Nine Teams, Nine Days: Boston University

Last season: 17-13 (11-5 America East), lost in America East quarterfinals to UMBC.

Head coach: Pat Chambers, first season.

Departing players: Marques Johnson, Brendan Sullivan, Sam Tully, Matt Wolff.

Incoming players: B.J. Bailey

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Corey Lowe, senior, 17.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.1 APG
G Carlos Strong, senior, 6.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 APG
F/G John Holland, junior, 18.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.8 SPG
F Jake O'Brien, sophomore, 12.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG
C Jeff Pelage, sophomore, 3.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.5 BPG

Player to watch: John Holland. If Marqus Blakely has a rival for the title of "Best Player in America East", it's Holland. That fits, considering both players are the same height and wear the same number. BU's junior swingman doesn't have Blakely's defensive reputation -- while Holland's length can wreak havoc at the top of a 1-3-1 zone, he isn't considered a lockdown man defender. What Holland brings to the table is the most complete offensive game in America East. The Terriers' number 23 is a feared perimeter shooter with plenty of range and enough height and athleticism to get his shot off against anyone. That shot pairs nicely with his ability to get in the lane, where he has been known to throw down more than his fair share of SportsCenter-quality dunks. Holland also rebounds well, shoots free throws well -- basically anything a wing player is supposed to do, Holland does at a high level. BU's status as the favorite in America East is contingent upon Holland's performance.

Biggest strength: Perimeter shooting. It's not hard to hit threes when a team's long-range attempts are limited to wide-open looks. The Terriers, on the other hand, take lots of threes -- nearly 45 percent of their field goal attempts -- and still manage to make them at an excellent rate. BU's success from longer distances is a product of having several excellent perimeter shooters. Holland and Corey Lowe are the obvious ones, but Carlos Strong is accurate from range as well. So is a healthy Tyler Morris, a career 39.1 percent 3-point shooter. B.J. Bailey has yet to establish himself as an offensive threat at the Division-I level, but his advance billing is that of a capable shooter. Whenever Jake O'Brien, last year's Rookie of the Year, is on the court, BU will have four players capable of shooting the 3-ball; when O'Brien is playing center, that number may increase to five. The Terriers are more than capable of shooting their opponents out of the gym.

Biggest weakness: Depth. Preseason prognostication projected the Terriers' primary rotation as consisting of eight players, four in the backcourt (Lowe, Strong, Morris and Bailey) and four in the frontcourt (Holland, O'Brien, Scott Brittain and Jeff Pelage), with occassional minutes for Valdas Sirutis and Sherrod Smith. Already, Brittain and Bailey have been sidelined by concussions, forcing Sirutis and Smith into the main rotation and thinning the Terrier reserves. Teams have won with shallow rotations before -- UMBC did it just two years prior -- but BU has multiple difficult stretches on its schedule, including seven of its first nine conference games coming on the road. If the Terriers are forced to play critical games with less than its full complement of players, their margin for error will be a lot smaller than it would be otherwise.

Guards: Corey Lowe is a 3-point shooter, first and foremost, but his game continues to evolve. Lowe's percentage of threes attempted (that is, 3PA/FGA) has fallen every season, as the senior guard now regularly looks to get to the rim with the game on the line. Lowe's real evolution, though, is as a distributor. Lowe's 4.1 APG last year makes him the only returning America East player to average more than four assists per game in the previous season; of returning players, only Junior Bernal also averaged more than three per game. For a player whose skillset is more off-guard than lead guard, Lowe's ability to keep his teammates involved while taking so many shots is remarkable. While Lowe isn't a defensive stopper, he's more than competent on that front, only adding to his value and cementing his status as one of this conference's great players.

Carlos Strong was the sixth man last year before a torn meniscus cut his season short, but the Portland native started in 18 games his sophomore year, when he averaged over 11 points per contest. Strong's game combines an excellent jumper with the ability to create his own shot opportunities and good perimeter defense. In keeping with his last name, Strong is also a powerful athlete with enough bulk to body up larger players and fight for rebounds.

Tyler Morris burst on to the scene as a freshman three years ago, scoring more than 13 points per game and winning America East Rookie of the Year honors. The two seasons that followed were marred by injuries, and the player whose quick release and pinpoint accuracy were a dangerous weapon has been visible only for brief moments. At his best, Morris is a dead-eye shooter, able distributor, tenacious defender and vocal leader; while his defense and on-court leadership are rarely questioned, his worst performances have been marred by frequent turnovers and inaccurate shooting. The senior guard has dropped some weight this year, perhaps aiming to regain some quickness and recapture his form from 2006-07, which would elevate the Terrier backcourt to a level rarely seen in America East.

B.J. Bailey arrives at BU in a curious position, as the only freshman on a team led by a coach different from the one who recruited him. While his concussion delays whatever impact he might have, Bailey's combination of shooting skills, strength, and athleticism should serve him well at the shooting guard position. Bailey is also a good enough ball-handler and passer to fill in at point guard if needed, although with both Lowe and Morris capable of running the point, extended time at lead guard seems unlikely.

Sherrod Smith began his collegiate career getting significant minutes as part of BU's guard rotation, but subpar performance eventually relegated the then-freshman swingman to garbage-time minutes. While Smith is unlikely to regularly see extended playing time after Brittain and Bailey are healthy, as a fill-in he is capable of getting the job done. The senior wing player has enough length to guard taller guards and small forwards and enough quickness to get past slower defenders. Exceptional results on either end of the floor should not be expected, but in a reserve role Smith isn't a major liability.

Tunde Agboola and Michael Schulze are BU's two senior walkons. Agboola has been with the team since his freshman year, while Schulze joined as a junior. Barring multiple additional injuries, neither is expected to play any significant minutes.

Forwards: John Holland's significant improvement as a 3-point shooter last season was widely noticed last season, but the 6-foot-5 junior swingman displayed improved free-throw shooting as well. Holland shot slightly under 65 percent from the charity stripe as a freshman; as a sophomore, that figure improved by 12 full percentage points. Holland can score from any position on the floor, and he can do so in ways that render his defender largely irrelevant. Paired with Lowe, Holland gives BU two of the most explosive offensive players in America East.

Jake O'Brien is the rare sort of forward who attempts more threes than twos. To his credit, O'Brien is also the rare sort of forward with a good enough jumper to make such a strategy work. As a freshman, O'Brien connected on more than 36 percent of his 3-point shots; that, paired with his blocked shots, proved to be enough for Rookie of the Year honors. O'Brien's biggest weakness is his rebounding. While his low offensive rebound totals are partially a product of spending so much time on the perimeter, O'Brien guards the usual spectrum of frontcourt players while on defense, yet does not corral an appropriate share of defensive rebounds. Now a sophomore, look for the BC High graduate to maintain his shooting performance while focusing somewhat more on more traditional forward responsibilities.

Scott Brittain suffered his third concussion prior to last season, and although the then-junior forward was back on the court for November 22's game against Saint Peter's, his play did not return to its usual level until conference play. Brittain's statistical decline last season was entirely a product of his injury -- during the America East season, he averaged more than 11 points and six rebounds a game, to go with 23 total blocks -- but another concussion prior to this season brings his long-term health into question. Even at his best, Brittain's considerable skills on both ends of the floor are limited by persistent foul trouble, but when healthy and focused he can have a major impact on a game. In Brittain's absence, a reasonably strong frontcourt becomes much more of a question mark.

Valdas Sirutis is almost a lot of things. Sirutis has almost enough range to justify operating from the perimeter, but his 8-of-37 career performance from beyond the arc suggests those shots aren't a good idea. Sirutis, at 6-foot-7, has almost enough size to become a physical presence down low, but 79 inches isn't enough to compensate for occasionally lackluster defense. Sirutis will see substantial minutes for some time due to Brittain's injury, and will at times put together a reasonably strong performance, reminding some of his 11 point, 5-of-5 shooting display against Binghamton in the 2007 America East quarterfinals. Overall, however, the qualities that would make Sirutis a reliable, even valuable reserve forward, rebounding and defense, aren't present in sufficient enough quantities.

Center: Jeff Pelage saw his playing time fluctuate over the course of the 2008-09 season, but as the campaign neared its conclusion the 6-foot-9 center showed signs of the player he may become, producing nine points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes against Iona before adding 10 and 12 with three blocks versus Maine. Pelage is the Terriers' best rebounder, a good shot-blocker and defender, and is reasonably efficient from the field. The biggest red flag is free-throw shooting: Pelage converted only 50 percent of free throws as a freshman, limiting the benefits granted by his ability to get to the line.

Outlook: Injuries threaten to derail the Terriers' season before it even begins. Then again, every team is to a greater or lesser degree susceptible to injuries. When healthy, the Terriers have the best collection of talent in the conference. As long as the Terriers have their full roster of players available for conference play -- something that's neither guaranteed nor particularly unlikely -- BU will be in the best position to win an America East title. For that reason, they sit atop these power rankings.

Link: Men's basketball season preview

Nine Teams, Nine Days: Vermont

Last year: 24-9 (13-3 America East), lost in America East quarterfinals to Albany, lost in CBI quarterfinals to Oregon State.

Head coach: Mike Lonergan, fifth season, 78-49 record (44-20 AE).

Departing players: Jordan Clarke, Jordan Dean, Greg Hughes, Colin McIntosh, Ryan Shields, Mike Trimboli.

Arriving players: Luke Apfeld, Brendan Bald, Ben Crenca, Simeon Marsalis.

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Nick Vier, senior, 6.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.9 APG
G Maurice Joseph, senior, 8.1 RPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.8 APG
G Garvey Young, sophomore, 6.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.2 APG
F Evan Fjeld, junior, 4.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.6 BPG
F Marqus Blakely, senior, 16.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.7 BPG

Player to watch: Marqus Blakely. The two-time America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year has spent past seasons sharing the spotlight with teammates, most notably departed sidekick Mike Trimboli. This year, the show is his alone. There are other players in Burlington capable of making an impact on games -- Maurice Joseph is a multifaceted scorer, and Garvey Young's shutdown defense can take away an opponent's biggest strength -- but only Blakely can bring the Catamounts to the promised land. To be fair, no one could expect Blakely to do everything by himself -- when teams double and triple-team the 6-foot-5 forward, his supporting cast must make defenses pay -- but if this year's team succeeds where previous versions failed, it will be because of the man in the middle.

