Our 
conference preview series continues with a look at the little-known Northeastern Conference, which will be in its 30th year of existence in 2010-11. We've got projected standings, three players to watch, three non-conference games to seek out and three intriguing storylines heading into the season.
Quinnipiac's rise.
Tom Moore is the small-time coach whose name is sure to pop up with big-time jobs sooner rather than later. Many see him as the right man to be bequeathed the UConn job once Jim Calhoun leaves. But if Moore-who got his team to the NEC title game last year-continues to recruit strongly for his program and win at a high clip in February and March, UConn may have to look elsewhere two, three, four years down the road, when Calhoun hangs it up.
Quinnipiac won every home game last year, until the final one, when Robert Morris defeated the Bobcats in the NEC title game. It was a good one. I should know; I was there. Quinny will ride Rutty (that's Justin) in 2010-11. The Bobcats forward is considered one of the best players in league history, and he has a chance to become the first player in NEC to history to finish with more than 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Robert Morris' fall?
Did you know Rutgers head coach Mike Rice was the man leading the charge at Bob Morris last year? Rice took the program to two consecutive NCAA tournaments berths and a 73-41 (46-8 in conference) record in three years. Prior to Rice, the program hadn't received a tournament bid since 1992. You do that, some big-conference school is sure to snag you up.
But can Morris continue its looming success over the league now that Rice has left? Dynamic, speedy, onion-toting 5-9 point guard Karon Abraham will be the one who determines that. Abraham, last year's NEC Rookie of the Year, is going to wreak havoc on this league for the next three seasons. If he can keep his teammates involved, RMU may not have the dip some anticipate.
Can this league produce a tournament team that can win a game?
To me, this is the most intriguing storyline within the conference. Upsets happen in the tournament every year, only the NEC never gets in on the act.
The problem with the NEC has been its lack of relevance or charm once the NCAA tournament begins. With regularity, this conference puts out a seed that's usually of a 16 caliber. Occasionally a 15, but regardless, it rarely gives high-seeds opponents a real test. Part of that is because the league hasn't produced dynasties from within. RMU became the first school in 15 years to win the league in back-to-back seasons when it did it last year ... and now it's coach has moved on. That's life at this level.
It's absolutely worth reminding you that Robert Morris nearly-and should have-knocked off Villanova in the first round last year. What a game that was, and a sign of things to come, as 'Nova got handled by Saint Mary's two days later.
Will 2011 be the year the conference gets off the schnide and wins a game against the big boys? Gotta go back to Quinnipiac, because Rutty's the kind of player (think Taylor Coppenrath at Vermont five years ago) who can propel his team to a win in a do-or-die one-game scenario. The league's chances ride on the Bobcats this year.
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