America East primer

A team-by-team glance at the America East heading into the 2007-08 season.

Albany

Strengths: The Great Danes have an experienced frontcourt led by senior forward Brent Wilson, who averaged 11 points and five rebounds last season. Wilson and senior guard/forward Brent Lillis are potential go-to guys. Albany has more size and athleticism than most conference teams.

Weaknesses: Albany has no proven scorers beyond senior forward Brent Wilson. Last year the Great Danes rode all-everything Jamar Wilson all the way to the NCAA Tournament. They'll spend the early part of 2007-08 figuring out the backcourt rotation.

Scouting the newcomers: Redshirt freshman Tim Ambrose, a 5-11 shooting guard who sat out last year for academic reasons, averaged 13 points in three exhibition games. Freshman center Brett Gifford, a 6-11, 265-pounder, has a nice touch with either hand and will play significant minutes, if not start.

Binghamton

Strengths: Second-team all-conference point guard Mike Gordon is the unquestioned leader; he has won two games on buzzer beaters. Richard Forbes (11.3 ppg) is an explosive scorer who hit 40 3-pointers last season. Lazar Trifunovic (6.4 rpg) is the leading returning rebounder in the America East.

Weaknesses: The Bearcats struggled defensively last season, allowing 66.1 points per game. They also were outrebounded by nearly two boards a game. Coach Kevin Broadus is trying to address both areas.

Scouting the newcomers: Juco transfer Milos Klimovic, a 6-7 220-pounds sharpshooter who has played on the Bosnian national team, will make an immediate impact. Juco transfer Reggie Fuller, a 6-6 swingman, is a highlight-reel dunker and aggressive defender.

Boston University

Strengths: The Terriers led the America East in scoring defense last season, giving up 60 points per game, and should be just as stingy this year. BU also boasts one of the league's top backcourts in sophomore point guard Tyler Morris, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and sophomore slasher Corey Lowe, an all-rookie selection.

Weaknesses: The Terriers have a lot of playmakers but sometimes get careless with the ball. BU averaged 14.2 turnovers last season, third-most in the league. Another potential problem is that the top four players are sophomores.

Scouting the newcomers: With the loss of leading rebounder Omari Peterkin, freshman Will Creekmore, a 6-9, 245-pounder, should make an instant impact. Creekmore is a big-bodied, skilled low-post scorer. Freshman John Holland, a 6-5 wing, is a high-energy player who has the skills to get into the rotation. Freshman center Matt Killen, a 6-10, 224-pounder, is very athletic for his size.

Hartford

Strengths: The Hawks have an excellent backcourt in junior Jaret Von Rosenberg and sophomore Joe Zeglinski. They combined to average 23.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season. Junior forward Warren McLendon, a 6-6, 250-pound transfer from The Citadel, figures to be one of the most athletic players in the America East.

Weaknesses: Undersized Hartford finished dead last in rebounding margin (-5.6) in the America East last season. The Hawks have added some size, but the effect remains to be seen. Hartford also shot poorly: 40.9 percent, third-worst in the conference. More experience and better shot selection this fall would help.

Scouting the newcomers: Junior forward Warren McLendon, who transferred from The Citadel, should make a big splash. He averaged 10.9 points and 4.5 rebounds in his last season in Charleston. F Kevin Estes, a 6-7, 230-pound freshman forward, "runs the floor, rebounds well, and is efficient offensively out to 15 feet," coach Dan Leibovitz said. "He will help to strengthen our rebounding immediately."

Maine

Strengths: Junior Bernal is one of the conference's rising stars. A 6-5, 200-pounder, the sophomore point guard averaged nearly 10 points, four rebounds and three assists last year. He'll start alongside 6-5 sophomore guard Mark Socoby, forming one of the conference's biggest and best backcourts.

Weaknesses: The Black Bears need to improve defensively after allowing 67.5 points per game last season. With just one returning starter, inexperience also will be a problem.

Scouting the newcomers: Three true freshmen could contribute: combo guard Robby Hanzlik, who can score and set up teammates; 6-7 Sean McNally, an athletic shot blocker; and 6-7 Troy Barnies, who averaged 22.6 points and 11.3 rebounds as a high school senior.

Maryland-Baltimore County

Strengths: The Retrievers have a terrific playmaker in junior guard Jay Greene, who led the conference with 5.3 assists per game last season. Slasher Brian Hodges, a 6-3 senior, scored 14.7 points a game. UMBC is one of the league's better offensive teams.

Weaknesses: UMBC struggled at the defensive end last year, allowing 65 points, and the Retrievers gave up way too many offensive rebounds. Transfers Cavell Johnson and Darryl Proctor should help immensely in the paint.

Scouting the newcomers: Expectations are high for three transfers. Guard Ray Barbosa averaged 12.1 points a game at James Madison, forward Cavell Johnson blocked 78 shots in 63 games at James Madison and forward Darryl Proctor averaged 13.6 points and 7.4 rebounds at Coppin State. Freshman forward Marcos Tamares, a 6-6, 205-pounder out of Long Island, will add frontcourt depth.

New Hampshire

Strengths: Senior forward Mike Christensen (13.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) is a reliable scorer, junior guard Tyrece Gibbs has explosive quickness and a nice 3-point shot, and sophomore forward Radar Onguetou can be a force on the glass. He had a team-high 53 offensive rebounds last year.

Weaknesses: The Wildcats struggled to score last year, averaging 58.7 points and shooting under 41 percent. And they lost their top two scorers. There is very little experience beyond the big three.

Scouting the newcomers: Salah Abdo, a freshman point guard, could make an immediate impact. He's a long and athletic playmaker who also drew interest from Atlantic 10 schools. Freshman Dane DiLiegro, a 6-8, 230-pounder out of Lexington, Mass., could help inside right away.

Stony Brook

Strengths: The Seawolves play solid team defense; teams shot 43 percent against them last season and scored 64.3 points per game, second-fewest in the conference. The Seawolves also have the leading returning America East scorer in senior guard Ricky Lucas (15.2 points per game).

Weaknesses: Stony Brook was the worst-shooting team in the league (39.7 percent). The Seawolves shot just 31 percent from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent from the foul line. As a result, Stony Brook averaged just 59.9 points, second-fewest in the league.

Scouting the newcomers: The Seawolves are desperate for scorers. Juco transfer Michael Tyree, a 5-11 guard, and freshmen Chris Martin and Jermol Paul will have a chance to contribute immediately. Martin is a 6-1, 210-pound guard out of heralded Christ the King in Queens, N.Y. Paul is a 6-4 swingman from Palm Beach, Fla.

Vermont

Strengths: The Catamounts play tenacious defense -- opponents shot 41 percent last season -- and they have arguably the best player in the conference in point guard Mike Trimboli. The quick and reliable junior averaged 15.8 points, 5.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals without missing a game last season. He sealed several wins at the foul line, where he shot 83.3 percent.

Weaknesses: Having lost 6-11 F Chris Holm (12.4 rebounds per game) and C Martin Klimes (4.6) to graduation, Vermont won't dominate on the boards. The transfer of 6-7 Joe Trapani to Boston College also will hurt inside.

Scouting the newcomers: 6-10 redshirt freshman Kyle Robbins and 6-9 freshman forward Garrett Kissel could contribute right away after Vermont lost most of its frontcourt. Evan Fjeld, a 6-8 forward from Durham, N.C., has a huge upside: he averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.5 blocks as a high school senior.