PDF Release

NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Player of the Week: Tyree Barba-Bey, FDU
NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Rookie of the Week: Hermann Koffi, STO
Previous NEC Releases: December 23 | December 16 | December 9 | December 2 | November 25 | November 18 | November 11 | Preseason Poll Release
 
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyree Barba-Bey, FDU
Gr., G, 6-3, 185 lbs.
Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway (Jefferson)
Barba-Bey put on a shooting clinic in an electrifying performance at Boston College on Saturday. The Piscataway, NJ native and Jefferson transfer erupted for a career-high 31 points - the most ever by an FDU player vs. an ACC opponent - while shooting 10-12 from the field, including a scintillating 8-9 from beyond the arc. He was also a perfect 3-3 at the line. Dating back to 1997-98, Barba-Bey became just the third NEC player to hit at least eight triples with no more than one miss, alongside RMU’s Karvel Anderson (8-8 vs. Ohio on 12/1/12) and Bryant’s Dyami Starks (8-9 vs. Delaware on 12/21/13). He’s also the second NEC player in that span to drain eight triples against a Power 5 opponent along with SHU’s Luke Granato (eight 3P vs. North Carolina on 11/14/06). His lights out showing raised his season three-point percentage to 45.9 percent, which ranks third in the NEC. On the year, Barba-Bey is third on the Knights in scoring, averaging 9.9 per game.

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE MEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Hermann Koffi, Stonehill
Fr., G, 6-4, 200 lbs.
Quebec City, Quebec/Polyvalente de Thetford Mines
Koffi played a pivotal role in Stonehill’s 70-65 win at Lafayette to wrap the Skyhawks’ non-conference slate. The victory not only sealed a winning non-conference campaign with the program’s eighth win, but also ended a 28-game road losing streak. The freshman from Quebec City poured in 13 points - just two shy of his career-high - on 4-8 shooting, including pair of three-pointers, and added four rebounds. A steady contributor since his insertion into the starting lineup 11 games ago, Koffi has scored in double figures five times during that stretch. He’s now averaging 9.0 ppg, which ranks third among NEC freshmen, while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from downtown. His 58.6 eFG% ranks second in the NEC.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
 
Gabe Spinelli (CSU, Jr, G)
Last week: 20 points, 3 assists, 7-12 FG, 4-5 3P at #24 Illinois

- Poured in a career-high 20 points and hit a career-best four trifectas at #24 Illinois on Sunday.

Devin Haid (CCSU, Jr, G)
Last week: 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals vs. JWU (Providence)

- The three-time NEC Player of the Week established new career-highs in assists and steals in a strong all-around effort against JWU (Providence).
- Haid has reached double-digits in seven straight games and is averaging 16.3 ppg on 56.8 percent shooting over that stretch.

Tyree Barba-Bey (FDU, Gr, G)
Last week: 31 points, 10-12 FG, 8-9 3P, 3-3 FT at Boston College

- NEC Player of the Week career-high 31 points on 10-12 shooting, highlighted by a blistering 8-9 mark from outside the arc, in a 78-70 setback at Boston College on Saturday.
- Raised his season 3P percentage from 38.5 percent to 45.9 percent, which ranks third in the NEC.

Terrence Brown (FDU, So, G)
Last week: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists at Boston College

- Scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half to lead FDU’s comeback attempt at Boston College on Saturday.
- Posted his tenth game of 20+ points on the season.
- Leads the NEC and ranks 10th in the nation with 21.1 ppg.
- Averaged 21.6 ppg in games against Miami (FL), Creighton, Nebraska, Fordham, Villanova, La Salle and Boston College during non-league play.

AJ Dancler (LEM, So, G)
Last week: 17 points, 3 assists, 4 steals, 3-5 3P at Niagara

- His 17 points paced the Dolphins at Niagara.
- Has supplied 15.7 points and shot 47.1 percent from beyond the arc over his last three games. At 8.9 ppg, he is one of seven Le Moyne players averaging at least 8.0 points per game on the season.

Louie Semona (STO, So, F)
Last week: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3-3 3P at Lafayette

- Shot an efficient 6-9 from the field, including a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc, while contributing a game-high 15 points off the bench in Stonehill’s road win at Lafayette on Saturday, snapping a 28-game road losing streak.
- Averaging 16.3 ppg and shooting 54.2 percent from downtown over his last six games.
- Has posted 50.5/46.0/78.9 shooting splits on the year.

R.J. Greene (WC, Jr, G)
Last week: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals vs. PSU-Scranton

- Posted his second double-double of the season and came within three boards of securing a triple-double against Penn St.-Scranton last Monday.
- Established a new career-high with his 10 dimes.
- Ranks third in the NEC with 6.0 rpg.
   
PRESS RESET...#NECNEWYEAR IS HERE
 
After 60 days of competition with 31 other conferences, the #NECNewYear has arrived, tipping off a 68-day hoops journey that will culminate with the crowning of the 44th NEC champion on March 11th.
 