Biggest strength: Efficient scoring. Vermont had several strengths last year, but this one was both the most significant and one of the more likely ones to remain intact. Vermont ranked in the top 50 nationally in both effective field goal percentage (36th, at 53.2) and FTA/FGA (13th, at 45.3). Trimboli, in particular, had a lot to do with both of these figures, but there are several reasons why both figures should remain strong in 2009-10. Each of the projected Vermont starters is at least an average offensive player. With the exception of Vier, each of those players is used to taking at least a reasonable percentage of the team's shots. On the free throw front, several Vermont starters draw more than their fair share of free throws, and other than Blakely, Vermont is in fact a very good free throw shooting team -- if that sounds strange, check the numbers. Expect the Catamounts to score plenty of points.

Biggest weakness: Defensive rebounding. How does a team with Blakely have defensive rebounding as its biggest weakness? Keep in mind that Vermont, as one of the best teams in the conference, has relatively few weaknesses. In this case the answer is relatively simple. Other than Blakely, the Catamounts have no proven above-average defensive rebounders. Colin McIntosh was a quality glass-cleaner, but he's gone. While Ben Crenca may get the job done on the boards, he's a freshman and therefore an unknown; Vermont's best known rebounder not wearing number 23 is Evan Fjeld, whose performance on the defensive glass was average at best last year. No America East team with Blakely as its centerpiece will ever be a particularly poor rebounding team at either end, but the Catamounts were surprisingly subpar at recovering opponents' missed shots in 2008-09, and another year of unimpressive performance in that category is likely.

Guards: Maurice Joseph spent a a year off per NCAA regulations after transferring to Vermont from Michigan State and began the 2008-09 season in the Catamounts' starting lineup. As it turned out, while some parts of Joseph's game were as advertised -- the 6-foot-4 off-guard has a smooth stroke from 3 and is an outstanding free throw shooter -- he left head coach Mike Lonergan wanting more. With Vermont's offensive firepower, the focus was understandably on the defensive end, and Joseph's sometimes lackadaisical defense resulted in the then-junior coming off the bench for all but two games after New Years' Day. With Trimboli gone, Joseph has become the starter by default. Nobody questions whether Joseph will wind up scoring in double figures this season -- only whether he'll give all those points back at the other end.

Garvey Young's raw offensive numbers might not resemble those of a budding star, but the 6-foot-4 wing's game is more than the sum of its parts. Young was reasonably efficient as a freshman due to his ability to get to the free throw line, where he converted nearly 80 percent of his attempts, and has enough of a jumpshot to make sure teams guard him. Throw in excellent defense, and it's easy to see why Young made the All-Rookie team despite scoring just six points per game. If Young can find even a bit more range on his jump shot, small but noticeable bumps in playing time and usage rate will expose the sophomore to the rest of the conference as one of Vermont's next impact players.

Nick Vier's offensive game has continuously evolved over his three years at Vermont. An inefficient turnover machine as a freshman, Vier's ball-handling and decision-making have improved to adequate, albeit not extraordinary, levels. His perimeter shooting, once subpar, is now a strength, as Vier hit more than 41 percent of his threes last year. The senior point guard will be asked to provide more offense this year, potentially lowering his efficiency somewhat as a result of taking more shots, but the 6-foot-1 guard should be still be a reasonably proficient offensive player. Defensively, Vier holds an edge over his competition for the starting point guard job, due in large part to his experience and height.

Height, in this case, refers to Joey Accaoui, whose 5-foot-10 entry in Vermont's roster most likely exaggerates his true height. Accaoui's 40 percent figure from long range in 2008-09 wasn't his greatest asset; his primary value came from an A/TO ratio of 2.12, fueling the high-octane Catamount offense for 15 minutes a game. Accaoui's offensive skills, while substantial, fail to negate his defensive limitations. Of Vermont's options at the guard positions, all pose more problems for opposing shooters and ball-handlers than Accaoui, preventing him from assuming a greater role on the team.

Simeon Marsalis is the Kevin Bacon of America East rookies. Marsalis' Vermont teammate, Luke Apfeld, played on Marsalis' Brewster Academy team before arriving in Burlington, as did Albany freshman Derrek Tartt. Oh, and his father is none other than Wynton Marsalis, the world-famous trumpeter. Marsalis the Younger is a natural lead guard and brings all the tools expected of that position: playmaking ability, an effective jump shot, and assertive, intelligent decision-making. Vier should survive Accaoui's bid for the starting job at point guard, but Marsalis comes with plenty of hype; if the hype is deserved, the 6-foot-1 freshman's minutes should steadily increase.

Brendan Bald slots in behind Garvey Young as another skilled, athletic wing player. Of Vermont's reserves, Bald is the only natural fit at the wing when Young sits down -- Blakely can move to the wing but is better suited to stay in and around the paint at both ends of the floor -- so the 6-foot-4 freshman should see occasional minutes. With several shotmakers on the roster at the other backcourt positions, Bald's primary role will be to make hustle plays and play solid defense as a reserve. As long as he can those two things, Bald will see playing time.

Forwards: What can't Marqus Blakely do? Shoot from farther away than 12 feet. In three years, traces of Blakely's midrange and perimeter game have been virtually non-existent, and the free throw line's 15-foot distance from the hoop has regularly given Blakely trouble. In all other respects, the man is a terror on the basketball court. Ignore him for a second and he'll establish position, receive the ball and throw down a ferocious dunk. Double-team Blakely, even triple-team him, and the ball magically finds its way to the open man. Dare to venture near the hoop with the ball in tow, and Blakely will get his hands on it for either a steal or a block, creating transition opportunities frequently finished off at the other end by none other than himself. To adapt Dan Patrick's oft-referenced SportsCenter remarks, you can't stop Marqus Blakely. You can only hope to contain him.

Evan Fjeld spelled both Blakely and McIntosh off the bench last season. While Fjeld's defensive rebounding isn't exactly praiseworthy, his work on the offensive boards has been fairly impressive. Fjeld also provides extremely efficient scoring, albeit at a fairly low usage rate, and enough shotblocking to match what McIntosh offered last season. The junior forward's biggest issue is one he wasn't confronted with often as a reserve: foul trouble. Fjeld committed more than six fouls per 40 minutes last year, which isn't a major problem when playing only 15 minutes per game but becomes a much greater issue when playing time is doubled. The magnitude of Fjeld's improvement as a junior will be heavily dependent on whether he can stay on the court long enough to log starters' minutes.

Garrett Kissel played just 103 minutes last season, yet found a way to spread those minutes across 27 total games. It's tough to judge Kissel based on such a limited sample, especially when his minutes were largely confined to garbage time, but Lonergan's reluctance to grant Kissel more extended opportunities hints at what would have likely been ineffective play. Technically speaking, Kissel is the first forward off the bench, but most of the frontcourt minutes not eaten up by Blakely and Fjeld will evade Kissel, instead finding the Catamounts' freshman center.

Luke Apfeld tore his right ACL in June of 2008, prior to his senior year. After signing with Vermont, Apfeld tried to get back to the court quickly, perhaps too quickly. Three days after his return in January, Apfeld tore his left ACL. Ten months later, Apfeld was preparing for his freshman season as a Catamount when -- guess what -- he tore his right ACL. At one point Apfeld was expected to make an immediate and significant impact as a freshman. Now, while his season is finished before it began, the bigger question is when, or even if, Apfeld will be able to play again.

Centers: Ben Crenca, at 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, is the largest player seen on Vermont's roster since the days of Chris Holm. Like the former Rhode Island transfer, Crenca fits the mold of a traditional center, combining defense, rebounding, and the ability to score with his back to the basket. Even if the offense doesn't arrive this season, as is typically the case for America East freshmen of Crenca's size, there are teams in America East whose starting big men don't provide the necessary rebounding and defense. In that context, Crenca's value is more apparent.

Pat Bergmann saw the least playing time of any Vermont scholarship player last year. The Catamounts split their frontcourt minutes almost entirely among just three players last year, so it shouldn't surprise anyone if Bergmann is left out of the loop once again. For what it's worth, Kissel was much more active than Bergmann in Vermont's exhibition win against Saint Michael's. Bergmann may well be the last player off the bench.

Outlook: The Catamounts have the best player in the league, and that counts for a lot. There will be several games in conference play where lesser opponents are rendered helpless by Blakely, as well as others in which a team's collective effort to stop Blakely allows his teammates to take advantage. As has been seen repeatedly in this league, however, one big gun isn't enough to win it all. The Catamounts' Number 23 is an outstanding player, but he is not Superman, and while he may be the biggest star in the America East galaxy, the last team remaining in this countdown has an array of talents whose collective brightness is greater than what Vermont can offer.

Nine Teams, Nine Days: Albany

Last year: 15-16 (6-10 America East), lost in America East semifinals to UMBC.

Head coach: Will Brown, 9th season, 106-124 record (62-68 AE).

Departing players: Brian Connelly, Jimmie Covington, Jerel Hastings, Anthony Raffa.

Arriving players: Mike Black, Gavin Glanton, Jake Lindfors, Blake Metcalf, John Puk, Derrek Tartt, Fran Urli, Ralph Watts.

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Mike Johnson, senior, 3.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.8 APG
G Tim Ambrose, junior, 14.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.6 APG
F Will Harris, senior, 12.9 PPG, 6.5 PPG, 1.3 APG
F Fran Urli, junior, 10.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.3 APG (Panola College)
C Brent Gifford, senior, 2.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.8 BPG

Player to watch: Tim Ambrose. Ambrose's 14.3 points per game last season were impressive enough, but consider this: Ambrose played less than 25 minutes per game in 2008-09. Among America East players, only Muhammad El-Amin scored more points per 40 minutes. That scoring rate is, of course, supported by an almost impossibly high usage rate -- Ambrose took more than 35 percent of his team's shots while on-court -- but the muscular 6-foot guard was one of the Danes' more efficient players, so in this case increased usage was warranted. The sophomore's frequent trips to the rim also enabled him to grab plenty of rebounds. On his best days, Ambrose ranks among the conference's elite offensive threats; on his worst days, he wastes possessions or, perhaps worse yet, gets in foul trouble and has to sit for long stretches. Ambrose committed almost five fouls per 40 minutes last year, fouling out five times. As one of this conference's most talented players, Albany needs Ambrose to stay on the floor.

