heights in the 2022-23 campaign. Leaving the team this season is AE All-Conference First-Team pick Keondre Kennedy, who led the Retrievers with 14.8 points per game, as well as eight points

UMBC 6. UAlbany

After twenty years with Will Brown, UAlbany head coach Dwayne Killings now enters his second season at the helm, still trying to build a team that can match the heights of Brown’s three-peat winning squad. Last year’s fifth seed, who broke even in AE Conference play with a 9-9 record, managed only 25 poll points ahead of this season. The

and a team-high eight rebounds in the championship game against UVM. Other big losses are senior guards Darnell Rogers, who bagged 10 points in that championship game, and L.J. Owens, who played more minutes than any of his teammates last season, are all noticeable holes in head coach Jim Ferry’s roster this year. Despite being seeded second

Head Coach: Jim Ferry Season Record: 18-14 Conference Record: 11-7

in the conference last season, UMBC needs to find a big way to bounce back from its final loss, an 82-43 blowout in the championship game. Senior forward Yaw Obeng-Mensah will be at the center of the Retrievers’ attempt for redemption this year, taking on a central role in the team by being one of the only returning players on the entire roster. Obeng-Mensah

Great Danes fell to Hartford in last year’s quarterfinals with an offensive performance to forget, as they struggled to score the rock with a 25.8 percent field goal percentage in just the first half. Also, UAlbany lost a key man over the summer, as senior guard and reigning AE Defensive Player of the Year Jamel Horton transferred to Mississippi. One

7. New Hampshire 8. NJIT

With 23 poll points from the conference, last year’s fourth seed and a team that finished 10-8 in AE Conference play, UNH seemed to have taken more steps backward than forward ahead of the 2022-23 season. The Wildcats are one of only 37 Division I teams that have never made the NCAA tournament, and their 72-69 loss against Binghamton in last year’s quarterfinals ensured that number stayed

the same. Veteran head coach Bill Herrion now enters his 17th year with UNH and will try to make up for some key losses in the offseason this year. Forward Jayden Martinez, his team’s scoring and rebounding leader last year (15.1ppg, 5.5rpg), will be by far the biggest miss. The team has named three cocaptains for 2022-23 with hopes that they can prevent the Wildcats from dropping further

NJIT has seen some impressive campaigns in the past few years under head coach Brian Kennedy, most notably their 22-13 record in the 2018-19 season. However, the 202122 season did not prove as fruitful, as the Highlanders finished second to last in the AE with a record of 6-12. The unfortunate plaguing of injuries over the course of several seasons has prevented the Highlanders from

getting the most out of a squad that holds the second to last spot in the preseason predictions with 14 poll points. Leading the line for NJIT this year will be senior forward Miles Coleman. One of the most consistent performers for the Highlanders last year, Coleman bounced back from an injury in the 2020-21 season and played 20 more games, averaging 15.6 points per game on

9. Maine

It is no surprise that the bookends of this year’s list have effectively picked themselves. While the champions stay at the top of our preseason predictions, last year’s 10th seed, and the only team to not make the playoffs remain at the bottom with only 12 poll points ahead of the 2022-23 season. Maine finished with a 3-15 record in AE Conference play last

year, 6-23 overall, a record that called for a change of leadership. Richard Barron ended his four-year stint as head coach and has been replaced by Chris Markwood, a former Boston College assistant coach who took over in March. It is no secret that Markwood has his work cut out for him as the Black Bears have consistently finished in the bottom two of the

of the players who will try and fill Horton’s shoes is sophomore forward Justin Neely. The AE Rookie of the Year, as well as six-time Rookie of the Week, is coming off an extremely strong first year for Albany. The Miami native averaged 6.4 points per game and had a team second-best 4.4 rebounds per game. His teammate, sophomore forward Aaron Reddish,

Head Coach: Dwayne Killings Season Record: 13-18 Conference Record: 9-9

Offensive: 73.7 PPG 32.8 RPG 12.38 APG Offensive: 61.8 PPG 32 RPG 9.42 APG

Defensive: 72.1 PPG 4.78 SPG 2.06 BPG Defensive: 65.9 PPG 6.74 SPG 2.45 BPG

averaged a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game and an additional 6.9 points per game while clocking in the highest field goal percentage in the squad with 53.5 percent. With most of the members of its second-place lineup now gone, it remains to be seen if Ferry will get this new look UMBC back to the heights of last year.

made the AE All-Rookie Team alongside him, formulating a young and effective frontcourt for the Great Danes. With a team that is mainly sophomores like Neely and Reddish, it is difficult to say whether Killings’ team is ready to take the next step or if they will remain in the bottom half of the AE.

