2024 America East Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 17. Up next: The America East Tournament.

When we think America East, one team always comes to mind: the Vermont Catamounts. John Becker has led his program to shares of the last eight regular season titles and championship wins in four of the last six tournaments. Once again, it will be a chase to see who, if anybody, can knock Vermont out. Every America East team not named NJIT theoretically has a shot.

2024 America East Conference Awards

Player of the Year: Dion Brown, UMBC

Freshman of the Year: Tariq Francis, NJIT

Transfer of the Year: Sebastian Thomas, UAlbany

Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli Jr., Bryant

First Team:

• G: Sebastian Thomas, UAlbany (19.2 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG)
• G: Dion Brown, UMBC (19.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 50.9 FG%)
• G: Amar’e Marshall, UAlbany (16.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 37.3 3P%)
• G: Earl Timberlake, Bryant (14.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 62.0 FG%)
• F: Clarence Daniels, New Hampshire (19.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 37.2 3P%)

Second Team:

• G: Ahmad Robinson, New Hampshire (15.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.4 SPG)
• G: Aaron Deloney, Vermont (10.8 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.6 RPG, 53.3 eFG%)
• G: TJ Long, Vermont (12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 37.5 3P%)
• F: Quinton Mincey, UMass Lowell (14.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 57.6 eFG%)
• F: Peter Filipovity, Maine (14.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 56.6 FG%)

America East Tournament Simulation

Quarterfinals – Sat., Mar. 9

3. Bryant (19-12, 11-5) vs. 6. Maine (15-16, 7-9) – 2 p.m. on ESPN+

Phil Martelli Jr’s impressive season continues as the Bulldogs grab their 20th win. Maine’s offense is just too anemic, shooting under 30% from three as a team this year. Even the one game down the stretch that the Black Bears shot well from outside resulted in an overtime loss to Binghamton.

Dan’s pick: 3. Bryant

1. Vermont (25-6, 15-1) vs. 8. UAlbany (13-18, 5-11) – 3 p.m. on ESPN+

Not the prettiest product but the Catamounts take care of business fairly easily. Think around a 70-55 type game.

Dan’s pick: 1. Vermont

2. UMass Lowell (20-9, 11-5) vs. 7. UMBC (11-20, 6-10) – 3 p.m. on ESPN+

The River Hawks have not been as reliable this year as we would have hoped but I do not see UMBC being able to make enough stops in this setting. A storyline to keep an eye on is the health status of UMass Lowell forward Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, who has been banged up throughout the year. Regardless, the Golden Retrievers’ tough season comes to an end.

Dan’s pick: 2. UMass Lowell

4. New Hampshire (15-14, 7-9) vs. 5. Binghamton (15-14, 7-9) – 3 p.m. on ESPN+

Although he didn’t win my AEC Player of the Year, New Hampshire’s Clarence Daniels is probably the most well-known player in the conference nationally. For that reason, it may be a good storyline for Daniels to go off in this tournament. That said, the Wildcats are in the midst of their biggest cold streak of the season while the Bearcats have clicked at the right time.

Dan’s pick: 5. Binghamton

Semifinals – Tues., Mar. 12

1. Vermont vs. 5. Binghamton – TBD

Binghamton’s first winning season in a decade and a half comes to an end as they run into the buzzsaw that is Vermont. The Bearcats have little success attacking the rim and are forced into tougher jump shots.

Dan’s pick: 1. Vermont

2. UMass Lowell vs. 3. Bryant – TBD

I mentioned earlier about UMass Lowell being untrustworthy and not necessarily fully healthy. Bryant did lose by double digits in their two regular season meetings, both of which were fairly recently, but the Bulldogs take the one that matters most. I’m also expecting a more defense-heavy dogfight in this one.

Dan’s pick: 3. Bryant

Championship – Sat., Mar. 16

1. Vermont vs 3. Bryant – 11 a.m. on ESPN2

Upsets are fun and all but I do not think Bryant is the team to do it. UMass Lowell is probably the better-equipped team to knock off the Catamounts which is why it is unfortunate that they are on opposite sides of the bracket. You never know though…Vermont’s one regular season America East loss came at the hands of NJIT, who did not even qualify for the conference tournament. With these stakes, though, I expect the Catamounts to take care of business. As far as their March Madness outlook is concerned, Vermont does not offer the star power of past years, but they are well-coached and experienced, per usual.

Dan’s pick: 1. Vermont