Binghamton Dismisses Six Players, Clears Path for Terriers Resurgence

by Tim Larew

With the college basketball season rapidly approaching (first game is November 13th @ Iona), anticipation growing, and stories gaining momentum, it was the news out of Binghamton last Friday that took the America East Conference by storm and shocked the collegiate athletic world.

Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben, who earned second-team All-Conference honors manning the point for the conference-winning Bearcats, was arrested on September 21 on cocaine distribution charges. No more than 48 hours later, five more players were dismissed from the team, including the America East’s reigning scoring leader, DJ Rivera. For the coup de grâce, Binghamton’s Athletic Director, Joel Thirer, announced his resignation Wednesday afternoon, effectively writing the final chapter in the Binghamton University men’s basketball saga.

The news could not be more crushing for Binghamton fans, especially following their historic ‘08-09 season in which they won both the America East regular season and tournament titles and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

For in-conference foes, however, the news means one thing: the defending champ’s hopes of a repeat have suffered a serious blow. While Binghamton will still compete, they certainly won’t be the same championship-caliber team.

Boston University, who is returning four starters and its top six scorers from last year’s 17-13 (11-5 America East) squad, will be among the conference favorites and will be plenty confident. During the offseason, the Terriers relieved Dennis Wolff of his duties and hired Patrick Chambers as head coach. In doing so, the Terriers brought in a coach with plenty of NCAA tournament experience. Chambers spent the last five years as an assistant/associate head coach at Villanova, the perennial power that reached the national semifinals this past April.

The drama in Binghamton has BU followers salivating. With a new face at the helm and familiar faces on the court, the 2009-2010, the Terriers could be dancing in March.