The Binghamton University men’s basketball team will sit out in this year’s ESPNU BracketBusters Series.

The two-day series, now in its seventh year, pins NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other in a preview to March Madness.

This year, four teams from the America East have been invited to the series: Boston University, Hartford, Maryland-Baltimore County and Vermont. Binghamton, who last year played Manhattan in the series, was not invited this time around.

America East Commissioner Patrick Nero said the BracketBusters series has had a real, positive impact on the league.

“It has given us an opportunity to play home-and-home series with some high quality teams as well as gain some of our best television exposure each year,” Nero said.

Kevin Broadus, head coach for Binghamton’s men’s basketball team, agreed with the commissioner.

“[The BracketBusters Series] is a good idea. It started out for mid-majors that weren’t getting TV time and publicity,” Broadus said. “Then they opened it up to other leagues like the America East.”

The series does come with its negative aspects though. The travel can be brutal and playing a tough non-conference game late in the season without much prep time is difficult, according to Vermont’s head coach, Mike Lonergan.

“On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to get mid-major powers to play us at home and BracketBuster has allowed us to play teams like Nevada, Drexel and UNC Wilmington,” Lonergan said.

Head coach for the Hartford Hawks, Dan Leibovitz, added that the series has even more benefits, including a guaranteed home game within a two-year period against the team it played in the series.

Binghamton, for example, is due to play Manhattan College in a return game on Dec. 20, at the Events Center.

Two years ago the America East signed an agreement to increase the number of AE teams in the BracketBusters to four, according to Nero.

“This allows us to have a better chance of having our best team in the pool,” he said. “It also secures four good home-and-home series.”

Coaches from Binghamton, Vermont and Hartford all agreed that ESPNU’s decision to invite four America East teams is a testament to the America East.

“I think it says a lot about the respect that people have for the competition level of the America East conference,” Leibovitz said.

Vermont’s coach is looking for the America East to come away with the sweep this year.

“The America East is going to be very strong this season,” Lonergan said. “The AE went 3-1 in the BracketBusters last season and we should have a good chance to win all four games this year.”

All four AE teams performed well in last year’s series, a reflection on how hard they all worked, Broadus said.

Selection for the BracketBusters series is decided by a vote, according to Nero. The America East coaches vote in the spring for which teams they think should be invited. The four schools who get the most votes are then forwarded to ESPN.

“Since Binghamton had lost quite a few guys to graduation and the other recruiting results were unknown, they were not picked in the top four,” Nero said.

Broadus and his squad of Bearcats took the rejection in stride.

“I told our guys that they should take note to that we weren’t picked,” Broadus said. “The people in the league did not expect us to be in the top four. We have to look at that and work extra hard.”

Although the Bearcats are disappointed about not being invited, they look to turn the situation into a positive one.

“It’s going to make us work extra hard because everyone’s not looking at us as a top-four team. It gives us an edge and something to play for,” Broadus said. “Just because people know who you are doesn’t mean anyone is going to lay down. They are going to play extra hard; it is a chip on our shoulders.”

For the first time in the seven years since its conception, the BracketBusters series has rewarded the America East with not one, but two home games.

Both Boston University and Vermont will play host to their BracketBusters game this year.

“I am excited about having a home game, and I think it is long overdue for the America East to get a couple home games in the BracketBuster,” Lonergan said.

Commissioner Nero said that these games are a chance for the schools to gain national recognition.

“We are hopeful that this will allow us to have a nationally televised game from one of our arenas, [as] this does not happen often,” he said.

Broadus had nothing but praises for Lonergan and Boston University head coach Dennis Wolff. He mentioned how talented their squads must have been to be selected to host the games for the series.

“It shows that the BracketBuster is worth playing in. It is hard for teams to want to come play at your venue,” Broadus said. “I am glad for the coaches — it proves they are the top two teams in the league — I hope they do well. [Wolff and Lonergan] run their programs really well.”

Lonergan returned the favor, calling Broadus, whom he calls “Ice,” a longtime friend of 25 years.

“I am happy to see him as a Division I head coach, but I hate playing against him because he is my friend,” Lonergan said.

As to whether or not the BracketBusters has any bearing on America East regular-season play and the conference tournament, everyone has mixed feelings.

“I don’t really think that the event will have any bearing on the regular season or tournament in America East this season,” Leibovitz said.

But according to Nero, the series gives off a sense of playoff action.

“In the past the teams that have played in BracketBusters from our conference have felt this particular game has a playoff atmosphere and has helped them prepare the postseason which starts a few weeks later,” he said.

Lonergan summed it up, as he explained last year’s BracketBuster experience. He said it can be difficult, depending on who you play when you are the road team. Last year Vermont played UNC Wilmington in the BracketBusters.

“We were the only team in the AE last year that had a far away opponent. We were supposed to fly to Wilmington, but bad weather throughout the East Coast caused all flights to be canceled,” he said. “We felt obligated to make it to Wilmington somehow, so we took a 19-hour bus trip to get there. It was an awful trip, but we played great and had our best win of the season.”

Wilmington had won eight of their last nine games and were in second place in the Colonial Athletic Association. It was also senior night at UNC and Vermont was able to play a tough game and win.

“I was really proud of our guys that night. Everything looked like it was set up for a blowout loss, but we played great. I still didn’t like the trip because it was tiring because of the tough travel,” Lonergan said.

The ESPNU BracketBuster takes place Feb. 20 and 21, and will be televised on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Classic.