Head Coach: Bill Herrion

Season Record: 15-13 Conference Record: 10-8

in the standings. Graduate students forward Jaxson Baker and guard Matt Herasme have transferred in from Central Arkansas and Marist, respectively. Both captains on their previous teams, Herrion looks on them to bring seniority and leadership to his squad. The third and final captain is sophomore guard Nick Johnson. The 2020-21 AE Rookie of the Year is the most experienced Wildcat. Now

Head Coach: Brian Kennedy Season Record: 11-18 Conference Record: 6-12

41.6 percent shooting and scoring 22 points as his team got knocked out by Vermont in the playoffs. Alongside Coleman, one to watch for the Highlanders this year will be sophomore forward Keeshawn Mason, a pick for last year’s AE All-Rookie team. While his playtime last year was limited, a 16 point and 6 rebound performance in just 16 minutes against Stony Brook last year proved Mason

AE standings over the past few years. Like most of the teams on this end of the standings, Maine has gone through some roster changes. A notable returner, however, is senior guard Lechaun Duhart. Duhart put up 8.5 points per game last year, with a 90 percent free throw percentage to boot. Whether Duhart can be

going into his fourth season, he spearheads the team with 8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, as well as being a team leader in blocks with 16 last year. However, there’s no telling whether or not he and his co-captains will be enough to prevent UNH from dropping spots this season.

Head Coach: Chris Markwood Season Record: 6-23 Conference Record: 3-15

Offensive: 68.8 PPG 35.9 RPG 12.14 APG Offensive: 63 PPG 34.3 RPG 10.1 APG Offensive: 62.4 PPG 31.5 RPG 13.31 APG

Defensive: 65 PPG 4.64 SPG 2.86 BPG Defensive: 70 PPG 6.07 SPG 3.66 BPG Defensive: 71.1 PPG 7.17 SPG 2.76 BPG

has what it takes to be a consistent AE performer. It is difficult to see where NJIT have improved ahead of the 2022-23 season, but the competition around it ensures the team could make playoff basketball again this year.

a game-changer in an otherwise unremarkable Black Bears roster remains to be seen. Digging this team out of the hole they’ve been in for so long will be quite the challenge for Markwood and his squad.

After a promising freshman year with the Binghamton women’s basketball team, forward Genevieve Coleman is ready to take her next steps with the program as she begins her sophomore season as a Bearcat. As a freshman, she proved to be a reliable piece in Binghamton head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord’s squad, being one of only six players to appear in all 29 of BU’s games last year. She backed that consistency up on the court as well, amassing the team’s fourth-highest block total with 10 and shooting 45.3 percent from the field, ranking third on the team.

Prior to her freshman success at BU, Coleman began playing basketball at a young age after taking inspiration from her father, Michael Coleman, who played at the University of Rochester. She credits her success and love for the game of basketball to her father.

“I first started playing basketball when I was around 4 or 5,” Coleman said. “My father played in college at [University of Rochester], so ever since I was young he would put a ball in my hand. I always wanted to play and be like my dad, so I picked it up early. I played on a team when I was in second grade, and I was playing on a sixth-grade team. My whole life

As a senior in high school at Oswego Free Academy in Oswego, New York, Coleman averaged 20.2 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. She continued her success in college, not only being named the America East (AE) Rookie of the Week on three separate occasions but also achieving an America East

feeling,” Coleman said. “It does motivate me for sure.”

Coleman sits as the only true sophomore on Binghamton’s current roster, and is one of six returning Bearcats to play in any games last season. Her experience under Shapiro Ord allows her to become more of a focal point for the team this season. Despite earning an increased role for BU going into her sophomore year, Coleman’s main focus still remains on the team’s success.

“As a team, we’re just trying to win more games overall,” Coleman said. “Some games last year were really close toward the end, and we ended up on the downside. This year, with the team we have and the determination, I’m hoping that we’ll end up on the upend, and we’ll end up pulling wins. I hope to support my teammates, like if I get a good pass and put the bucket in, and just be reliable.”

Although Coleman is focused on the team’s success, she has also sought to improve her own game this offseason. Coleman learned the game of basketball from her father and has modeled her game accordingly.

All-Rookie Team selection for her overall performance throughout the year. Coleman, who managed to score double figures three times last year, says that playing college ball so close to home has motivated her.

“After every game, having my whole family there and hearing them cheer me on every game, I love that

“I’ve worked a lot more on my outside shot,” Coleman said. “Shooting more threes for sure and just more post moves. I’m working on more shoulder fakes, upand-unders and more fast moves … I would say my dad taught me everything I know. I use a lot of the same moves that he used when he was in school.”

I was just surrounded by the game.”

Michael Carbone Assistant Sports Editor

Forward Genevieve Coleman

This year, with the team we have and the determination, I’m hoping that we’ll end up on the upend, and we’ll end up pulling wins.

Clare Traeger

Three years after stepping onto the court for her first game as a freshman, senior guard Clare Traeger is excited to get to work for her final season at Binghamton. Traeger played in all 29 games last year for BU, starting in 12 of them. Traeger is a native of Dallas, Texas, where she was originally a figure skater before beginning her basketball career in eighth grade.

“What made me fall in love with [basketball] was the process,” Traeger said. “I was kind of behind the eight ball of everybody else who was going to play college or had dreams of playing in college, so I had to step up my game.”

With her role as a senior among other less experienced teammates, Traeger recognizes the opportunity to help take a more prominent role as a leader for the Bearcats.

“[Being a senior] gives me a position to step up and be a leader, be a senior leader, along with my teammates in the senior class,” Traeger said. “[I want] to set the standard of what they need to do in future years, even after my senior class leaves … Bringing in the new freshmen, creating that chemistry and making it stronger, especially as we’re playing these preseason games.”

Traeger is also excited about the return of players who missed time last season due to injuries.

