Center:
Binghamton: The Bearcats have one real center that has been pivotal during games and that is freshman Kyrie Sutton. Sutton, who is fourth in the America East in blocks with 1.6 per game, helped Binghamton win crucial matches like that against Boston and UMBC. Sutton’s work, although subtle, should not go unnoticed. He has had a total of 31 blocks this season.
Hartford/Maine: Should Hartford win the showdown against Maine, Hawks freshman Genesis Maciel will take the stand as center. Maciel has had a total of 10 blocks this season, which is no match for Sutton. Meanwhile for the Black Bears, Sean McNally adds a scoring and rebounding presence that can be hard to stop at times.
Advantage: Bearcats
Forward:
Binghamton: Without a question, senior Reggie Fuller is a team leader, and rightfully so. He has the ability to run an offense, though in this system, that ability is rarely needed. He is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, and also possesses the ability to score in double digits on a regular basis. He rarely takes bad shots, and that leads to a high field goal percentage (.556 percent).
Hartford/Maine: The Hawks bring the heat in the form of senior Michael Turner, who has averaged 12 points and 7.5 boards against Binghamton this season. For Maine, Troy Barnies offers a long body to throw at the Bearcat forwards and has averaged nearly 10 points against the Bearcats.
Advantage: Bearcats
Guards:
The Bearcats possess the best combination of guards in the conference. D.J. Rivera, Tiki Mayben and Malik Alvin all have the ability to start, score and dish out passes. In addition to being the conference’s leading scorer, Rivera also rebounds well (6.6 per game). On the verge of being unstoppable at times, this trio is always exciting to watch.
Hartford/Maine: Perhaps their biggest strength, the Hawks offense boats elite player Jaret von Rosenberg, who is capable of going off at any time for big numbers, evidenced by the 26 points he notched against Maine on Jan. 14. The Black Bears counter with 6-foot-6-inch junior Mark Socoby, who scored 17 against the Bearcats on Jan. 31.
Advantage: Bearcats
Bench:
Binghamton: Binghamton has several components that come off the bench, including “glue-guy” Chretien Lukusa, a good defender. Alvin may see time off the bench, as will Moussa Camara, providing an offensive punch, as will sophomore Brandon Herbert.
Hartford/Maine: For Hartford, junior Joe Zeglinski has averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 boards per game in only 10 games of action. Junior Bernal offers a great option for Maine, as does freshman Gerald McLemore. Both are viable scoring and defensive options.
Advantage: Hartford/Maine
Coach:
Binghamton: Kevin Broadus is the driving force behind his team. He always tells them to “feed off my intensity,” and the team normally responds to that. He has already exceeded any expectations set out for him two years into his stint in Vestal, and an America East championship would be the icing on that already sweet cake.
Hartford/Maine: Hartford’s Dan Leibovitz and Maine’s Ted Woodward are both fairly safe in their positions. Leibovitz led Hartford to a runner up finish in the conference tournament this year, and brings great intensity to the game. Woodward manages to keep the Black Bears afloat with good decision making and knowledge of the game.
Advantage: Bearcats
Overall:
Binghamton overmatches most squads in the conference, but they tend to make mistakes or get lax in their effort. They will need to buckle down and take every team seriously, not just the elite ones. They have trailed both of these teams by wide margins in some games this season. However, it seems unlikely that Broadus will allow the team to lose focus in this instance.
Advantage: Bearcats