2020-21 MAAC Men’s Basketball Season Preview
2020-21 MAAC Men’s Basketball Season Preview

2020-21 MAAC Men’s Basketball Season Preview

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EDISON, N.J. (Nov. 23, 2020) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s basketball season tips off on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The 2020-21 campaign is set to look different from any other season in history as teams look to navigate not only through fierce competition, but also the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Conference action kicks off on Dec. 11 and 12 as the league shifts to a new schedule format.  The new schedules feature a Friday/Saturday playing arrangement at the same venue for both games, with 24 hours of spacing between the two contests. The season concludes in Atlantic City, New Jersey as the Hercules Tires MAAC Basketball Championships return to historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Mar. 9-13.  
 
This year, the MAAC asked each institution’s athletic department to provide input and insights on their teams for 2020-21. 
 
Siena Saints
Preseason Poll Rank: 1st (Unanimous)
Head Coach: Carmen Maciariello (Second Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Jalen Pickett (Preseason Player of the Year, First Team), Manny Camper (First Team)
The reigning MAAC Champions, Siena Basketball is looking to build off a breakout 2019-20 campaign in which the Saints captured the program’s first conference crown in a decade under the direction of first-year head coach and alumnus Carmen Maciariello ’01. Siena boasts the nation’s seventh longest active winning streak at 10 straight heading into the 2020-21 season, and was one of just 13 Division I programs to achieve an undefeated home record last season (14-0). The Saints welcome back three starters from last year’s top squad, highlighted by the returns of unanimous Preseason First Team All-MAAC selections Manny Camper and Jalen Pickett. The unanimous MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Pickett earned MAAC Player of the Year honors as just a sophomore last season after becoming the only Division I player in the last quarter century to average at least 15 points, six assists, one block, and one steal per game in a season (according to Heat Check CBB). – Siena Athletics
 
Iona Gaels
Preseason Poll Rank: 2nd
Head Coach: Rick Pitino (First Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Asante Gist (First Team), Isaiah Ross (First Team)
The Iona Gaels are under the new leadership with the appointment of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino. Since his hire in March, Coach Pitino and staff have reloaded the program with explosive talent, adding to the leadership that returns from the 2019-20 roster. Preseason All-MAAC Second Team seniors Asante Gist and Isaiah Ross lead a veteran backcourt and serve as team captains along with fellow senior Dylan van Eyck. The four-time defending MAAC tournament champion's roster is filled with a diverse flair, with five international student-athletes, including four new to the Maroon & Gold. – Iona Athletics
 
Monmouth Hawks
Preseason Poll Rank: Tied 3rd
Head Coach: King Rice (10th Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Deion Hammond (First Team)
Monmouth returns 10 letter winners and three starters from an 18-win team last season, including All-MAAC First Team and unanimous Preseason First Teamer Deion Hammond, who led the conference in made three pointers last season. Hammond is one of four seniors that anchor the MU lineup, alongside George Papas, who comes off a breakout junior season, returning starter Marcus McClary, and versatile wing Melik Martin. Sam Chaput remains the starter at point guard after posting a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in conference play a season ago, and transfer Donovann Toatley enters the fold after sitting out last season. Toatley averaged double figures as a freshman before transferring, and was high school teammates with Hammond. A four-man freshman class is also set to contribute. King Rice is set to begin his 10th season on the MU sideline, and is one win away from 150 in his career. – Monmouth Athletics
 
Saint Peter’s Peacocks
Preseason Poll Rank: Tied 3rd
Head Coach: Shaheen Holloway (Third Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: KC Ndefo (First Team), Daryl Banks (Third Team), Doug Edert (Third Team)
Coming off an 18-win campaign that featured 14 wins in MAAC play en route to an appearance in the semifinal round of the league tournament, Saint Peter’s returns one of the league's top defenses and an extremely well-balanced and versatile roster that features seven players who appeared in over 20 games a season ago. Headlining that group is rising junior forward KC Ndefo, who established himself as one of the league’s premier players and elite defenders after earning Defensive and Sixth Player of the Year honors. Head coach Shaheen Holloway, who also earned major hardware last winter after being named league’s Coach of the Year, orchestrated an eight-win improvement both overall and in league play during his second season at the helm; he led the Peacocks to a second-place finish and had the team within a game of the regular season title after being picked to finish ninth. Saint Peter’s was tied for third in the 2020-21 Preseason Coaches’ Poll and had three players — led by Ndefo — earn preseason all-conference accolades. – Saint Peter’s Athletics
 
Manhattan Jaspers
Preseason Poll Rank: 5th
Head Coach: Steve Masiello (10th Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Warren Williams (Second Team)
The Jaspers placed junior Warren Williams on the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team, while also returning high-octane junior guards Elijah Buchanan and Samir Stewart. Joining the trio are transfers Samba Diallo, Jason Douglas-Stanley and Ant Nelson, as the newcomers will help bolster the offense, while also further solidifying a defense that ranked second in field goal percentage defense (.418). – Manhattan Athletics
 
