GETTING INSIDE

It just doesn't seem right. Howie Dickenman, one of the better coaches around, has been under .500 the past two years.

Now, armed with experience and talent, and happy with his recruiting class, Dickenman enters his 14th season and seems to have a lineup that can make a real run at the top of the NEC.

He has two of the better players in the league in forward Ken Horton and guard Shemik Thompson.

Horton averaged 16.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a game last year, while Thompson, who runs the show, scored at an 11.5-a-game clip and had 135 assists and 106 turnovers.

Guard Robby Ptacek was the other double-figures scorer, at an even 10 points per game.

One problem was that Horton averaged just 14.4 in conference play, a number that needs to improve.

The Blue Devils recruited well, with forward Joe Elese highlighting a class of four players.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Central Connecticut has qualified for the NEC Tournament each of the last 11 years, the longest current streak in the league and tied for the third-longest all-time.

--F Chris Baskerville captured the annual Blue Devil pre-camp run with a time of 23:00, the best time since Javier Mojica's 22:45 before the 2006-07 season. G Vince Rosario, last year's winner, was second.

LAST YEAR: 13-17 overall, 8-10 in the NEC; lost in the NEC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: Howie Dickenman (career 205-178); 14th year at CCSU (205-178).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We didn't do as well as we'd have liked, and we have to work hard to get better for next year." -- Central Connecticut forward Ken Horton at the end of last season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Howie Dickenman brought in four new faces. Two of them, Devan Bailey (England) and Jonathan Tull (Canada), are from other countries. Joe Elese of New Jersey is expected to step in and help the frontcourt, while Markeys Dean is the junior college transfer in the group.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Blue Devils open the season against Fairfield on Nov. 13, one of the games of the first Connecticut 6 Classic tripleheader in Fairfield. CCSU, which has its early conference opener at St. Francis (N.Y) and LIU Dec. 3-5, visits Northwestern on Dec. 22 and plays Holy Cross at the Mohegan Sun casino Jan. 2.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: With Howie Dickenman at the helm, a program is always running in the right direction. CCSU has had two straight sub-.500 seasons but don't count on that lasting too long.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Shemik Thompson, SG Robbie Ptacek, F Ken Horton, F David Simmons, F Markeys Deans.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Shemik Thompson had more than twice as many assists as anyone else on the roster last year, chalking up 135 in 28 games. He was third in the NEC with 4.8 assists per game.

--F Ken Horton is 6-6 and scores from anywhere on the floor, leading the team with 5.8 rebounds per game and 32 3-pointers.

______________________________________________________________

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

GETTING INSIDE

The news came as a surprise. Tom Green, who had 407 wins in Teaneck, N.J., was out and assistant Greg Vetrone was named the interim head coach.

Vetrone's first task in his new job? Simple. Get the Knights back in the NEC Tournament for the first time in three years.

"Yes, it's my first head coaching job at the college level, but whether I'm coaching my kid's eighth-grade team or in college, I have the same intensity," Vetrone told NJ.com. "I have a lot of energy. I don't know if I'm the greatest coach. If there is one thing that I know, it's that we're going to work to get better.

"I've been around the game my whole life. I was fortunate that I was hired by my college coach and I've been in the game ever since."

FDU was 7-23 last year, 6-12 in the conference.

Now, they need to get better.

One thing that won't make it any easier is that the on-again/off-again academically challenged career of talented point guard Cameron Tyler is off again. He is in school but is not expected to play any more basketball.

Sean Baptiste, who averaged 16.3 points per game last year, will be playing, though, and he is the key to the FDU attack. But Tyler's 13.3 points, league-high 188 trips to the foul line and 160 assists will be sorely missed.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Fairleigh Dickenson fired long-time coach Tom Green (407 wins, four conference titles) and replaced him on an interim basis with assistant Greg Vetrone.

--FDU closed last season with five straight losses sand missed the NEC Tournament for the second straight year. The Knights have lost more than 20 games each year.

--G Sean Baptiste enters this, his senior season, with 1,034 career points. He led the conference with five 30-plus scoring efforts last season.

