After missing the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NE10 men’s basketball is back! Saint Anselm and Adelphi were voted atop the Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Polls, representing the Northeast and Southwest Divisions, respectively. The Hawks are the reigning NE10 champions and coming off a 14-5 conference season in 2019-20, while the Panthers were 11-8 against league opponents and ranked second in the Southwest.
The NE10 Men’s Basketball Championship is scheduled to begin on February 25 with first round action. The NE10 Championship quarterfinals will be on February 27, with the semifinals on March 2. The championship game will be played on Saturday, March 5.
#1 SAINT ANSELM (NE)
Saint Anselm is the defending NE10 champion after a victory over New Haven back on March 7, 2020 – a game played nearly 20 months ago by the time the Hawks begin their title defense in the 2021-22 season. Head coach Keith Dickson enters his remarkable 36th season at the helm for the Hawks, as he looks to add to his record-setting nine NE10 championships.
The Hawks tallied 91 points and all 13 first-place votes that they were eligible to receive, on their way to the top spot in the Northeast Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll for the fourth-straight season. Saint Anselm will play an exhibition game against Division I Vermont on Saturday, November 6, before opening its season at home against Bentley on Wednesday, November 17.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Chris Paul (F) – First Team All-Conference in 2019-20 season; Most Outstanding Player of the NE10 Championship.
- Miles Tention (G) – Third Team All-Conference in 2019-20 season; Ranked fifth in the NE10 in assists per game (4.4).
#1 ADELPHI (SW)
Adelphi recorded 78 points and six first-place votes to edge New Haven for the first-place spot in the Southwest Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll. The Panthers, led by head coach David Duke in his eighth season with the program, have won 18 or more games in four of the past five seasons. Adelphi looks to win its first NE10 title since the 2010-11 campaign.
The 2021-22 season will open for Adelphi in a weekend tournament at Pace, as the Panthers play Chestnut Hill on Saturday, November 13, and Molloy on Sunday, November 14. Conference play begins on Saturday, November 20, against Saint Rose at home at the Center for Recreation and Sport.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Ronnie Silva (G) – All-Conference First Team in 2019-20 season; Ranked third in scoring among all NE10 players with 21.7 points per game.
- Chris Coalmon (G) – Averaged 10.9 points per game in just under 32 minutes per game for the Panthers during the 2019-20 season.
#2 BENTLEY (NE)
Bentley finished second behind Saint Anselm in the Northeast Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, tallying 70 points and the final first-place vote. The Falcons have won three NE10 titles in program history, most recently in 2008, under longtime head coach Jay Lawson - who enters his 31st season in 2021-22.
The 2021-22 campaign opens for Bentley at the Daemen East Region Challenge, as they take on Roberts Wesleyan and Daemen on Friday, November 12, and Saturday, November 13, respectively. Conference play begins on the road at defending NE10 champion Saint Anselm on Wednesday, November 17. The Falcons have won 15 or more games in five of the past six seasons under Lawson, including 21 wins in 2015-16.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Colton Lawrence (G) – Missed the 2019-20 season due to injury; Averaged 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game in 2018-19.
- Jordan Mello-Klein (G) – Ranked second in the NE10 in assists per game (5.5) during the 2019-20 season; Finished third on the team in scoring (12.4 points per game).
#2 NEW HAVEN (SW)
New Haven nearly secured the top spot in the Southwest Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, recording 74 points and three first-place votes to fall narrowly behind Adelphi. The Chargers, led by head coach Ted Hotaling in his 11th season, are coming off a miraculous run in the 2019-20 NE10 Championship where they reached the finals as the No. 5 seed in the Southwest Division – losing to champion Saint Anselm in overtime.
The Chargers will begin the season at the CSI Tip Off Tourney on Staten Island, N.Y., as they take on the College of Staten Island and D’Youville on November 12 and 13. The first NE10 matchup will pit New Haven against Le Moyne at Ted Grant Court in Syracuse, N.Y. The Chargers have won 15 games or more in each of the past four seasons.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Derrick Rowland (G) – Averaged 13.5 points and 3.9 assists across 30 games for the Chargers in 2019-20; NE10 All-Championship Team in 2020.
- Quashawn Lane (G) – Started 24 games in 2019-20, averaging 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game; NE10 All-Championship Team in 2020.
