MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW

Binghamton men's basketball made significant strides during a 2021-22 campaign that featured eight conference wins ended with the program's second semifinal appearance in the last four years. But head coach Levell Sanders thinks this year's unit, led by first team all-conference selection Jacob Falko and All Defensive Team pick Christian Hinckson and boosted by several impact newcomers, is capable of accelerating BU's rise in the America East. 

"We are much more talented and athletic up and down the roster than last year," he said. "We have better on-ball defenders, which will help us become a better defensive team. And we are a more together, unified team."

America East coaches must agree with Sanders' optimism, having slotted Binghamton fourth in the preseason poll. It's the highest the Bearcats have been picked in six years and tied for highest in the program's 22-year Division I history. In Sanders' first year at the helm last winter, BU posted its highest conference win total in 12 seasons and then upended No. 3 New Hampshire in the America East quarterfinals. Binghamton defeated every conference opponent at least once, save for the two tournament finalists (Vermont and UMBC). 

With four starters back and three impact transfers in the fold, competition for minutes will be strong and Sanders will be afforded options that were previously limited.  

Falko central to team's success
Senior guard Jacob Falko enters his second and final season at Binghamton with the chance to become the program's first-ever two-time America East first team all-conference player. In his BU debut season last winter, Falko averaged 15.4 points (49% FG) and 3.8 assists in conference play, scored 20 or more points seven times and spearheaded the postseason win with a gutsy 21-point performance coming off an injury. Falko was named to the preseason all-conference team and his ability to get to the rim and be a threat from beyond the arc (42% 3FG in postseason) makes him a potent offensive player.

"Jake does everything," Sanders said. "We ask him to score and also be a facilitator and he does so many things well. He's come into preseason lighter and more explosive and we will need him to be who he was last year and even better for us to take the next step."

Junior John McGriff returns to run the point after a solid first season with the program last year. McGriff averaged 12.1 points and shot 39 percent from 3-point range in conference play. He was able to break down opponents on the dribble and find the open man and like Falko, McGriff peaked down the stretch, shooting 46 percent over the final seven games of the season with three 15+ point games. He produced five or more assists five times, and delivered a clutch, acrobatic bucket for the deciding points in the quarterfinal win over New Hampshire. 

Senior sharpshooter Dan Petcash has played 66 games as a Bearcat and returns after a solid 2021-22 season that was compromised by injury. Petcash missed eight games but averaged 31 minutes as a starter and remains one of the team's most reliable defenders. He also is the team's best pure shooter with career averages of 46 percent overall, 40 percent from 3-point range and 87 percent from the line. 

"Dan does all the right things," Sanders said. "He's always in the right place and is a steady force for us. Dan is one of our better perimeter defenders and shoots at a very high percentage. We want him to be more aggressive with his shot this season."

Freshman Masud Stewart and sophomore transfer Matt Solomon are also viable guards off the bench. Stewart hails from scholastic power Neuman-Goretti in Philadelphia, where he averaged 11.5 points and 2.2 assists and led the program to its ninth state title last winter. Solomon began his collegiate career at Cal State-Northridge after averaging 25.1 points as a senior at Newbury Park High in California. He is a scoring threat from beyond the arc.    

Do-it-all Hinckson leads trio of outstanding wing players 
Graduate student Christian Hinckson played a pivotal role in BU's success last season because of his ability to score, rebound and defend. Hinckson was the lone Bearcat to play all 29 games and in conference play, he produced 10.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, becoming BU's first All-Defensive Team selection in four years. Hinckson shot 47 percent and had four double-doubles in conference play. He also pulled down 12 rebounds in 29 hard minutes during the quarterfinal win at UNH. A veteran who has played 106 college games, Hinckson will again log heavy minutes due to his work rate and versatility.

"Christian is a good rebounder who can guard anyone on the floor," Sanders said. "He can play multiple positions and shoots the ball well. We want him to be more aggressive on the offensive end this season."