LAST YEAR: 7-23 overall, 6-12 in the NEC; did not qualify for the league tournament.

INTERIM HEAD COACH: Greg Vetrone (career 0-0); first year at Fairleigh Dickenson.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can't even think about being surprised. The thing I might be surprised about is how quickly they made the decision." -- Fairleigh Dickinson interim coach Greg Vetrone after being hired just four days after Tom Green was fired.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The coaching change and a large returning group produced an incoming class of three, led by point guard Mike Scott, who played a year at TCU. With Cameron Tyler gone, Scott's point skills are vital.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Knights are busy early, including a Dec. 5 league opener against Quinnipiac. FDU will visit Wichita State and Iowa on Nov. 15-17 for the start of the EBA Classic, then go to Richmond, Ky., to resume the EBA with games against UC-Irvine, Texas-San Antonio and Eastern Kentucky from Nov. 23-25. The Knights also visit Missouri on Dec. 12.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The backward spiral cost Tom Green his job after almost three decades and it's not clear if a turnaround is near.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Mike Scott, SG Sean Baptiste, G Terrance Grier, SF, Kamil Svrdlik, PF Alvin Mofunanya.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Mike Scott averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 assists per game in 15 games at TCU two years ago before transferring to Eastern Utah. Now, he's at FDU.

--F DeJuan Pursley, who sat out last year, is back for the Knights and needs to be a key contributor.

--F Alvin Mofunanya was the leading shot blocker in the conference, with 60 in 30 games. He also scored 9.0 points and grabbed 5.5 rebounds per game.

______________________________________________________________

LIU BROOKLYN

GETTING INSIDE

LIU won 16 games last year and was hoping for a run at the conference title this year. But some bad new news just before the start of practice quieted those hopes.

Julian Boyd, the newcomer of the year in the NEC last year, was diagnosed with a heart problem that will keep him off the court at least this season.

Boyd, who averaged 10.5 points and 6.4 rebounds off the bench last year, was diagnosed with a heart murmur after experiencing cramping while working out. His left ventricle wasn't pumping blood at the right rate.

An MRI was next and there was no word on the immediate future of the talented young sophomore. But the Blackbirds were proceeding as if he's out for the year.

"The kids don't find out they've had a heart problem until the coroner tells him his heart is enlarged," said LIU coach Jim Ferry said. "It's scary, and we're very, very fortunate to find this info out about Julian more so by accident."

Boyd would have teamed with guard Jaytornah Wisseh to form a potent 1-2 punch. Now, Wisseh -- who averaged 15.2 points and had 133 assists and 47 steals last year -- is the main man, even though fellow guard Kyle Johnson averaged 13.8 a game.

But Boyd was needed.

The loss of Boyd followed the summer losses of center Aurimas Adomaitis, who returned to his native Lithuania, and Argentine guard Lucas Faggiano, who returned to his homeland after his mother was diagnosed with cancer.

"It's disheartening, but no one will feel sorry for us," said Ferry. "We'll make the proper adjustment, get ourselves together and make a run in the conference late in the year. It's so fragile, especially at this level. We can't go to the bench and get more experience. Jaytornah Wisseh is a potential Player of the Year, and we'll keep our fingers crossed with Julian that he's healthy."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Having already lost forward Ron Manigault to graduation, LIU was expecting to bring most of its team back but then lost 21.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game because of Julian Boyd's heart ailment and international players Aurimas Adomaitis (Lithuania) and Lucas Faggiano (Argentina) going home.

--Julian Boyd was the NEC Newcomer of the Year last year.

--The Blackbirds are coming off the program's highest finish (tied for second place) and first winning season since 1997-98.

--LIU lost only two home games during the regular season but then fell to Quinnipiac at home in the NEC Tournament.

