Boston U.: Schedule
Big Games: 11/13 @ Texas, 11/26 @ URI, 12/3 @ BC, 12/10 vs. Harvard, 12/13 @ Villanova, 1/14 @ Stony Brook
Of course BU probably will not have much of a shot in games against Villanova and Texas, it certainly helps one's RPI come tournament time to be boosting up that strength of schedule, and any sort of respectable showing will turn some heads. Tommy Amaker's built a nice program at Harvard, so that would be a significant victory if the Terriers can manage, similarly (although to a lesser extent) as their game at URI. Bringing the Comm. Ave. Rivalry back to the hardwood will obviously be meaningful, especially if the Terriers can pick up a W (they may have a great opportunity to do so). Stony Brook looks like the other best team in the AE coming into this year, so picking up a win on their home court would be a big advantage in the conference race.
Freshmen: BU signed 2 players for this coming year, 2-Star PF (ESPN) James Kennedy out of Dorchester and SG Zach Chionuma out of New York state. Although neither is perhaps an impact recruit on the caliber of last year's standouts D.J. Irving and Dom Morris, both should be able to contribute in new Coach Joe Jones' system. If Kennedy can step up in the wake of Jake O'Brien missing the season, it could help the Terriers overcome what seems to be a serious blow to their chances in the coming season.
Hartford: Schedule
Big Games: 112/12 @ Penn State, 12/3 @ Central Florida, 1/8 vs. Vermont, 1/22 vs. BU, 2/21 vs. Stony Brook
Maine certainly turned heads by beating PSU last year and it would certainly be no different for Hartford as the Nittany Lions attempt to rebuild under recent BU coach Pat Chambers. UCF provides the other best opportunity for national exposure in a very low-level non-conference slate, exposure key to a nationwide recruiting process that Coach Gallagher seems to be instituting at UH. As the school attempts to move up the AE hierarchy, beating the conference's heavyweights will be essential, and thus home games against Vermont, BU and SBU will be their best opportunities to assert the Hawks as a program on the rise.
Freshmen: This UHart team will have quite a number of freshmen who will attempt to replace last year's star seniors Joe Zeglinski and Morgan Sabia. SG Wes Cole and PG Yolonzo Moore, both out of Texas, are among the top 150 in the country at each of their positions, as is Washington PF Nate Sikma. NC SG Dustin Clarke is UHart's closest to home recruit in this class, #170 at his position according to ESPN. Less is known about Australian SG Corbin Wroe and Wisconsin PF James Schneck, but in a youthful roster, both might get a chance to show why Coach Gallagher traveled so far in search of them.
Maine: Schedule
Big Games: 11/17 @ UConn, 12/8 @ Notre Dame, 2/6 vs. Vermont, 2/9 @ BU
UConn and Notre Dame are obviously settings in which a team can make a name for itself by presenting a challenge to a national power. Although the Black Bears may/will not win these games, they can certainly get practice in difficult settings that can be applied to conference play. This team faded late last year, so picking up wins against BU and Vermont toward the end of the year would help keep momentum strong down the stretch if they are still in contention.
Freshmen: Ted Woodward has assembled a 6-man recruiting class for 2011, including MA prep PF Zarko Valjarevic, the #108 SG in the class who has the potential to make big shots for the Black Bears. Their only other ESPN-reviewed player is 1-star SG Xavier Pollard. The rest of the class has some international flavor with Israeli PG Noam Laish, Canadian SG Justin Edwards and Finnish SF Kilian Cato. NY C Ethan Mackey rounds out the class.
Vermont: Schedule
Big Games: 11/23 @ Old Dominion, 11/26 vs. Siena, 12/1 vs. Harvard, 1/2 @ Stony Brook, 1/5 vs. BU
Old Dominion, Siena and Harvard have all been among the toughest mid-major teams in the country the last few years, so new UVM coach John Becker has a true opportunity to make a statement by beating these teams and showing that Vermont remains a strong mid-major itself, especially since two of the games come at home. Similarly, his first two league games come against recently strong Stony Brook and BU, so he could again show that his is the top program in the AE.
Freshmen: Vermont brings in a couple of moderately talented freshmen, although time will tell whether or not they can successfully replace the graduated Evan Fjeld and Joey Accaoui. Four McGlynn is a two-star SG, #128 at the position in the class and in possession of a great shot., while Chris Santo is the #123 SF in the class who may be an effective inside scorer. John Angstadt will walk on as a guard.
New Hampshire: Schedule
Big Games: 11/14 @ BC, 12/11 vs. Fairfield, 12/20 @ Providence, 1/5 @ Hartford, 1/11 @ Albany
BC and Providence are rebuilding, so if UNH can give the same sort of effort they did in nearly toppling UConn last year, they may find themselves with a power-6 conference win or two. Fairfield is also a solid mid-major program which would be a big win if the Cats can pull it off (perhaps more than BC or PC right now). In order to show they're ready to join the upper tier of the AE (if they are) the Wildcats will need road wins against other midpack conference teams, and they could prove their mettle early against the Hawks and the Great Danes.
Freshmen: Bill Herrion's class this year isn't bad highlighted by SG Garrett Jones of Chicago, Tommy McDonnell (son of UNH's football coach and Durham-area native) and Centenary transfer PF Jeron Trotman. All will have opportunities to break in on a building UNH team, but likely will not be short-term impact players.
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