Biggest strength: Rebounding. Some teams are excellent at defensive rebounding. Other teams crash the boards on offense. Few teams excel at both. Albany is one of those teams. The Great Danes ranked 20th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (39.0) and fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (73.7), leading America East in each. None of Albany's 343 Division-I counterparts managed to top the Danes in both categories. Those extra boards extend Great Dane possessions and cut opponent's possessions short, giving Albany some much-needed extra chances in close games. It's tough to imagine the Great Danes showing significant improvement in rebounding categories, if only because it's hard to do much better than last year, but because rebounding is a huge part of this team's identity, Albany cannot afford to be merely an average rebounding team. Expect more of the same in 2009-10.

Biggest weakness: Perimeter shooting. This is pretty straightforward. Albany is a big team, and its starting guards' offensive games revolve around getting to the rim. Is it any surprise the Great Danes' weakness resides outside 20 feet, 9 inches? Ambrose shot 33.8 percent from 3-point range last year, which is neither particularly bad nor particularly good. That's perfectly fine if Ambrose was the Danes' third or fourth best perimeter shooter, and it might even be okay if he was the team's second best shooter -- but Ambrose's 33.8 figure led the team. Albany likes to force the ball inside, and sometimes that strategy works no matter how hard the defense tries to stop it, but better defensive teams can take away the paint and force the Danes to make some longer shots. If Albany doesn't improve significantly from the perimeter, those teams are going to find success.

Guards: For a guard, Tim Ambrose's rebounding abilities are extraordinary. The list of players Ambrose's height who grab more than 17 percent of opponent's missed shots is low. But Ambrose isn't just a scorer or a rebounder, either: his drives create assist opportunities (counteracted somewhat by a high turnover rate), and he averages over one steal per game due to aggressive (sometimes overly aggressive) defense. None of these items can happen with Ambrose sidelined by foul trouble; remedying that issue will immediately place the junior among America East's elite players, if he isn't there already.

Mike Johnson saw his playing time dry up around midseason before emerging as Albany's starting point guard down the stretch, a phenomenon coinciding with Anthony Raffa's injury troubles. While Johnson is serving a two-game suspension for a fireworks-related incident, he should be in the starting lineup as of next week. Johnson is a prototypical lead guard, combining excellent defense with the ability to create opportunities for others. The senior guard isn't much of a scorer -- while he gets to the line with regularity, he doesn't shoot free throws well, and isn't overly efficient either outside or inside the arc -- but his other skills make him a valuable contributor and a worthy starter.

Head coach Will Brown announced freshman Mike Black as the starter for the opener against Syracuse. Black had originally committed to North Florida but was released due to a coaching change and assumed the scholarship made available by Raffa's departure. Black is a good fit to backup Johnson due to their similar games -- both are natural point guards and committed defenders. Black brings some added offensive potential, but because so much of Albany's offense flows from Ambrose, it's doubtful we see it with any regularity while Black is a freshman.

Louis Barraza is Albany's designated 3-point specialist -- he took 27.5 percent of the Danes' shots while on the floor, with nearly 80 percent of those being from long range. There's a problem with that: Barraza shot just 22-of-69 from 3. Quite frankly, that's poor, and Barraza is invisible in all other aspects of the game: he doesn't rebound, he doesn't defend (but he does foul), and he doesn't create opportunities for others. Barraza was bothered by Achilles tendinitis last season and was frequently unable to practice, so improved health may cause his shooting to improve, but anything less than a major improvement in that department shouldn't be enough to warrant major playing time, as none of Barraza's other dimensions are particularly good.

Technically speaking, redshirt freshman Logan Aronhalt isn't a new face. He played two minutes last year against Columbia, and the rest of the season was lost due to a foot injury. Some reports indicate that Aronhalt might not yet be up to speed -- he had trouble guarding Ambrose in an intrasquad scrimmage -- but if healthy, Aronhalt fits Albany's preferred mold as an off-guard who isn't afraid to do some work in the paint. Aronhalt, however, arrived in the state capital as a heralded shooter, something the Danes could use some more of. If his shooting fits the bill, Barraza's minutes may be at risk.

There are two other freshman guards who figure to see some time in Albany's deep rotation. Derrek Tartt will push Black, his former high school teammate for minutes as Johnson's backup. Tartt, at 6-foot-3, can also play off-guard or even small forward. He spent a post-graduate year at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire developing a wide skill set, including the ability to create his own shot and good court vision. On a roster with pure point guards and score-first shooting guards, Tartt stands out as a combo guard and stands to find his way on the floor one way or another.

Ralph Watts, the remaining freshman guard, took the direct route to Albany, signing before his senior season. Watts is long and athletic, allowing him to penetrate, where he can get to the rim or stop and pop from short to medium range. Watts doesn't arrive with the shooting credentials of a player like Aronhalt, which may limit his minutes on a roster crowded with dribble-drive players and short on shooters, but he has the offensive talent to be productive at some point.

Forwards: Will Harris didn't dominate the conference after arriving in Albany by way of Virginia, but his 12.9 points per game and excellent defensive rebounding established his presence as one of the best forwards in America East. A large 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Harris can operate out of the post but has range extending to the 3-point line. Harris doesn't excel from any particular range, but he's solid from a variety of distances and is a decent free throw shooter. The ability to sustain a moderate level of efficiency at a high usage rate (but not as high as Ambrose's) cements Harris' value.

Fran Urli, like newly arrived Hartford wing Milton Burton, is a junior college transfer from Panola College, where he was an effective inside presence. Urli can score from the post as well as face up and shoot, and seven rebounds per game at the junior college level suggests he should be at least adequate as a rebounder.

Scotty McRae appeared in 21 games off the bench for the Danes last year before missing the end of last season on suspension. McRae is an athletic 6-foot-8, and he puts that athleticism to good use off the ball -- he pulls down rebounds on both ends of the floor and blocks his fair share of shots. McRae isn't much of a scorer or passer, but with two starters who are capable of dominating the ball, his swats and boards are a good fit.

Billy Allen played rotation minutes for the Danes last year, but there isn't much positive to say about those minutes. Allen, like Barraza, attempted mostly threes, but he barely managed to make 20 percent of them. While more of a factor on the boards than Barraza, Allen is still a subpar rebounder for a forward. The 6-foot-6 sophomore had a good assist-to-turnover ratio, but that alone isn't enough to warrant playing time. If the freshman wings and forwards play well, Allen may find himself squeezed out.

Jake Lindfors redshirted last year; unlike Aronhalt, he did not appear in any games. Lindfors, at 6-foot-10, has a center's height, but his game includes range extending out to the 3-point line. Big men with legitimate range have been seen in Albany before -- Brent Wilson scored in double figures and shot better than 43 percent from 3 for the 2006-07 championship team -- but in Lindfors' case he needed an extra year to pack on some added muscle. We'll see whether the additional 20 pounds helps him bang with some of America East's bigger post players.

Gavin Glanton, a true freshman, adds another athlete to the purple and gold fold. While McRae's skills are more visible without the ball, Glanton operates well with the ball in his hands, either in the post or in open space. Glanton is reputed to be a good passer for an interior player and has the touch necessary to produce near the basket. While that scoring ability rarely translates to early success for America East forwards, Glanton should still have a short-term role as another high-energy athlete the Danes can rotate in.

Centers: Brett Gifford started in most of Albany's games last year, and he returns for his junior season as a typical solid starting center, albeit with a couple extra inches. Gifford's most notable characteristic isn't the mohawk he's been known to sport. It's his shot-blocking ability. The 6-foot-11 big man played fewer minutes than the typical starter but still logged nearly one block per game, ranking as the Danes' best ball-swatter. Gifford isn't going to score a lot of points and commits too many fouls, but he's efficient when he does shoot, and he's a very good rebounder as well, which helps to negate those negative traits. In sum, while the senior center might not win Albany many games, he's not going to lose them many games either.

With Gifford set to graduate after this season, Blake Metcalf stands as the heir to the center position. Metcalf arrives in Albany after a successful high school career, including being ranked the No. 1 center in the state of Indiana by Indiana Basketball Digest. Like Gifford, Metcalf is a true center who operates with his back to the basket. Some parts of Metcalf's game should be ready to go from the start, such as his rebounding, but it's difficult to expect scoring right away.

John Puk is expected to redshirt this year. Since the Great Danes are at their scholarship limit, Puk is a non-scholarship player for this season. Expect him to resurface next season after Gifford's departure.

Outlook: Every team has its strengths and weaknesses. Few teams, however, have strengths and weakness with magnitudes equal to those of Albany. The Great Danes expect to own the glass night in and night out, and smaller, less aggressive teams will be hard-pressed to prevent Albany from imposing its will. When teams manage to hold their own on the boards, however, Albany's glaring lack of perimeter shooting becomes more obvious. At some point, playing volleyball with the backboard is an unproductive exercise -- the ball needs to go in the net, and sometimes the Danes can't make that happen. Poor shooting causes players to press, leading to bad decisions, leading to roller-coaster games. On nights where the shooters are up to par, Albany is a very dangerous team capable of giving anyone trouble, but those frequent shooting struggles prevent the Danes from climbing any higher than 3rd on this list.

Nine Teams, Nine Days: Stony Brook

Last season: 16-14 (8-8 America East), lost in America East quarterfinals to New Hampshire.

Head coach: Steve Pikiell, 5th season, 36-81 record (17-47 AE).

Departing players: Marques Cox, Jonathan Moore, Jermol Paul, Michael Tyree, Demetrius Young, Michal Zylinski.

Incoming players: Patrick Dame, Leonard Hayes, Eric McAllister, Preye Preboye, Marcus Rouse.

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Bryan Dougher, sophomore, 11.2 PPG, 1.9 APG, 1.6 RPG
G Muhammad El-Amin, senior, 15.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.2 APG
F Tommy Brenton, sophomore, 6.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.8 SPG
F Preye Preboye, freshman, no previous college experience
F Dallis Joyner, sophomore, 6.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.6 BPG

Player to watch: Tommy Brenton. Brenton wasted no time establishing himself as a force on the interior last year, grabbing 16 rebounds in his first collegiate game against Maryland-Eastern Shore. While his six offensive rebounds against the Hawks is still a career best, Brenton continued to work the glass over the next four months, emerging as one of the best defensive rebounders in the entire country -- on a per-possession basis, he grabbed more defensive boards than Cole Aldrich or DeJuan Blair. Brenton's scoring contributions, however, aren't quite where they need to be. With Mr. Efficiency, Demetrius Young, gone to graduation, Stony Brook needs Brenton to up his production and become a complete player instead of just a rebounding savant.