“With the low numbers that we had, just bringing those

players back,” Traeger said. “Just getting them acclimated on the court with what we have already established. I think they’re great, positive contributions, and I think that last year we really missed out on that since a lot of people were injured. So I think it’ll be a positive difference this year with the players coming back, being healthy and really helping the team out with what they can do.”

Last season, Traeger led the Bearcats with an impressive

Vermont last February.

“My rebounding skills will definitely help the team in getting second chance opportunities on offense and then getting the boards on defense and pushing in transition,” Traeger said.

In terms of basketball role models, Traeger patterns her play after Dennis Rodman.

“I like to model his rebounding ability, and his hustle and heart,” Traeger said. “I want to be the player to do the things that aren’t on the stat sheet.”

On top of the intangibles, Traeger intends to find the back of the net more this season. The guard put up seven double-digit scoring efforts and broke 20 points twice. Additionally, she scored a career-high 21 points against Canisius last season.

“My shooting and scoring ability will really help the team,” Traeger said. “I’ve been looking for my shot more in practice and, hopefully, that translates into the games … I think that’ll be not challenging, but I guess a challenge for myself because I like to just kick out and pass. But I need to look for my shot more, so I think it’s a positive challenge for myself.”

8.2 rebounds per game, good enough for second in the entire America East (AE) conference. She also averaged 7.1 points while shooting 69.8 percent from the charity stripe, both career highs for her.

With the season fast approaching, Traeger is ready to get back to work on both ends of the court. The senior reached double figures in rebounding, a team-best, eight times, including a career-high 18-rebound performance against

Off-campus, Traeger is part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and enjoys going to the ministry. She also enjoys shopping and takes care of her dog, Coda. She has thoroughly enjoyed her time at BU and hopes to help the team in its pursuit of a championship this year.

“[One of my favorite things about Binghamton] is the family atmosphere,” Traeger said. “I think that each team has a bunch of respect for each other, and we all have one common goal.”

Ethan Mackler Sports Contributor

[I want] to set the standard of what they need to do in future years, even after my senior class leaves … Bringing in the new freshmen, creating that chemistry and making it stronger.

Jack Oh Sports Editor

rebounds and 2.3 assists and was chosen All-ECIC II first-team for that season and her senior season.

After a medical redshirt season last year and only playing in eight games, redshirt freshman guard Ella Wanzer is preparing for a bigger role in this upcoming 2022-23 season. Despite being a limited participant in last year’s campaign, Wanzer made an immediate impact. In her eight games played, Wanzer earned America East (AE) Rookie of the Week on Nov. 29. Additionally, she reached double-digit scoring totals on two separate occasions, including a collegiate careerhigh 15 points against Mansfield on Nov. 23.

“A team goal and individual goal is [to win] the America East championship,” Wanzer said. “That is what the whole team is thinking of, that’s all we want. We’ve talked about it multiple times. Every single one of us has bought in and really wants to win that championship.”

Wanzer’s hometown is Buffalo, New York where she attended Amherst Central High School. She was a three-time team MVP and named first-team All-Western New York (WNY) as a senior and second-team as a sophomore and junior. On top of that, the 5-foot-10inch guard is Amherst Central High School’s all-time leading scorer (boys and girls) with 1,710 career points. During her junior year, she averaged 20.4 points, 6.0

“High school basketball prepared me in the way of developing leadership skills,” Wanzer said. “I think I learned from a very young age the idea [of] transferring being friends with your teammates and also wanting to push each other and work hard. I think that’s a balance that can be hard for people to find … That competitive edge while also balancing friendship and team collaboration, and wanting to win for each other

I basketball. My sister plays Division I basketball, so it’s big in my family.”

Wanzer has had a unique start to her college basketball career at Binghamton. In her freshman year, she only played eight games due to an injury early in the season that kept her on the sideline for most of the year. Although Wanzer experienced a halt to her plans last year, she is excited about the upcoming season and being able to play again.

“Last year was hard because I had dreamt about my freshman year of college so much since I was a kid,” Wanzer said. “All I wanted to do was play basketball and, unfortunately, I was in a lot of pain and then eventually I fractured my kneecap, so it was tough … Getting to suit up every game is the thing I’m most excited for and taking care of my body.”

and with each other, so that’s something I learned from high school.”

The redshirt freshman began her basketball journey at a young age due to the athletes in her family. Her sister, Claire, played college basketball at Niagara from 2017 to 2021.

“I started playing basketball when I was around five years old,” Wanzer said. “Basketball kind of runs in my family. I have cousins that play and have played Division

Wanzer is confident in her ability to stay healthy this year and believes that the team is ready to show people what they are capable of. With a solid group of returning players and many new faces on the team, including a plethora of transfers and freshmen, the Bearcats are poised to make an impact in the AE this season.

“I’m also really excited for our team this year,” Wanzer said. “I think that we have a ton of great players. We work really well together, so I’m excited. I think we’re gonna do some big things this year that are gonna shock a lot of people.”

Cassidy Roberts

Throughout the course of her junior year, senior guard Cassidy Roberts stepped up her game for the Bearcats with her keen eye and ability to spread the ball on the court. Now, going into her senior year, Roberts is looking to take her talents to the next level while continuing to contribute to the Bearcats’ success.

