Name: Mike Gordon (G)

Gordon is one of the top three players in the America East. A true floor leader with a knack for finding the open man, the senior all-conference and all-defensive player from Plainfield, N.J., finished ranked 18th in the nation in steals. He also is an incredible clutch shooter. Just ask Hartford ‘ Gordon has beat them in the final second of a game three times in the last two seasons. NBA Comparison: Chauncey Billups

Stat: 10

As in SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays. Last season, in the final seconds of a game against Stony Brook at the Events Center, Gordon bounced an inbounds pass off the Stony Brook defender’s back, grabbed the pass and scored the quick layup for the victory. A few days later the ESPN program aired the play as one of the best.

Name: Richie Forbes (G)

The senior from Far Rockaway, N.Y., is the team’s most explosive scorer. He seems to elevate his game against big-time teams, but also played down to opponents at times last year. He was a defensive liability, but has worked hard in the offseason and is expected to be a complete player this season. NBA Comparison: Gilbert Arenas

Stat: 27

During the Bearcats’ upset at the University of Miami last December, Forbes exploded for 27 points in a victory that made Dick Vitale’s blog on ESPN.com. Forbes always seemed to bring it against elite competition as he averaged 19.8 points on the road against conference opponents.

Name: Lazar Trifunovic (F)

The 6-foot-8-inch sophomore from Serbia is coming off one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in school history. He was named to the America East All-Rookie team and set BU freshman single game records in points (25) and rebounds (12). NBA comparison: Pau Gasol

Stat: 6.5

Rebounds per game averaged by Trifunovic last season, good for third in the America East ‘ and that’s not AE rookies, it’s all players. He does a great job following his shots for scores and as good as his rookie season was, expect an even better sophomore campaign.

Name: Minja Kovacevic (F)

Big, strong and menacing, if he’s healthy, the 6-foot-9-inch forward from Serbia could be a force in the middle for the Bearcats. He saw his role increase toward the end of last season, culminating in a seven-point, 11-rebound game against Maine ‘ and word on the street is no Bearcat improved his game more in the offseason. He’s been injured for much of the preseason and his health will be a key issue for the Binghamton offense. NBA Comparison: Reggie Evans

Stat: 3

Minja, along with Jaan Montgomery and Gio Olomo, make up the Bearcats’ centers, by far the most physically impressive group of big men in the conference ‘ if they’re healthy. All have missed significant time in the preseason, and in order for coach Kevin Broadus’ new offense to be successful, it will need all three centers, all of whom are over 6 feet 8 inches, healthy and ready to contribute. If they’re not healthy, things will go downhill fast.

Name: Jaan Montgomery (C)

The 6-foot-11-inch Canadian fan favorite plays with a lot of heart and genuinely seems to love the game. He saw an increased role last season, culminating in a Feb. 11 game against Maine that saw him grab seven boards. He’s one of the biggest players in the AE, and instantly creates matchup problems for every team in the conference. NBA Comparison: Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Stat: 41

The big man’s weight dropped from 330 pounds at the beginning of last season to 289 this year. Taking on a new role on this team, where a true center will be extremely important, Jaan’s ability to stay in shape and keep up with his opponents will be key. Jaan still isn’t the quickest guy in the conference, but the dropped weight will certainly help his already solid defense and his expanding offensive repertoire.

Name: Gio Olomo (C)

The athletic senior from Cameroon started 21 games last season, but may be more suited to coming off the bench. He’s a defensive dynamo who plays with high energy and high intensity. He had streaks of six games with a block and six games with a steal last season. Not much in the way of scoring, but in the new, slowed-down BU offense, he could thrive. NBA Comparison: Jason Collins

Stat: 77

That’s how many personal fouls Olomo picked up last season. He even fouled out of the Green vs. White scrimmage at Hoop Fest. But Gio’s fouls aren’t necessarily a bad thing. On a team that was second worst in the conference in defense, he was one of the few willing to sacrifice his body. He’s a great defender and if he can keep his blocks clean, he will be invaluable to this squad.

Name: Dwayne Jackson (G)

The athletic junior off-guard from Akron, Ohio, has one of the smoothest strokes on the team evidenced by his 16 3-pointers last season. His role seems a little unknown this season, but he’s a tremendous athlete and great defender, adding another layer of depth to the Binghamton bench. NBA Comparison: Richard Jefferson

Stat: 13

Jackson has consistently proved his worth when given the chance to play. He started last January against Vermont, playing in a career-high 31 minutes while knocking down a collegiate-best 13 points and five rebounds.

Name: Kevin Broadus (coach)

Broadus, the man charged with leading Binghamton men’s basketball to the promised land, enters his first season with a lot of hype surrounding his team. He’s already assembled a great deal of talent for both this year and next, and seems to have the team acting like a cohesive unit. There’s a lot of pressure on him to succeed, but the athletics department has said they expect him to build for the long haul. So while he may not win this season, expect Broadus to eventually deliver on his promise of an AE Championship.

Stat: 4

Anyone who knows anything about KB knows that’s as in Final Four. Broadus was an assistant coach and chief recruiter on a Georgetown Hoyas team that reached last season’s Final Four. He’s a proven winner everywhere he’s been, but the Bearcats might be his biggest challenge yet.