Biggest strength: Forcing turnovers. Brenton is an outstanding defensive rebounder, but Stony Brook was only third in defensive rebounding percentage among AE teams. More impressive is the Seawolves' ability to force turnovers. Stony Brook forced turnovers on 23.4 percent of opponents' possessions last year, ranking just outside the nation's top 25 teams. No other AE team ranked among the top 50. Marques Cox was the team's best thief, but while Cox was lost to graduation, there are several other players on the roster with active hands. The Seawolves' success last year was overwhelmingly due to their defense; if that strength remains intact, Stony Brook should be competitive in even its toughest games.

Biggest weakness: Interior scoring. Demetrius Young was far and away the Seawolves' most efficient offensive player last year. Young scored 9.2 points per game, many on easy layups and uncontested dunks, while converting almost 65 percent of his shot attempts. Despite having an incredibly efficient interior scorer, Stony Brook still made just 43.7 percent of its two-point attempts, ranking 306th out of 344 Division-I teams -- and now Young is gone. The Stony Brook frontcourt has its strengths, rebounding chief among them, but an inability to get points from shots near the rim threatens to render the Seawolves' offense one-dimensional. Unless incoming freshmen, Preye Preboye chief among them, can make an immediate impact at the offensive end, it's hard to see how this weakness will be remedied.

Guards: Muhammad El-Amin took a month to assert himself as the Seawolves' go-to player on offense, and consistent starts didn't arrive until after Christmas. As time progressed, however, it became increasingly clear that El-Amin was Stony Brook's best perimeter option. The senior guard has excellent accuracy from beyond the arc, hitting more than 38 percent of his shots from there, but takes the majority of his attempts from closer. El-Amin also gets to the free throw line regularly, where he connects more than 80 percent of the time. The junior college transfer ended every conference game with double figures in scoring, and a repeat performance wouldn't surprise anyone.

Bryan Dougher received much praise as a freshman, starting every game for the Seawolves, running the point, and eventually winding up on the America East All-Rookie team. One has to wonder how much of that praise is deserved. Dougher scored a lot of points, to be sure -- he finished second on the team in scoring with 11.2 points per game -- but doing so required a lot of shots. Dougher actually shot less than 30 percent from the field during conference play, a rate dragged down by his inability to score from inside the arc. Players rarely qualify for any all-conference team while shooting so poorly, except perhaps the All-Defense team. Dougher displayed shooting ability while in high school, but if his rates don't improve as a sophomore he needs to concentrate more on creating more for others (less than two assists per game last year as the starting point guard) instead of taking -- and missing -- so many shots.

Chris Martin appeared in 27 games for the Seawolves, coming off the bench to provide instant offense. Like Dougher, Martin was plagued by relatively poor shooting. However, Martin's shooting performance was at least passable, and the then-sophomore guard possesses the ability to get to the free throw line with regularity (where he shot just under 74 percent), increasing his effectiveness. Martin was forced to deal with family issues throughout last season, which may have impacted his performance. The value of a high-volume, inefficient scorer is debatable, but no one questions Martin's ability to change a game when his shots find the twine.

Marcus Rouse is one of three new guards on this year's Seawolves squad. He profiles as a combo guard at this level -- while he is neither a natural point guard nor a natural off-guard, he is capable of logging minutes at either position. Head coach Steve Pikiell cited Rouse's defense when he committed to Stony Brook in the early period. As a combo guard, Rouse was noted for his shooting -- he was the top scorer for a DeMatha High School team that was ranked among the top 25 high school teams in the nation. Rouse should see immediate minutes.

Leonard Hayes arrives on Long Island as a 6-foot-4 wing capable of playing the two or three. Hayes reportedly brings a well-developed offensive game with him to Stony Brook. The Seawolves lack a second scorer capable of playing the wing, so Hayes' ability to create his own shot should benefit Stony Brook.

Patrick Dame is a junior college transfer from the Community College of Rhode Island. Dame played very well in community college, scoring more than 17 points per game in 2007-08 while adding more than seven assists per game. The Seawolves have enjoyed recent success identifying junior college players -- El-Amin wound up in Stony Brook by way of Lansing Community College -- but it's difficult to say how well Dame will make the transition.

Two years ago, Eddie Castellanos was averaging nearly 20 minutes per game, and while the results weren't eye-popping, he was at least earning some playing time. Last year, with several new arrivals in the backcourt, Castellanos' playing time significantly decreased. This year shouldn't be any different.

Forwards: In case you missed it, Tommy Brenton is a rebounding machine. Although he isn't a prolific scorer, Brenton does a pretty good job of making the shots he takes -- his eFG% was 52.3 -- and he does virtually everything else at least reasonably well with the exception of shooting free throws. As previously mentioned, Stony Brook needs Brenton to score more. That most likely involves Brenton shooting more, which is probably a good thing, as every additional shot Brenton takes is one less shot taken by one of the Seawolves' several inefficient backcourt scorers.

Dallis Joyner, at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, has the physical gifts to be an excellent power forward in America East. His best skill is probably his shot-blocking -- he's probably the second-best shot-blocker on the team after Desmond Adedeji, and with a year of experience should only get better. The offensive game, however, isn't quite there yet for Joyner. As a freshman, the forward shot just 41 percent from the field while attempting exclusively twos. That, combined with mediocre rebounding for a player of Joyner's height and build, does not amount to an outstanding player. Still, Joyner's had a pretty good season for his first year, one that would have warranted more attention on teams without two more high-profile freshmen. Improvement on the offensive end should be the goal.

Brenton's rebounding successes are a combination of positioning and relentless effort. In Preye Preboye, Stony Brook may have another player in the same mold. At Winchendon, a prep school in Massachusetts, Preboye regularly went up against taller players and owned the boards. Unlike Brenton, however, Preboye comes with a scorer's reputation, and while he does most of his damage near the rim, he has enough range to take longer jumpers and even 3-point shots. Interior scoring is what Stony Brook needs, so Preboye stands a good chance of starting from day one.

If Preboye doesn't start, the most likely player to find a spot in the starting lineup is Danny Carter. Carter is tall and lean, standing 6-foot-9 but weighing just 210 pounds. Carter shot well from closer range, hitting more than 50 percent of his twos, but was largely ineffective when he attempted shots from farther out. As a freshman Carter showed the ability to score in bunches when given the opportunity -- he dropped 20 in the Seawolves' blowout loss at UConn -- and was also an effective shotblocker in limited minutes. Carter needs to improve his play somewhat in order to deserve a starting role, but he should be at worst the first forward off the bench for Stony Brook.

Eric McAlister took a year at prep school to improve his game, and he did so, emerging as a shot-blocker and rebounder who earned third-team All-State prep honors in New Jersey. Listed at 6-foot-8 and only 200 pounds, McAlister may need to add some muscle in order to reliably man an frontcourt position at this level, but his athleticism should help him make the occasional play while his body fills out.

Andrew Goba is a fifth-year senior. In four years of play he has averaged less than a point per game. Improvement at this stage seems unlikely.

Center: Desmond Adedeji had a rough transition to Stony Brook, in large part due to his DUI arrest. However, when on the court -- which wasn't often -- Adedeji's contributions were hard to ignore. In 125 minutes, Adedeji had 13 blocks. That's more than four per 40 minutes. Adedeji also grabbed 37 rebounds in that timeframe, which is about 12 per 40 minutes. While the 6-foot-10, 305-pound center isn't the poster child for conditioning and may never be capable of giving the Seawolves major minutes, in short spurts he can be very effective.

Outlook: It's difficult to say whether the Seawolves will make a serious run at the conference title this year, but they will most assuredly play very defense. That alone should be enough to separate the Seawolves from teams six through nine in this countdown. Defense was never Stony Brook's problem last year -- offense was the issue. The Seawolves rely on their perimeter players to create offense, and apart from El-Amin, those perimeter players miss too many shots. To be blunt, that's not the basis of any successful offensive strategy. Stony Brook's defense should keep it in virtually any game it plays this season, and defense alone may very well be enough to win several of them no matter how poorly the offense performs, but at some point other players have to start scoring. It's not particularly clear where the additional offense is going to come from, and it's that lack of scoring potential that separates the Seawolves from the remaining three teams.

Nine Teams, Nine Days: New Hampshire

Last season: 14-16 (8-8 America East), lost in America East semifinals to Binghamton.

Head coach: Bill Herrion, three seasons, 33-56 record (20-28 AE), 281-224 lifetime (123-55 AE).

Departing players: Tyrece Gibbs, Eric Gilchrese, Abby Kabba, Rony Tchatchoua.

Arriving players: Chris Matagrano, Ferg Myrick, Chandler Rhoads.

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Chandler Rhoads, freshman, no previous college experience
G Alvin Abreu, junior, 12.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG
G Tyrone Conley, junior, 8.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.5 APG
F Radar Onguetou, senior, 5.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.8 APG
C Dane DiLiegro, junior, 5.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 0.8 SPG

Player to watch: Alvin Abreu. Abreu established himself as a volume scorer in his freshman year. While the volume remained intact in 2008-09, the then-sophomore guard frequently struggled from long range, limiting his efficiency despite significant improvement inside the arc. With leading scorer Tyrece Gibbs now a graduate, the Wildcats need Abreu to recapture his stroke and become a player who couples efficiency and volume. Having a true point guard, Chandler Rhoads, in the starting lineup should yield more high-percentage opportunities for Abreu -- it's Abreu's responsibility to convert those opportunities.

Biggest strength: Defensive rebounding. Albany gets all the attention for its rebounding prowess, but few teams in America East clean the defensive glass as well as New Hampshire. The Wildcats recovered 71 percent of opponents' missed shots last season, and both of the parties primarily responsible for that success, Dane DiLiegro and Radar Onguetou, are back. In addition, DiLiegro's backup in the low post, Brian Benson, is a strong defensive rebounder, and several Wildcat guards do a good job grabbing boards at the defensive end. Losing Tyrece Gibbs, himself an excellent defensive rebounder, will likely cause UNH's performance in this category to slip somewhat, but New Hampshire's rebounding should still be the strength of its defense.