“I want to be more aggressive on offense,” Roberts said. “I just want to help lead our team to a championship.”

Roberts, a 5-foot-7-inch guard from Valley Stream, New York, was a driving force offensively on the women’s basketball team in the 2021-22 campaign. Last season, Roberts averaged 3.1 assists per game, ranking sixth in the America East (AE). She was a mainstay in the starting lineup, playing in 29 games and starting in 28 of those contests. Roberts looks to build upon this background going forward and continues to be the engine that gets the ball moving in the half-court.

When speaking about her goals for the new season, Roberts said she hopes to put herself in the conversation of elite playmakers in the AE conference. Roberts, who had a career-high 11 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a breakout performance on Jan. 26 against Hartford,

looks to continue her success playing the point for this Bearcats team.

“I want to lead the conference in assists and assistturnover ratio,” Roberts said.

For the senior, basketball has always been a big part of her life. Even at a young age, she had drive and ability that can be seen on the court today. Before Binghamton, Roberts was a six-year letter winner at St. Francis Prep, and helped lead them to the New York State Class AA championship in 2015 and the state

that’s where I got noticed by coach [Bethann Shapiro Ord] to play at Binghamton.”

When asked who she bases her game off of, Roberts gave insight into her psyche as a player and the inspiration behind her unique style of basketball.

“Honestly I don’t really model my game after anyone specifically,” Roberts said. “I just do me. I would like to model it after Kyrie [Irving]. His handle is crazy, and he’s able to score around the rim no matter who is protecting the basket. I’d honestly just say I play like myself.”

Interestingly enough, playing basketball was not the only thing that connected Roberts to the game. Roberts revealed that her family knows Irving personally.

“My favorite player is Kyrie Irving,” Roberts said. “Fun fact actually, my dad used to babysit him when he was younger. My dad and his dad played together growing up … I just love his game, his handles and his ability to score around the rim.”

finals the following season.

“I started playing basketball when I was in first grade,” Roberts said. “My dad played college basketball, so he introduced me to it. Then I started to get into leagues in my town. I was in [recreation center] leagues. In seventh grade, I was playing varsity basketball and then trained with different trainers. [I] continued to play throughout high school and when I played AAU,

The Bearcats have a long road ahead of them this season if they want to perform at their highest level. Roberts fully believes in the team and has championship aspirations this year.

“It’s great this year, not only to play games regardless of [COVID-19], [but] to play with a full roster,” Roberts said. “Last year, we did suffer through a lot of injuries, so it will be great to have everyone back. We’re expecting to go far and hopefully win a championship as well.”

Peter Schortemeyer Sports Contributor Guard

Last year, we did suffer through a lot of injuries, so it will be great to have everyone back. We’re expecting to go far and hopefully win a championship as well.

Denai Bowman

During her 2021-22 season with the Bearcats, senior guard Denai Bowman led her team in scoring, earning herself a spot in both the America East (AE) first-team allconference and the AE all-defensive team for the second year straight. Bowman returns for her fourth season at BU and hopes to continue her success on the court.

“Just playing with my new teammates [is what I’m most excited for],” Bowman said. “It’s not a brand new team, but we have a lot of new pieces and just seeing how well we do together and how well we mesh.”

Last season, Bowman averaged 14.6 points and 1.9 steals per game, good for second in the conference in both categories. She started and played in all 29 of the Bearcats’ contests and had six games in which she scored 20 or more points. In every season at BU since her freshman year, Bowman has increased her average points per game.

“This season, our goals are really to just show up each and every game and play our hardest, along with just trying to get consistent wins and just bring home the championship,” Bowman said. “I feel like each year, its always been a new team, so we’ve had to adjust how we play and accommodate to what we have.”

While Bowman commanded the BU offense last year, she also recorded 54 steals and averaged 5.2 rebounds,

earning herself a spot on the all-defensive team for the second consecutive year. After a freshman year where she averaged 6.6 points per game, Bowman has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with. The guard now holds the reigns to the Bearcat offense, in her fourth and potentially final season at BU.

“My personal goals are to get everyone else around me involved, making sure it isn’t a one-man show,” Bowman said. “Just doing my part as a leader and as a teammate and just as a player in general.”

Despite a tough 2021-22 campaign, with BU finishing 9-20 (5-13 AE), the team bounced back near the end of the season. After conceding their first four games of AE play, the Bearcats finished the season on a higher note down the stretch, winning four of their final five games, all by double-digit margins.

“I think we performed well at certain times,” Bowman said. “Sometimes there was a struggle with all of us getting on the same page, but the games when we were on the same page, we looked really good together.”

Bowman is still currently debating on what her postgraduation plans will be. Due to COVID-19, the senior was granted an extra year of college eligibility, but she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of her playing overseas. Regardless of this season’s outcome, she’s excited about what the future holds for her.

“I’m still deciding on taking my fifth year, or playing overseas in some country,” Bowman said.

Bowman has now spent over three years with the Binghamton program, establishing herself as a focal point for the team. She described how her experience at BU has helped her grow as a player and a person, both on and off the court.

“I think I’ve grown as a leader,” Bowman said. “Communicating in different types of ways. I was always known as a shy and kind of introverted type [of] person, but stepping out and being a leader on the basketball court allowed me to do things in the classroom or things that are in my regular social life that I didn’t do before … Just getting out of my comfort zone and gaining confidence in all different types of areas.”

