2023 | Preseason Preview | AEC Conference

[TuscanSota]

Hi everyone,

 

The next conference in the series is the AEC conference -- one of our new conferences for this season. There are nine teams on this list, and only one of those teams is one of our original 32 teams. So, let's begin!

 

Special note: A majority of the newly generated teams this season are not that good. I will try to highlight the strengths in each team, but do expect these teams to have a more entertaining read. I also noticed that my formula doesn't favor user-teams that well for some reason, so do take these rankings with a grain of salt.

 

9.  NJIT Highlanders | Ovr. Rank: 298 | Off. Rank: 323 | Def Rank: 259

One common theme with many of the new 2023 teams is that their rosters are not as talented as previously generated teams. This was by design, and NJIT has a looooong way to go. The highlanders offense does not look great, and neither does their roster. Other than Sr PF Troy Tye, Jr PF Jeremiah Gomez, and Sophomore Richard Washington, everyone else is an F rating. Tye and Gomez should gcarry the defense for the Highlanders, but this team does not have anyone reliable for their offense.

 

8.  Albany Great Danes | Ovr.: 284 | Off.: 283 | Def. 284

Unlike NJIT, the great danes have some okay shooters. If this team had a coach, I think one could easily set the shooting proportions by this team individually so that each player can utilize their strengths. Sr. Mark Duke and SG Jay Irizarry are supposed to be good on the 3pt front; but I wouldn't trust most of this team with handling the ball or getting turnovers.

 

7.  Bryant Bulldogs | Ovr.: 265 | Off.: 265 | Def.: 278

This team will surprise some at the 3pt line; however, I would not trust the Bulldogs with attempting either a layup or a dunk. Sr SG Maxim DUffett and Fr Kenneth Azan supposedly can attempt those, but of those two I think only one of them is getting playtime in the game. Games with the Bulldogs should be faster-paced, considering that their defense will be worse-than-average.

6.  Maine Blackbears | Ovr.: 262 | Off.: 331 | Def.: 278

If their roster was as scary as their logo Maine would be in the #1 spot. Unfortunately, this team is anything BUT that. Jr PG Timothy Cartwright is the only notable player on this team that can shoot, make a pass, and perhaps make a turnover. This team should be better at defending the paint than most AEC teams, but these blackbears will have trouble getting baskets. Which, if you're a bear by a picnic bench, that's a problem.

5.  New Hampshire Wildcats | Ovr.: 237 | Off.: 236 | Def.: 241

Why do these New England teams have the scary logos? The Wildcats aren't as scary as the Blackbears, but they certainly will show up on the court more often than their more-northeastern rival. Sr. SF Peter Schweinfurth is expected to be the team leader this season, as he can do just about anything close to the rim from getting a rebound to performing a dunk. Sr SF Jared Fleury is going to be reliable on the perimeter with his mid-range jumper and perimeter defense. This year's team should be more senior heavy, and their depth at SG and SF is surprisingly vast. This team is notably smaller, as there are no Centers on this squad for some reason.

 

4.  UMass-Lowell Riverhawks | Ovr.: 217 | Off.: 212 | Def.: 230

If I was trapped in a 90's cartoon and the Maine Blackbears logo didn't exist, this one would be in my nightmares. On a more serious note, the little brother to the UMass Minutemen is more balanced than some of our other teams in terms of offense. The Riverhawks should be okay at the mid-range with at least five players at a 'C' grade being capable of making a shot. Surpsriginly their best shooter should be sophomore PG Robert Johns, who is good at the mid-range and the 3pt line. Unfortunately, his arms are like paper and most teams should be able to drive to the basket directly through him. You could say that for most of this team, actually.

 

3.  Binghamton Bearcats | Ovr.: 215 | Off.: 216 | Def.: 225

Note to self: AEC has the scary mascots. It's not just Maine. Binghamton has green bear cats. The strangest thing that can be said about this squad is that their SR PG Jerome Cameron is actually good at defense. As in, he can slow down offenses with his guarding ability, steal the ball, and then run to the 3pt line, and 1/3 of the time make that shot. You can't say a lot about that with the rest of their team, but the Bearcats will be a three-man show with Jerome Cameron being the leader followed by Sr PF Paul Kline, So SG Domenick Graber, and Sophomore PG Christopher Jones. Definitely expect the Bearcats lean heavily on Cameron to make a run for the AEC if they can. They will have trouble with the big team up-top.

2.  Vermont Catamounts | Ovr.: 189 | Off.: 210 | Def.: 214

Of the newly generated teams in the AEC, Vermont is the only one that breaks the 200 rank barrier. That should say plenty about these new teams, and we had about 172 last season. Vermont should be just about okay on the defensive side of the ball, with three players being above average at defending the basket, while only one player can guard the perimeter. Their specialty this season appears to be inside to mid-range shooting, as multiple players for the Catamounts are expected to be average with a mid-range jumper and their better players being capable of a layup. Of those, Jr. PG Andrew Reade and So. PF Ryan Mack should be seen as taking the heavy load of the offense since they're capable of taking on multiple types of shots. This Catamounts team actually has a player rated above a D overall, which is saying something. Unfortunately, I don't see them as winning the AEC, but this team will make it fun to watch.

 

1.  UMBC Retrievers | Ovr.: 136 | Off.: 111 | Def.: 145

@Rocketcan, you have no excuses if you don't win the AEC this season. The Retrievers have multiple playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, with their best player being 5 star sophomore Derek Ignacio. This player has a fantastic jumper, and is excellent at turning over the ball and guarding opponents. There are multiple players behind him such as Redshirt Jr SG Blair Stiles, Redshirt Junior PF Leonardo Fredrickson, and 4 star C Robert Lampe  who all have strengths in their own right to balance out this team. If UMBC doesn't roll through the AEC to a playoff-berth, then something wrong happened.