CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 16. Up next: The America East Playoffs.
It is usually Vermont’s for the taking – but that is not necessarily the case this year. The Catamounts lost three conference games and finished second place behind Bryant, who comes in as the one-seed.
While the league is small and seems like a top-heavy race, the Catamounts did lose a game to 5 seed Binghamton in the regular season, proving that anything can still happen in the America East Playoffs.
2025 America East Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Earl Timberlake, Bryant
Freshman of the Year: Martin Somerville, UMass-Lowell
Transfer of the Year: Byron Joshua, UAlbany
Coach of the Year: Chris Markwood, Maine
First Team:
- G: Kellen Tynes, Maine (12.7 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.5 RPG, 3.1 SPG)
- G: TJ Hurley, Vermont (16.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 39.8 3P%)
- G: Earl Timberlake, Bryant (15.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.7 BPG)
- G: Rafael Pinzon, Bryant (18.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 39.6 3P%)
- F: Max Brooks, UMass-Lowell (15.6 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.7 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 70.1 FG%)a
Second Team:
- G: Byron Joshua, UAlbany (14.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.7 SPG)
- G: Shamir Bogues, Vermont (10.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 SPG)
- G: AJ Lopez, Maine (14.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 42.2 3P%)
- G: Tymu Chenery, Binghamton (14.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 BPG, 38.8 3P%)
- F: Barry Evans, Bryant (13.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 36.9 3P%)
2025 America East Playoffs Simulation
Quarterfinals – Sat., Mar. 8
7. New Hampshire (8-23, 6-10) at 2. Vermont (20-11, 13-3) – 3 p.m. EST on ESPN+
After a brutal non-conference, UNH turned things around in America East play, and have gone 4-4 in their last eight games. However, Vermont’s beat them by 20, twice, and that’s not something to pick against.
Mat’s pick: 2. Vermont
8. UMBC (13-18, 5-11) at. 1. Bryant (20-11, 14-2) – 4 p.m. EST on ESPN+
The Retrievers have the scoring capabilities to stay with Bryant, which could give the 1 seed a bit of a scare, but it still likely won’t be enough to actually do it for a full 40 minutes. Plus, Bryant’s inside presence can be the game changer – one of the best rebounding and shot-blocking teams in the country taking on one of the worst.
Mat’s pick: 1. Bryant
6. UMass-Lowell (17-14, 6-10) at 3. Maine (18-13, 10-6) – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
What happened to UMass Lowell? After going 11-4 in the non-con, they slid toward the bottom of the conference, finishing well under .500. With no major injuries, it’s truly a head-scratcher. After all, this is a team that competed with Washington, Saint Louis, and Central Connecticut. Is there reason to believe we could see that team against Maine? I think we could – if it’s the Max Brooks takeover and the River Hawks win the battle on the glass, which they are more than capable of. Maine is a great team, but upsets happen in March.
Mat’s pick: 6. UMass-Lowell
5. Binghamton (15-16, 7-9) at 4. UAlbany (16-15, 8-8) – 7 p.m. EST on ESPN+
It’s a very interesting game. The in-state rivals split in the regular season, with UAlbany winning on the road by five and Binghamton on the road by four. The Bearcats are playing better down the full stretch, but have lost two straight. The Great Danes haven’t put together a winning streak of more than two since November, so who knows what to expect out of them. What I can say is Binghamton has a slightly better team defense and are better on the glass, which are two ways to put a game in your favor in March.
Mat’s pick: 5. Binghamton
Semifinals – Tues., Mar. 11
6. UMass-Lowell at 1. Bryant – TBD on ESPN+
Teams are re-seeded in the semis, meaning in this simulation, Bryant would get UMass-Lowell at home. In the regular season, that resulted in a 23-point win. I don’t know if it’ll be that wide of a margin if the River Hawks can score more than 62 points this time around, but I think they leave with a win.
Mat’s pick: 1. Bryant
5. Binghamton at 2. Vermont – TBD on ESPN+
Could Binghamton knock off Vermont twice in a season? I say, not so fast. The Catamounts haven’t lost since that game and are playing much better offensively after struggling more on that side of the ball to start the season.
Mat’s pick: 2. Vermont
Championship – Sat., Mar. 15
2. Vermont at 1. Bryant – 11 a.m. EST on ESPN2
It’s the championship game most would hope for in the America East Playoffs – the best two teams all season long. For Vermont, it’s about defense and crisp offense. Bryant wants to control the boards and score a lot of points. Usually, defense would win championships, but given how effective the Bulldogs can be on the glass, and Earl Timberlake’s defensive presence, I’m going chalk – Bryant takes down mighty Vermont!
Mat’s pick: 1. Bryant