LAST YEAR: 16-14 overall, 12-6 in the NEC; lost in the NEC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: Jim Ferry (career 188-136); eighth year at LIU (84-117).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's been a crazy off-season, to say the least. If nothing had changed, we're picked in the top one or two in this league with the chance to win the championship." -- LIU coach Jim Ferry, whose team lost three players to illness and defection.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Blackbirds have two freshmen and one, Jamal Olasewere, may well wind up a starter if Julian Boyd is out for the year.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: LIU goes to Tennessee to play Chattanooga in a tournament on Dec. 19 and then plays either Eastern Kentucky or Morgan State in the final or consolation game. The rest of the non-league slate is mostly local, including games at St. John's and Seton Hall of the Big East.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Jim Ferry had his team on the verge of challenging for the league title before manpower problems got in the way. Still, Ferry has the Brooklyn program on the upswing.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Jaytornah Wisseh, SG Kyle Johnson, G David Hicks, F Jamal Olasewere, F Arnold Mayorga.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Jaytornah Wisseh shot 37 percent from 3-point range last season, hitting 37 of his 100 tries. He also shot .802 from the foul line.

--G Jaytornah Wisseh has 1,182 career points and 373 assists, second and third, respectively among active NEC players.

--F Jamal Olasewere, one of the two LIU recruits, led his high school team to back-to-back state titles in Maryland.

______________________________________________________________

MONMOUTH (NJ)

GETTING INSIDE

A terrible thing happened to Monmouth last season as the Hawks attempted to return to NEC contention: They lost their best player in the first game of the season.

Whitney Coleman scored nine points in nine minutes in that opening game against Florida Atlantic, then tore up his knee, ending his season. But from the moment it happened, Coleman vowed to return, and his injury may have served Monmouth well.

While he was gone, three freshmen grew into college players. Sure, the 8-23 final record and missing the NEC Tournament is nothing to be happy about, but things should be better for the Hawks as they open their new gym, the 4,100-seat MAC.

The Hawks did make some strides with the young kids last year, but just couldn't win. Those kids are a year older and can now be joined by Coleman.

Things could get interesting in the new building but let's not expect a huge leap.

NOTES, QUOTES

--G Whitney Coleman is back for a second try at his senior season after suffering a knee injury in last year's opener. He averaged 11.9 points per game two years ago and has 108 career 3-pointers.

--Monmouth opens its new 4,100-seat MAC with a Nov. 13 game against Florida International.

--Dave Calloway begins his 14th year as Monmouth coach.

--F Travis Taylor and G Will Campbell were named to the NEC All-Rookie team last season.

--Monmouth led the NEC with a team grade point average of 3.132.

LAST YEAR: 8-23 overall, 6-12 in the NEC; did not qualify for league tournament.

HEAD COACH: Dave Calloway (career 157-187); 13th year at Monmouth (157-187).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We are very happy for both guys. Hopefully, through more hard work and dedication, they will become all-league players, and more importantly, lead Monmouth back to future NEC Tournaments and championships." -- Monmouth coach Dave Calloway after Travis Taylor and Will Campbell made the NEC All-Rookie team last season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Dave Calloway went for some added bulk when he signed 6-5, 240-pound Ed Waite and 6-7, 230-pount versatile player Marcus Ware.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: How about key early-morning games? Monmouth visits Saint Peter's Nov. 17 for a 6 am game that starts ESPN's College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon. The Hawks open their new building four days earlier with a game against Florida International and visit Seton Hall on Nov. 15. They go to Laramie, Wy., to play Wyoming, Pepperdine and Hampton at the World Vision Basketball Challenge Nov. 27-29.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Stalled, but it's just temporary. There's a new building, a new attitude and a predicted return to being competitive.

(POSSIBLE) STARTING LINEUP: PG James Hett, SG Whitney Coleman, G Will Campbell, F Mike Myers Keitt, F Travis Taylor.

ROSTER REPORT:

--C Phil Wait, who stands 7-1, has transferred from St. John's and will sit out this season. "We are excited to have Phil join our program here at Monmouth," said Monmouth coach Dave Calloway. "He is coming from a Big East school where he had to go every day against top-level talent. He will have a year to practice and develop his game and we are looking forward to him playing the following two seasons." Wait had a knee injury and played in 11 games with St. John's last year.

