America East Revamps 2021 Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs Formats

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BOSTON – The #AEPlayoffs are starting next weekend due to the ever-changing circumstances and challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the America East Conference has determined changes to its basketball postseason formats that were announced last month. The revamped formats advance the start of #AEPlayoffs one week earlier, spreading out the timeline over three weeks instead of two while also continuing to reward the top seeds and prioritizing the health, safety and mental well-being of its student-athletes.

“If this year has taught us anything, it’s the need to be flexible and adapt to new circumstances,” said America East Commissioner, Amy Huchthausen. “Since setting our basketball playoff formats last month, conditions have changed, and we’d be negligent to ignore that fact as we look ahead to the season’s home stretch. Our student-athletes, coaches and support staffs have endured challenging seasons that have included numerous pauses and schedules changes that have been both physically and emotionally demanding. Despite those challenges, we’re extremely proud that almost all of our teams have completed full league schedules to date, which is quite an incredible feat. We believe starting the postseason sooner will energize our teams and create an exciting and competitive three weeks of #AEPlayoffs to cap this unique season. As always, the well-being of our student-athletes is paramount, and we believe the solid regular-season body of work completed by our teams prepares us for the postseason to begin next weekend.

Details of the championship formats, which will begin the last weekend of February and be played over three weeks at multiple campus sites, include:

Men’s Basketball

The regular season will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 21. Full Remaining Regular-Season Schedule
All eligible teams will qualify for the playoffs.
The top two seeds will earn automatic byes into the semifinals.
The remaining teams will compete in #AEPlayoffs pods with the #3 and #4 seeds hosting games starting on either Friday, Feb. 26 or Saturday, Feb. 27.
The #3, #6 and #7 seeds would play at one pod with the #4, #5, #8 and #9 seeds playing in the other.
The field will be re-seeded prior to the semifinals, which will be hosted by the #1 and #2 seeds on Saturday, March 6.
The men’s championship game is on Saturday, March 13 at the highest remaining seed and will be carried on ESPN2 at 11 a.m.

Women’s Basketball

The regular season will conclude on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Full Remaining Regular-Season Schedule
All eligible teams will qualify for the playoffs.
The format will follow the traditional #AEPlayoffs model with the higher seed hosting games in each round.
With seven eligible teams currently, the top seed will receive an automatic bye into the semifinals.
The quarterfinals will take place at the #2, #3 and #4 seeds on Sunday, Feb. 28.
The field will be re-seeded prior to the semifinals, which will be hosted by the #1 seed and highest remaining seed from the quarterfinals on Sunday, March 7.
The women’s championship game will be on Friday, March 12 at the highest remaining seed and will be televised nationally on ESPNU at 5 p.m.

The men’s #AEPlayoffs matchups will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 21 while the women’s will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Follow @AEHoopsNews on Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest #AEHoops news.

About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.

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