Bowman now holds the most significant leadership role that she’s had in her four years at Binghamton, and she isn’t afraid to accept the challenge.

“It feels great [being in such a big leadership role],” Bowman said. “Sometimes it is a lot of pressure, but nothing that I can’t handle, and nothing that I don’t want. It’s definitely a challenge at times, but it puts me at a better position to help my teammates and to really see the growth within all of us.”

Johnny Yang Sports Intern Guard

I feel like each year, its always been a new team, so we’ve had to adjust how we play and accommodate to what we have.

America East women’s team previews

Jack Oh Sports Editor

1. UAlbany

After its seventh conference championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament last season, UAlbany is Pipe Dream’s pick to win the America East (AE) conference. The Great Danes finished last year with a 2310 record, 13-5 in the AE. With many key players returning to the team, including two all-conference team picks, UAlbany will look

to improve its record from last season. The team’s two preseason all-conference team selections are junior guard Kayla Cooper and senior forward Helene Haegerstrand. Cooper played all 33 games last season and averaged 11.2 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. The junior guard also dropped a season-high 25 points against

2. Maine

Maine is the reigning AE regular-season champion whose season came to an end in the conference championship game against UAlbany. It finished the year with a 15-3 conference record and a 20-12 overall record. The Black Bears will return senior guard Anne Simon who was selected as AE player of the year and defensive player of the

year. She is only the fifth student-athlete in conference history to win both awards simultaneously. Last season, Simon led the AE in scoring with 16.0 points per game and 16.2 points per conference game. She ranked 10th in the nation with 2.9 steals per game and accumulated three double-doubles, all with over 20 points. Simon will look to carry

3. Vermont

With a trip to the conference semifinal game last season against the eventual champions UAlbany, Vermont is poised to have another successful season. The Catamounts earned 46 poll points, including one firstplace vote, and are projected to finish in third place in the AE. Vermont finished in

fourth place with a 20-11 record and 13-5 in the conference. They finished second in both offense and defense, averaging 61.5 points per game and only allowing 54.3 points per game. Furthermore, the Catamounts led the AE in field goal percentage. In 31 games they shot 41.7 percent from the field. Vermont’s

4. NJIT

Despite not having a single first-place vote, NJIT tallied 42 poll points to earn a fourth-place projection in the AE. The Highlanders had a middle-of-the-road season finishing with a 15-15 overall record and 9-8 in the conference. However, they made a run in the AE playoffs, making it to the semifinal round where they lost to the conference

runner-up Maine. NJIT ranked sixth in both offense and defense, scoring 56.7 points per game and conceding 60.0 points per game. Nonetheless, the Highlanders had three different players average more than 10 points per game. Two of them will be returning this season including senior guard Kenna Squier and junior guard Lyzi Litwinko. The

Head Coach: Colleen Mullen

Season Record: 23-10 Conference Record: 13-5

Union last year. Haegerstrand played and started all 33 games, leading the Great Danes in scoring with 11.8 points per game. As a team, UAlbany finished last season ranked first in the conference in defense. They were the only team to give up less than 50 points per game on average, only allowing 49.6 points per game. Offensively, the Great Danes

Offensive: 57.1 PPG 35.3 RPG 12.73 APG

Defensive: 49.6 PPG 8.18 SPG 3.48 BPG

ranked fifth in the AE, averaging 57.1 points a contest. This season, the team will look to build off of its success on defense, while improving its offense with its key returning players. With 59 poll points and seven firstplace votes from the conference, the AE title will likely have to go through UAlbany once again.

Head Coach: Amy Vachon Season Record: 20-12 Conference Record: 15-3

her success from last season into this year as Maine was voted to finish second with 54 poll points. Despite having the second-highest total votes, the Black Bears did not earn a single first-place vote. Last season, Maine ranked third in the conference in scoring with 58.3 points per game and ranked fourth in defense allowing 56.8 points per game.

Offensive: 58.3 PPG 32.7 RPG 14.34 APG

Defensive: 56.8 PPG 8.69 SPG 2.69 BPG

Also, the Black Bears had the fewest amount of turnovers per game with only 13.5 a game and in assists per game, tallying 14.3 per contest. With Simon leading the charge, Maine will be a formidable contender for the AE championship this season.

Head Coach: Alisa Kresge Season Record: 20-11 Conference Record: 13-5

roster features all-conference team selection senior guard Emma Utterback. Last season, Utterback started in all 31 games and averaged a team-high 13.5 points per game. She also led the team in assists and steals per game with 3.9 and 1.4, respectively. Junior forward Anna Olson was also selected to the all-conference

Offensive: 61.5 PPG 33.8 RPG 14.13 APG

Defensive: 54.3 PPG 7.45 SPG 4.23 BPG

team. Along with Utterback, Olson started in all but one game and averaged 12.3 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks per game. This dynamic duo will be difficult to contain this season, resulting in Vermont’s third-place ranking.

