With the MAAC basketball tournament soon commencing in Atlantic City, N.J., Center Field is once again bringing back an annual tradition: MAAC Madness.
This year, we seeded the basketball uniform sets for each MAAC conference school. Once our Staff votes on each head-to-head matchup in the bracket, we will release a follow-up installment with the results.
To determine seeding, we averaged out the men’s and women’s teams’ current place in the MAAC standings as of Feb. 20. Tiebreakers were determined by aggregating conference records and selecting the school that performed better in the MAAC.
#1 Seed: Fairfield
While the men’s and women’s uniforms are strikingly similar for Fairfield, there are variances in when each team chooses to deploy them. The men’s team primarily opts for a clean look when playing at home in wearing their all-white uniforms. This uniform features red “Fairfield” wording across the front of the jersey stylized in a contemporary font. Combined with modern-looking red numbers and piping, it makes for a bright contrast against the white-colored jersey and shorts. For the Lady Stags, these uniforms have been deployed less frequently this season and typically during road games.
The men’s team also wears more complex black alternate uniforms at home on occasion. This uniform features a similar design to the white uniform, albeit with a silver-colored “Fairfield” logo on the chest surrounded by red piping. Silver is further emphasized as an accent color via additional silver piping surrounding the numbers and red piping lining the sides of the uniform. The women’s team has embraced this uniform as their primary look at home and even on the road this season, giving them a fierce look to complement their undefeated MAAC record this season.
The final version of the Fairfield hoops uniform set is an all-red uniform with a white “Fairfield” logo and white numbers to go along with white and silver piping. Comparable to the Houston Rockets primary jersey, the uniform is frequently worn by the men’s team on the road.
- Luke Sassa, Editor-in-Chief
#2 Seed: Niagara
The Niagara men’s and women’s basketball teams each wear similar threads but have clear differences that define each team. The men’s home uniform contains a white base, with two long vertical stripes on the sides of the jersey containing Niagara’s signature purple. That purple is incorporated in the “Niagara” logo on the front, the numbers and the last names of the players. The women have similar jerseys, but the base is a light gray instead of white. The white takes the role of outlining the letters and the numbers.
The alternative uniforms for both the men and women have a black base, but the similarities end there. The biggest difference is the block-letter font for the names and numbers on the women’s jerseys. The “Niagara” on the front is white complemented by purple numbers, with two long vertical stripes of purple outlined by a double line: the inner stripe white, the outer stripe purple.
The men’s jerseys are defined by their purple and black colors. The names and numbers are the same purple shade and are outlined in white. On the side of the jersey, there is a single thick purple line that connects with the shorts. The jersey has a much simpler design but ends up being a worthy third jersey.
The away jerseys are almost identical between the men’s and women’s teams. The Purple Eagles use a purple base with two stripes that run down the side of the uniform, but the base colors of the two away kits differ. The men rock a white base while the women wear gray.
Niagara has some of the most colorful jerseys in the MAAC. The men’s basketball program has a rich history, having gone all the way to the Sweet 16 back in 1970. That history is felt throughout their catalog of uniforms. To say the least, the Niagara Purple Eagles live up to the name and offer a jersey that even Prince himself would be proud of.
- Cole Marciano, Contributing Writer
#3 Seed: Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac’s men’s and women’s teams have the same uniform rotation: white at home and blue on the road, with the alternate yellow kit mixed in for both home and road games. For the primary uniforms, both squads don nearly identical uniforms with one difference being the collar of the blue jerseys; the women’s team showcases a triangular collar that displays the jerseys manufacturer, Adidas. Another difference in the women’s navy blue uniforms is the side stripe, with two thin vertical yellow stripes and a lighter blue texture between the stripes.
All of Quinnipiac’s other sets showcase thick diagonal side stripes of navy blue, white, yellow and powder blue on the shorts of each uniform. Though not one of the school’s primary colors, the powder blue adds a nice touch to the uniform. The re-emergence of powder blue alternates–first seen in Major League Baseball– has made its way to college sports, and maybe one day we’ll see the Bobcats rock an all-powder blue kit.
Each jersey besides the women’s white jersey displays “Quinnipiac” across the chest in a small, clean font. The primary home option for the women instead reads “Bobcats.” All jerseys share the same look for the numbers, a thin, curvy font. The uniqueness of the numbers ultimately takes their jerseys from basic to clean and easily recognizable.