Biggest weakness: Free throw disparity. The Wildcats can be offensively challenged at times, especially when their volume scorers go cold from the field. UNH is able to stay in games where the offense isn't producing by contesting initial shot attempts and limiting second-chance opportunities. In games like these, a large free throw disparity can render the contest impossible to win, yet far too often UNH fouls early and often without finding ways to draw fouls on the other end of the court. The problem is particularly noticeable on the defensive end, where both DiLiegro and Onguetou are prone to foul trouble, keeping them on the bench and severely limiting the Wildcats' effectiveness on the interior. In many respects the Wildcats play good fundamental defense, but playing defense without fouling is important, and there's yet to be an indication New Hampshire can do that.

Guards: Abreu improved from 2-point range last season, adding a key element to his game. As a freshman, Abreu was a dangerous 3-point shooter, but he was one-dimensional, connecting at an ugly 35.8 percent clip from shorter distances. While Abreu's long-range accuracy slipped last season, it's reasonable to expect his improvement on 2-point shots will be sustained. If Abreu can find his old form for perimeter shots without losing the ability to hit midrange baskets and finish at the rim, losing Tyrece Gibbs' scoring contributions will be easier to swallow. Abreu is also one of the few Wildcats capable of getting to the free throw line with regularity -- he drew more than twice as many fouls as he committed and led the team in free throw attempts with 97.

Tyrone Conley's game is in many ways similar to Abreu's. Conley attempts slightly more threes than twos, and takes a significant portion of the team's shots despite not being very efficient. However, like Abreu, the potential for greatness is clearly visible. Conley uses his athleticism to his advantage, allowing him to elevate over defenders when releasing his shot. Unlike Abreu, Conley rarely makes an appearance at the free throw line

Chandler Rhoads arrives as one of New Hampshire's most heralded recruits of recent years and is expected to make an immediate impact at the point guard position. Rhoads is a natural fit to run the offense, but brings some scoring ability as well. The freshman has excellent size for the position -- he stands 6-foot-4 -- as well as strength and athletic ability. Rhoads is able to get to the rim as well as create opportunities for others. While there may be an adjustment period early in the season, Rhoads should be a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year and help mitigate the loss of Eric Gilchrese to graduation.

Russell Graham earned rotation minutes as a freshman last year, and while Rhoads may hold a spot in the starting lineup, Graham is expected to provide more valuable minutes off the bench. At 6 feet even, Graham is shorter than Rhoads but is an excellent defender. That defensive effort is what earns Graham minutes, as it certainly isn't his offensive talents. Graham shot just 33.3 percent from the field, is a poor free throw shooter, and isn't notable for his rebounding or ability to create. UNH's off-guards like to shoot, so Graham won't be asked to shoulder a heavy offensive burden while on the floor; in that context, he provides value as a defense/energy substitute.

Colbey Santos, like Graham, is another valuable defender. Santos is 6-foot-5 and can defend a variety of positions. Like many of the Wildcats, Santos' shot distribution is weighted heavily toward 3-point attempts, and like many Wildcats, he isn't very successful in his attempts. Santos did make 4-of-5 threes in a 17-point performance when UNH lost to Binghamton in the conference semifinals last March, but on the season he was just 23-of-85 from long range. As a wing defender Santos is probably New Hampshire's best option. If Santos remains an inefficient shooter, he still offers value as a solid defender off the bench; if his shot improved over the offseason, he may be something more.

Ryan Herrion, Bill Herrion's son, joined the team last fall as a walk-on. Herrion was a heralded player while in high school -- he was named First-Team All-State in New Hampshire -- but for the Wildcats he appeared in just eight games, with his only six points coming in the season opener against Division-III Suffolk. With five guards ahead of him on the depth chart, Herrion is unlikely to contribute this season.

Forwards: Radar Onguetou played just four games as a sophomore due to injury, but in 2008-09 he rebounded to post solid numbers. Onguetou's raw statistics are those of a solid but unspectacular power forward -- just over five per game in both points and boards -- but those numbers are affected by playing time. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged less than 25 minutes per game, depressing his value. When on the court, Onguetou's relatively strong free throw shooting and ability to get to the line make him a useful offensive player for his limited touches; without the ball, he is an adept rebounder at both ends of the floor. While Onguetou is not likely to be a major part of the Wildcats' offense, he is a solid starter who plays to his strengths and helps New Hampshire on both ends of the floor.

Brian Benson is four inches taller than Onguetou but 15 pounds lighter. As a result, the lanky sophomore brings some skills to the forward position that Onguetou cannot -- specifically, shot-blocking. However, Benson's high free throw rate (33 free throws versus 41 field-goal attempts) is mitigated by poor free throw shooting, and unlike his senior counterpart, Benson is not particularly competent passing out of the post (just four assists in nearly 300 minutes). A strong rebounder, Benson figures to be the first forward off the bench for the Wildcats.

Ferg Myrick is a 6-foot-6 freshman arriving in Durham by way of Philadelphia. Onguetou and Benson are both power forward-types, but Myrick profiles as a small forward. Myrick was a dangerous scorer, capable of getting to the rim or knocking down jumpers from all over the court. In addition to scoring, Myrick's game is diverse: he's a reasonably good ball-handler, rebounded well in high school, blocks the occasional shot, and gets to the free throw line. As a freshman, he should see some time spelling either of UNH's two starting off-guards, but Myrick's game is that of a small forward -- expect to see him near the hoop more than occasionally, particularly on offense.

James Valladares was a limited contributor in his sophomore year. He appeared in just 13 games after playing in 26 his freshman year. Valladares did little to distinguish himself with more substantial playing time in 2007-08 -- while Valladares should see some sporadic playing time, don't expect him to play enough minutes to significantly impact the Wildcats' season.

Centers: Dane DiLiegro will not lead the Wildcats in points, yet in many ways he can be considered New Hampshire's best player. As a sophomore, DiLiegro was UNH's best rebounder, shot over 50 percent from the field, and played solid fundamental defense -- when he wasn't in foul trouble. DiLiegro's twin Achilles heels are a tendency to foul and free throw shooting. The 6-foot-9 center committed nearly twice as many fouls as he drew and missed nearly half of his free throws. Those extra fouls DiLiegro commits also keep him from logging 30 or 35 minutes per game. Rebounding and interior defense are the foundation of a solid front court; giving away free opportunities to the opponent is a defense's undoing. DiLiegro represents his team's biggest strength and its biggest weakness -- if he can find a way to stay on the court, the Wildcats' frontcourt will immediately improve.

Chris Matagrano is the third freshman on New Hampshire's roster. Matagrano arrives as somewhat of a project -- he has the size to be a force on the interior and is very active in the paint but doesn't necessarily have the polish to be an immediate force at the Division-I level. To be fair, few big men are particularly effective as freshmen, and with several capable players on the roster in frontcourt positions, he shouldn't need to play well right away. Expect to see more of him down the road.

Outlook: Every year there's someone who picks the Wildcats as a team capable of surprising people. This year certainly isn't an exception -- most of last year's strengths should be intact. Rebounding and solid fundamental defense are the foundation of many excellent teams. The problem is that the Wildcats' weaknesses are still intact. There are too many inefficient shooters taking the bulk of New Hampshire's shots and too many unnecessary fouls committed. The players responsible for those issues are still on the roster. In some cases, those players are being asked to take on increased roles. UNH needs its major contributors to refine their games. Otherwise, the Wildcats will remain dangerous but flawed -- in other words, average.

Nine Teams, Nine Days: UMBC

Last season: 15-17 (7-9 America East), lost to America East championship game to Binghamton.

Head coach: Randy Monroe, five seasons, 72-82 record (37-43 AE).

Departing players: Rodney Adkins, Brett Burrier, Rich Flemming, Jay Greene, Frank McKnight, Darryl Proctor, Marcos Tamares.

Incoming players: Chris De La Rosa, Shawn Grant, Nick Groce, Robbie Jackson, Brian Neller, Adrian Satchell, Jamar Wertz.

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Chris De La Rosa, sophomore, 2.5 PPG, 1.5 APG, 0.6 SPG (Siena 2007-08)
G Jamar Wertz, freshman, no previous college experience
G/F Matt Spadafora, senior, 8.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.5 APG
F Adrian Satchell, freshman, no previous college experience
C Robbie Jackson, junior, 2.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.2 BPG (Marshall 2007-08)

Player to watch: Chauncey Gilliam. Gilliam impressed as a freshman last year, drawing strong consideration for the America East All-Rookie team due to his efficient scoring output -- nearly 11 points per game with a 55.4 eFG% -- and obvious potential. With Darryl Proctor and Jay Greene no longer on the team, UMBC's competitive hopes for this season were placed squarely on Gilliam's shoulders before the sophomore forward was declared academically ineligible for the fall semester. Assuming everything goes according to plan, Gilliam will be back in time for conference play, but his teammates will have spent the better part of two months competing without him on the court. The longer it takes Gilliam and his teammates to establish a comfort level upon his return, the less success the Retrievers will have in conference play.

Biggest strength: Depth. It sounds strange to tout the depth of a team that lost its two star players and whose two most returning contributors, Gilliam and Justin Fry, will be unavailable for the first half of the season -- Fry is recovering from knee surgery -- but this is a strength in a relative sense. The past two Retriever teams have sported an extremely short rotation, rarely distributing playing time among more than six or seven players. With Gilliam and Fry out for a couple of months, there is no way to gradually ease the freshmen into supporting roles -- they will gain experience, and gain it quickly. There will be growing pains, but the freshmen who play well will have the opportunity to gain head coach Randy Monroe's trust and continue to play rotation minutes even after Gilliam and Fry return.

Biggest weakness: Pressure defense. Inexperience is the obvious weakness, but UMBC still returns three of its five starters from last year (Gilliam, Fry, and Spadafora) and has a couple of transfers with Division-I backgrounds. Pressure defense encompasses both preventing shot opportunities by forcing turnovers and contesting attempted shots. The Retrievers were poor in both categories last year. It's nearly impossible to play adequate defense when opponents are taking lots of high-percentage shots; with UMBC's only quality defensive rebounder from last year now playing overseas, the Retrievers need to do a better job of harassing the opposing offense or else risk fighting an uphill battle game after game.

Offseason: Last year's UMBC team was a sequel nobody wanted to watch, with remnants of the previous year's championship squad struggling to hold on to the things that made it great. Jay Greene and Darryl Proctor were a two-man wrecking crew, but other than Chauncey Gilliam the Retrievers' pair of stars didn't have much help. When either player was off his game, the results reflected UMBC's lack of depth, and the team's overreliance on Jay Greene was made most evident when the diminutive point guard was unavailable for a trip to Vermont. The Catamounts romped to a 76-42 victory in what would be one of the most lopsided results in America East for 2008-09.

