Bearcats Win Am East & Shut People Up

It's safe to say that the Binghamton University Men's Basketball team has attracted all kinds of names over the past year. Mostly negative. Stemming from the arrest of Malik Alvin at the Vestal Walmart for stealing condoms, or the multiple problems with getting the team to keep their nose clean and get on the court. You can call them whatever you wish but make sure Champion is included in there somewhere. For the first time in school history, the Bearcats are American East Champions and have earned a spot in the nationally recognized tournament, the NIT, which is held every year in New York's Madison Square Garden and televised on ESPN.

As just stated, it didn't come without it's problems though.

Since Coach Kevin Brodus arrived in Vestal two seasons ago he has also been under heavy criticism. From questionable recruiting ethics to shoving an opposing coach after a game in which words were exchanged between the two, Brodus has had his fair share of bad talk in and out of the area. Putting his head down and moving forward however, Brodus has accomplished a feat that nobody in Binghamton University's Men's program has, an American East Championship, and a recruiting class that is capable of taking the troubled Bearcats to the NCAA March Madness tournament.

Led by fresh faces DJ Rivera and Tiki Mayben the men's team earned it's way to a 20-8 overall record, and a 12-3 conference record which is good enough to secure a number one seed going into the American East tournament. "We're still trying to play our way into the NCAAs. The NIT is nice for the school, it's the first time, but we want to get to the Big Dance" Mayben told the Press and Sun Bulletin. And he's right. The NIT is a secondary tournament nationally but a big deal for a team that's been through so much this year and has never had the opportunity to advance to a nationally recognized tournament in it's short eight year Division 1 history.

The American East tournament will be held in SEFCU Arena in Albany, NY this year but if Binghamton makes it to the Championship game they will host it and be televised on ESPN. Albany is the defending American East champions.