Previewing the 2018-19 NEC season

Keith Braxton and Saint Francis University should be forwardly placed in NEC this season, as Red Flash return one of most complete teams in conference. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

Four different schools have won the Northeast Conference championship in the past four seasons, a testament to the parity of one of the nation's most intriguing mid-major leagues in recent years just as much as it speaks to the wealth of talent being cultivated at each of the conference's ten institutions.

If recent trends and speculation on paper is any indication, that number could very likely expand to five schools in as many years, as Saint Francis University has emerged as the consensus favorite in the NEC after returning each of its eight top scorers -- including Isaiah Blackmon, who missed all but three games to injury last season -- in a year where head coach Rob Krimmel and double-double threat Keith Braxton should finally receive their just deserts after shepherding the Red Flash into one of the more consistent threats in a wide-open league. Not far behind is 2016 champion Fairleigh Dickinson, angling for a second NCAA Tournament appearance in four seasons under the tireless and watchful eye of the affable Greg Herenda. Seniors Darnell Edge and Mike Holloway have the experience needed to navigate March, and Jahlil Jenkins should take the next step forward as the Knights continue to retool.

Reigning champion LIU Brooklyn loses the services of warrior Joel Hernandez, but Derek Kellogg's backcourt remains intact otherwise, with Raiquan Clark back to lead the scoring efforts while Jashaun Agosto and Julian Batts set up what should be another positive note for the Blackbirds. The front line may be a work in progress, but veteran guards have always been a key to long-term success in the NEC, something LIU possesses in spades. Wagner, the team against whom LIU punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament last March, has undergone a makeover of sorts after the graduation of JoJo Cooper and transfer of Blake Francis, but veteran Romone Saunders returns for a fifth year in Staten Island to mentor a hungry pack of young players as Bashir Mason reprises his role as of the league's best defensive minds. Staying in the Big Apple, St. Francis Brooklyn also possesses a fifth-year senior guard in Glenn Sanabria, something the Terriers will hope to ride to another postseason appearance as the climb from a 4-27 season in 2016-17 continues. The same could be said for Robert Morris, as the Colonials have managed to tread water despite an unusually large exodus of transfers over the years.

Moving into New England, Central Connecticut is poised to finally emerge from the morass that has plagued the program since the retirement of longtime head coach Howie Dickenman. Senior swingman Tyler Kohl should be a first-team all-conference talent for head coach Donyell Marshall, who has the most experience returning to New Britain since assuming the reins. Elsewhere in the Nutmeg State, Sacred Heart has work to do if it is to return to the conference tournament, and head coach Anthony Latina must attempt to replace a pair of heart-and-soul seniors in Joe Lopez and Mario Matasovic. Bryant is the intriguing program in the region now under new head coach Jared Grasso, and the former Iona assistant has wasted little time instilling the uptempo attack that he and Tim Cluess turned into a four-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference-winning outfit. Finally, Mount St. Mary's brings a new head coach into the fold as well, welcoming Dan Engelstad to Maryland to succeed Jamion Christian, but the Mountaineers will have to overcome one of the nation's youngest rosters in order to parlay his first season into a run through March.

Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Saint Francis University - With everyone back from last year's postseason team, the choice is easy on paper, and the Red Flash certainly have the tools to back it up on the hardwood. Keith Braxton and a healthy Isaiah Blackmon could easily be two of the best players most of the nation has never heard of by the end of the year.

2) Fairleigh Dickinson - Greg Herenda has his best team since the 2015-16 championship outfit led by Darian Anderson and Earl Potts, Jr. As Mike Holloway and Darnell Edge go this year, so too will the Knights.

3) LIU Brooklyn - Three of the Blackbirds' four guards in last year's championship-winning backcourt return this year, led by 20-point threat Raiquan Clark. The front line will have its share of growing pains, but no backcourt outside of Saint Francis is as deep as the one Derek Kellogg leads into battle.

4) Bryant - Jared Grasso will make an impact before the conference season even starts. Adam Grant and Ikenna Ndugba are capable of logging minutes on high-major rosters, and a healthy Bash Townes will cause matchup problems for each of the Bulldogs' opponents this year. If you're looking for a sleeper, you may want to put Smithfield, Rhode Island into your GPS.

5) Robert Morris - Few coaches in the nation do more with what is perceived to be less than Andy Toole. Koby Thomas and Matty McConnell are two of the more underrated players in the NEC, and Jon Williams is on the precipice of a breakout sophomore season.

6) Wagner - Bashir Mason has his work cut out for him replacing JoJo Cooper and Blake Francis, but a returning Romone Saunders will solve most of those problems. If the Seahawks can get more mileage out of AJ Sumbry and Nigel Jackson, they will finish higher, and possibly get a home tournament game.

7) Central Connecticut - Remember Tyler Kohl's name now, because he'll be one of the players everyone in the league is talking about. Fellow senior Deion Bute, along with junior forward Joe Hugley, are a pair of burgeoning big men that Donyell Marshall will be more than happy to count on for the Blue Devils this year.

8) St. Francis Brooklyn - Glenn Sanabria's final season is one where he and Jalen Jordan will hope to lift the Terriers back into the conference title picture. Junior college transfer Christian Rohlehr could be a difference-maker early and often.

9) Sacred Heart - Anthony Latina will need to rely on Sean Hoehn and E.J. Anosike throughout the year, but the Pioneers are still a piece or two away at best.

10) Mount St. Mary's - The Dan Engelstad era will see its share of adversity early in the form of a young roster that will gain much-needed experience in year one.