CENTERS
New Hampshire: Sophomore Dane DiLiegro is fifth in the conference in rebounding and shoots over 50 percent from the field. The Wildcats’ backup big man, sophomore Jose Valladares, doesn’t put up significant numbers.
Stony Brook: The Seawolves don’t start a pure center, preferring to play their taller forwards instead. The team’s centers off the bench have seen their minutes cut even more in conference play, preventing any of them from being an individual threat, though junior Desmond Adedeji will block shots when he’s on the floor.
Advantage: New Hampshire
FORWARDS
New Hampshire: UNH starts one forward in junior and co-captain Radar Onguetou, who puts up five points and five boards. Backup sophomore Rony Tchatchoua averages four points in 15 minutes of play, but is still second on the team in blocks despite the limited playing time, while also racking up steals.
Stony Brook: A pair of freshmen start at forward for the Seawolves. Hybrid guard-forward Tommy Brenton doesn’t score a lot, but is a team leader in nearly every other category. Fellow starter Dallis Joyner leads the team in blocks, while backup senior Demetrius Young is the team’s second-leading scorer in conference play and a high-percentage shooter from all over the court.
Advantage: Stony Brook
GUARDS
New Hampshire: Both teams feature depth at this position. Senior Tyrece Gibbs, sophomore and former All-Rookie team member Alvin Abreu, and sophomore Tyrone Conley start and lead the team in scoring. Senior backup Eric Gilchrese provides offense off of the bench, and is always a threat to hit a 3-pointer.
Stony Brook: Junior Muhammad El-Amin is the team’s leading scorer, and has only put up more points with the start of conference play, aided by his 81 percent free-throw shooting. Freshman and fellow starter Bryan Dougher has seen his production dip slightly in conference games, but is still one of the team’s top scorers and assist-men. Senior Marques Cox also starts, dishing the ball and getting steals, while sophomore Chris Martin provides nearly 10 points off the bench.
Advantage: Even
BENCH
New Hampshire: Gilchrese provides the scoring and assists off the bench, and Tchatchoua is a solid backup big man. Otherwise, the second squad features various role players.
Stony Brook: With young starters, the team has experience off the bench. Young and Martin give the bench offensive punch, while assorted centers provide size.
Advantage: Stony Brook
COACH
New Hampshire: In his fourth year at UNH, head coach Bill Herrion has surpassed expectations by leading his team from a projected seventh seed to the fourth. However, coming into the season, Herrion had never come close to putting up a .500 team in his years with the Wildcats.
Stony Brook: Steve Pikiell is also in his fourth year with his team and has taken a young squad to a winning record and heights the Seawolves have never seen before. The former assistant to University of Connecticut legend Jim Calhoun has given Stony Brook its best record in Division I history.
Advantage: Stony Brook
OVERALL
New Hampshire: The Wildcats have been up and down this year, but two wins over Stony Brook will not be forgotten. They will need their threes to fall and their bench to put up some big numbers.
Stony Brook: The Seawolves have defied expectations, but are still a young squad. Stony Brook will be looking to use its youth and energy to exact their revenge against the Wildcats.
Advantage: Stony Brook