#3 STONEHILL (NE)
Stonehill ranked third in the Northeast Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll with 63 points, as the Skyhawks look to make another deep run in the NE10 Championship in 2021-22. During the 2019-20 season, Stonehill reached the NE10 Championship semifinals and lost to New Haven in an instant classic – a 101-100 triple-overtime thriller in the Merkert Gymnasium.
Head coach Chris Kraus, now in his ninth season, leads Stonehill into the new campaign beginning with an exhibition game at Division I Providence on Thursday, October 21. The Skyhawks begin regular season play in the Caldwell Tip-Off Classic on November 12 and 13, while conference play begins at Saint Michael’s on Saturday, November 20. Stonehill will pursue its fifth NE10 title and first since 2012 this season.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Owen Chose (G) – Ranked second among NE10 players in three-point shooting with a 46.4-percent success rate from deep in 2019-20; Averaged 14.5 points per game, second-best on the team.
- Andrew Sims (F) – Averaged 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 24 contests for the Skyhawks in 2019-20.
#3 SO. CONNECTICUT (SW)
Southern Connecticut was within 10 points of Adelphi and New Haven in the Southwest Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, finishing third with 69 points and four first-place votes. Head coach and former NBA player Scott Burrell enters his seventh year on the sidelines for the Owls, leading the program to 11 or more conference victories in every season.
The Owls open the 2021-22 campaign at the Bridgeport Tournament on November 13 and 14, before starting NE10 play at American International on Tuesday, November 23. Southern Connecticut has qualified for the NE10 Championship in every season since 2010 and last won a league title in 2014.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Lyron Bennett (G) – Averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game during the 2019-20 season for the Owls; All-Rookie Team.
- Ulyen Coleman (G) – Missed 2019-20 season due to injury; Started 20 games in 2018-19, averaging 14.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest.
#4 SO. NEW HAMPSHIRE (NE)
Southern New Hampshire tallied 56 points and finished fourth in the Northeast Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, after making a return to the NE10 Championship in 2019-20 as part of a 16-win campaign. The Penmen are led by head coach Jack Perri in his fourth season.
The 2021-22 season opens for SNHU at the Caldwell Tip-Off Classic on November 12 and 13, followed by its first NE10 contest at home against Assumption on Wednesday, November 17, in the Stan Spirou Field House. The Penmen have won two NE10 titles in the past eight seasons (2013, 2016), both under legendary head coach Stan Spirou.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Jacari Sanders (G) – All-Rookie Team in 2019-20; Averaged 11.1 points and 2.9 assists per game for the Penmen.
- Corry Long (G) – Record 9.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 28 appearances for the Penmen in 2018-19.
#4 LE MOYNE (SW)
Le Moyne garnered 56 points and the final first-place tally in the Southwest Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, finishing fourth in voting. The Dolphins, led by head coach Nate Champion in his third season, will look to build upon its success from two years ago when it won the Southwest Division regular season title with a 19-9 (15-4 NE10) record.
The Dolphins play an exhibition game against Division I Syracuse on Monday, November 1. The season officially opens on Tuesday, November 16, on the road at Indiana (PA), shortly followed by the NE10 opener at home against New Haven on Saturday, November 20. Le Moyne has won four-straight regular season championships, dating back to the 2016-17 campaign.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Nino Hernandez (G) – Scored 12.8 points and grabbed 4.9 rebounds per game in 27 appearances for the Dolphins in 2019-20; Only returning player with playing experience for Le Moyne.
#5 ASSUMPTION (NE)
Assumption received 43 points and finished fifth in the Northeast Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, as the Greyhounds are led by head coach Scott Faucher in his third season with the program. The Greyhounds were 14-12 (8-11 NE10) in Faucher’s first season in 2019-20, missing an NE10 postseason berth by just one game.
The 2021-22 season begins for Assumption at Saint Michael’s in the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tipoff Classic on November 13 and 14. The Greyhounds travel to play at Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday, November 17, in their NE10 opener. Assumption will look to qualify for the NE10 Championship for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Matthew Kelly (G) – All-Conference Third Team; Ranked 10th in the NE10 in scoring with 16.1 points per game.
