Last week, we seeded the basketball uniform sets for each MAAC conference school. Now that our Staff has voted on each head-to-head matchup in the bracket, the time has come to crown a champion…
First round:
#8 Iona vs #9 Manhattan
Winner: Iona
Manhattan, with primary colors of green and black, and Iona, who sport maroon and gold, come in at opposite ends of the uniform spectrum. The Jaspers have a number of uniform combos, highlighted by a clean gray alternate set.
The Gaels keep a consistent theme throughout their three jersey options, all identical designs in different colors. In the end, Iona’s rare color scheme and distinctive number font favored well with our Staff voters in the opening round. They took 65.6% of our vote, moving on for a matchup with the top-seeded Fairfield Stags.
#6 Canisius vs #11 Saint Peters
Winner: Canisius
Our next matchup provides two different color schemes, but both have a throwback feel due to their cursive fonts on the front of their primary jerseys. In a rematch of last year’s MAAC Madness No. 6 vs No. 11 matchup, Canisius flipped the script this year, bouncing the Peacocks in the first round.
The Golden Griffs won a close poll, in part thanks to their new yellow uniform worn occasionally on the road and at home. This year’s new set features a checkered side stripe, replicating that of the Tennessee Volunteers’ iconic burnt orange kits.
#7 Marist vs #10 Rider
Winner: Marist
In a battle of differing red uniforms, Marist’s red topped the Broncs’ “Rider Cranberry.” The Broncs don a unique color and font in their logo and their numbers, which sets them apart from any other schools in the MAAC conference.
Marist’s simplistic red and white jerseys ultimately got the nod from our Staff voters. The Red Fox uniforms have remained relatively unchanged over the past two decades, but the most recent iterations have brought a more flashy side stripe, modernizing an otherwise classic uniform.
Quarterfinals:
#1 Fairfield vs #8 Iona
Winner: Fairfield
Our top seed, the Fairfield Stags, took care of business in their first matchup. The Stags’ color scheme of red, black and white is far from rare, but the uniforms are by no means basic. Recently, the Stags have begun wearing their black uniforms more frequently. Both the men’s and women’s black alternates are some of the cleanest uniform combinations in the conference.
After dominating their first-round matchup against Manhattan, Iona gets bounced by Fairfield in the ensuing round. Ultimately, our voters were not too fond of the uniqueness of the Gaels uniforms, rather favoring the professional look of the Stags uniforms.
#4 Mount St. Marys vs #5 Siena
Winner: Mount St. Mary’s
In the only matchup between two teams that each had first-round byes, the Siena Saints faced off with the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers. Siena, rocking an old-fashioned color scheme of yellow and green, has surprisingly modern-looking uniforms, especially their home whites.
Nevertheless, “The Mount” moves on, thanks to a large selection of uniforms. Aside from their regular home white and road navy blue uniforms, the Mountaineers boast two flashy alternates, powder blue and gold. These two uniforms set them apart from the rest of the field, helping them cruise to a victory over Siena.
#3 Quinnipiac vs #6 Canisius
Winner: Canisius
In a matchup between two schools with the same color scheme, Canisius earned the nod from our voters over Quinnipiac. The most noticeable difference between the Golden Griffs and Bobcats’ uniforms is the amount of yellow. Canisius incorporates the color more into their white and navy uniforms, including heavy yellow stripes on the road blue jerseys.
It seems as though our voters prefer more yellow mixed into uniforms!
#2 Niagara vs #7 Marist
Winner: Marist
In a showdown of two uniforms that feature a similar layout but entirely different colors, we have the Marist Red Foxes and Niagara Purple Eagles. Niagara is the only team in the MAAC to use Purple as a primary color. However, their uniforms are somewhat basic, outside of the beautiful black set with purple numbers.
Our voters (hopefully putting their Marist connections aside) favored the Red Foxes’ uniforms, the first upset in terms of seeding in this year’s MAAC Madness. While not bold, the two sets in Marist’s rotation are consistent. Both follow the same template, a basic but effective, professional look for the Red Foxes.
Semifinals:
#1 Fairfield vs #4 Mount St. Mary’s
Winner: Fairfield
Our first final-four battle is between two standout uniforms in the MAAC, Fairfield and Mount St. Mary’s. Fairfield defeated Mount St. Mary’s in a narrow vote, clinching a spot in the championship.
Perhaps “The Mount” would have performed better with our voters if their two most fashionable uniforms, the powder blue and gold options, were their primary uniforms. Instead, the Mountaineers continue to use their more basic navy blue and white uniforms.
#6 Canisius vs #7 Marist
Winner (OT): Canisius
In the tightest vote yet, we had a tie. Of our 28 voters, preference was split directly down the middle. 14 for Canisius and 14 for Marist. Adapting on the fly, our editors held a tiebreaker vote, in which Canisius ultimately came out on top.
One aspect that ultimately held Marist back was their lack of alternative uniforms, as they are in the rare minority of college basketball teams that sport just two uniform sets. Whether it be a black alternate similar to Fairfield, or a unique all-white uniform similar to the Miami Heat 2010’s “white-hot” kit, Marist’s uniform rotation would benefit vastly from an addition of a third jersey.
Championship:
#1 Fairfield vs #6 Canisius
Winner: Fairfield
In our third edition of MAAC Madness, the championship matchup gives us a showdown of a former champion from the 2022 MAAC Madness, Canisius, and this year’s top dog, Fairfield. On the court, the Stags have dominated the MAAC; Fairfield’s women’s team went undefeated in conference play and the men’s team snagged the two seed in this year’s MAAC tournament.
Regardless of what happens this week in Atlantic City, Fairfield’s historic year will include the most prestigious honor of all, a Marist Madness trophy on their mantle. In another extremely close vote, the Fairfield Stags have won the 2024 MAAC Uniform Madness championship.
Edited by Luke Sassa
Graphic by Cara Lacey
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