2013 College Basketball Picks: America East Conference Tournamant Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – America East Conference Tournament Schedule and Tournament Bracket: The America East Conference is one of several mid-major conferences that are only going to be sending one team to the 2013 NCAA Tournament. In a way, it makes the regular season somewhat irrelevant because only the winner of the conference tournament will earn a trip to the Big Dance. On the flip side, the highest remaining seed does earn the right to host the America East Tournament title game so the regular season does count for something, especially in a conference where no team average more than 69 points per game. Baskets could be tough to come by in the conference tournament, and here is a closer look at the teams that could get the job done and win the America East’s automatic bid.
2013 America East Conference Tournament Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
The Contenders
In each of the past two seasons, the Stony Brook Seawolves (23-6, 14-2 America East) have reached the title game of the America East Conference Tournament only to fall one win short of reaching the NCAA Tournament. After capturing the regular season conference title this year, the Seawolves will try yet again to close the deal. Stony Brook rolls into the conference tournament on a six-game winning streak and owns the top offense and top defense in the America East. The Seawolves also rank 28th in the country in rebounding, and their frontcourt of Jameel Warney and Tommy Brenton presents matchup nightmare for many teams because of Brenton’s passing ability. He actually leads the team with 4.9 assists per game. Last but not least, Stony Brook finished three games ahead of the next closest team in the final standings.
Armed with the second-best scoring defense in the conference, the Vermont Catamounts (19-10, 11-5 America East) will try to make a run in the America East Tournament. The Catamounts offense is lacking a star and lacking perimeter firepower, but seven players are averaging more than six points per game on the season. Vermont’s chance of making a run in the conference tournament will ultimately depend on the offense, but if the Catamounts are hitting some shots, they definitely have the defense to grab the America East’s automatic bid.
Riding a three-game winning streak, the Hartford Hawks (17-12, 10-6 America East) will try to make some noise in the conference tournament in spite of a sluggish offense. The Hawks are scoring less than 61 points per game this season, but on the flip side, they are holding opponents to less than 61 points, as well. Forward Mark Nwakamma is the only Hartford player averaging in double figures, and in general, the Hawks tend to shoot a ton of 3-pointers. Hartford tends to win the turnover battle more often than not thanks in part to averaging more than eight steals per game, and if the Hawks happen to be on fire from beyond the arc, they could be a threat.
Bottom Line
Although it has been nothing but heartbreak for the Seawolves in the America East Tournament in recent years, their consistency on offense should carry them through this time around. The conference tends to defensive minded as a whole, but Stony Brook is the one team that has been able to score on a regular basis. The Seawolves’ frontcourt is a big reason why their offense is a notch above the competition, and Stony Brook is just too balanced on both ends of the court to fail to seal the deal for a third straight year.
Prediction: Stony Brook Seawolves Win the America East Conference Tournament
2013 America East Conference Tournament Schedule
Quarterfinals: Saturday, March 9 on ESPN3
Game 1: No. 2 Vermont vs. No. 7 New Hampshire, noon
Game 2: No. 3 Hartford vs. No. 6 UMBC, 2 p.m.
Game 3: No. 1 Stony Brook vs. No. 8 Binghamton, 6 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Albany vs. No. 5 Maine, 8 p.m.
Semifinals: Sunday, March 10 on ESPN3
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
Championship: Saturday, March 16 on ESPN2
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 11:30 a.m.
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