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Northeast Conference overview

CCSU looks for encore to record-setting season

Special to CNNSI.com

Howie Dickenman's Central Connecticut State team won 25 games last season. Elsa Hash/Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Central Connecticut State 2. St. Francis (N.Y.) 3. Fairleigh Dickinson 4. Maryland-Baltimore County 5. Quinnipiac 6. Monmouth 7. Wagner 8. Mount St. Mary's 9. St. Francis (Pa.) 10. Long Island 11. Robert Morris 12. Sacred Heart

Top storylines

On its way to sweeping the NEC regular-season and tournament titles last year and setting a league record with 25 victories, Central Connecticut State went 7-1 overall and 4-0 against conference opponents in games decided by four points or less. Since finishing 4-22 (.154) overall and 3-13 (.188) in league play in its inaugural season (1997-98) in the NEC, Central Connecticut has compiled a 44-19 (.698) overall record and a 26-12 (.684) mark in regular-season league games.

By winning the conference tournament title last March, CCSU became just the second school in six years-Long Island pulled the trick during the 1996-97 season-to capture both the NEC regular-season and postseason titles. Before the 1994-95 season, though, nine of 11 regular-season NEC champs had won the league's postseason tournament.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Corsley Edwards, C, Central Connecticut State • A 6-9, 270-pound junior, Edwards (12.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg, .502 FG, .566 FT) was a second-team, All-NEC choice last year. Steven Howard, G, St. Francis (N.Y.) • After transferring to St. Francis from Jefferson (N.Y.) Community College, Howard (17.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 spg, .444 FG, .364 3PT, .770 FT) stepped into the NEC last season and ended up fourth in scoring. Rahsaan Johnson, G, Monmouth • Without question, Monmouth's most outstanding player last year was the 60 Johnson, who led the Hawks in scoring (17.7 ppg), rebounding (5.4 rpg), assists (3.1 apg) and steals (2.0 spg).

Top Newcomer

Peter Mulligan, G, Maryland-Baltimore County • Standout freshman Mulligan, the state of New York's Mr. Basketball for the 1999-2000 season, should log some minutes at shooting guard.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Howie Dickenman, Central Connecticut State • Dickenman took Central Connecticut to the NCAA Tournament last year and his team is favored to make the trip again this year.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Ray Martin, Long Island • LIU was 10-17 two years ago and 8-19 last year. A year ago, the Blackbirds finished last in the NEC in free-throw percentage (.615), three-point field goal percentage (.281) and three-point field goals made (4.11 per game).

Mark Your Calendar

Jan. 3, Central Connecticut at St. Francis (N.Y.) • The league¹s top two teams square off for the first time. Jan. 15, Central Connecticut at Fairleigh Dickinson • This one will determine if Fairleigh Dickinson is ready to compete for the title. Jan. 29, St. Francis (N.Y.) at Central Connecticut • Most observers believe this will be for the league title.

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