A pair of transfers, Miles Gibson and Armon Harried, bring more firepower and athleticism to Binghamton's lineup this season. Gibson played two seasons at Eastern Michigan (10.8 ppg.) and last year at MSU Denver (13.1 ppg.) and has quickly shown to be a two-way contributor. His ability to play the two, three or four spot on the floor has Sanders excited.      

"Miles has been a pleasant surprise," Sanders said. "He's older, has a lot of experience and can probably play all five positions. He does so many things well and will see a lot of time on the floor. We are looking forward to getting him out there." 

Harried is another veteran who has shined at this level, having played 77 games as a three year starter for fellow New York program Canisius. Last season, he averaged 11.2 points in nearly 30 minutes a game. Harried is a former first team All-Baltimore Metro scholastic player whose pedigree traces to his father, Herman "Tree" Harried, who starred up the road at Syracuse in the late 1980s. 

Newcomer Balogun boosts post play 
Six-foot-10, 240-pound junior transfer Tariq Balogun will provide a big boost to the interior group, which returns three players, including returning center Ogheneyole Akuwovo. Balogun played 74 games over three seasons at Eastern Kentucky in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Last season he shot 58 percent from the floor and blocked nearly a shot and a half per game (team-high 30). 

"Tariq is another guy we are really high on," Sanders said. "He's a load inside and is an explosive, athletic center who can score and block shots. I expect him to be one of the better 'bigs' in the America East and because of his presence down low, we want to play inside-out." 

Six-foot-9 Akowovo started 17 games for BU last season and registered a pair of double-digit scoring games down the stretch. He was a strong finisher in the paint (59%). 

Senior Taveion White remains an outstanding post defender with great athleticism and work rate. He logged 32 minutes a game in back-to-back BU wins over Stony Brook and Maine last February.
Fourth-year BU veteran Ador Athuai gives the Bearcats another long body off the bench. A mobile 6-foot-11, Athuai is another shot blocker. 

Schedule features games at Maryland, Fordham, La Salle 
The 2022-23 schedule has 13 non-conference games before the 16-game America East slate begins on New Year's Eve. Binghamton will play teams from six different conferences, highlighted by marquee games at Maryland, La Salle and Fordham. 

The Bearcats open the season with a home game against Cazenovia on Monday, November 7. Binghamton will play seven non-conference games at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center, where the program has been among the league leaders in attendance for nearly two decades. Also coming to Vestal will be Sacred Heart (Nov. 19), Columbia (Nov. 23), Loyola (Nov. 30), Stonehill (Dec. 3), Colgate (Dec. 7) and Oneonta (Dec. 17). The road games feature a Nov. 15 encounter with Big Ten member Maryland. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Atlantic-10 residents La Salle (Nov. 26) and Fordham (Dec. 9) represent two more formidable opponents. Binghamton will continue longstanding series' with in-state rivals Cornell (Nov. 29) and Colgate (Dec. 7) and will also keep recent opponents Sacred Heart (Nov. 19), Columbia (Nov. 23) and Loyola (Nov. 30) on the schedule. For the first time in 16 years, BU will face MAAC member Niagara (Dec. 21). 

The 16-game America East slate consists of a home-and-home matchup against the eight other members, including first-year conference member Bryant. The conference slate begins in late December and runs through the end of February. The top eight teams will advance to the America East tournament, which begins with quarterfinals on March 4. 

America East might be more talented than ever this year 
Perennial conference power Vermont and potent newcomer Bryant were slotted 1-2 in the preseason poll but thanks to the transfer portal and continuity among the league's head coaches, many think the overall talent is the highest it's ever been in the conference. Binghamton is among several teams who will be challenged to mesh high-level newcomers with returning players into a cohesive group by the time America East play begins in January.

"We want to build our defensive identity early in the season," Sanders said. "We have to cut down on our opponents' scoring to get to the top of the league. We have a ton of guys who can do a lot and now it's a matter of finding our combinations and attacking and 'winning' every day. We want to put ourselves in position to be champions and that takes preparing like champions every day. If we do that, we will be fine at the end."