CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 15. Up next: The America East Tournament.
The America East Tournament runs through Vermont, but with the Catamounts getting the 2 seed this year, could a different team win the automatic bid? That’s only happened three times since 2017, but in a down year for the Catamounts, it could be anyone’s tournament to win.
That is highlighted by top seed UMBC, which may not bust any brackets if you filled out an America East Tournament one, but wants to get back to March Madness for the first time since they famously took down Virginia.
NJIT and UMass Lowell are the only other teams that finished above .500 in conference play, so don’t expect to see a lot of upsets here, but it should be a fun tourney nonetheless.
2026 America East Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Gus Yalden, Vermont
Freshman of the Year: David Bolden, NJIT
Transfer of the Year: Jah’Likai King, UMBC
Coach of the Year: Grant Billmeier, NJIT
First Team:
- G: Amir Lindsey, UAlbany (17.5 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG)
- G: Jah’Likai King, UMBC (14.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG)
- G: TJ Hurley, Vermont (14.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 38.2 3P%)
- F: Angel Montas, UMass-Lowell (15.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 51.5 FG%)
- F: Gus Yalden, Vermont (16.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 51.6 FG%, 37.4 3P%)
Second Team:
- G: Sebastian Robinson, NJIT (14.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- G: Ace Valentine, UMBC (11.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 50.9 FG%, 38.9 3PT)
- G: TJ Long, Vermont (12.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.2 APG)
- G: Ari Fulton, NJIT (11.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.3 APG)
- F: Austin Green, UMass-Lowell (13.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 58.9 FG%)
2026 America East Conference Tournament Simulation
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Mar. 7
8. New Hampshire (9-20, 5-11) at 1. UMBC (21-8, 14-2) – 1 p.m. on ESPN+
The top seed in the conference, UMBC, nearly lost to UNH at home, but blew them out of the gym a few weeks back. The Retrievers are on one of the longest winning streaks in the country, have a top-end defense, and are playing a Wildcats team with just one win since February. Let’s not overthink this pick.
Mat’s pick: 1. UMBC
5. UAlbany (11-20, 7-9) at 4. UMass-Lowell (14-17, 9-7) – 1 p.m. on ESPN+
If UMass-Lowell is at full strength, they’re the pick here, especially when Austin Green plays. But I’m going to side with the conference’s leading scorer, Amir Lindsay, and take UAlbany on the road.
Mat’s pick: 5. UAlbany
7. Bryant (9-21, 5-11) at 2. Vermont (20-11, 12-4) – 2 p.m. on ESPN+
Jamion Christian just hasn’t worked well in year one at Bryant and for a team with a virtually non-existent offense, things won’t be easy against this Catamounts team. They might be having a down year, but that doesn’t mean they’ll blow a first round game to a single-digit win team.
Mat’s pick: 2. Vermont
6. Maine (8-23, 6-10) at 3. NJIT (15-16, 10-6) – 4 p.m. on ESPN+
Maine won just two games in the non-conference, but surprisingly went 6-10 in the America East, getting a 6 seed here and avoiding UMBC and Vermont. But NJIT is no slouch – the Highlanders won 10 games in conference for the first time since… well, ever! Congrats to NJIT there, but they’ve lost four straight, so I’ll take Maine with an upset!
Mat’s pick: 6. Maine
Semifinals – Tuesday, Mar. 10
6. Maine at 1. UMBC – TBD on ESPN+
Picking Maine over NJIT was one thing, but against UMBC would be outright insane. The Retrievers are a serious contender to win the America East Tournament instead of Vermont, and I can’t see them blowing that opportunity with a potential home game against the Black Bears.
Mat’s pick: 1. UMBC
5. UAlbany at 2. Vermont – TBD on ESPN+
Here’s the thing about Vermont – I might be saying they’re having a down year, but that’s because of the standards of the program. They’ve still got multiple all-conference talents and some would argue are the best team in the AEast. While the Great Danes have the top scorer, UVM can come in waves. Don’t bet against the Catamounts here.
Mat’s pick: 2. Vermont
Championship – Saturday, Mar. 14
2. Vermont at 1. UMBC – 11 a.m. on ESPN2
Side note – I’ve always loved how the America East Tournament tips at 11 a.m. EST. Just a fun start to a great Saturday of hoops every year. And look, this could be THE year for Jim Ferry and UMBC, but even as the 1 seed, and at home, it’d be an upset. UVM has TJ Hurley, the Gus Bus, and so many options, I just can’t see them going down.
Mat’s pick: 2. Vermont