The Lord Jeffs got back to Salem and beyond. Can they get back to the Final Four in 2014? Amherst athletics photo

During my college years, I all too often heard the same disheartening complaint from my friends and roommates.

“I wish I went to a school with a big-time sports program.”

Now, I was no athlete during my time at Ithaca, but I worked closely with just about every team on campus. For four years I shuttled myself back and forth from games and practices with a notebook and a tape recorder, fingers nearly frostbitten from taking down quotes in frigid central New York.

I dedicated so much time to the campus newspaper’s sports section for the same reason our Division III athletes dedicated their time to their teams. My writing was not widely read and their games were not widely covered, but sports are electric at any level. I was determined to prove to my friends that you don’t need 100,000-seat stadiums and visits from ESPN’s cameras to enjoy college sports.

My chance came during the 2008-09 basketball season. The men’s team was on a tear and I was in the gym constantly to cover what had the potential to be a historic season. As the wins piled up, the seats filled up. The Ben Light Gymnasium became the place to be on Saturday nights and the stands were a sea of blue and gold.

Though Ithaca was bounced in the second round of the playoffs, the campus and my own circle of friends finally got a taste of just how much fun D-III hoops can be.

I’m honored to take over this column space from Andrew Lovell, a mentor of sorts to me during our Ithaca days. I hope to match both his writing skills and passion for Division III during the upcoming season. But enough about me. Let’s take a look at who will be lighting up the gyms around the region.

Men’s Northeast

Let’s begin with the reigning champs. Amherst rolled to a national championship and with a returning cast of four seniors, the Lord Jeffs start the season in the No. 1 spot in the national rankings.

Amherst is poised to once again receive stellar guard play with first team preseason all-America team member and 2013 D3hoops.com first-team All-America selection Aaron Toomey leading the way. Look for sophomore Connor Green to play a larger role this year, with the departure of Willy Workman ’13.

“[Workman] was a great reader of game,” head coach David Hixon said. “You replace it with different sorts of people.”

The Jeffs’ biggest question mark will be how to fill the role of big man Peter Kaasila, after he averaged 12.6 points last year and recorded 41 blocked shots. Amherst does not list a true center on its roster, but its collection of forwards includes the 6-8 junior Alex Levine and 6-9 sophomore James Sanderson.

Hixon said he also expects to see senior Tom Killian step into a larger role for Amherst. He said the 6-4-inch guard/forward flew under the radar in the Lord Jeffs’ championship season, but should catch some eyes with his versatility this year.

“I joke with Tom that he was the forgotten guy,” Hixon said. “Tom’s going to draw more attention and he’s met that challenge. He’s bigger, stronger, more athletic and shooting the ball well.”

While the Jeffs enter the season in the No. 1 spot, they will be keeping a close eye on longstanding rival, conference foe and western Massachusetts neighbor Williams. The Ephs finished 26-5 last year and were eliminated in the playoff quarterfinals by St. Thomas. Look for senior guard Taylor Epley and senior center Michael Mayer to continue their offensive onslaught in the NESCAC. Epley averaged 18.5 points per game last season, while Mayer was good for 17.7. The 6-9 center is not just a post player, though. Mayer drained 19 threes last season. Williams checks in at No. 3 in the preseason poll.

Other northeast teams breaking the top 25 include WPI (No. 9), Middlebury (No. 18) and Rhode Island College (No. 22). Eastern Connecticut, MIT, Tufts and Brandeis all received votes.

Men’s East

While the region is well represented in the Top 25 by New England teams, there are some New York squads to keep an eye on this year. Morrisville State checks in at No. 20, and with nine seniors returning, the Mustangs certainly don’t lack experience.

Leading scorer (324) Kucjok Ater returns at forward, while Brandon Hanks, last year’s team leader in rebounds (178), returns at guard.

Rochester received 25 points in the poll after posting a 22-5 record last year, losing to Ithaca in the second round of the playoffs. Ithaca received 22 votes in the preseason poll. The Bombers lost eight games in last year’s regular season, but had a memorable postseason run before falling in the sectional round 73-72 to NESCAC powerhouse Middlebury.

Women's Northeast

Some of the best women’s squads in the region are the youngest. Tufts checks in in the preseason poll at No. 10, with just three seniors. The Jumbos are looking to make another postseason push after falling to Amherst in the third round last year. Junior guard Hannah Foley returns after leading the team last year with 330 points.

Also in the NESCAC, Williams (No. 15), will look to return to the postseason with no seniors currently on the roster. Look for junior guard Ellen Cook to take control of the Williams offense this year, after posting 333 points last year, the team’s second most.

After losing to UW-Whitewater on a buzzer beater in the opening round of the final four and then falling to Williams in the consolation game, Amherst looks poised to make another deep post season run. The young Lord Jeffs squad will have to rebound from the loss of guard and leading scorer Marcia Voigt ’13, guard Jasmine Hardy ’13 and senior forward Bridget Crowley ’13. Look for junior forward Megan Robertson and her 6-feet-2-inches frame to have another big impact on both sides of the ball. As a sophomore, Robertson finished second on the team with 399 points, led the NESCAC with 288 total rebounds and finished second in the conference with 90 blocked shots.

Babson, Bridgewater State, Smith, University of New England, Southern Maine, and Emmanuel all received votes in the preseason poll.

Women's East

A heartbreaking overtime loss to Williams in the third round of last year’s playoffs has surely given Ithaca something to strive for this season. The Bombers squad returns five seniors and four juniors and are ranked at No. 14. Leading scorer and All-East Region team member Kathryn Campbell returns at guard and leading rebounder 5--10 Mary Kate Tierney returns at guard to anchor a stingy defense.

Rochester also received votes in the preseason poll.