Head Coach: Mike Lane Season Record: 15-15

Conference Record: 9-8

duo combined for 21.8 points per game and tied for the lead in assists with 2.1 a game. Litwinko led the team in rebounding last year, averaging 7.1 a game while Squier led the team in steals with 1.5 on average. Although NJIT does not lead the conference in many statistical categories, it leads the AE in blocks and is one of the best rebounding

Offensive: 56.7 PPG 35.9 RPG 9.6 APG

Defensive: 60 PPG 5.03 SPG 4.8 BPG

teams. The Highlanders averaged 4.8 blocks per game and 35.9 rebounds per game, good enough for first and second in the AE, respectively. While there are other teams that have more to offer on offense, NJIT’s ability to rebound and block shots may give it a chance to go far this season.

5. Binghamton

Ian Mills Assistant Sports Editor

As winter approaches, the Binghamton men’s basketball team returns to the court after the team’s best finish in the America East (AE) in 12 years. The Bearcats were picked to place last in 2021’s preseason coaches’ poll, yet went on to be the sixth seed, finishing the postseason with one road win. With Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders at the helm, BU finished with a 12-17 overall record along with an 8-10 conference record and a trip to the AE semi-finals. After exceeding expectations last season and adding new faces to the roster, BU was picked to finish fourth in this year’s poll. Sanders, however, does not want his players to focus on that.

“We don’t focus on any kind of expectations,” Sanders said. “We just try to prepare ourselves as best as possible day by day. I think I always try to put more expectations on myself than anybody else, and that’s what we do with our players. We try to put a lot of pressure on our guys to execute and be the best version of themselves. Being picked fourth in the coach’s poll is not really anything that we gotta worry about.”

This past off-season marks Sanders’ first full

offseason as Binghamton’s head coach, having yet to be promoted from his interim position last year. Sanders admitted that the position hindered his ability to make much change in the previous offseason, but after being named to the full-time position in February of this year, he wasted no time in using his new title to bring in several new faces. The Bearcats have five new players joining the roster in 2022, one freshman along with four transfers.

“The biggest thing for us was that we didn’t have the interim tag title attached to what we were doing,” Sanders said. “The previous summer was difficult in recruiting because a lot of the questions that we had were about the future and our future. That’s helped us out a lot that we didn’t have to talk about that, and we can just promote our program, promote ourselves as coaches and promote how we can help individuals achieve the goals they wanna achieve. That was the biggest thing for this past summer.”

Although BU brought in new talent, it also retained many of its important pieces. Its leading scorers, senior guard Jacob Falko and junior guard John McGriff remain a part of the BU core.

6. UMass Lowell

One spot below Binghamton is UMass Lowell, another team that finished toward the middle of the pack last season. The River Hawks accumulated an 11-16 overall record while managing to go 8-9 in the AE, leaving them with 27 poll points from the

conference projecting a sixth-place finish. Their numbers from last year fall in the bottom half of the most important statistical categories. They ranked seventh in offense with 55.8 points per game and eighth in defense, allowing 60.9 points per game.

7. New Hampshire

Last season, UNH finished the season with a 7-21 record and a 4-12 record in AE play. With 21 poll points, the Wildcats earned a tied seventh-place ranking with Bryant for this upcoming season. Statistically, the Wildcats were not impressive as they ranked last in offense in the AE. They

8. Bryant

Bryant is a brand new addition to the conference with this upcoming season being its induction into the AE. With Stony Brook and Hartford now departing from the conference, the Bulldogs will look to fill the hole that the Seawolves and Hawks leave behind. The Bulldogs tallied a 10-22 overall record, going 6-12

managed only 53 points per game, however, their defense managed to rank eighth, as they gave up 60.9 points per game. Additionally, UNH was dead last in field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage, shooting 36.3 percent and 23.4 percent, respectively. Despite the team’s poor

Head Coach: Bethann Shapiro

Ord

Season Record: 9-20

Conference Record: 5-13

Seemingly satisfied with the guard play, Sanders used the offseason to bring in front-court players that he feels have a lot to contribute to Binghamton’s success in 2022-23. With transfers like junior forward Tariq Balogun and graduate student forward Miles Gibson, Sanders believes the Bearcats can more effectively work the ball into the paint and size up their opponents better than last year.

“We have a guy like [Balogun] that I think is gonna surprise a lot of people,” Sanders said. “Having a guy like him and his ability and athleticism and the way he can score inside, we’re definitely gonna use that. Gibson has been a pleasant surprise for us. He can play a ton of different positions. You can use him inside. He can score inside. I think our front court will be a lot more productive this year than it was in the past.”

Other returners in the Binghamton squad include senior guard Dan Petcash and graduate student guard Christian Hinckson, who each were top five on the team in minutes played last season. Both players will look to fill the void that guard Tyler Bertram left when he departed in the transfer portal

Offensive: 57.5 PPG 34.3 RPG 12.34 APG

Defensive: 57.8 PPG 6.76 SPG 3.03 BPG

this offseason. While Bertram was the team’s leading three-point scorer last year, Petcash and Hinckson rounded out as BU’s two most efficient shooters from beyond the arc. The two guards will likely see an increase in volume this season and will attempt to maintain their past efficiency. In order to help the shooting output, Sanders also bought in transfer sophomore guard Matt Solomon who drilled 71 threes last season at Allan Hancock College.