--Phil Wait's arrival will give the Hawks two players with similar last names. Ed Waite is a freshman this season.

--Freshmen Travis Taylor, Will Campbell and Mike Myers Keitt combined to average 30.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game last year.

______________________________________________________________

MOUNT ST. MARY'S

GETTING INSIDE

The Mountaineers are good.

After all, they're led by a guy named Goode.

Jeremy Goode, the point guard, is the preseason pick as Player of the Year in the conference.

Mount St. Mary's was the league champ two years ago, reached the NEC final last year, lost at Robert Morris by two points in the final game and then played in the first CBI Tournament. The Mount went 19-14, lost some experience up front but should be fine in 2009-10.

The 5-9 Goode averaged 14.9 points, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He runs in the backcourt with Jean Cajou, while Kelly Beidler (10.9) and Shawn Atupem (9.6 off the bench) return as solid scorers.

Sam Atupem and Markus Mitchell are gone up front and the Mountaineers got some bad academic news on a couple of incoming frontcourt players.

NOTES, QUOTES

--With forwards Sam Atupem and Markus Mitchell gone, the MSM frontcourt took a further hit when freshman Raven Barber failed to qualify academically and redshirt freshman Jacolby Wells was forced to miss the first semester because of grades.

--F Shawn Atupem, Sam's brother, takes over as a leader up front. "The good thing is that the stabilizing force is obviously going to be Shawn," says Mount coach Milan Brown. "Markus and Sam are gone but our best post scorer is back. And he's better." Shawn Atupem averaged 9.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last year, all off the bench.

--MSM has been to the last two NEC title games, winning one and losing the other by two points.

LAST YEAR: 19-14 overall, 12-6 in the NEC; lost in the NEC title game.

HEAD COACH: Milan Brown (career 79-105); seventh year at Mount St. Mary's (79-105).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "For us as a team, there's unfinished business. We talked about getting to the championship, winning the championship, and we got to the championship and didn't finish off the job. We played 38 minutes well. The last two minutes came back and bit us. Now it's all about finishing." -- Mount St. Mary's guard Jeremy Goode, whose team lost a bid for a second straight NEC title with a two-point loss at Robert Morris in the final.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Mountaineers lost 6-8 freshman Raven Barber, who failed to qualify, and redshirt freshman Jacolby Wells, who will sit out the first semester because of grades. David Golladay is a 6-1 wing player with talent and coach Milan Brown also has Croatian import Kristijan Krajina, who stands 6-9.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: If you want people to know who you are, you go out there and play big-time opponents. The Mountaineers, who open the NEC schedule early with a Dec. 3-5 trip to Robert Morris and Saint Francis (Pa.), open at Oklahoma on Nov. 14 and also visit Georgetown (Nov. 30) and Pittsburgh (Dec. 19).

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Up. The Mount has been to the last two NEC titles games under Milan Brown, winning one and losing the other by two points. Things are looking up.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Jeremy Goode, SG Jean Cajou, SF Kelly Beidler, PF Shawn Atupem, C Tayvon Jackson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Jeremy Goode, the preseason NEC Player of the Year pick, recorded 134 assists and 78 turnovers running the offense last year.

--G Jean Cajou nipped Jeremy Goode for the team's 3-point lead, 51-45, but Goode hit at a .372 clip last year, Cajou at .321.

--F Kelly Beidler averaged 10.9 points and was fifth in the league with 6.9 rebounds per game last year from the wing.

______________________________________________________________

QUINNIPIAC

GETTING INSIDE

Injuries put a huge crimp in Quinnipiac's plans last year as the Bobcats played through an almost unbelievable list of physical troubles before ending the season a game under .500 with a loss to eventual champion Robert Morris in the conference semifinals.

The final record was 15-16. The injured players ... well, some of them ... are back. Others have been lost, but there's a big incoming class and reason for optimism.

The offense revolves around James Feldeine, the NEC scoring champion last year with a 17.0 average. He has help, led by Justin Rutty, the league's leading rebounder, and the return of previously injured folks like Evann Baker and Jonathan Cruz can only help.

