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The first significant happening on The Road to the Final Four may have taken place in Minneapolis on Wednesday night depending upon the results of an MRI on Thursday. Purdue forward Robbie Hummel went down with a knee injury in the first half and was unable to return to action. Seemingly in control of the game at that point, the Boilermakers fell victim to a Golden Gopher run to take the lead and Minnesota led by as many as nine in the second half.

It was accepted well before Tuesday night's game that Kentucky would encounter a hostile environment in Starkville. In the days leading up to the game Mississippi State students called DeMarcus Cousins repeatedly, some using the time to make humorous statements while others went well beyond the line that separates fun and terribly poor taste. But what was supposed to be a showdown between Cousins and Jarvis Varnado did not play out as such, especially in the second half and overtime as the senior fell victim to foul trouble.

Coastal Carolina (21-4, 11-2 Big South, 141 RPI)

IUPUI (17-8, 10-2 Summit, 103 RPI)

Lehigh (15-8, 6-2 Patriot, 169 RPI)

Morgan State (17-7, 9-0 MEAC, 133 RPI)

Oakland (18-8, 12-1 Summit, 68 RPI)

Robert Morris (16-8, 11-1 Northeast, 158 RPI)

Sam Houston St (16-5, 8-0 Southland, 76 RPI)

Stony Brook (16-7, 8-2 America East, 154 RPI)

Vermont (17-8, 8-3 America East, 164 RPI)

Other (Arkansas St, Denver, Jackson St, Jacksonville, Quinnipiac, Radford, etc)

HARTFORD, Conn.-- In search of its first league title since 2002, Boston University is the unanimous preseason choice of the coaches to win its sixth America East Men’s Basketball title in 2009-10. The selections were announced today as part of the America East Basketball Tip-Off Luncheon held at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, host city for the 2010 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Presented by Newman’s Own on March 4-7.

Albany

Boston U

New Hampshire

Vermont

Other (Binghamton, Hartford, Maine, Stony Brook, UMBC)

 

Conference Honors

America East: Despite their loss at Binghamton on Monday night it was a good week for Stony Brook, who won games at Air Force and defending America East champ UMBC. Junior Muhammad El-Amin shared the conference Player of the Week award with New Hampshire's Alvin Abreu, and freshman Bryan Dougher was named America East Rookie of the Week. While El-Amin accounted for 19.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in the two wins, Dougher averaged 20.5 points per game. 

The final days of 2008, for most of the teams in the area (save the Ivies and NJIT), mean a transition into full-time conference play. Some schools still have a game or two outside of conference play later in the season, but for the most part it's all about focusing on the direct way of getting to the NCAA Tournament. Big East play begins early this week, and despite a big win over FDU Seton Hall fans have to wonder what the opener at Syracuse will bring for a team that lacks bodies inside. St.