Tournament Begins: March 5
Conference
Championship: March 9
Television Coverage: ESPN3, ESPN2
Tournament Bracket: http://www.maacsports.com/fls/17400/doc_lib/2015%20MAAC%20Championship%20Men%27s%20Bracket%20Final.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=17400
Television Coverage: ESPN3, ESPN2
Tournament Bracket: http://www.maacsports.com/fls/17400/doc_lib/2015%20MAAC%20Championship%20Men%27s%20Bracket%20Final.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=17400
Overview:
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) does not have much to
boast about from the non-conference schedule. Quinnipiac opened the season with
a double overtime win over Yale, but outside of that win the MAAC went 0-24
against the RPI Top 100. Only Iona (54) and Rider (135) rank in the top 170 of
the RPI. The MAAC conference tournament will be wide open as no single team has
dominated the conference. Here are three likely teams to represent the MAAC in
the NCAA tournament.
Favorite to Win Tournament: Iona Gaels (24-7, 17-3)
Iona has been the strongest team in the MAAC for the last five seasons. The Gaels have won the regular season championship three times (2012, 2014, 2015), appeared in the conference tournament title game three times (2011, 2013, 2014), and won the conference tournament title once (2013). Iona went 17-3 in conference play this season losing to Canisius, Monmouth, and Saint Peter’s all on the road. The Gaels were a perfect 13-0 at home this season. The Gaels will need to find a way to win three straight games in a road environment with the conference tournament being played at Siena. Iona has the best offense in the MAAC by almost 10 points per game. If the Gaels can continue to put up 80 points, Iona could find themselves back in the NCAA tournament again.
Most Likely to Upset Favorite: Monmouth Hawks (17-14, 13-7)
Momouth is the only team in the MAAC that beat Iona and Rider, the top two teams in the league. It is likely that the winner of the conference tournament will have to go through both of those teams to win the title. The Hawks played well on the road going 7-3 in conference including beating Rider on the road. Monmouth will need to continue to play well in a road environment to pull off a few upsets and win the MAAC tournament. The Hawks have not made the NCAA tournament since 2006.
Dark Horse to Win Tournament: Canisius Griffins (16-13, 11-9)
Canisius had three rough patches throughout the season losing three straight in late November, three of four in early January, and five of six in early February. The Griffins had three 3-game winning streaks as well, which is all that it will take to win the MAAC tournament. Canisius beat the top team in the MAAC (Iona) and the second best team in the American East (Stony Brook). The Griffins have yet to win three straight road games on the season going 7-8. Canisius is currently riding a 2-game road winning streak and have won four of five games going into the MAAC tournament. If the Griffins can keep playing well, Canisius could find themselves in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1996.
Expected Tournament Bid(s): Conference Tournament Winner
Favorite to Win Tournament: Iona Gaels (24-7, 17-3)
Iona has been the strongest team in the MAAC for the last five seasons. The Gaels have won the regular season championship three times (2012, 2014, 2015), appeared in the conference tournament title game three times (2011, 2013, 2014), and won the conference tournament title once (2013). Iona went 17-3 in conference play this season losing to Canisius, Monmouth, and Saint Peter’s all on the road. The Gaels were a perfect 13-0 at home this season. The Gaels will need to find a way to win three straight games in a road environment with the conference tournament being played at Siena. Iona has the best offense in the MAAC by almost 10 points per game. If the Gaels can continue to put up 80 points, Iona could find themselves back in the NCAA tournament again.
Most Likely to Upset Favorite: Monmouth Hawks (17-14, 13-7)
Momouth is the only team in the MAAC that beat Iona and Rider, the top two teams in the league. It is likely that the winner of the conference tournament will have to go through both of those teams to win the title. The Hawks played well on the road going 7-3 in conference including beating Rider on the road. Monmouth will need to continue to play well in a road environment to pull off a few upsets and win the MAAC tournament. The Hawks have not made the NCAA tournament since 2006.
Dark Horse to Win Tournament: Canisius Griffins (16-13, 11-9)
Canisius had three rough patches throughout the season losing three straight in late November, three of four in early January, and five of six in early February. The Griffins had three 3-game winning streaks as well, which is all that it will take to win the MAAC tournament. Canisius beat the top team in the MAAC (Iona) and the second best team in the American East (Stony Brook). The Griffins have yet to win three straight road games on the season going 7-8. Canisius is currently riding a 2-game road winning streak and have won four of five games going into the MAAC tournament. If the Griffins can keep playing well, Canisius could find themselves in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1996.
Expected Tournament Bid(s): Conference Tournament Winner
Iona has an outside chance to get an at-large bid,
but it does not seem likely. The Gaels have a weak strength of schedule and
failed to get a quality win going 0-3 against Arkansas, Massachusetts, and
Wofford. Iona also has two bad losses (George Mason, Saint Peter’s) that will
hurt their chances. It seems that only the conference tournament winner will
get an NCAA bid and that team will likely be a 13-16 seed meaning a tough first
round matchup.
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