Tom Moore, the former UConn assistant, is one game under .500 in his two years in Hamden, Conn., and you just get the feeling this program is about to bloom.

NOTES, QUOTES

--F Tevin Baskin, a talented player from Stamford, Conn., is working through academic issues and hopes to enroll and be eligible for second semester. He is a huge talent.

--Quinnipiac assistant coach Eric Eaton made CollegeInsiders.com's Top 25 Mid-Majors Assistants list. "Eric is one of the bright young coaches in college basketball," said Quinnipiac coach Tom Moore. "He has been a huge addition to our staff here at Quinnipiac and has been invaluable in helping us establish ourselves as one of the emerging programs in the Northeast Conference. He will no doubt be an excellent head coach in the future."

LAST YEAR: 15-16 overall, 10-8 in the NEC; lost in the NEC semifinals.

HEAD COACH: Tom Moore (career 106-90); third year at Quinnipiac (30-31).

BY THE NUMBERS: .419 -- Quinnipiac forward Justin Rutty led the NEC in rebounding last year but went just 57-for-136 from the foul line, a .419 percentage.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Tom Moore has brought in a five-man class that includes forward Jamee Jackson, who played for Bob Hurley at St. Anthony's in Jersey City, and British import Raheem May-Thompson, who stands 6-6.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Quinnipiac doesn't have any real marquee opponents on a non-league schedule that's interrupted by the Dec. 5 league opener against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Bobcats play Hartford in the Nov. 13 Connecticut 6 Classic in Fairfield and also bus up to Amherst, Mass., to play Umass on Dec. 2.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Things seem to be pointing upward but the Bobcats have to avoid injuries to fulfill their potential. Tom Moore is a good coach, the program has a nice new building, so things should be fine.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG James Johnson, SG Jeremy Baker, SF James Feldeine, PF Justin Rutty, F Jonathan Cruz.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F James Feldeine was responsible for 136 of Quinnipiac's 438 attempts from behind the arc last season, hitting 46 of the team's 139 successful 3s.

--C Ed Zajac has been forced to end his career because of concussions.

--G James Johnson had 127 assists and 86 turnovers running the point for Quinnipiac last season.

______________________________________________________________

ROBERT MORRIS

GETTING INSIDE

Two years ago, Robert Morris ran away with the NEC regular season title and was then upset in the conference tournament. Last year, Robert Morris won the league again and this time also won the tournament, advancing to an NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan State.

What's next?

Mike Rice, the fiery former Pittsburgh assistant, is 50-19 in his two years as a head coach and should have more success this year, but the Colonials have to get past losing NEC Player of the Year Jeremy Chappell and conference Defensive Player of the Year Bateko Francisco.

Three starters return but Rice faces his first semi-building project in his third year.

"This team is going to have to learn how to win basketball games, regardless of what's happened over the last couple of years," Rice said. "Every year is a new year, and you never know how a team is going to come together.

"One thing I've been extremely pleased with, however, is the way our upperclassmen have taken the younger guys under their wing. We have a tight bunch of guys that interact well with each other, and they play for each other. That's at the heart of, and the beginning of, a successful team."

NOTES, QUOTES

--G Jimmy Langhurst becomes more of the focus of the Robert Morris attack with the departure of Jeremy Chappell. "Jimmy is a shooter, pure and simple," said RMU coach Mike Rice. "He also brings tangible leadership qualities and is one of five seniors that I feel are going to be important for us this season, not only for their play on the court, but their abilities off the court."

--F Dallas Green, who averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds last year, is called "the ultimate glue guy" by coach Mike Rice.

--When a team gets this good as a mid-major, scheduling can be tough. "A direct result of our success over the last two years is that it's a difficult task to try to find non-conference games," coach Mike Rice said.

--The Colonials had won five straight before losing to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament.