For better or for worse, UMBC is in search of a new identity. Chauncey Gilliam is the most likely candidate to emerge as a star, but for the next two months a host of unfamiliar faces will work to establish themselves and get the Retriever program pointed in the right direction. Regardless of how the upcoming season unfolds, rest assured that this year's UMBC team will be significantly different than previous iterations.

Guards: Chauncey Gilliam enters the season as the best player on UMBC's roster more or less by default. Gilliam is likely to see a large increase in his workload this season -- his 19.4 %Shots (percentage of shots taken) was dwarfed by Proctor's 31.0 -- but has proven himself to be an efficient scorer who can accumulate points in a variety of ways. The 6-foot-5 wing has range extending beyond the arc, but often opts to use his size and strength to force his way to the basket. Proctor's departure will require Gilliam to shoulder more of the rebounding load, and opponents increased focus on Gilliam will force him to create opportunities for others, but there's no reason not to expect continued progression in the sophomore's game.

Gilliam's size allows him to play either two-guard or small forward; the Retrievers' other interchangeable part at those positions is Matt Spadafora. Spadafora, like Gilliam, measures 6-foot-5, but the 195-pound senior is leaner in build and less capable of imposing his will on defenders. Spadafora's inability to reliably create his own shot was evident last year, as a moderate increase in usage -- his %Shots jumped from 13.7 in 2007-08 to 16.2 in 2008-09 -- and increased defensive focus on the then-junior led to a substantial drop in shooting efficiency. Spadafora's eFG% as a sophomore was an impressive 52.8; as a junior, it was an anemic 39.8. While Spadafora is adequate in most areas, the Retrievers need a major infusion of offense in order to replace Proctor and Greene's production; barring an unforseen improvement in efficiency, Spadafora is not equipped to provide 12-15 points per game, so the offense will have to come from somewhere else.

Replacing Jay Greene at point guard will be two of the Retrievers' several new faces -- one a transfer, the other a freshman. Chris De La Rosa played sparingly as a freshman for Siena in 2007-08, averaging a bucket and change in just under 10 minutes per game, with a career-high 10 points at home versus Canisius. De La Rosa displayed court vision and creativity while a Saint, posting a assist-to-turnover ratio (A/TO) of 1.7 and averaging more than six assists per 40 minutes. The sophomore guard stands just 5-foot-10 and will have trouble contesting shots against taller players but has good lateral quickness and a nose for the ball on defense. De La Rosa also uses his agility on offense to get past his defender or create space to get off a mid-range jumper. While the Retrievers will miss Greene's range and on-court leadership at times, De La Rosa should be a capable point guard from day one.

Competing with De La Rosa for playing time is Nick Groce. Groce, a freshman, is not an athlete of De La Rosa's caliber but was noted for his intelligent play while in high school and has effective range extending to the 3-point line. The 5-foot-11 freshman has enough length to partially compensate for his lack of height, but UMBC will still have trouble matching up against teams with two taller guards. Even more so than De La Rosa, Groce is a "pass-first" point guard, but both will need to shoot fairly consistently while Gilliam is ineligible. De La Rosa's previous collegiate experience should give him the starting nod, but expect Groce to get substantial minutes throughout the season.

Gilliam's absence, coupled with UMBC's lack of a true combo guard, leaves the offense lacking in perimeter shooting. Of the potential replacements for Gilliam, Jamar Wertz is the best fit. While the freshman's 6-foot-4 frame has yet to fill out, Wertz displayed plenty of athleticism and scoring ability in high school, hitting the 3 in transition and draining baskets from a variety of locations on the floor. Wertz is not a polished defender and, like many of the more athletic wings in America East, will most likely take sme time to get acclimated with defensive schemes on the Division-I level. Still, with two playmaking point guards on the roster and a lack of perimeter shooting expected from Spadafora and De La Rosa, Wertz should be a natural fit as Gilliam's replacement for the first half of the season.

Challenging Wertz for a starting role will be two other freshman guards, Shawn Grant and Brian Neller. Grant was a late addition to UMBC's recruiting class -- he didn't commit until this past August. The 6-foot-4 swingman improved as a perimeter shooter over the course of his senior year but is more adept from mid-range. Grant is also a capable rebounder for a player of his height; with Proctor gone, the Retrievers will need rebounding help from every position on the floor.

Neller arrives as perhaps the best 3-point shooter on the entire UMBC roster. His shooting ability alone will be enough to earn him playing time, as shooters of Neller's caliber frequently end up at schools above America East's level. However, Neller is in all likelihood the least athletic of UMBC's incoming guards, and with Spadafora also an adequate athlete at best, the Retrievers will be at a defensive disadvantage with Neller on the floor. Pure shooters are a valuable commodity, but Neller will have to round out his game if he hopes to start.

Bakari Smith returns as a reserve guard. Smith played sparingly in 2008-09, totaling 12 points and a handful of rebounds and assists in 112 minutes. In both games where Smith saw significant playing time -- 22 minutes in a start at Vermont and 24 minutes at home versus New Hampshire -- he was invisible on the court. Smith may see reserve minutes at either guard position, but considering his inability to earn regular playing time when UMBC was lacking in depth last season, the odds of seeing Smith on the court for substantial stretches are rather low.

Forwards: UMBC has plenty of guards on the roster, but unless Spadafora or Gilliam are categorized as forwards, the Retriever frontcourt is rather thin. The most notable forward on the roster is undoubtedly Justin Fry. Fry has yet to emerge as an offensive presence in his three years at UMBC, posting an Offensive Rating (ORtg) of 91.9 as a junior while tallying just over eight points per game. Nor is Fry a particularly good rebounder or shot blocker: considering he stands 6-foot-9, a DR% of 12.9 and Blk% of 2.8 constitutes the low end of expectations. Fry is a good post defender, and his return will allow the other Retriever forwards to play more aggressively due to added depth, but unlike Gilliam, Fry is not an impact player. Especially in light of his knee issues, don't expect Fry to take over games.

Adrian Satchell arrives in Baltimore via Windsor High School, the original home of former Retriever player and current Retriever coach John Zito. Given UMBC's lack of frontcourt depth to open the season, Satchell will likely start off at power forward, where he will be somewhat undersized at 6-foot-5. Satchell can get to the rim or score from distance and is reputed to be a strong offensive rebounder. Without several players available to spell him, expect Satchell to be allowed to play through his mistakes. By the time Fry is able to return, Monroe should have a good idea of Satchell's effectiveness.

Jake Wasco was pressed into duty as one of the Retrievers' few available reserves last season. While it would be a stretch to say Wasco impressed during his freshman season, he at least managed not to look completely overwhelmed. Wasco fouls far too much (7.3 FC/40) to get significant playing time and was a non-factor on offense (%Shots of 8.9), but these things are to be expected considering Wasco's relative inexperience -- he didn't start in high school until his senior year. Still, the sophomore forward needs to progress enough to provide some value off the bench; otherwise most of his minutes will dry up when Fry returns.

Center: Robbie Jackson arrived via Marshall and immediately qualified as one of the largest players in America East. There's some debate over his size: UMBC's initial press release listed Jackson as 6-foot-11, 260 pounds, but the current roster gives Jackson an additional inch and 30 pounds. Either way, Jackson will be a true center in America East, a rare commodity. Jackson's offensive game revolves around getting to the line -- he shot nearly as many free throws as field goals when at Marshall -- and getting second chance buckets via offensive rebounds. In limited playing time, Jackson was an excellent rebounder at both ends of the floor. Jackson's primary weakness was foul trouble -- his FC/40 was 7.5 in 2007-08 and will have to drop significantly in order to stay on the floor. If Jackson can play under control and log minutes, he has the potential to be a real asset for the Retrievers.

Outlook: Of the nine teams in America East, the Retrievers are by far the hardest to project. As Stony Brook demonstrated last winter, relying heavily on freshmen doesn't exclude a team from being competitive in this conference. The Seawolves, however, played unexpectedly strong defense from the outset, limited their mistakes, and had an unusually productive freshman class. While it's fair to expect some of the Retrievers' newcomers to make significant contributions early on, Stony Brook's success last season was surprising for a reason. It's rare to see a large group of freshmen find success so quickly. There's enough returning talent, provided Gilliam and Fry are available for conference play, for UMBC to avoid the cellar, but expecting the Retrievers' several additions to close the gap between UMBC and the top half of the conference is expecting too much. Expect these big dogs to finish sixth once again. Anything higher is unlikely.

Nine Teams, Nine Days: Maine

Last season: 9-21 (4-12 America East), lost in play-in game to Hartford.

Head coach: Ted Woodward, five seasons, 54-93 record (29-55 AE).

Departing players: Phillipe Tchekane Bofia, Jordan Cook, Jason Hight, Doran Mitchell, Kaimondre Owes, Mark Socoby

Incoming players: Jon McAllian, Mike Allison, Jerrell Boswell, Murphy Burnatowski, Terrance Mitchell, Travon Wilcher (eligible 2nd half).

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Junior Bernal, senior, 7.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.1 APG
G Gerald McLemore, sophomore, 11.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG
G/F Malachi Peay, junior, 6.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG
F Troy Barnies, junior, 7.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.9 APG
F Sean McNally, junior, 9.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Player to watch: McLemore. As a freshman, the 6-foot-3 guard from San Diego wasted little time introducing observers to his offensive capabilities, dropping 24 points on Northern Illinois in his collegiate debut. When McLemore is on, he is the rare Black Bear who can create his own offense. However, an eFG% below 50 in 2008-09 points to McLemore's relative inefficiency, common among freshmen but not a desirable trait for a primary scoring threat. Even when McLemore is cold, he commands the defense's attention, but more often than not the players surrounding him were unable to take advantage of the opportunities his presence created. If the Black Bears are going to make strides toward respectability this season, the dangerous, effective McLemore will need to show up more than the shot-happy, inefficient version.

