Bryant Picked To Finish Second In America East Preseason Poll, Pride & Timberlake On All-Conference Team

Bryant University Press Release

BOSTON — The Bryant University men’s basketball team has been picked to finish second in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll announced as part of America East Virtual Media Day on Thursday. Senior guard Charles Pride and junior guard Earl Timberlake were additionally named to the preseason all-conference team.

Bryant received two of a possible nine first-place votes, coming in second behind defending champion Vermont. The Catamounts received the other seven first-place votes. UMass Lowell, Binghamton, UMBC, UAlbany, New Hampshire, NJIT and Maine round out the poll.

Pride and Timberlake occupy two of the six spots on the preseason all-conference team. They are joined by the Vermont duo of Dylan Penn and Finn Sullivan, UML guard Max Brooks and Binghamton guard Jacob Falko.

This season will mark the Bulldogs’ first season in the America East. The Black and Gold won a Division I program record 22 games last season, claiming Northeast Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles. Bryant competed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time at the Division I level, falling in the First Four. The Bulldogs have been one of the top mid-major programs in the Northeast since Jared Grasso took over in 2017-18, winning 62 games in that span. Bryant has won 15+ games in each of the last three seasons and is 24-2 at home over the last two years.

Pride was a key part of Bryant’s championship run last season, producing one of the best all-around seasons in program history. He averaged 17.7 ppg and led all NCAA guards with 8.6 rpg, becoming just the third player in DI program history to reach 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career. Pride posted 10 double-doubles and 11 20-point games on the season.

Timberlake is one of nine newcomers on this year’s roster, joining the Bulldogs as a transfer from Memphis. A native of Washington, D.C., Timberlake attended DeMatha Catholic before making stops at Miami (Fla.) and Memphis before making his way to Smithfield. Timberlake averaged 9.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.5 apg at Miami and 4.7 ppg and 3.4 rpg at Memphis.

America East Preseason Coaches Poll
No.        School                  Points (1^st Place Votes)
1.             Vermont                               63 (7)
2.             Bryant                                  58 (2)
3.             UMass Lowell                        47 
4.             Binghamton                          42 
5.             UMBC                                   40
6.             UAlbany                                25
7.             New Hampshire                     23
8.             NJIT                                     14
9.             Maine                                   12

2022-23 America East Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Name                                                      School                 Yr.         Pos.
Max Brooks                                           UMass Lowell    Jr.          Forward
Jacob Falko                                            Binghamton       Sr.          Guard
Dylan Penn                                            Vermont             Gr.         Guard
Charles Pride                                         Bryant                 Jr.          Guard
Finn Sullivan                                          Vermont             Gr.         Guard
Earl Timberlake                                     Bryant                 Jr.          Guard