LAST YEAR: 24-11 overall, 15-3 in the NEC; lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Mike Rice (career 50-19); third year at Robert Morris (50-19).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm definitely afraid of losing a basketball game, afraid of failing. That scares me more than pressure. I don't feel pressure that way. Losing is the worst feeling in the world, and that's what motivates me. What motivates me is getting the most out of our guys on a daily basis to help them improve. We have expectations now within this program, and I like the expectations because that means you're successful. Expectations are interesting, because our guys may think that by just putting on a Robert Morris uniform they're going to be successful. That's not the case. My job is to get them to continue to work hard in order to be successful." -- Coach Mike Rice.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Robert Morris coach Mike Rice thinks he has a pair of guards, Karon Abraham and Coron Williams, who can step right in and help fill the void left by the losses of Jeremy Chappell and Bateko Francisco. Velton Jones, who sat out last year as a partial qualifier, is also in the backcourt, and Brad Piehl and Lijah Thompson should help up front.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Colonials open the season at Syracuse Nov. 11 in the 2K Classic and then continue that event with games against Detroit Mercy, Alcorn State and Albany. RMU also visits Pittsburgh, coach Mike Rice's old place of employment, and Penn State.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Up. The Colonials have won 50 games under coach Mike Rice in two years and aren't about to stop now.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Jimmy Langhurst, SG Mezie Nwigwe, F Rob Robinson, F Dallas Green, F Russell Johnson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Russell Johnson sat out last year because of academics but is expected to start.

--G Jimmy Langhurst was second on the team last year to Jeremy Chappell in 3-pointers and 3s attempted, going 66-for-156 from behind the arc.

--Jeremy Chappell led the team in rebounding. F Rob Robinson was second (at 5.6) and also second to Chappell in scoring (11.2).

______________________________________________________________

SACRED HEART

GETTING INSIDE

Dave Bike isn't going anywhere.

Tom Green, second in tenure among NEC coaches, was let go by Fairleigh Dickinson, but Bike has no such problems as he enters his 32nd year running this program.

Things will be a little tougher for the Pioneers after the loss of Joey Henley and Ryon Howard inside. But the outside trio of Corey Hassan, Ryan Litke and Chauncey Hardy combined to hit 174 3-pointers last season.

The Pioneers won 17 games last year, the season ending with a 68-63 loss at Mount St. Mary's.

They bombed away from behind the arc last year (611 3-point attempts and a.394 percentage) and figure to do more of the same. The rebounding of Henley and Howard will be missed.

Jerrell Thompson, who played 13.9 minutes per game last year, making three starts, is expected to start at the point.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Gs Ryan Litke, Corey Hassan and Chauncey Hardy combined to go 174-for-433 from 3-point range last year, an impressive .402 percentage. All three are back this season.

--Sacred Heart has been to two conference title games and one league semifinal in the last three seasons, going 37-17 against conference competition over that span.

LAST YEAR: 17-14 overall, 12-6 in the NEC; lost in the NEC semifinals.

HEAD COACH: Dave Bike (career 481-428); 32nd year at Sacred Heart (481-428).

BY THE NUMBERS: 31.4/13.2 - The points/rebounds per game the Pioneers lose with the departure of inside men Joey Henley and Ryon Howard.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Dave Bike added two players to his long list of returnees. Both address the frontcourt void left by the loss of Joey Henley and Ryon Howard, but only one, the 6-7 Paris Massey, will help this year. The other, transfer Femi Akinpetide, has to sit out after coming in from UMKC.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Pioneers open the season with a Nov. 13 game against Yale as one part of the Connecticut 6 Classic tripleheader in Fairfield. Not afraid to play tough opponents, Sacred Heart is at Xavier on Nov. 21 and Penn State on Nov. 25. There's an early conference home game, with Monmouth, on Dec. 5.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Dave Bike appears to be getting better instead of older as he enters his 32nd year at the Sacred Heart helm. This program is solid.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Jerrell Thompson, SG Chauncey Hardy, SF Corey Hassan, PF Mehmet Sahan, C Liam Potter.

ROSTER REPORT:

--C Liam Potter, a 7-footer who sat out last season, is to be important in the Sacred Heart plans.

--G Corey Hassan averaged 11.4 points per game for the season last year but hit at a 16.1 clip in the second half.

