As the Binghamton World Turns: Despite hard thud, Bearcats on the right track

It is something one does and does not want to remember at Binghamton. Having to watch your team gain fame and recognition with an America East Championship, only to watch it come crashing down in scandal months later. While the 2009-10 season was suppose to be a year of rebuilding and forgetting, it could not hide from the dark times as the team was forced to skip the America East Tournament. While the thud was hard and the jokes by non-Binghamton America East fans will continue, Binghamton is coming back. The scary thing for AE foes, it may be quicker than people think.

The Bearcats will have tons of talent returning and joining this upcoming season in Vestal. A team of walk-ons last season has developed into a team with a first-team all conference and multiple players who have and can continue to produce. The key for Binghamton was holding on to Greer Wright. After the school did not allow the team to participate in the America East or NCAA Tournament (if they won the conference tournament), many felt that the team was about to be purged. Players would not stick around and recruits would turn their back. Wright was on of those players they felt was gone. During the 2009-10 season, Wright averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game. His play shocked many in the conference and was recognized at the end of the season, earning a first team all-conference selection. While the threat was very real and he did look at other schools, including UConn, Wright stayed at Binghamton. Thus, the Bearcats faithful could relax. It still had its chip to build around.

While Wright did stay, Binghamton did lose players, but maintained a strong core. Dylan Talley, who averaged 11.8 points per game, has transferred. However, despite losing their number two scorer, Binghamton retained Moussa Camara, Mahamoud Jabbi, Chretien Lukusa, and Kyrie Sutton. With five returning scorers, all veterans of America East play, offensively things look good for the Bearcats.

Interim coach Mark Macon is also building a solid coaching staff in trying to reshape the programs image. He has hired Julius Smith, a well known coach in the state of Georgia. He has had a strong recruiting background and has worked for big programs (worked for Mike Davis at Indiana). Macon has also hired Ron Brown, who has helped to develop FDU and has major connections to college basketball. Both men are experienced, know the system and know what the correct things need to happen to build a program.

So what are we to expect this upcoming season? Prepare for a team that will finish in the middle of the pack in the conference and have a much better record overall. The non-conference schedule is not that difficult. They will not play a BCS school at all. There biggest non-conference games are against Cornell (12/18) and at Marshall (12/28). That will help in improving their record. However, with many teams in the conference play tough non-conference games, they may not be battle tested come conference time. However, as they showed last season finishing 8-8, they can surprise people.

The thud was hard. It hurt. However, to quote a great man, one must remember…

“The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.” - Harvery Dent, The Dark Knight

It is coming Bearcat fans. Get ready, because if things fall into place, soon you can rejoice in another conference championship. This time, you won’t have to wear a paper-bag after it.