2016–17 Northeast Conference men's basketball season

The 2016–17 NEC men's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play started in late December and concluded in February 2017.

Mount St. Mary's clinched the regular season NEC championship with a win over St. Francis Brooklyn on February 25, 2017, marking their first NEC regular season crown in 21 years. LIU Brooklyn finished in second place in the regular season.

The NEC tournament was held from March 1 through March 7 with the higher-seeded team hosting each game. Mount St. Mary's defeated Saint Francis (PA) to win the NEC Tournament championship. As a result, Mount St. Mary's received the conference's bid to the NCAA tournament. Saint Francis (PA) received an invitation to CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

Head coaches

Coaching changes On April 6, 2016, Central Connecticut announced Donyell Marshall as the 10th head coach in program history. Marshall replaced Howie Dickenman, who retired after 20 years at Central Connecticut.

Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Year at school Overall record NEC record NEC Tournament championships Postseason Tournament championshipsBryant Tim O'Shea Ohio 9 0 0Central Connecticut Donyell Marshall Buffalo(asst.) 1 0 0Fairleigh Dickinson Greg Herenda UMass Lowell 4 1 0 LIU Brooklyn Jack Perri LIU Brooklyn(asst.) 5 1 0Mount St. Mary's Jamion Christian VCU(asst.) 5 1 0Robert Morris Andrew Toole Robert Morris(asst.) 7 1 0Sacred Heart Anthony Latina Sacred Heart(asst.) 4 0 0St. Francis Brooklyn Glenn Braica St. John's(asst.) 7 0 0Saint Francis (PA) Rob Krimmel Saint Francis (PA)(asst.) 5 0 0Wagner Bashir Mason Wagner(asst.) 5 0 0 Notes: All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2016–17 season. Overall and NEC/NCAA records are from time at current school and are before the beginning of the 2016–17 season. Previous jobs are head coaching jobs unless otherwise noted.

Preseason

Preseason Coaches Poll Source RankTeam 1. Fairleigh Dickinson (6) 2. Wagner (4) 3. Bryant 4. LIU Brooklyn 4. Mount St. Mary's 6. Robert Morris 7. St. Francis Brooklyn 8. Sacred Heart 9. Saint Francis (PA) 10. Central Connecticut

() first place votes

Preseason All-NEC team Source Recipient School Earl Potts, Jr.Fairleigh DickinsonCorey HensonWagnerJerome FrinkLIU BrooklynMichael CareyWagnerDarian AndersonFairleigh Dickinson

NEC regular season

Conference matrix This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.   BryantCentral Conn.FDULIU BrooklynMount St. Mary'sRMUSacred HeartSt. Francis BrooklynSaint Francis (PA)Wagnervs. Bryant – 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1vs. Central Conn. 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0vs. Fairleigh Dickinson 1–1 0–2 – 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1vs. LIU Brooklyn 0–2 1–1 1–1 – 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2vs. Mount St. Mary's 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 – 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1vs. Robert Morris 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 – 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1vs. Sacred Heart 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 – 0–2 2–0 2–0vs. St. Francis Brooklyn 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 – 2–0 2–0vs. Saint Francis (PA) 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 – 1–1vs. Wagner 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 – Total 9–9 4–14 9–9 13–5 14–4 9–9 8–10 2–16 11–7 11–7

Player of the week Throughout the regular season, the Northeast Conference offices named a player of the week and a rookie of the week each Monday.

Date Player of the week Rookie of the week November 14, 2016 Mike Aaman, Wagner Sabastian Townes, St. Francis Brooklyn November 21, 2016 Quincy McKnight, Sacred Heart Jashaun Agosto, LIU Brooklyn November 28, 2016 Nisre Zouzoua, St. Francis BrooklynIverson Fleming, LIU Brooklyn Keith Braxton, Saint Francis (PA) December 5, 2016 Joseph Lopez, Sacred Heart Keith Braxton, Saint Francis (PA) December 12, 2016 Iverson Fleming, LIU Brooklyn Adam Grant, St. Francis Brooklyn December 19, 2016 Quincy McKnight, Sacred Heart Rasheem Dunn, St. Francis Brooklyn December 26, 2016 Kavon Stewart, Robert Morris Ikenna Ndugba, Bryant January 2, 2017 Darian Anderson, Fairleigh Dickinson Rasheem Dunn, St. Francis BrooklynKeith Braxton, Saint Francis (PA) January 9, 2017 Jerome Frink, LIU Brooklyn Michael Carey, Wagner Randall Gaskins, Jr., Saint Francis (PA) January 16, 2017 Quincy McKnight, Sacred Heart Adam Grant, St. Francis Brooklyn Keith Braxton, Saint Francis (PA) January 23, 2017 Darian Anderson, Fairleigh Dickinson Keith Braxton, Saint Francis (PA) January 30, 2017 Isaiah Blackmon, Saint Francis (PA) Rasheem Dunn, St. Francis Brooklyn February 6, 2017 Josh Nebo, Saint Francis (PA) Keith Braxton, Saint Francis (PA) February 13, 2017 Jerome Frink, LIU Brooklyn Blake Francis, Wagner February 20, 2017 Raiquan Clark, LIU Brooklyn Keith Braxton, Saint Francis (PA) February 25, 2017 Iverson Fleming, LIU Brooklyn Dachon Burke, Robert Morris

All-NEC honors and awards Following the regular season, the conference selected outstanding performers based on a poll of league coaches. Honor Recipient Player of the YearJerome Frink, LIU Coach of the YearJamion Christian, MSM Defensive Player of the YearJosh Nebo, SFU Rookie of the YearKeith Braxton, SFUMost Improved Player of the YearIverson Fleming, LIU All-NEC First Team Michael Carrey, WAG Elijah Long, MSM Jerome Frink, LIU Quincy McKnight, SHU Nisre Zouzoua, BRY All-NEC Second Team Darian Anderson, FDU Keith Braxton, SFU Corey Henson, WAGIsaiah Still, RMUJunior Robinson, MSM All-NEC Third Team Isaiah Blackmon, SFU Iverson Fleming, LIU Stephan Jiggets, FDU Joseph Lopez, SHU Josh Nebo, SFU All-NEC Rookie Team Rasheem Dunn, SFC Jashuan Agosto, LIU Keith Braxton, SFU Adam Grant, BRY Miles Wilson, MSM

Postseason

NEC Tournament

All games will be played at the venue of the higher seed

NCAA tournament

Seed Region School First Four First round Second round Sweet 16 Elite Eight Final Four Championship16EastMount St. Mary's W, 67–66 vs. #16 New Orleans – (Dayton) L, 56–76 vs. #1 Villanova – (KeyBank Center)

CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament

School 1st Round 2nd Round Quarterfinals Semifinals ChampionshipSaint Francis (PA) W, 78–76 vs. #1 Jacksonville L, 79–87 vs. #4 UMBC

Milestones and records On November 11, 2016, the Wagner Seahawks upset 18th ranked UConn on the road, marking one of the most significant wins in program history.

See also 2016–17 Northeast Conference women's basketball season

References

External links NEC website