America East Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview, predictions
R.J. Eytle-Rock and Brandon Horvath, UMBC Retrievers
The combination of Eytle-Rock and Horvath has propelled the Retrievers to the one seed of this conference. These two players were important all season, but their contributions were massive in the last game of the season against Vermont to ensure home court throughout the America East Tournament.
Combining for 19 points and 19 rebounds, UMBC relied on this duo to seize control. Both players were left off and disrespected in the preseason awards, which again prove to be meaningless. Eytle-Rock averaged 14 points a game, while Horvath led the conference in rebounding. He also added 13 points a game.
Ryan Davis, Vermont Catamounts
Vermont has a handful of seniors who have put them in a successful position, but their best player is Ryan Davis. Davis is second in the conference in scoring at 18.8 points a game. He’s also in the top 10 in rebounding. Learning under Anthony Lamb for the last two years has done wonders for this young man. Going head-to-head against Lamb every day at practice has led to his instrumental growth.
As the America East 6th Man of the Year from last season, Davis is doubling his point production from a year ago. The strides Davis has taken have the Catamounts in a position to return to the NCAA Tournament.
Nick Guadarrama, New Hampshire Wildcats
He may not look like the average basketball player, but Guadarrama is a ferocious competitor leading his team to the three seed in the conference. An All-Conference preseason player, Guadarrama has performed to the standard. He brings intense energy, but he is also averaging almost fourteen points a game with 6.5 rebounds. He and fellow forward, Jayden Martinez, could be the best frontcourt in the conference.
Zach Cooks, NJIT Highlanders
The newbie in the league, Zach Cooks, had no problem adjusting from the Atlantic Sun to the America East. A two-time All-American Atlantic Sun competitor, Cooks is a flashy guard scoring over sixteen points a game. He’s not all flash as he’s not afraid to put his nose in the middle of things. The scrappy playmaker averages five rebounds a game.
The Highlanders have struggled down the stretch, but if Cooks gets hot, they may have a run in them. Gives me Pancake Thomas vibes. If you know, you know.
Obadiah Noel, UMass-Lowell River Hawks
Last but not least, the leading scorer of the America East is Obadiah Noel. The senior had another tremendous season almost putting up twenty points a game. Noel is as good as any player in the conference and is poised to make up for dropping his senior night game against New Hampshire. He’s had a tremendous collegiate career and won’t go down without a fight.