It all begins this Friday.
 
The road to March started in October when NEC coaches made their bold predictions for 2024-25. Let’s revisit them.
 
NEC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. CCSU (5 first place votes)
    Wagner (4)
3. FDU
4. Le Moyne
5. LIU
6. Chicago St.
7. Mercyhurst
8. Saint Francis U
    Stonehill
 
While the debates among pundits and fans alike may be lively, the stats show preseason polls and NEC champions rarely go hand in hand.
 
Conducted annually, NEC coaches have only managed to correctly forecast the eventual league champion three times in the last 25 years. Over the last 37 seasons, their predictions have been accurate on just five occasions, or 14 percent of the time.
 
Let’s take a quick look back on recent poll history.
 
NEC coach have only made an accurate forecast once since 2013, when they correctly selected Merrimack to win it all in 2022-23.
 
In the past decade, half of the NEC Tournament champions were teams projected to finish fourth or lower in the preseason poll. Notably, FDU was predicted to finish ninth in 2015-16 and LIU was slotted sixth in 2017-18 before going on to claim the NEC Tournament title.
 
Picked fifth in the preseason a year ago, Wagner did the unthinkable and made history. Seeded sixth in the NEC Tournament, the Seahawks ran the gauntlet, knocking off the top three seeds to claim their first title since 2003 and punch their ticket to the Big Dance. In doing so, they became the first team in the 43-year history of the NEC Tournament to win three consecutive road games and bring home the championship.
 
Keeping the coaches’ preseason selections in mind, let’s review where teams stand heading into conference play.
 
CCSU and Wagner were tabbed co-favorites, and there’s every reason to believe both squads will be forces to contend with come March.
 
The Blue Devils are coming off one of the best non-conference campaigns in NEC history and lead the NEC in both the NET (136) and KenPom (209).
 
At 9-4, CCSU tied the NEC record for most regular season non-conference wins currently shared with five other teams.

NEC Most Non-Conference Wins In Season*
School                      Record      Season
CCSU                        9-4             2024-25
St. Francis Brooklyn        9-6             2013-14
Wagner                      9-2             2011-12
Robert Morris               9-4             2011-12
Robert Morris               9-4             2007-08
Monmouth                    9-3             1991-92
 
Headlined by preseason All-NEC pick Jordan Jones (Florence, SC/Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (Coker)) and three-time NEC Player of the Week Devin Haid (Wooster, OH/Wooster (Notre Dame College/Cuyahoga CC)), the experienced CCSU squad has built an impressive résumé under head coach Pat Sellers, highlighted by road victories over A10 opponents Saint Joseph’s and UMass, including a Quad 2 win against the Hawks. The Blue Devils also scored notable home wins over preseason MAAC favorite Quinnipiac and America East contender UMass Lowell, and went on the road to beat Fairfield and Holy Cross.
 
Defending champion Wagner’s schedule was front-loaded with a host of regional powers, but the Seahawks found their footing and closed strong to finish their non-league slate with an 8-5 mark. The Seahawks enter league play having won five of their last six overall and three of their last four on the road. Featuring a balanced scoring attack, Wagner has made its biggest impact on the defensive end, ranking fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing a paltry 56.5 points per game. Green & White opponents have been held under 60 points eight times. Veteran point guard Javier Ezquerra (San Juan, Puerto Rico/IMG Academy) tops the NEC assist charts with 5.2 per game.
 
After tying for eighth place in the preseason rankings, Stonehill has been the NEC’s biggest surprise thus far. The Skyhawks, who lead the conference in three-point accuracy (.387) and rank second in made triples (9.5 per game), have turned Merkert Gymnasium into a fortress, going a perfect 6-0 at home during non-league play on its way to an eight-win non-league campaign. That performance tied the NEC record for the most home non-conference wins in a season without a loss and matched the program’s best-ever start at Merkert. Sophomore forward Todd Brogna (Southborough, MA/Worcester Academy) has taken a significant leap following a promising rookie season, averaging 12.1 ppg while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, a league-leading 48.5 percent from three-point range and 90.0 percent at the stripe, which ranks second on the circuit.
 
It didn’t take long for NEC newcomer Mercyhurst to notch its first Division I win, posting a 78-73 road victory over Morgan State on November 6. The Lakers jumped out to a 4-2 start, then picked up a road win at Sacramento State during a four-game west coast swing around Thanksgiving. Graduate student Jeff Planutis (Hazleton, PA/Hazleton) has lived up to his All-NEC preseason forward honors, leading Mercyhurst in scoring (14.5 ppg) and topping the conference in free throw accuracy (93.3 percent), a top-20 mark nationally.
 
