MAAC Madness
by Kevin Martone
MAAC
Tournament Preview from the eyes of CHN's Siena Columnist
Can
lightning strike in the same place twice? Two years ago, the Siena
Saints Men's Basketball team limped into the Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference (MAAC) Tournament on a three game losing streak and with a
losing record. They began the weekend as a weak seven seed, but ended
it by winning the championship at the Pepsi Arena, their home court in
Albany, NY, and capturing the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA
tournament.
Like in
2001-2002, this year's team is below .500 overall and 9-9 in the
conference, although they are the six seed this time around. Unlike
2001-2002, however, the Saints are playing their best basketball late
in the season, having survived a ten game losing streak earlier in the
year. “Since we lost to St. Peter’s [College] on January sixth at
[home], we’re 9-5,” Siena Head Coach Rob Lanier said during the annual
MAAC pre-tournament teleconference. “We’re playing better basketball
since then. On defense, we’ve done a better job carrying out our
assignments. Offensively, we’ve done a better job sharing the
basketball.”
Coach
Lanier’s team won’t surprise anyone this season. Their recent play has
included a final regular season victory against third-seeded Fairfield
University, who would be Siena’s second round opponent if they get by
ninth-seeded Marist College in the first round on Friday night. The
Saints will rely upon Sophomore Guard Antoine Jordan to continue to
give the team a spark. He’s back playing at one hundred percent after
a leg injury kept him out of a few games earlier in the season.
“Antoine Jordan re-emerging has really helped us,” Lanier said. “He
gets a deflection, get a rebound, and makes shots.” The Saints hope
Jordan can help fellow Sophomore Michael Haddix, a second team All-MAAC
performerk, and Senior Justin Miller repeat the team’s accomplishment
from two years ago.
The Competition
It won’t
be easy. Manhattan College is the consensus favorite to win the
conference title for the second consecutive year. Led by Guard Luis
Flores, reigning conference player of the year, the top-seeded Jaspers
easily captured the MAAC regular season crown. Since Siena surprised
the conference two years ago, the league changed the tournament
format, requiring the regular season champion to win only two
tournament games to take the title. This advantage may be all the
Jaspers need to coast to the NCAA tournament again this season.
If the
Jaspers falter, the second-seeded Niagara University Purple Eagles may
step in with their explosive offense. Niagara boasts four players on
the three All-MAAC teams this season, including Junior Forward Juan
Mendez, a first team selection. The lone starter who did not make one
of the teams is Point Guard Alvin Cruz, who leads the conference in
both Assists and Assists/Turnover Ratio. There isn’t a more talented
starting five in the conference. Their downfall is defense, as they
are ranked eighth out of ten in points allowed in the MAAC.
Fairfield
University, the third seed, is just the opposite. They rely on stingy
team defense (second in the conference to Manhattan) to win games.
After recovering from a mid-season injury to star Deng Gai, the team
has played well recently, despite the lone setback to the Saints.
Senior Center Rob Thomson, a first team All-MAAC selection, has led
the team in Gai’s absence.
Fourth-seeded St. Peter’s College will also compete for the
conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, led by Sophomore
sensation Keydren Clark. Not only does he lead the conference in
scoring, but he also tops the entire nation, averaging 27 points per
game. The Peacocks faltered slightly near the end of the season, but
are always a threat with Clark.
Those
four teams are the most likely to end the MAAC tournament on Monday
night with smiles on their faces. However, the MAAC conference rarely
finishes as expected, as evidenced by Siena’s unlikely run two seasons
ago. Fifth seed Rider University could easily make a run behind Junior
Guard Jerry Johnson. The sharpshooter can carry his team with a hot
shooting weekend. Iona College can also never be counted out. Since
former Syracuse University star DeShaun Williams left the team in
early February, the Gaels have played much better. Senior Center Greg
Jenkins, a second team All-MAAC selection leads the way.
The Saints’ Chances
That leaves us with the Saints and
their big question: can they can repeat history? Coach Lanier is not
concerned with the past, only the present. “What happened two years
ago really has nothing to do with how we approach our game Friday,”
Lanier said. But he is excited about the tournament and his team’s
chances. “When we play on Friday, there will be a big section dressed
in red [cheering for Marist] and there will be an even bigger section
dressed in green [cheering for Siena],” Lanier said. “That’s what
makes college basketball special.” The Saints will need all the
support they can get to win the four straight games they need to
become MAAC Tournament champions. “You like to go into the tournament
feeling that you can win any game you play,” Lanier said. “We’ve
certainly developed that confidence…We’re playing our best basketball
right now.” They will need to if they want lightning to strike again
at the Pepsi this weekend.
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