The MAAC men’s basketball tournament is here.
It brings inherent chaos where dreams are fulfilled and crushed, but only one team will advance to the dance and compete for a national championship. MAAC programs are normally seeded low and no MAAC school has a winning record in the NCAA tournament. Since the conference’s origin in 1984, an MAAC school has had a single-digit seed just three times with the most recent occurrence being in 2009. The last time an MAAC team earned an at-large bid was in 1995.
Before previewing the tournament in Atlantic City, let’s first review the regular season of the Marist Red Foxes.
How the Red Foxes Got to Atlantic City
Marist finished with a 17-12 overall record and a 12-8 MAAC record, earning the No. 3 seed in Atlantic City. The Red Foxes were originally picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, and they blew those expectations out of the water.
This is Marist’s first winning record in the regular season since 2020. More importantly, it’s the first winning season in a non-Covid season since 2007-08. The 17 wins heading into this year’s MAAC tournament is the most in a season for the Red Foxes in 16 years since and clearly the best regular season of head coach John Dunne’s tenure in Poughkeepsie. His specialty on the defensive end showed big this season; Marist boasts a top-10 scoring defense in the country, allowing just 62 points per game.
The Red Foxes became a team in limbo entering this season. After finishing dead last in the standings last season, Marist made it all the way to the MAAC championship, doing so for the first time in school history while coincidently becoming the first team to reach the final as the No. 11 seed in MAAC history. Marist lost in the final to a Rick Pitino-led Iona and lost their best player in bucket-getter Patrick Gardner, currently in the NBA G-League with the Long Island Nets.
Along with bringing in former UNC Tar Heel national champion Derrick Phelps to the coaching staff, Dunne’s brought in five newcomers for his recruiting class–two freshmen and three transfers–to replace Gardner, fellow big men graduate center Stephane Ingo and sophomore Rollin Belton, and senior forward Tyler Saint-Furcy.
They hit on four of five players.
Those four players–sophomore center Max Allen II, freshman guard Josh Pascarelli, freshman guard Jadin Collins, and junior forward Jackson Price–are the Red Foxes’ top four scorers. To achieve what this team achieved with so much youth, and so much new to the roster, is not something to forget and is extremely impressive when looking at the big picture.
Gardner may be the best player to wear a Marist uniform in the last decade. Dunne losing his star and rebounding with the best Marist team in two decades displays how special this team is and how much the program has struggled in recent memory.
Looking across the MAAC, Marist is one of the only teams to win games with a young roster. Of the top six teams in the MAAC this season, only Marist and St. Peter’s had more than two players who were top six on the team in minutes be underclassmen. The three other teams with more than two: Mount St. Mary’s, Manhattan and Siena, who all finished in the bottom half of the standings.
While Marist’s story this year is unique in its own right, the MAAC is filled with interesting storylines across the standings. Let’s preview the MAAC tournament utilizing tiers to break down where every team stands.
TIER 1: Cream of the Crop
Quinnipiac (23-8 overall, 15-5 MAAC)
The Bobcats finished as outright regular season champions for the first time in school history. First-year head coach Tom Pecora was named coach of the year, with the help of graduate student guard Matt Balanc becoming conference player of the year and All-MAAC First Team.
That’s not all, as the Bobcats had two players–senior guard Savion Lewis and sophomore forward Amarri Tice–earning All-MAAC Second-Team honors in their quest for MAAC dominance.
Quinnipiac has the best offense in the MAAC and swept two of the top five seeds during the regular season. Tice is the best newcomer in the conference and broke out this season averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game after transferring in from Wofford. He also is the only player in the conference to rank in the top five in steals and blocks per game. His impact on the game allows him to take over at times because he can make plays on both ends of the court.
Lewis recorded 79 more assists than the next top assist leader in the MAAC and is third in the country in assists per game (7.3, 226 total). To add to their sheer dominance, senior forward Paul Otieno leads the MAAC in field goal percentage. The Bobcats are a veteran team led by an established coach; the only thing standing between them and a March Madness berth is themselves. They can beat anyone and come to Atlantic City on a four-game win streak.