- Ben Leeds, Associate Editor
#4 Seed: Mount St. Mary’s
Mount St. Mary’s men’s basketball possesses a diverse set of uniforms with four sets in total, each of which displays different styles, colors and textures. The traditional home whites feature gold trim on the neckline and blue trim on the sleeves and shorts with “The Mount” on the front of the jersey with blue numbers and lettering. The navy blue uses the same “The Mount” logo with gold trim and numbers all around. A third uniform, an all-gold set, features shades of metallic gold with slight vertical stripes, white and blue trim with “The Mount ” brandished on the front; this is complemented by white numbers and lettering. Finally, the reverse retro, released this year, is a light blue with white and navy blue trim with blue lettering. “Mount St. Mary’s” is featured on the front in blue lettering with a white outline.
All of those uniforms are just for the men’s team.
The women’s team has a home white set with a blue neckline, blue lettering and “The Mount” logo on the shorts with “Mount” on the front. The navy blue jersey has a similar front, just with white accents and lettering added to give it a clean look. Lastly, the women debuted a hot pink uniform in February 2024, featuring white trim, lettering and “The Mount” on the front. This uniform pops off the screen and is one of the standout alternate uniforms in the MAAC.
Mount St. Mary’s may have the most diverse and colorful uniforms in the MAAC, with several options that show off the school colors and even a unique pink uniform for the women’s team.
- Marley Pope, Assistant Managing Editor
#5 Seed: Siena
The Siena Saints men’s and women’s basketball teams each possess a similar repertoire of jerseys. Both teams have a white home jersey, while the men’s team has a yellow away kit and the women have a green away kit. Both teams also have black alternate jerseys for special occasions.
Both of the white home jerseys are similar, but the men’s are a little more detailed. The men have a green “Siena” across the chest, with a green number below it. The difference is the green and yellow rims around the shoulders on the men’s jerseys, with white shorts that have a stripe on each side. Conversely, the women have a green collar around the neck, with a small green “S” on the bottom and green rims around the bottom of each short leg.
The away kits slightly differ between the two teams. The men wear a yellowish gold color, with green numbers and lettering, along with a green and white rim around the shoulders. The shorts also match the top, being the same shade of yellow with a white stripe at the bottom. For the women, their away uniforms are the classic Siena green. They are touched up with the same yellow the men use with Siena written across the chest followed by the number below it.
Both the men’s and women’s teams have similar black alternate jerseys. Each has the yellow “Siena” written across the chest, with a yellow number below and a yellow collar across the neck. The men have a touch of green and yellow on the shorts, while the women just have yellow. Siena possesses some of the simplest yet sleekest jerseys in the MAAC.
- Tommy Jacobellis, Contributing Writer
#6 Seed: Canisius
The Golden Griffin’s creative team put on a masterclass throwing together their team jersey; both the men’s and women’s teams boast their own unique sets of alternate kits.
The women’s team features a tribute to Coach Kay Yow, along with the viral #Play4Kay online movement and cancer fund. Women’s teams across the country are showing their support by wearing pink uniforms. Canisius’ rendition of the concept boasts a hot pink base, with white trim and a clean script font draped across the front. The men’s team took a modern approach to the Golden Griffin mantra, designing an orange-yellow jersey with white checkerboard lining down the side and white trim for the sleeves and collar. These alternate jerseys are utilized both at home and on the road.
For the away kits, Canisius rocks their traditional blue and gold. Both the men’s and women’s teams strut a blue jersey with bold yellow numbers and trim. The women’s team shows off script lettering reading “Griffs,” whereas the men’s simply state “Canisius.” At home, the Griff’s true colors come out. The women’s team opts to go with their classic gold-yellow jersey with the navy blue trim on the shorts, collar and sleeves. The men’s team keeps it simple at home; they either go with their classic white with yellow and blue trim or alternates.
Canisius has veered away from the traditional route of college basketball jerseys, as they are adventurous with the fonts and designs they use. A mix of script and a futuristic font are paired nicely with unique patterns lining the trim and lettering. The Griffs make an effort to show out for their home crowd, boasting their women’s #Play4Kay jerseys and the revamped blue and gold for the men’s squad.
- Nate Babcock, Contributing Writer
#7 Seed: Marist
The Marist Red Foxes have white and red coloring on their home and away jerseys. Both the men’s and women’s teams possess the same lettering and general look. The men’s and women’s home uniforms are all white with “Marist” written across the chest in red lettering. For the away jerseys, both teams have the opposite: all red uniforms with white lettering.