Biggest strength: Perimeter defense. Maine held opposing shooters to a 31.1% rate from beyond the arc last season; while that rate was somewhat higher during conference play, defending perimeter players remained one of the Black Bears' relative strengths last season. Perhaps more importantly, Maine returns the key personnel responsible for containing opposing sharpshooters. It all begins with Junior Bernal, who runs the point for Maine but stands 6-foot-5, allowing the senior guard to defend a variety of positions and close out against shooters. McLemore's athleticism also helps Maine matching up against perimeter threats; if McLemore displays the defensive improvement exhibited by many sophomores, there's reason to expect Maine's perimeter defense will be a strength again this season.

Biggest weakness: Interior defense. While the Black Bears are capable of blocking their fair share of shots, there isn't much positive to say about the rest of their interior defense. Sure, Maine's bigs stay out of foul trouble. They also stay out of the opponent's way. Maine's foes converted on two-point shots at a 51.6 percent rate last year, the worst rate allowed by any America East defense. Add abysmal defensive rebounding -- the Black Bears grabbed just 62.2 percent of opponents' missed shots -- and you might as well lay out the red carpet when the other team approaches the rim. Peay is a much better rebounder than Socoby and figures to absorb a large chunk of Socoby's minutes, but that alone won't be enough to fix Maine's porous interior defense. Sean McNally and Troy Barnies aren't plagued by foul trouble; both need to take advantage of their typically low foul totals and play more aggressive defense, whether it be defending the post, offering help, or grabbing rebounds.

Offseason: While grumbling about the state of Maine hockey continues to increase in volume with each passing year, it would be easy to overlook the troubles that have befallen Maine basketball. Yet it was not the most pleasant of summers for the Black Bears, either. Assistant head coach Mike Burden resigned after being charged with sexual assault, and leading scorer Mark Socoby left the team with a year of eligibility remaining.

There aren't any indications from the Maine athletic department that head coach Ted Woodward may be on the hot seat, but after a couple of respectable seasons, Woodward's teams have spent consecutive years toiling away at the bottom of the conference standings. Maine fans are left hoping their team's fortunes have taken a turn for the better since the Black Bears were last seen on the hardwood.

Guards: Maine's hopes are pinned squarely on Gerald McLemore's jersey. McLemore may not be a great distributor or an adept rebounder, but make no mistake, the man can shoot. Last season, McLemore hit 70 shots from 20 feet, 9 inches or farther. Relying heavily on threes can lead to a feast-or-famine offensive game, though, and McLemore's inefficiency is in large part a product of his inability to reliably convert from inside the arc. 40.6% from 2-point range just doesn't cut it; that, coupled with an inability to get to the line, at times renders McLemore a one-dimensional offensive player. A significant improvement in efficiency for McLemore's sophomore season wouldn't be a surprise, but the Black Bears won't surprise without it.

Bernal is the "point guard" running the Black Bear attack. Point forward might be more accurate. Bernal attempted a grand total of six threes last year over the course of some 800-plus minutes despite opponents regularly daring him to shoot. He led Maine in free throw rate (or FTRate, measured as free throws attempts per field goal attempt), only to display poor form while at the charity stripe. He has the size and strength to guard opposing wings. Sounds like a forward, no? Bernal runs the point for the Black Bears, and while his playmaking and turnover-avoidance might not be top-notch, he's displayed marginal improvement from year to year and is Maine's best option at this point.

Andrew Rogers will be backing up Bernal and represents the other end of the point guard spectrum. At 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Rogers is outsized by most opposing guards; Maine's perimeter defense will take a hit with him on the floor. Where the sophomore guard shines is as a distributor. An A/TO of 1.4 is solid for a freshman guard, and improvement in Rogers' sophomore campaign seems likely. The primary barrier between Rogers and serious minutes is his lack of offensive firepower. Rogers shot just 30.8% from the field in 2008-09 and rarely gave the defense a reason to worry about him. Rogers' ability to spread the ball around is enough to warrant rotation minutes, but until he makes defenses pay for daring him to shoot, this pint-sized point guard will bear the backup label.

Terrance Mitchell is one of two junior college transfers to arrive in Orono. Mitchell shined while attending Faulkner State Community College in Alabama, earning an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention and averaging over 20 points per game. The 6-foot-3 junior guard can be deadly accurate from 3-point range -- he hit 12 treys in a single game last February -- and isn't afraid to go after rebounds. At a minimum, Mitchell should be a suitable substitute for McLemore; if his offensive skills translate well to Division-I, Mitchell offers Woodward the ability to spread the floor with multiple shooters. With Bernal more than capable of guarding small forwards, it's possible Mitchell could receive the starting nod over Peay or Barnies.

Jerrell Boswell is the other junior college addition at guard. If Mitchell is a good 3-point shooter, words fail to fully describe some of Boswell's feats. Boswell once hit 15 threes in a single game, which ranks as the second-highest total of all time among NJCAA players. To put 15 threes into context, no Division-I player made more than 11 3-point shots in a single game last year. Boswell stands 6-foot-0, so the Black Bears' defensive options are somewhat limited with him on the court as compared to Mitchell, but any lineup with Bernal running the point can accommodate two additional guards on the defensive end. If either Boswell or Mitchell can make an immediate impact, the Black Bears should be improved offensively compared to last year.

Ryan Martin is the second 5-foot-9 guard on Maine's roster. Unlike Rogers, Martin is a walk-on guard and saw very little playing time as a freshman. Martin was named Mr. Maine Basketball by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches while in high school. Unfortunately for Martin, such accolades have done little to earn him much playing time. With Boswell and Mitchell in front of him, Martin's shooting ability is devalued, and as the third, possibly fourth guard off the bench, he is unlikely to make a significant impact.

Jon McAllian redshirted last season and retains his freshman status. At 6-foot-6, McAllian has the size to consistently release his shot without fear of rejection. Another local product (McAllian hails from Bangor), McAllian's game resembles that of a poor man's Mark Socoby -- he can do a little of everything. There isn't any evidence he does these things well enough to carve out a niche and earn some playing time. While McAllian may surface from time to time, don't expect more than the occasional on-court appearance.

Forwards: Sean McNally upped his production in 2008-09, emerging as one of Maine's main offensive threats. An increase in playing time was partially responsible, but as a sophomore McNally displayed significant evolution as a shotblocker, free throw shooter, and offensive rebounder. McNally's low foul rate allows him to stay on the floor, but his poor fundamental defense limits the benefits his offensive presence provides. Maine was regularly abused by opposing forwards last year, but McNally can make a point of establishing -- and maintaining -- better defensive position without excess fear of foul trouble. On the offensive end, McNally already does a good job getting to the line, but every additional foul drawn brings more opportunities at the charity stripe. For a free throw shooter whose success rate approached 80 percent last season, McNally would be well served by a more combative approach at both ends.

Malachi Peay missed a month during the later part of non-conference play before starting nine games against America East opponents, including 42 minutes of game time in Maine's closely contested 78-75 double-overtime victory versus New Hampshire. Peay, like Bernal, is a slasher who rarely attempts longer-range shots, so a starting lineup featuring both he and Bernal may not offer enough to stretch zones, but Peay adds value as an excellent defensive rebounder, something Maine needs in spades. A frontcourt of McNally, Peay and Barnies may be the recipe to curing what ails Maine's interior defense. At the very least, Peay's on-court presence should help prevent second-chance opportunities.

Troy Barnies emerged as Maine's most efficient scorer last season, posting an eFG% of 56.4 while averaging 7.4 points per game. Barnies also showed improvement on the boards, with solid rebounding rates at both ends. Barnies has good range for a forward standing 6-foot-7, with the ability to hit a 3 if left open (he was 8-of-17 from long range last year). Barnies, like McNally, needs to make a more concerted effort to prevent opponents from creating high-percentage shot opportunities, either by denying the ball or by using his body to establish position and cut off access to the rim. The Black Bear frontcourt has plenty of size, and that size needs to be used effectively.

Travon Wilcher arrives in Orono after a stint at UMass. Wilcher saw limited playing time as a freshman, appearing in six games before deciding to transfer. Because Wilcher was enrolled at Maine for the spring semester last season, he will be eligible to compete after the fall semester concludes. Wilcher is an excellent athlete and should be well-equipped to help the Black Bears on the boards due to his leaping ability. In addition, Wilcher is not strictly limited to attempting shots in and around the basket, as he reportedly has a functional mid-range game.

Mike Allison and Murphy Burnatowski are Maine's two freshman frontcourt additions. Both Allison and Burnatowski are Canadian, and each has played for the Under-19 Canadian National Team. Burnatowski, a small forward, is the shorter of the two, measuring 6-foot-7; he is a solid shooter but is unlikely to create his own offense. Allison is 6-foot-9 but very lean, weighing just 205 pounds. Allison is expected to be a shotblocker -- he blocked eight shots in 95 minutes at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship -- and has decent shooting range for a big, but is not noted for his rebounding. Without any established presence backing up the forward positions, Allison and Burnatowski should get at least occasional opportunities to earn playing time.

Center: There are players on the Maine roster tall enough (Mike Allison) or strong enough (Sean McNally) to be considered a Division-I center, but the 6-foot-9, 265 pound Svetoslav Chetinov is the only player satisfying both categories. Chetinov has the size and strength to be a presence down low but lacks the necessary finesse and control to use that size effectively. There is certainly offensive potential there, as Chetinov can pass out of the post and hit open shots from midrange. Chetinov's troubles are more defensive in nature, as poor defensive positioning, slow feet, and unrefined technique leave him prone to foul trouble. Still, the sophomore was a capable rebounder and shotblocker in limited minutes, and will likely see rotation minutes.

Outlook: Maine has the pieces in place to play solid basketball night in and night out. McLemore is a star in the making, McNally is a good source of interior offense, and there are several other players on the roster with useful skills. On the other hand, the Black Bears are not fundamentally different from the team that went 4-12 in conference play last year. Blowout losses shouldn't be expected, but Maine hung around in many of its games last year only to find ways to lose at the end. On paper, Maine should be able to improve where there were weaknesses and emerge as a solid if not spectacular team -- it's the years of underwhelming results that make said improvement seem unlikely. Mark Maine down for 7th place, with little hope of finishing above 6th.

Nine Teams, Nine Days: Hartford

Last season: 7-26 (2-14 America East), lost in America East Quarterfinals to Binghamton.

Head coach: Dan Leibovitz, 3 seasons, 38-60 record (18-30 AE).

Departing players: Malcolm Campbell, Clint Kuban, Jaret von Rosenberg, Michael Turner, Drake U'u.