“The biggest thing for [Petcash] is he just needs to be a little bit more aggressive offensively,” Sanders said. “He shot 46 percent from the three-point line last year, but he didn’t take a lot of shots … We just need him to be more aggressive, and if he can get that mindset of being more aggressive offensively, it will help him and it will help us as a team.”

The Bearcats’ season officially starts on Monday, Nov. 7, but they will not begin conference play until Dec. 31 against Bryant. In the meantime, they will face nonconference opponents beginning with their season opener against Cazenovia at home. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Dr. Bai Lee Court in Vestal, New York.

Head Coach: Denise King Season Record: 11-16 Conference Record: 8-9

However, UMass Lowell led the conference in threepoint field goal percentage at 33.9 percent which ranked 55th in the country. Last season, the River Hawks lost senior guard Jaliena Sanchez to an injury. She played in only three games but scored 14 points

Offensive: 55.8 PPG 33.1 RPG 10.41 APG

9. UMBC

UMBC finds itself dead last on the preseason poll, only managing 15 points. After a last-place finish in the conference standings last season, this season is also not looking promising for the Retrievers. Last year, the Retrievers had a 3-23 overall record and managed only two wins in the AE. The Retrievers

in the Northeast Conference (NEC). They scored 56.5 points per game and allowed 63.3 points per game. Bryant will lose its main offensive contributor from last season in graduate student center Brooke Bjelko. Bjelko started all 32 games for the Bulldogs and averaged a team-high 13.1 points per game.

found themselves toward the bottom of the rankings in most stat categories. They finished eighth in points per game and ninth in opponent’s points per game, with 54.1 and 65.3, respectively. Most of UMBC’s issues last season can be attributed to the defense. It gave up the highest opponent field goal

shooting numbers, the Wildcats led the AE in steals per game with 8.75 and were second in offensive rebounding with 12.1 a game. Additionally, senior guard Amanda Torres will return for her final year. Last season, Torres was the only Wildcat to average double-digit points. She averaged 10.5 points per

per game in that brief amount of time played. She shot 45.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. With Sanchez hoping to play a full season, UMass Lowell will look to make the AE playoffs for the fourth straight year.

Head Coach: Kelsey Hogan Season Record: 7-21 Conference Record: 4-12

Offensive: 53 PPG 32.8 RPG 10.21 APG

game and led the team in assists per game with 2.6 and steals per game with 1.8. Prior to last year, UNH earned two straight trips to the AE playoffs. This season, the Wildcats will look to get back to their winning ways, with Torres likely leading the charge.

Head Coach: Mary Burke Season Record: 10-22 Conference Record: 6-12 (NEC)

Even though she will not return this season, Bryant has a number of key contributors returning. Junior center Mariona Planes Fortuny averaged 9.4 points per game, senior guard Alana Perkins averaged eight points per game and senior guard Nicole Gallagher who averaged 7.4 points per game are all returning

Offensive: 56.5 PPG 36.1 RPG 13.2 APG

Defensive: 60.9 PPG 7.26 SPG 2.7 BPG Defensive: 60.8 PPG 8.75 SPG 1.71 BPG Defensive: 63.3 PPG 6.6 SPG 2.7 BPG

for the Bulldogs this season. Because Bryant is brand new to the conference, it is difficult to predict how they will adjust to the competition. They earned 21 poll points from the conference to leave them tied for seventh with UNH.

Head Coach: Johnetta Hayes

Season Record: 3-23

Conference Record: 2-14

percentage in the AE, as it allowed opposing teams to shoot 45.3 percent from the field. On top of that, the Retrievers ranked dead last in rebounds per game, only managing 32.1 a game. Moreover, three of the four leading scorers for UMBC last season will not be returning to the team. Graduate student guard

Offensive: 54.1 PPG 32.1 RPG 9.62 APG

Defensive: 65.3 PPG 7.73 SPG 0.92 BPG

Keelah Dixon, who averaged 9.1 points per game last season, will have to lead the team offensively. With a depleted squad that seems to have little direction for the future, the Retrievers do not look like a team that will be in contention this season, thus earning the last-place prediction in this year’s poll.

PIPE DREAM ALL-CONFERENCE PICKS

Junior forward Max Brooks was selected to the America East (AE) Conference all-defensive team last season as a sophomore and now enters his junior year with the River Hawks. Brooks looks to build off his strong sophomore campaign, in which he started in all 29 games that he appeared in and averaged 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He accomplished this while shooting 63.1 percent from the floor, leading the AE. He also registered 67 blocks throughout the course of the season, doubling the previous UMass Lowell record in Division I. As the River Hawks look to bounce back after next season, they will rely on Brooks’ tenacious defense and efficient scoring to have success on the court this year.

Last season, senior guard Jacob Falko was selected to the AE all-conference first team, the program’s first selection to the first team in 12 years. During this breakout season, he averaged 30.7 minutes per game, the most on the team, and started in 24 out of the 27 games he appeared in. Falko averaged a team-high in both scoring and assists, putting up 12.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. He also averaged 4.0 rebounds per game and had 28 steals last season, both good enough for second on the team. At the charity stripe, he was efficient, shooting 79 percent. Additionally, the guard returned from an injury late in the season and led Binghamton to a quarterfinal upset over New Hampshire, along with its first semifinal appearance in a decade. Falko is in line, once again, to be a major factor in Binghamton’s success on the court this year.

