The Binghamton Bearcats are picked to finish in fifth place in the America East Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll released yesterday.  Stony Brook University is picked to win the regular season championship with the Hartford Hawks slated for a second- place finish.  Stony Brook received six first-place votes with Hartford receiving two and the Albany Great Danes who are picked for a third-place finish garnering one first-place vote.

The Binghamton Bearcats finished with a 7-23 record last season to finish in eighth place in the nine-team conference.  Five returning sophomores who saw plenty of playing time last year are bolstered by the influx of what appears to be a standout crop of freshmen and got the attention of the conference coaches casting ballots.

The leader of a more competitive Binghamton resurgence is the high-flying Jordan Reed.  Reed was a second-team all-conference selection last year and is tabbed as a first-team member for the 2014-15 campaign.  Reed led America East rebounders last season with an 8.9 per game average and was third in scoring at 15.4 points per game.

The Bearcats open their season at home on Saturday, November 1 at  2 PM with a contest against Division II Mansfield State. Highlights of the Bearcats'  non-conference schedule are road contests at Notre Dame on November 14 and  Providence on November 17.  All games home away will again be broadcast on News Radio 1290 WNBF.

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