Incoming players: Ryan Baker, Joel Barkers, Milton Burton, Ross Erickson, Zack Zeglinski.

Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-2009 stats):
G Andres Torres, junior, 5.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 SPG
G Joe Zeglinski, redshirt junior, 15.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG
G/F Milton Burton, junior, 11.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG (Panola College)
F Morgan Sabia, junior, 10.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.6 BPG
F Genesis Maciel, sophomore, 5.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.8 APG

Player to watch: Joe Zeglinski. The junior guard broke out during the 2007-2008 campaign and was off to a good start last season before an ankle injury ended his season after just ten games. Zeglinski ranks among the deadliest perimeter shooters in the conference and is capable of carrying his team offensively for extended stretches. But he isn't just a shooter -- despite being a guard, Zeglinski leads all returning Hawks in rebounds per game.

Biggest strength: Pressure defense. Hidden among the numerous flaws of last year's Hawks was a single strength -- forcing turnovers on defense. Hartford's opponents surrendered the ball on 21 percent of their possessions, both overall and in conference play. That figure ranks second among America East teams. Granted, turnovers are only one of the four defensive factors, and the Hawks ranged from mediocre to miserable in each of the other three (field goal percentage defense, rebounding, and allowing free throw opportunities), but one proficiency is better than none. Jaret von Rosenberg's departure means Hartford will have one less player with a nose for the ball, but Andres Torres and Joe Zeglinski are both skilled pickpockets themselves, so expect this strength to remain intact.

Biggest weakness: Offensive rebounding. There were -- and still are -- a couple of teams in the conference that struggle to generate second-chance opportunities on offense, none more so than the Hawks. Hartford recovered just 24.4 percent of its own misses last season; UMBC was nearest at 28.3 percent, and every other team in the conference managed a rate of 31.8 percent or better. Michael Turner's rebounding skills were mostly seen on the defensive end, but losing a team's best rebounder is never a good thing. The Hawks need Genesis Maciel to become a more assertive interior presence and probably also require significant improvement from at least one other player; barring that, Hartford is likely doomed to a repeat performance on the glass.

Offseason: One year ago, Dan Leibovitz was the belle of the ball, the Hawks were considered title contenders in the AE, and everything was looking up. How a bright outlook evolves into a last-place conference finish is a complex story; more interesting is how the Hawks hope to recover.

Losing Jaret von Rosenberg and Michael Turner will undoubtedly hurt, as should be expected for any team when two of its three best players depart. However, Joe Zeglinski was far and away the best player on Hartford's team while healthy last fall -- his presence alone may be enough to keep the Hawks within striking distance in many of their games.

Guards: As detailed previously, Joe Zeglinski is the straw that stirs the drink. Need a big three to get the offense going? Joe Z can deliver. How about a few extra rebounds to supplement what your board-averse bigs can provide? Zeglinski was averaging a cool 5.5 per game before his ankle gave way. And you need him to create some opportunities for others without getting sloppy with the ball? Number 24 -- no, not Tyler Morris -- posted a sterling 2.7 A/TO. Not too shabby.

Zeglinski's injury thrust then-sophomore guard Andres Torres into a starting role. Torres made his first career start on December 14 against Brown and would be on the court for tipoff for 19 of the remaining 22 games. Torres returns for his junior season, and while he would have been expected to start this season even without last season's experience, those starts should be reflected in his performance this season. Torres has yet to display the ability to consistently knock down the 3, and he turns the ball more than would be desired, but the Puerto Rico native is disruptive on the defensive end and displayed improved skills as a distributor last season. Hartford doesn't need Torres to carry a large portion of the scoring burden. Cutting down on the turnover rate and slightly better shooting -- just enough to keep teams honest -- would go a long way toward helping Hartford climb up the conference standings.

Hartford has several guards on its bench and will most likely spend the first several games settling on a sensible rotation. Clayton Brothers is the player most likely to see significant playing time, as he averaged nearly 18 minutes per game during conference play last season and started five games. Brothers' value primarily lies as an experienced, serviceable guard coming off the bench. As an offensive player Brothers' use is rather limited -- an eFG% under 40 with poor free throw shooting, mediocre rebounding and an 0.6 A/TO ratio is the definition of marginal value at the guard position. The Hawks recruited Brothers in large part because of his defensive skills; while he isn't an elite player on that end of the floor, defense is certainly his strong suit. As long as Brothers does a decent job of slowing down the opponent's primary scoring guard, the Hawks can live with his offensive limitations.

Freshman Charles White should also see some time on the floor after redshirting last season. White will likely see most of his minutes come at the point, given Hartford's need to get as much out of Joe Zeglinski as possible. Although White has some scoring ability, his skills as a distributor are more noteworthy. White will have the opportunity to be the fourth guard in Hartford's rotation and possibly earn additional minutes if effective, most likely at the expense of Brothers.

The Hawks also bring in three new guards, one of whom has a familiar last name. Zack Zeglinski is a senior, Joe's older brother and arrives in Connecticut by way of Penn State and Temple. The older brother played football at Penn State and baseball at Temple; Zeglinski is certainly a Division-I caliber athlete and fielded scholarship offers while in high school, but it's difficult to forecast what impact he could have after so much time spent away from competitive, organized basketball.

Ryan Baker and Ross Erickson are both tall for the position at 6-foot-5. With Joe Zeglinski at the two-guard position, Baker and Erickson will most likely see their best chances for minutes coming at the three rather than the two. Neither player is billed as an excellent passer (something Hartford doesn't particularly need) or rebounder (something Hartford desperately needs), but both are reputed to be talented shooters.

The last guard on the roster, Anthony Panebianco, was a walk-on last year and does not figure to play significant minutes.

Forwards: Morgan Sabia had a wonderful freshman year two seasons ago. As a legitimate candidate for Rookie of the Year prior to John Holland's late-season surge, Sabia was a major factor in Hartford's second-place finish and conference finals appearance; his subsequent regression in nearly every important statistical category was and is a major concern. Don't let the 10 points per game and slight uptick in rebounds per game fool you -- after adjusting for minutes played, Sabia's productivity took a noticeable hit last season. Joe Zeglinski's return will help, but Sabia has yet to prove himself as a reliable second option. The Hawks need Sabia to become an impact player this season, either by significantly increasing his scoring output while becoming more efficient or adding another dimension to his game, either as a rebounder or a defender. Doing so would go a long way toward easing the burden placed on Hartford's star in the backcourt.

Genesis Maciel was a serviceable forward for Hartford as a freshman. Like Sabia, Maciel has a relatively atypical skillset for someone standing 6-foot-8 or taller, shooting nearly as well from outside the arc as he does from inside. For a team lacking an interior presence, Maciel offers more of the same -- a proclivity for the outside shot when his body would be best put to use in the paint. It doesn't help matters that Maciel's eFG% was less than 45 percent last season. Sophomores frequently experience an efficiency boost; that, coupled with more aggressive play near the rim, would make Maciel a valuable asset.

Hartford could benefit greatly from the addition of another offensive weapon. The most likely candidate is Milton Burton, a junior transfer from Panola College. The ex-Pony has a versatile game, including range that extends beyond the arc as well as effective shooting from closer to the basket. Burton didn't excel in any individual area at Panola and isn't likely to offer much help in the rebounding department, but he did put up solid totals throughout the stat sheet. If Burton can fill it up for the Hawks and take some offensive pressure off Joe Zeglinski and Sabia, a lack of rebounding from the wing may be forgivable.

Anthony Minor started 33 games as a freshman in 2007-08 but averaged less than 15 minutes per game. Last year Minor started only occasionally and saw a small drop in his numbers but was essentially the same player. The 6-foot-6 junior shoots well over 50 percent from the field and can get to the free throw line, although he doesn't shoot particularly well from the charity stripe. Like the rest of the Hawks, Minor's glaring flaw is his defensive rebounding ability, or lack thereof -- a defensive rebounding percentage (DR%) below 10 is unacceptable for a player who spends so much of his time near the basket. Minor has value due to his ability to provide offense at the forward position, but his lack of secondary skills and tendency to get into foul trouble (he had an FC/40 of 7.7 last year) make him a rotation player at best.

Kevin Estes, also a junior, has 24 career starts to his name and has overall value similar in magnitude to Minor's. Estes' extra inch of height and additional 30 pounds of mass are better put to use on the defensive end, where he posted a DR% of 11.5 last season -- not particularly impressive, but acceptable. However, Estes has a minimal impact on the offensive glass (4.8 OR%) and, like Minor, offers relatively little in the way of secondary skills. Estes and Minor will likely see minutes based on matchups and have more value against teams ill-equipped to take advantage of poor rebounding, but both players are poorly suited to playing significant minutes on a regular basis.

David Bookman, a senior, is the final returning Hawk forward. In three seasons of play, Bookman has one noteworthy performance to his name, a 17-point effort in a 80-63 loss at UMBC last February. There isn't a whole lot to say about Bookman, who has rarely seen opportunities for extended play -- the UMBC game also marked the only time Bookman has played more than 20 minutes -- and hasn't done much in limited playing time to warrant more opportunities other than that one scoring outburst. With two new forwards on the roster, don't expect Bookman's playing time to increase significantly.

If the Hawks are going to improve on the boards this year, the most likely bet is Joel Barkers. Barkers averaged a double-double in junior college before arriving in Hartford and is likely to be the team's best rebounder from the moment he steps on the court. While it's often difficult to project how much forwards junior college forwards will be able to provide, Barkers' rebounding ability should be enough to get him playing time even if the scoring ability never translates to the Division-I level. If Barkers can score he should challenge Maciel for a starting role.

Centers: Center? What's a center?

Hartford doesn't have anyone on its roster who could legitimately be termed a center, at least not in the Shaquille O'Neal sense of the word. Maciel, at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, is the closest match in terms of body type, but his skillset does not match that of a prototypical center and Hartford utilizes him appropriately.

Don't worry, Hartford. You can compete at the Division-I level without a true center. Just look at, oh, about half of your conference-mates.

Outlook: As it stands, Hartford's roster appears to be a couple of pieces short. After Joe Zeglinski, every player is miscast. Sabia looks good as a third or fourth option, but as a second option he's a notch or two below most other AE teams. As a result, Hartford will have to find significant offense from players who aren't quite prepared to provide it (Torres and Maciel) or hope White and the other incoming players can make an immediate impact. Even then, a best-case scenario for Hartford is finishing sixth or seventh.