NEC Men’s Basketball Season Preview

The NEC knelt to the sword of The Reef last season. LIU ran through the league at 15-3. They won the conference tournament to return to the NCAA Tournament, all while fans brought their hands together above their heads on free throws. “Fins Up” became a national story. But can the Sharks go back-to-back?

Le Moyne is eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time, but will also be leaving the conference for the Metro at the end of the year. Mercyhurst has some fun returners, and Central Connecticut is always going to be in the mix.

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What’s in store for the NEC this year?

1. LIU

WHAT I LIKE: The talent is impossible to deny. LIU is by far the most talented group in the NEC once again. Vasean Allette was a double-digit scorer at a high-major; he’s way too good for this level. Easy pick for preseason Player of the Year. He’ll be flanked by former high-major recruits Jakhi Howard and Daquan Davis, who bring a level of athleticism and pedigree to this team that the rest of the NEC guards can’t match. The huge swing pieces are the Bewley twins – Matt and Ryan – in the frontcourt. They are former highly-ranked recruits who have been embroiled in a legal fight with the NCAA for years. The Sharks also brought in Tyrell Bowles, a highly productive JUCO big man, along with a few Division I transfers to fill out the backcourt depth.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE: There’s a reason that these guys are in the NEC. Allette was dismissed from the Old Dominion team his freshman year and didn’t play last season at UTSA due to personal reasons. Howard left the Utah team in January last year after transferring in from Auburn, where he was famously involved in a brawl on a flight. The Bewley brothers have their aforementioned legal battle and haven’t suited up in a college basketball game in years. However, Rod Strickland has had success with mercurial personalities. Last year’s group was similarly combustible, but he took them to the NCAA Tournament.

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2. MERCYHURST

WHAT I LIKE:…

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Publish date : 2026-10-23 11:30:00

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