--G Ryan Litke hit 82 baskets last season, 59 of them 3-pointers.

______________________________________________________________

ST. FRANCIS (NY)

GETTING INSIDE

A season-ending knee injury to Kayode Ayeni in December last season short-circuited any hopes St. Francis had to win the league, but the Terriers still went 7-11 and made the NEC Tournament.

Now, Ayeni is back, and things should be looking up.

"We really like our chances this season," says St. Francis coach Brian Nash, who has won just 36 games in four seasons as he tries to build a program in Brooklyn. "We have some exciting athletes who can't wait to display their skills each and every night, and I think our fans are really going to enjoy watching us play."

Nash added, "We have some established returners in Ricky Cadell, Stefan Perunicic and Kayode Ayeni, as well as some really good newcomers like Alex Harrington, Branden Fisher, Akeem Bennett."

Floor leader Jamaal Womack is gone, but there is talent here.

Ayeni was averaging 13.3 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game when he went down. The team scoring title went to guard Cadell, a second-team All-NEC performer who averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 40 percent from behind the arc.

NOTES, QUOTES

--St. Francis scored some nice wins last season, winning at Robert Morris and defeating local foes Manhattan and Columbia. The Terriers also lost a close game to St. John's.

--The Terriers have qualified for the NEC Tournament 17 of the last 19 years.

--G Ricky Cadell had a big year last year but coughed the ball up too much, with 103 turnovers to go with 76 assists.

LAST YEAR: 10-20 overall, 7-11 in the NEC; lost in the NEC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: Brian Nash (career 36-81); fifth year at St. Francis (36-81).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I believe that we are a lot more balanced this season than we may have been in the past and certainly a lot deeper. This will help play the style of basketball that we would like to play in terms of putting pressure on our opponents." -- St. Francis coach Brian Nash.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Alexander Harrington, a 6-9 junior college transfer, is a shot blocker who stands out in an incoming class of six, and guard Akeem Bennett is expected to step right into the starting lineup.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Terriers are at Boston College Nov. 17 and also visit UMass (Nov. 24) and Syracuse (Dec. 13). The early league opener is a Dec. 3 home game against Central Connecticut.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: It could be up but we will have to wait and see. Something always seems to happen to keep things from getting too good. But with any luck at all, St. Francis will join rival LIU on the way up.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Brandon Fisher, SG Ricky Cadell, SF Akeem Bennett, PF Kayode Ayeni, C Nigel Byam.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Stefan Perunicic set an NEC freshman record with 87 3-pointers last year, hitting almost 39 percent from behind the arc.

--F Herman Wrice (51) and C Nigel Byam (33) combined for 88 of the Terriers' 128 blocked shots last year.

______________________________________________________________

ST. FRANCIS (PA)

GETTING INSIDE

Don Friday went 6-23 in his first year in Loretto, but sees a chance for his team to be better.

They're young, but should improve.

"Our depth is greatly improved, and our success will depend on our practice habits and then taking that into our 29 regular-season games," said Friday, who will rely on his first incoming class, a big one, to step right in and start turning things around.

It's not like Friday doesn't have any veterans to count on. Swing man Devin Sweetney averaged 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game a year ago. Forward Mislav Jukic also had a solid year.

Friday has to hope the new group, of seven, will hit the ground running.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Saint Frances is 24-91 over the last four years.

--The Red Flash was last in the NEC in offense last year, scoring just 61.1 points per game.

--F Devin Sweetney averaged 16.3 of the team's 61.1 points a game, cracking the 1,000-point mark in a year in which he missed six games with a hand injury. Sweetney should do his scoring going to the basket. He was just 17-for-77 from 3-point range. His free-throw shooting, once potent, took a huge dive, down to .683 from .776 the previous season.

--If there is to be improvement for this program soon, this class of seven freshman has to have a lot to do with it.