After spending four seasons at Bellarmine, fifth-year guard Dylan Penn looks to continue his success with Vermont. At Bellarmine, he was a twotime all-conference pick and, in his final season, he led the Knights to the Atlantic Sun Championship. Last season, Penn started in all 33 games and scored in double figures in 28 of them. He also led his team in scoring with 16.6 points and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor. On the defensive end, Penn was second on the team with 37 steals and also led the team with 19 blocked shots. With years of experience, Penn will be a major threat to AE defenses this season.

Senior guard Charles Pride looks to build off a stellar junior campaign where he averaged 17.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Last season, he started all 32 games, leading Bryant to a Northeast Conference (NEC) championship over Wagner. He posted 10 double-doubles and 11 20-point games while shooting at a 45.1 percent clip from the field and 32.6 percent from beyond the arc. The guard also set a Division I program record for Bryant, scoring 44 points in a single game last season. As Pride’s growth has been evident throughout his first three seasons, this year, he will take control of the Bulldog offense and play a major role in the team’s pursuit of an AE championship.

Junior guard Earl Timberlake will make his AE debut along with his Bryant debut during this upcoming season. The junior transferred from Memphis where, as a sophomore, he averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 assists per game last year while shooting a solid 46.8 percent from the field. He did this while averaging only 17.1 minutes per game off the bench. Due to a career riddled with several injuries, Timberlake has been unable to show off his talent and play to his full potential. Despite a mediocre sophomore year, Timberlake has joined the Bulldogs program in the hopes of having a breakout season. With the combination of Timberlake and Pride in the backcourt this season, AE defenses will certainly have their hands full.

Bowman is one of the truest twoway talents in the conference. She has been named a first-team all-conference and all-defensive team selection in the past two AE campaigns. Last season, Bowman spearheaded the BU offense with a team-leading 14.6 points and 3.7 assists per game, good for second and fourth in the conference, respectively, while putting up 1.9 steals per game at the other end of the floor. The 5-foot-9inch guard started the 2021-22 season hot, putting up 27 points in the season opener against Canisius and posting a double-double six days later against Eastern Michigan. Bowman is expected to be a key contributor once again this season as the Bearcats look to rebound from last season’s first-round exit from the AE Tournament.

Albany, the reigning AE champions, is led by senior Haegerstrand. The forward played high school basketball in her hometown of Danderyd, Sweden, and competed in the 2019 FIBA European Championship, entering the realm of NCAA Division I ball as an already seasoned competitor. Since becoming a Great Dane, she has been nearly unstoppable. Haegerstrand was named to the AE all-rookie team in her freshman season, lead the team in points per game (10.4) in her sophomore season and was an AE first-team all-conference pick in her junior season. Haegerstrand’s senior year will also be her third season as a captain of the Great Danes. She is a front-runner to win the AE player of the year award on a team that is the preseason favorite to win this season’s AE title.

Cooper is coming off of a breakout season — the UAlbany guard averaged 11.2 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. She also shot .482 from the floor, which was up from the .353 clip that she shot during her freshman year. Cooper hit a hot-streak around the 202122 mid-season mark — she put up 25 points against Union, 21 against NJIT and 22 against Hartford. This stellar play earned the Great Dane a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. While she’s known as an offensive weapon, Cooper’s defensive prowess cannot be underestimated — she had 41 steals along with 10 blocks while ranking fourth in the league with 153 defensive rebounds. This level of play helped the Great Danes only allow 49.6 points per game, which ranked first in the AE. The junior looks to repeat last year’s success on both ends of the floor.

This season, there will be high expectations for the former AE Rookie of the Year Anna Olson. In her sophomore campaign, the junior forward was one-half of a deadly duo with fellow Catamount, guard Emma Utterback. Olson connected on a team-high 53.4 percent of shot attempts and scored 10+ points a staggering 24 times. One of the highlights of her season was the AE quarterfinal matchup against Binghamton on March 5, where she posted a career-high of 22 points against the Bearcats, with nine field goals made, leading her team to the next round. She had the same consistency during her freshman year, where her 13.3 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game led the Catamounts. She is expected to be greatly featured on a Vermont team that will likely compete with UAlbany and Maine for the top spot in the conference.

Anne Simon, the former captain of the Luxembourg National Team, enters her fourth and final season with Maine. The senior guard has been elite during her college basketball years — she was named the AE Rookie of the Year in 2020 and is the reigning Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Many other awards have been earned by Simon over her career as she’s averaged 14.0 points per game and accumulated 1,000 total points. The forward was simply unstoppable last season, averaging 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game for the Black Bears. Simon also led her team to a 17-3 finish during the season, topping the AE regular season. The superstar will look to recreate last year’s success and win her first conference championship.

Max Brooks

— UMass Lowell, Jr., F

Anna Olson

— Vermont, Jr., F

Jacob Falko

— Binghamton, Sr., G

Anne Simon — Maine, Sr., G

Dylan Penn — Vermont, Gr., G

Denai Bowman

— Binghamton, Sr., G

Charles Pride

— Bryant, Sr., G

Helene Haegerstrand

— UAlbany, Sr. F

Earl Timberlake

— Bryant, Jr., G

Kayla Cooper — UAlbany, Jr., G

BASKETBALL ISSUE 2022-23