With a roster full of fresh faces, Saint Francis U flashed its potential this fall and seems poised to make some noise in league play. Sophomore forward Bobby Rosenberger III (Quakertown, PA/Perkiomen School) has elevated his game following a solid freshman season, averaging a team-leading 12.3 ppg. Freshman guard Juan Cranford, Jr. (Dayton, OH/Wayne) emerged as the NEC’s leading freshman point producer and is currently sporting a lights out 53/44/94 slash line. With the 30th-highest SOS in the nation according to KenPom, SFU took on the NEC’s toughest non-conference slate, including four top-50 opponents.

Following a terrific NEC debut last season that saw the program advance to the NEC semifinals, a new-look Le Moyne squad has had its moments thus far in 2024-25. The Dolphins nearly upset intra-city rival Syracuse to tip off the season and secured impressive road wins against Manhattan and a Dartmouth team that has beaten Boston College and Vermont. Redshirt junior forward Dwayne Koroma (Berlin, Germany/Bishop Walsh (MD) (Iona/Salt Lake CC/UT Arlington)) has been a revelation, ranking among the nation’s most efficient shooters. He currently sits first nationally in field goal percentage (.765) eFG percentage (.781).
 
Faced with a daunting schedule that included games at Miami (FL), Creighton, Nebraska, Villanova, Minnesota and Boston College, FDU will certainly be battle-tested heading into NEC play. Sophomore guard Terrence Brown (Minneapolis, MN/Columbia Heights), who was named to the NEC All-Rookie team last season, has taken his game to new heights, raising his scoring average from 7.8 ppg in 2023-24 to a league-leading 21.1 ppg this season. Brown ranks 10th nationally in point production.

Add LIU to the list of teams showcasing a wealth of new talent, and the Sharks were clicking during the early portion of their schedule. LIU earned notable road wins over opponents from the Mountain West (Air Force) and AAC (Charlotte), but were unable to maintain that momentum over the last month. Arizona State transfer and preseason All-NEC honoree Malachi Davis (Toronto, ON/Central Tech (Tallahassee CC/Lake Land College/Arizona State)), a redshirt junior, has lived up to the hype, currently ranking second in the NEC in scoring with 16.9 ppg. 
 
Chicago State is gearing up for its first-ever NEC regular season game this week, aiming for a fresh start after a grueling non-league stretch. The Cougars enter January still seeking their first win, having faced the 31st toughest non-conference schedule in the nation, per KenPom, including tilts at Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois and San Francisco. They’ll wrap up a grueling 54-day stretch without a home game on January 12 when they host Stonehill at the Jones Convocation Center.
 
--
 
If history is any indicator, one or more teams will eventually separate from the pack. The NEC regular season champion has posted a .750 win percentage or better in 17 of the last 20 years.
 
KenPom currently projects CCSU as the regular-season champion with a 12-4 record, a sizable three-game lead over the rest of the field. Five other teams are predicted to finish tightly clustered at either 9-7 or 8-8 in the battle to secure a top-four finish and the chance to host postseason games.
 
The eight-team NEC Tournament is scheduled for March 5 (quarterfinals), 8 (semifinals) & 11 (championship), with each game hosted by the higher seed. All eight eligible teams will participate in this year’s NEC Tournament. Starting in the 2026-27 season, Mercyhurst will be eligible to compete in the NEC postseason.
 
If Le Moyne or Stonehill, both reclassifying institutions, wins the NEC Tournament championship, the tournament runner-up will advance to the NCAA Tournament as the NEC’s automatic qualifier, per current policy. In instances where two reclassifying members reach an NEC final in men’s and women’s basketball, the NEC will stage an “AQ Qualifier” game between the two non-advancing semifinal teams. This will serve as a decisive game to determine the team that will secure the NEC’s spot in the NCAA Tournament.
 
--
 
As we look ahead to the #NECNewYear schedule, the most intriguing matchups could come during CCSU’s opening road trip. Seeking to carry their momentum into the start of conference play, the Blue Devils face one of their toughest road swings of the season, traveling to western Pennsylvania for matchups at Saint Francis U on Friday and Mercyhurst on Sunday.
 
Chicago State makes its NEC debut at Wagner on Friday, while Mercyhurst tips off its conference journey at home against Stonehill that same evening.
 
LIU will begin conference play at its home away from home, hosting Le Moyne at Barclays Center on Friday. The game will mark the Sharks’ first appearance at the arena this season, which is located less than a mile from campus.
 
Opening Weekend NEC Schedule
Fri., January 3     Stonehill at Mercyhurst, 7:00 pm
                    Le Moyne at LIU (at Barclays Center), 7:00 pm
                    CCSU at Saint Francis U, 7:00 pm
                    Chicago St. at Wagner, 7:00 pm
 
Sun,, January 5     CCSU at Mercyhurst, 1:00 pm
                    FDU at Wagner, 1:00 pm
                    Chicago St. at LIU, 2:00 pm
                    Stonehill at Saint Francis U, 2:00 pm
 
All games this week can be viewed free of charge on NEC Front Row or via the NEC on the Run series of streaming and mobile apps.
 
So, as the #NECNewYear unfolds, we hit the reset button.
 
Let the march to madness begin.