2016–17 Northeast Conference men's basketball season
The 2016–17 NEC men's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play started in late December and concluded in February 2017.
Mount St. Mary's clinched the regular season NEC championship with a win over St. Francis Brooklyn on February 25, 2017, marking their first NEC regular season crown in 21 years. LIU Brooklyn finished in second place in the regular season.
The NEC Tournament was held from March 1 through March 7 with the higher-seeded team hosting each game. Mount St. Mary's defeated Saint Francis to win the NEC Tournament championship. As a result, Mount St. Mary's received the conference's bid to the NCAA Tournament. Saint Francis received an invitation to CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
Head Coaches
Coaching changes
On April 6, 2016, Central Connecticut announced Donyell Marshall as the 10th head coach in program history. Marshall replaced Howie Dickenman, who retired after 20 years at Central Connecticut.Coaches
Notes:- All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only.
- Year at school does not include 2016–17 season.
- Overall and NEC records are from time at current school and are before the beginning of the season.
Preseason
Preseason Coaches Poll
Source| Rank | Team |
| 1. | Fairleigh Dickinson ' |
| 2. | Wagner ' |
| 3. | Bryant |
| 4. | LIU Brooklyn |
| 4. | Mount St. Mary's |
| 6. | Robert Morris |
| 7. | St. Francis Brooklyn |
| 8. | Sacred Heart |
| 9. | Saint Francis |
| 10. | Central Connecticut |
first place votes
Preseason All-NEC team
Source| Recipient | School |
| Earl Potts, Jr. | Fairleigh Dickinson |
| Corey Henson | Wagner |
| Jerome Frink | LIU Brooklyn |
| Michael Carey | Wagner |
| Darian Anderson | Fairleigh Dickinson |
NEC Regular Season
Conference Matrix
This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.Player of the week
Throughout the regular season, the Northeast Conference offices named a player of the week and a rookie of the week each Monday.| Date | Player of the week | Rookie of the week |
| November 14, 2016 | Mike Aaman, Wagner | Sabastian Townes, St. Francis Brooklyn |
| November 21, 2016 | Quincy McKnight, Sacred Heart | Jashaun Agosto, LIU Brooklyn |
| November 28, 2016 | Nisre Zouzoua, St. Francis Brooklyn Iverson Fleming, LIU Brooklyn | Keith Braxton, Saint Francis |
| December 5, 2016 | Joseph Lopez, Sacred Heart | Keith Braxton, Saint Francis |
| December 12, 2016 | Iverson Fleming, LIU Brooklyn | Adam Grant, St. Francis Brooklyn |
| December 19, 2016 | Quincy McKnight, Sacred Heart | Rasheem Dunn, St. Francis Brooklyn |
| December 26, 2016 | Kavon Stewart, Robert Morris | Ikenna Ndugba, Bryant |
| January 2, 2017 | Darian Anderson, Fairleigh Dickinson | Rasheem Dunn, St. Francis Brooklyn Keith Braxton, Saint Francis |
| January 9, 2017 | Jerome Frink, LIU Brooklyn Michael Carey, Wagner | Randall Gaskins, Jr., Saint Francis |
| January 16, 2017 | Quincy McKnight, Sacred Heart | Adam Grant, St. Francis Brooklyn Keith Braxton, Saint Francis |
| January 23, 2017 | Darian Anderson, Fairleigh Dickinson | Keith Braxton, Saint Francis |
| January 30, 2017 | Isaiah Blackmon, Saint Francis | Rasheem Dunn, St. Francis Brooklyn |
| February 6, 2017 | Josh Nebo, Saint Francis | Keith Braxton, Saint Francis |
| February 13, 2017 | Jerome Frink, LIU Brooklyn | Blake Francis, Wagner |
| February 20, 2017 | Raiquan Clark, LIU Brooklyn | Keith Braxton, Saint Francis |
| February 25, 2017 | Iverson Fleming, LIU Brooklyn | Dachon Burke, Robert Morris |
All-NEC honors and awards
Following the regular season, the conference selected outstanding performers based on a poll of league coaches.| Honor | Recipient |
| Player of the Year | Jerome Frink, LIU |
| Coach of the Year | Jamion Christian, MSM |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Josh Nebo, SFU |
| Rookie of the Year | Keith Braxton, SFU |
| Most Improved Player of the Year | Iverson Fleming, LIU |
| All-NEC First Team | Michael Carrey, WAG |
| All-NEC First Team | Elijah Long, MSM |
| All-NEC First Team | Jerome Frink, LIU |
| All-NEC First Team | Quincy McKnight, SHU |
| All-NEC First Team | Nisre Zouzoua, BRY |
| All-NEC Second Team | Darian Anderson, FDU |
| All-NEC Second Team | Keith Braxton, SFU |
| All-NEC Second Team | Corey Henson, WAG |
| All-NEC Second Team | Isaiah Still, RMU |
| All-NEC Second Team | Junior Robinson, MSM |
| All-NEC Third Team | Isaiah Blackmon, SFU |
| All-NEC Third Team | Iverson Fleming, LIU |
| All-NEC Third Team | Stephan Jiggets, FDU |
| All-NEC Third Team | Joseph Lopez, SHU |
| All-NEC Third Team | Josh Nebo, SFU |
| All-NEC Rookie Team | Rasheem Dunn, SFC |
| All-NEC Rookie Team | Jashuan Agosto, LIU |
| All-NEC Rookie Team | Keith Braxton, SFU |
| All-NEC Rookie Team | Adam Grant, BRY |
| All-NEC Rookie Team | Miles Wilson, MSM |
Postseason
NEC Tournament
All games will be played at the venue of the higher seedNCAA tournament
| Seed | Region | School | First Four | First Round | Second Round | Sweet 16 | Elite Eight | Final Four | Championship |
| 16 | East | Mount St. Mary's | W, 67–66 vs. #16 New Orleans – | L, 56–76 vs. #1 Villanova – |
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament
| School | 1st Round | 2nd Round | Quarterfinals | Semifianls | Championship |
| Saint Francis | W, 78–76 vs. #1 Jacksonville | L, 79–87 vs. #4 UMBC |
Milestones and records
- On November 11, 2016 the Wagner Seahawks upset 18th ranked UConn on the road, marking one of the most significant wins in program history.