The simple and crisp look is what makes this jersey. Other schools around the country have a tendency to try too much when it comes to the design of their kits, but the Red Foxes keep it simple.
There is also an argument to be made that the jerseys for Marist need more “swag”, but the clean look is aesthetically pleasing for the eye. One area of improvement: the last names are fairly small on the back of the jerseys; if the font were to be slightly enlarged, this jersey would go toe-to-toe with any jersey in the conference.
- Danny Destler, Managing Editor
#8 Seed: Iona
When people watch basketball, their eyes catch bright colors. Whether it be a pair of shoes or a jersey, viewers naturally navigate to bright things. Iona’s deep maroon and mustard yellow jersey set does not fit the mold of bright and bold. Instead, they go with a more traditional look.
The uniform consists of a very bold font plastered across the chest of the jersey. The gold letters are appealing and the cross inside of the “O” adds a simple, yet abstract touch. Along with the gold letters, there are accents within the jersey that may go unnoticed. For example, the lines surrounding the shoulders are colored gold along with the waistband of the shorts.
Another reason that the Gaels’ suits are appealing is due to how large the numbers are on the back of the jersey. Throughout the MAAC, teams have smaller names and branding, but not Iona. They don’t shy away from enlarging their letters and numbers, something that makes watching them in action more fluid. There is never a question of who has the ball, and viewers can see the number of the ball-handler from the other side of the gym.
- Hayden Shapiro, Contributing Writer
#9 Seed: Manhattan
The Manhattan Jaspers men’s basketball jerseys glow in a contemporary and spirited style that resonates on the court. Dressed in a bold shade of green, these jerseys strike a perfect balance between simplicity and classic appeal, capturing the attention of all who witness them. The vibrant green, complemented by sleek black outlines at the jersey’s edges, creates a dynamic visual impact. These jerseys stand out as a modern and bold touch compared to its MAAC competitors, elevating the aesthetic and ensuring a formidable presence during intense game moments.
On the other hand, the Manhattan Jaspers women’s basketball jerseys take a playful and distinctive approach compared to their male counterparts. Infused with a darker color palette of green and white, these jerseys symbolize the team’s dynamic look. The lively green hue mirrors the team’s energy, and white detailing introduces a touch of sophistication, highlighting the smooth and stylish design unique to the Jaspers women’s basketball team. Both sets of jerseys, while distinct in their styles, represent the collective spirit and identity of the Manhattan Jaspers on the basketball court.
- Michael de Jesus, Contributing Writer
#10 Seed: Rider
The Rider Broncs have less flashy jerseys compared to the rest of the MAAC, but do not sleep on them. The combination of the deep maroon with either the home white or alternate gray pops whenever the Broncs take the court. Another great jersey is the away maroons. Contrasting with the bright white text, the maroon pops out just that much more while on the road, helped out by the corresponding shorts. The home whites have a maroon waistband that jumps right out at you, but the away maroons are completely solid.
The uniforms themselves play host to the Rider “R” plastered right on the front, and the text on the front of the jerseys pops regardless of the color. The outline of the text adds much emphasis, making sure they pop out in all colorways.
The numbers are the final noticeable feature of the Rider uniforms. The use of big bold numbers with sharp outlines makes them stand out. Whether it be the away maroons with the white numbers or the home whites with the maroon numbers, the bold numbers make for a distinct look.
- Jimmy Tsiantoulas, Assistant Managing Editor
#11 Seed: Saint Peter’s
The Saint Peter’s Peacocks have a different type of jersey when compared to the rest of the MAAC. The Peacocks go for a more professional and clean look with both their men’s and women’s teams wearing an all-white jersey at home and an all-blue jersey when away. The lettering on the women’s home jersey across the chest reads “Peacocks” instead of the men’s white which states “Saint Peter’s”.
The men’s away jersey across the side of the shorts displays the signature “SP” in the shape of a peacock, displaying the school’s mascot Both the women’s and men’s away jerseys have a clean “Saint Peter’s” across the front of their jerseys.
Another underrated feature of both teams’ jerseys is how clean the font of their numbers is on both sides, but primarily on the back. This is an important touch to any jersey, and with this detail, Saint Peter’s did not fail to impress.
- Stefan Duncan, Contributing Writer
Winners will be determined by the Center Field staff, who will vote on each alumni matchup in the bracket. The full results will be announced in the near future.
Edited by Dan Aulbach and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Cara Lacey; Photos from Marist Athletics, Jaylen Rizzo and Luke Sassa
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