Back in October, Boston University collected all eight first-place votes to claim the top preseason spot in the America East. However, after losing five conference games, the Terriers dropped to fourth place and represent the No. 4 seed in this weekend’s upcoming AE championship. Meeting Boston is the host and No. 5 squad, the University of Hartford.

Boston approaches this first-round game with a defense that stifles opponents to shoot 38 percent from the field and 28 percent from beyond the arc. Offensively, Boston is stacked with experience, returning 91.5 percent of its offense and the six leading scorers from one year ago.

Leading the Terriers are 2009 first-team All-Conference performers John Holland (19.9 ppg) and Corey Lowe (14.1 ppg). Reigning AE Rookie of the Year, Jake O’Brien, poses a threat as well with his 13 points per game and team-leading 6.6 rebounds per game. Rounding out the lineup are seniors Carlos Strong and Tyler Morris, who both drop a steady 10 points per game.

In the regular season, Boston managed to escape furious Hawk comebacks in both games to sweep the series. In January, Holland and Lowe combined for a record-breaking 63 points in a 80-74 Terrier victory, scoring 32 and 31 points, respectively. Boston controlled Hartford’s leading scorer, Joe Zeglinski (16.7 ppg), to a 1-for-6 shooting performance and 0-for-2 from behind the arc. In the second game, Hartford contained Boston’s star pair better but was unable to capitalize when O’Brien hit a game-winning trey to seal the deal on a 58-55 decision.

All season, Hartford has relied on Zeglinski. The junior ranks third in the America East in scoring and is second on his team in rebounds, pulling down 5.1 per game. Assisting Zeglinski in an offensive attack is junior forward Morgan Sabia. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches, Sabia has led the Hawks in rebounding on 14 occasions, grabbing an average of seven per game. Milton Burton provides Hartford another option. Averaging 9.8 points per game on the season, Burton has stepped up his game against conference foes, putting up an average of 11.4 points.

Ending the season with an overtime win versus Albany, Hartford enters the eight-team tourney, one seed higher than predicted. If Hartford responds to, statistically, the best defense in the conference and pesters the high scoring Terrier perimeter, the Hawks could pull out a win. On the other hand, if they allow any combination of BU’s starting five to take over, Boston will prevail.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. at Chase Arena in Hartford.