Yes, there is parity in the America East ‘ after the top two teams, that is.

Vermont and Albany have separated themselves from the rest of the conference throughout the entire year; don’t expect that to change come tournament time.

So go ahead and argue that any team can beat any other team and how Vermont and Albany have shown spots of vulnerability.

They are a combined 28-4 in the conference ‘ real vulnerable.

The Catamounts have had one conference loss all season ‘ to Maine, 69-64. The next time the two teams played, Vermont won easily, 90-75.

Vermont, which is averaging 73 ppg in conference games, has an easy road to the finals. In the quarterfinals, they play the winner of Hartford/Stony Brook. The Catamounts beat Hartford by an average of almost 14 points this season while beating Stony Brook by almost 12. And in the semifinals, Vermont will most certainly face and defeat the winner of UMBC and Maine.

So while Vermont has a cakewalk to the finals as the No. 1 seed, Albany’s road is a little tougher, but will still be taking the trip to Burlington, Vt., for the title game.

Albany will beat New Hampshire and face the winner of Binghamton/Boston in the semifinals. Boston will be on its home court where it lost by two to Albany earlier in the year, and the Bearcats beat Albany and played them tough the second time.

But no matter which team they face, the Great Danes will have a battle ahead of them; a battle, however, in which they will come out victorious.

But forget the stats and the numbers. There is a reason why these two teams will be facing off in the finals: they know how to win close games.

In conference games, Albany is 4-1 when games are decided by five points or fewer, while Vermont is 5-1.

Both of these teams have played challenging out-of-conference schedules ‘ experience that will help them come this weekend.

Vermont played Maryland, Michigan State and Drexel and defeated Boston College in Chestnut Hill. Albany played UConn, Sienna, VCU and Utah and participated in the ESPN BracketBuster game against Boise State.

While most of those games may have ended in a loss, it gave both teams a chance to be tested against better teams, not just fluff record-padders.

Vermont and Albany are the two best teams in the conference and they will continue to show why this weekend.

The America East is competitive, but these two teams have separated themselves all year long and will do so again this weekend when they face off in the finals.