Over the past four years, Stony Brook, Vermont and Albany have dominated the America East (AE). During that time, those three teams were responsible for every regular-season and conference title. This year, however, the graduation of star talent has the potential to shake up the conference.
The Seawolves lost two of their starters — forward Jameel Warney and guard Carson Puriefoy — to graduation. Ahmad Walker, another starter from last year’s squad, was suspended indefinitely after being arrested in October. The Catamounts’ starting forward Ethan O’Day graduated in May, while the Great Danes’ star guard Peter Hooley also graduated. Each of those losses, coupled with the rise of the rest of the conference, signals the growth of parity in the AE.
“I think the bottom half of the league is much better,” said Albany head coach Will Brown. “I think maybe you had some teams that were a little bit young a year ago; they’re a year older now, a year more mature, a year hopefully better. So I think there will be more balance in the league. The great unknown is teams that are not used to winning.”
Warney helped Stony Brook to two regular-season titles in four years. He was a three-time AE Player of the Year and nearly averaged a double-double — 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game — over the course of his career. In Warney’s final season, Stony Brook finally won the conference championship, playing in March Madness for the first time ever.
After the season, former Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell left for Rutgers. He was replaced by Ohio State assistant Jeff Boals. With a new coach and three of five starters gone, the Seawolves are likely to give up their place as perennial contenders for the AE title.
Even with the loss of key players, Vermont and Albany remain leading candidates to win the conference this season. New Hampshire, led by junior forward Tanner Leissner, is set to be their primary challenger. Throughout the AE, there’s a sense that the conference is tighter than it has been in the past.
“You still have to learn how to win,” Brown said. “Some teams figure it out, some don’t. But I really think that this year in particular, you’re really going to have to bring it every night. If you don’t bring it, I think you’re gonna get beat.”
Last season, the average ranking of RPI among conference teams was 218 of 351 Division I teams. The AE ranked 23 of 32 conferences. Brown believes that the AE’s ranking will improve this season.
“There were games in the past where you didn’t necessarily have to play well to win, because there was a clear difference between the top half and the bottom half,” Brown said. “I think the bottom half has greatly improved, and I think it will allow for better conference games, hopefully more depth in our conference and an improved RPI.”