LAST YEAR: 6-23 overall, 3-15 in the NEC; did not qualify for the NEC Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Don Friday (career 89-72); second year at Saint Francis (6-23).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We are very excited to get the 2009-10 season underway. We will be young at just about every position, but we are more talented and more athletic in all areas." -- Saint Francis coach Don Friday.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Get a program. There are seven freshmen set to play for Don Friday as he attempts to rebuild a program that has lost 91 games the last four years. Guards Chris Johnson and Umar Shannon will get looks at the point, and forwards Will Felder and Tony Peters have huge numbers on their resumes. Shooting guard Anthony Irvin comes in after two years of prep school.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Saint Francis has an impressive early schedule that includes two early league games, both at home, against Wagner and Mount St. Mary's. The Red Flash is at Notre Dame on Nov. 16 and at Ohio State on Nov. 28.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Too soon to tell, really. Don Friday starts his second year but is now working with his recruits so we'll soon see if there's any turnaround coming.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Chris McFarland, SG Sorena Orandi, SF Devin Sweetney, PF Kurt Hoffman, C Mislav Jucic.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Chris McFarland, who played 67 minutes in 12 games last year, is projected as the starter at the point but figures to be pressed by a couple of the seven freshmen.

--F Devin Sweetney had 25 assists and 70 turnovers last season.

--G Curtis Keys left the team after redshirting last year.

______________________________________________________________

WAGNER

GETTING INSIDE

Mike Deane may be eccentric -- OK, anyone who has a seat belt installed in his chair on the bench to thumb his nose at the technical foul rule is eccentric -- but know this: The veteran coach is one of those guys who can teach and get lots out of a team expected to do nothing.

Deane, who has 432 wins as a college coach and has taken three different programs to the NCAA Tournament, won 39 games with Wagner the past two years but has lost his top four scorers from last season's 16-14 team.

He's looking at a roster loaded with seven freshmen.

One of the rookies, redshirt freshman Josh Thompson, is listed among the likely starters, but more freshmen will have to play.

Chris Martin is the leading Seahawk returning scorer, and he averaged just 6.1 points per game as a freshman last season. He takes over the long-range bombing duties from the graduated Joey Mudweiler. For more bombing help, Deane can turn to freshman Danny Mudweiler, Joey's brother.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Seahawks lost their top four scorers from last year, with Joey Mudweiler, Jamal Smith, Llew Radford and Justin Drummond combining to hit 47.7 points per game. The quartet also averaged 18.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists and Mudweiler hit 98 of the team's 221 3-pointers.

--Wagner shot .384 from 3-point range and just .626 from the foul line.

--The Seahawks had won four in a row and six of their last seven to rally into the NEC Tournament, where they lost to second-seeded Mount St. Mary's.

LAST YEAR: 16-14 overall, 8-10 in the NEC; lost in the NEC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: Mike Deane (career 432-306); seventh year at Wagner (90-87).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We are young and untested in many areas with seven of our 14 players being freshmen. After winning 23 games two years ago and 16 last year, I suspect we'll be picked near the bottom of the league, which is understandable. We've got some guys back with experience but they've been in support roles and will now have to step to the fore. It will be an interesting and challenging season for us." -- Wagner coach Mike Deane.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: There are a bunch of them, five new freshman and two redshirt freshmen. Small forward Josh Thompson, a 6-4 redshirt freshman, is projected as a starter. Danny Mudweiler brings a long-range touch to the program. Fellow guard Ryan Conrad scored over 1,600 points in high school.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Seahawks play at Brigham Young and Nevada in their first two games of the Las Vegas Classic Nov. 17-19, the non-league highlights of the early schedule.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Mike Deane is a veteran coach who will always have his teams competitive. Wagner won 23 games just two seasons ago but will be hard pressed to get the 16 it got last year.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Tyler Murray, SG Chris Martin, SF Josh Thompson, PF Doug Elwell, C Michael Orock.

ROSTER REPORT:

--PF Doug Elwell is the leading returning Wagner assist man from last year's team, dishing out 43 in 30 games.

--C Michael Orock averaged 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game last year.

--G Chris Martin was 46-for-101 from behind the arc to lead the NEC in 3-point percentage (45.5 percent) as a freshman.