The Vermont Catamounts have dominated the American East Conference conference this decade. But is the year that a team finally breaks through? One of the most logical contenders is the Bryant Bulldogs, who are just in their third year in the conference.
Bryant head coach Phil Martelli Jr., in his second season, has a talented and veteran team that experienced lots of success last season. The Bulldogs went 20-13 last season, including 11-5 to finish tied for second in the AEC, marking the second time ever the program won 20 games.
Bryant returned seven players from a season ago, led by two-time all-AEC selection Earl Timberlake. Martelli also brought in five transfers this offseason, including consensus top-100 recruit Jakai Robinson, who was at Miami (FL) last season.
America East Conference: Are The Bryant Bulldogs Primed To Unseat The Vermont Catamount?
Bryant is off to a 4-4 start to the season. It marks the sixth straight season that the Bulldogs have won at least three of their first six contests. However, they have not played the most daunting nonconference schedule this season.
Bryant’s schedule has taken a step up over the last few games, and the Bulldogs have responded. Over the last 10 days, the Bulldogs have gone 2-3 with victories over a quality Delaware squad and Tennessee State. The Bulldogs do have a one-point loss at Stonehill, though they did play St. Bonaventure on the road tough for a stretch.
Last night, Bryant fell to Chattanooga, a strong-mid-major, 84-76, in the championship game of the Coke Classic in Chattanooga. The Mocs used an 8-0 midway through the second half to create separation. Overall, Chattanooga outscored Bryant 45-39 in the second half.
Bryant’s Strength Is On Offense
Bryant is an extremely talented team, as it has been over the last five seasons. This year, the Bulldogs are 47th in the nation in scoring at 84.2 points a game, having scored at least 80 points in five of their first eight contests.
Despite scoring at a high volume, thanks to them being one of the top free-throw shooting teams (the Bulldogs are only a little better in efficiency on that end of the floor. Bryant ranks 145th in offensive rating as they only shoot 44.9% from the field.
Bryant has some shooters, ranking in the top third in the country with 8.9 threes and 44th in 3-point percentage (38.6%). But they struggle inside the arc, particularly around the rim, where the Bulldogs make just 48.1% of their two-point shots (292nd nationally). They are a team that likes sharing the ball, although turnovers are problematic for the Bulldogs.
While Bryant ranks in the top 50 in scoring, they also rank near the bottom 50 in points allowed at 77.8. The Bulldogs have allowed their opponents to score 80-plus points five times, including each of the last three. They have defended pretty well, holding opponents to 41.9% from the field, though their two most significant weaknesses are size and fouling. Defensive transition is also an issue, but that has more to do with their live-ball turnovers.
The Key Players
Rafael Pinzon leads four players in double-figures at 17.6 points a game, averaging 2.8 threes while shooting 56% from the field. The former St. John’s transfer has scored in double-figures in all eight of the Bulldog’s games, topping the 20-point mark once and 30-point plateau once.
Timberlake, a former consensus top-30 recruit, is a talented, versatile guard who thrives on the defensive end. The long and athletically gifted big guard can handle and facilitate the ball. His biggest weakness is shooting, as he has a hitch at the top of his release. He is also an excellent offensive rebounder and gets lots of his points on put-backs.
St. Bonaventure transfer Barry Evans has taken off with the Bulldogs. In two seasons at Bonaventure, the athletic Evans was a rotational player with the Bonnies, where he thrived defensively and on the glass.
Since arriving at Bryant, Evans has been able to showcase his offensive abilities. Evans is third on the team in scoring at 13.6 points a game, second in assists (2.4), and third in total rebounds (6.8) and offensive rebounds (2.4). He is also third on the team with 1.8 3-pointers and a 50/45.2/71.4 shooting split.
Connor Withers is the fourth Bulldog in double figures at 10.7, as he is their top shooter. In his sixth collegiate season, Withers is making a career-high 2.4 threes a game at a personal-best 40.4% clip.
Final Word
Vermont has dominated the America East over the last eight years, securing at least a share of the regular season crown each year. The Catamounts, who have also garnered five NCAA berths over this period, and UMass-Lowell were chosen as the top two teams in the conference this year.
Bryant has been one of the top low-major programs and a slightly above-average overall program. The Bulldogs, who made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2022, seek their fifth straight winning season this year. They have won at least 15 games in five consecutive years and are 19-13 in conference play since moving to the AEC.
Bryant is definitely talented enough, particularly on the offensive end, to be a major contender in the America East this year. The league’s coaches selected the Bulldogs third in the conference. The Bulldogs go eight deep and are second in the league in scoring through the first eight games behind just UMass-Lowell.
But the Bulldogs do need to improve on the defensive end, as they are giving up the eighth most points in the conference thus far. On the plus side, the Bulldogs are an outstanding rebounding team (both ends), and their lack of size—they only have one player who is 6-9 and taller—won’t be as much of a factor during AEC play.
Before being a true contender in the AEC, Bryant must also be able to beat the conference’s top teams. The Bulldogs have lost nine times to Vermont and UMasss-Lowell. They are 0-4 against Vermont and 0-5 versus UMass-Lowell, including last year in the AEC semifinals.
