3MW’s All Conference Team:
Player of the Year: Ryan Davis, Jr., Vermont
Coach of the Year: Ryan Odom, UMBC
Newcomer of the Year: CJ Kelly, Jr., Albany
Freshman of the Year: Blondeau Tchoukuiegno, New Hampshire
Season Storylines:
On the regular season’s final day, UMBC got the win it needed to clinch first place, which means the Retrievers will play at home for as long as they last in the tournament. Vermont is a worthy challenger, and you could certainly make the argument that the Catamounts remain the favorite. The Cats did not play a non-conference slate, and that contributed to a slow start, as Vermont lost three of its first five games (Player of the Year Ryan Davis also missed the season-opening loss to UMass Lowell).
Injuries and COVID pauses ravaged a large chunk of this league; Maine ended up calling off its season entirely and will not partake in the tournament. Only one team (Stony Brook) managed to reach 20 games played, and Albany’s low total of 14 reflects the struggles the Great Danes faced just to get on the court — not to mention injuries limiting star guard Cam Healy.
A sixth year for Hartford’s Traci Carter makes the Hawks’ backcourt dangerous in March, but they’ll have to get by surging Binghamton, who has shot-swatting big man Thomas Bruce healthy and should get all-conference honoree Brenton Mills back, as well. The other pod will be hosted by New Hampshire, who had a bevy of injuries of its own. However, the Wildcats still boast a formidable frontcourt and a burgeoning young backcourt, so don’t count out Bill Herrion here.
Perhaps the biggest question looming over the tournament (well, the early rounds, at least): will Obadiah Noel suit up for UMass Lowell? The River Hawks’ star has missed the past five contests, but when he’s on the court, Lowell is a mega-tough out; just ask Vermont or San Francisco. Stony Brook has injury questions of their own after Defensive Player of the Year Mouhamadou Gueye missed the finale series against Albany, so keep a close eye on lineups in that one.
Tournament Preview
Tournament Predictions
(6) UMass Lowell over (7) Stony Brook
(4) Hartford over (9) Binghamton
(5) Albany over (8) NJIT
(3) New Hampshire over (6) UMass Lowell
(5) Albany over (4) Hartford
(1) UMBC over (5) Albany
(2) Vermont over (3) New Hampshire
(1) UMBC over (2) Vermont