- Jordan White (F) – Scored 11.2 points and recorded 5.0 rebounds per game in 25 appearances for Assumption in 2019-20.
#5 PACE (SW)
Pace tallied 48 points and placed fifth in the Southwest Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, as it prepares for the 2021-22 season under seven-year head coach Matt Healing. The Setters have qualified for the NE10 Championship in each of the past two seasons, with their eyes set on making it three-straight when the new campaign begins.
The Setters will open the season with an exhibition game at Division I Syracuse on Wednesday, October 27, before beginning its regular season by hosting the Conference Challenge on November 13 and 14. The NE10 opener is at home against American International on Saturday, November 20. Pace is 35-25 in the past two seasons under Healing.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Brandon Jacobs (G) – All-Conference Third Team in 2019-20; Led the NE10 with 7.8 assists per game, while scoring 13.4 points per contest.
- Austin Gilbertson (G) – Third on the team with 9.1 points per game in 2019-20; His 1.5 steals per contest were second-best among all Setters.
#6 FRANKLIN PIERCE (NE)
Franklin Pierce commanded 35 points and ranks sixth in the Northeast Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, as the Ravens look to continue its momentum from the 2019-20 season where they reached the NE10 Championship semifinals. Head coach David Chadbourne enters his 23rd season with the program in 2021-22.
The Ravens begin the season at the East Region Challenge, hosted by Jefferson, on November 13 and 14. Franklin Pierce will get the chance to make an early-season statement with its NE10 opener at home against reigning champion Saint Anselm on Saturday, November 20.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Isaiah Moore (G) – Named to the NE10 All-Championship Team in 2019-20; Averaged 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assist per game.
- Maxwell Zegarowski (F) – Led the team in scoring (20.0 points per game) during the abbreviated 2021 spring season.
#6 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL (SW)
American International tallied 30 points and finished tied for sixth in the Southwest Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll, coming off four-straight seasons without an appearance in the NE10 Championship. The Yellow Jackets look to break the trend under head coach Andy Burkholder, who enters his eighth season with the program.
AIC opens the season in the East Region Challenge, hosted by Jefferson, on November 13 and 14. The NE10 opener is scheduled at Pace on Saturday, November 20. The Yellow Jackets won their most recent NE10 title in the 2014-15 season.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Shyheim Hicks (G) – Ranked third on the team by averaging 10.3 points in 28 games for the Yellow Jackets in 2019-20.
- Jordan Vidal (G) – Scored 8.7 points and dished out 2.1 assists per game in 28 appearances for the Yellow Jackets in 2019-20.
#6 SAINT ROSE (SW)
Saint Rose collected 30 points and tied with American International for sixth place in the Southwest Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll. Head coach Mike Perno will begin his fourth year with the program, as he looks to lead the Golden Knights back to the NE10 Championship for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
The Golden Knights open its 2021-22 season with an exhibition game at Division I Siena at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., on Monday, October 25. The regular season begins in the NE10/ECC Conference Challenge, hosted by Staten Island, on November 12 and 13. The NE10 season begins on the road at Adelphi on Saturday, November 20.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Adam Anderson (G) – Second on the team with 14.9 points and 1.1 steals per game in 28 starts for the Golden Knights in 2019-20; Averaged 9.1 points per game in the abbreviated 2021 spring season.
- Tray Alexander (G) – Averaged 9.1 points and 7.6 assists during the abbreviated 2021 spring season for Saint Rose.
#7 SAINT MICHAEL'S (NE)
Saint Michael’s tallied 27 points and finished seventh in the Northeast Division Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll under third-year head coach Eric Eaton. The Purple Knights were 7-19 in Eaton’s first season with the program in 2019-20, while freshman standout Kasai Brown was named the NE10 Rookie of the Year.
An exhibition game against Division I Vermont awaits Saint Michael’s on Saturday, October 30, before the regular season begins at the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tipoff Classic on November 13 and 14 – a tournament hosted by the Purple Knights. The NE10 opener is at home against Stonehill on Saturday, November 20.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
- Kasai Brown (F) – NE10 Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team in 2019-20; Averaged 16.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game as a freshman.
- Jason Heter (F) – Averaged 5.2 points in 26 appearances, including 13 starts, for the Purple Knights in 2019-20.
Credits:
NE10 Institutions