Niagara Purple Eagles
Preseason Poll Rank: 6th
Head Coach: Greg Paulus (Second Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Marcus Hammond (First Team), Raheem Solomon (Third Team)
Niagara will be led by second-year head coach Greg Paulus who was the recipient of the 2019-20 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Award which is presented annually to the top first-year coach in NCAA Division I college basketball. NU returns eight letter winners, including four of the top five leading scorers, from last season's team that exceeded preseason predictions. Leading the way is the tandem of Marcus Hammond and Raheem Solomon, who were both recently named to Preseason All-MAAC Teams. Hammond, who earned All-MAAC First Team honors last season, was a unanimous selection to the first team, while Solomon made the third team. The Purple Eagles went 9-3 at home during the 2019-20 campaign, including going 8-2 in MAAC games. The Purple Eagles ranked statistically in the top-25 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.6), fewest total turnovers (338), turnover margin (3.3), and 3-point field goal percentage (.372), while leading the MAAC in all four categories. Niagara had the best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.13) in the MAAC.  – Niagara Athletics
 
Quinnipiac Bobcats
Preseason Poll Rank: 7th
Head Coach: Baker Dunleavy (Fourth Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Tyrese Williams (Second Team), Jacob Rigoni (Third Team)
The Bobcats enter the 2020-21 campaign led by Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection Tyrese Williams (9.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG) and Preseason All-MAAC Third Team choice Jacob Rigoni (8.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 40.2 3FG%). Quinnipiac finished 15-15 (10-10 MAAC) last year, winning three consecutive games to finish Baker Dunleavy's third season in Hamden. The program's high-powered offense finished No. 5 nationally in three-pointers per contest (10.3). Dunleavy is pleased with the amount of work the Bobcats have been able to get as a group during the fall semester. QU will now look for second-year players Seth Pinkney, Savion Lewis, Matt Balanc and Brendan McGuire to make key contributions. – Quinnipiac Athletics
 
Fairfield Stags
Preseason Poll Rank: 8th
Head Coach: Jay Young (Second Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Jesus Cruz (Third Team)
The Fairfield University men's basketball program will begin its second season under head coach Jay Young. The Stags return two experienced guards in Jesus Cruz and Taj Benning in 2020-21. Cruz, a preseason All-MAAC pick, is the top returning scorer after averaging 11.0 points per game. Benning represents the team's top playmaker, dishing off a season-best 63 assists and scoring 9.8 points per game. The Stags were the conference's top defensive team last year, yielding 62.9 points per game overall and 62.1 points per game in MAAC contests. – Fairfield Athletics
 
Marist Red Foxes
Preseason Poll Rank: 9th
Head Coach: John Dunne (Third Season)
Picked to finish ninth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Red Foxes have reasons for optimism thanks a strong nucleus of returning players. Marist brings back 75 percent of its scoring from last season, including its top three in Michael Cubbage, Matt Herasme, and Jordan Jones. Cubbage was one of two players in the conference to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, and assists in 2019-20. Herasme was one of the MAAC's most improved players last year, and a strong finish enabled Jones to finish fourth in the conference in field goal percentage. – Marist Athletics
 
Canisius Golden Griffins
Preseason Poll Rank: 10th
Head Coach: Reggie Witherspoon (Fifth Season)
Preseason All-MAAC Selections: Majesty Brandon (Second Team)
Despite losing three-time All-MAAC honoree Malik Johnson through graduation, the 2020-21 edition of the Golden Griffins return 72.6 percent of their scoring offense from a season ago, with five of the team’s top-seven scorers back on this year’s roster. The team’s top returning scorer, senior Majesty Brandon, was recently named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team. Brandon averaged 13.9 points per game in 32 contests, making him one of five returners in the MAAC to average 13.5 points per game or better in 2019-20. In the previous four seasons under head coach Reggie Witherspoon, Canisius boasts a .556 win percentage in MAAC regular-season games, the best effort for the team in league play over a four-year span in more than 20 years. The Griffs will need to be better in close games this season to improve on last year’s record – as the Blue and Gold ended the year leading the nation in losses in games decided by five-points or less, with eight of those nine defeats coming to MAAC rivals. – Canisius Athletics  
 
Rider Broncs
Preseason Poll Rank: 11th
Head Coach: Kevin Baggett (Ninth Season)
One of the youngest rosters in the nation, the Broncs are tasked with replacing nearly 88 percent of their scoring from a year ago and were picked 11th in this year’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Rider will look to returners Christian Ings and Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson for major contributions, while the experience of Division I transfers Rodney Henderson, Jr. and Dwight Murray, Jr. will also be counted upon. – Rider Athletics
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.