Fairfield (20-11 overall, 14-6 MAAC)
The Stags may be the scariest offense to face due to their plethora of guards who can get their own shot and space out any defense. This team hits 3-pointers at a 38% clip and has three of the top six 3-point shooters in the league.
Redshirt senior guard Brycen Goodine earned MAAC sixth man of the year and a place on the All-MAAC Third Team with his other-worldly 49% shooting from beyond the arc. The sharpshooter had eight games with 15 or more points, including games with 40 and 37 points this season. He is accompanied by graduate student guard Caleb Fields (All-MAAC First Team and senior guard Jalen Leach, who earned second and first-team honors while both averaging 16 points. Junior guard Jasper Floyd leads the MAAC in steals at 2.4 per game and is fourth in assists at 4.3 per game.
The Stags began the season at a staggering 1-6 (non-conference opponents including: Boston College, University of Rhode Island, University of New Hampshire, Drexel, Queens College), but an eight-game win streak propelled them to finish 19-5 after the rough start.
The X-factor for this team is graduate student forward Alexis Yetna. The former AAC freshman of the year with the University of South Florida played one of his better games in the regular season finale, scoring 11 points and nine rebounds against Mount St. Mary’s. After missing much of the season due to injury, Yetna could be the presence in the paint to complement the four guards of Fairfield.
TIER 2: Has the Goods to Make a Run
Marist (17-12 overall, 12-8 MAAC)
The Red Foxes have the best scoring defense in the MAAC, allowing the least amount of points and holding opposing offenses to 41% shooting overall. Marist posted their best home record in a season in 10 years (9-4). Their bulky defense has held opponents to under 60 points 12 times this season and 35% from 3-point range16 times this season. Defense is their bread and butter, and their depth allows for multiple players to get involved on offense in any given game, with eight players scoring double-digits off the bench at least once.
Sophomore center Max Allen II earned All-MAAC Second-Team honors averaging 11.5 points per game shooting 52% from the floor. Freshman guard Josh Pascarelli averaged 10.9 per game in the regular season and was placed on the All-MAAC Rookie Team. He cemented himself as one of the top shooters in the MAAC, where he is eighth in 3-point percentage (38%) and eighth in 3-point makes per game (2.1). Graduate student forward Javon Cooley ranks third in the MAAC in 3-point percentage (44%) and is shooting 60% from deep in his last 10 games.
Marist often makes offenses look like a shell of themselves with aggressive man defense that limits drives to the rim and forces turnovers at the fourth-highest rate in the MAAC. The Red Foxes can keep themselves in almost any game with their ability to get stops on the defensive end.
The questions all lie within offensive stability. The Red Foxes average 65 points per game (10th MAAC) with good shooting splits other than poor free-throw shooting (68%, 8th MAAC). A slow pace of play leads to fewer opportunities to score for Marist, who rank last in the MAAC in offensive rebounding.
Rider (15-16 overall, 12-8 MAAC)
The Broncs are the hottest team in the MAAC, winning seven straight while averaging 75 points per game. They have catapulted from the bottom of the standings to the No. 4 seed and a deserved day off from play in Atlantic City.
This veteran group worked back into contention for a MAAC title after being picked to win the league in the preseason along with preseason player of the year Mervin James. James did not win the award but led the MAAC in scoring at 19 points per game and was an All-MAAC First-Team selection. The senior forward is hot from deep, shooting 66% from 3-point range in his last eight games.
Rider’s size gives them a rebounding edge against any team in the league, and the experience in the starting lineup will be relied on to attempt to make a run. Graduate student guard TJ Weeks Jr will be key to the Broncs perimeter shooting where his streaky play is just one factor to the team’s struggles this season. Rider will need some spark from the bench as freshman guard DJ Dudley and junior forward JT Langston have shown flashes, but are unable to be consistent impact players to date.
St. Peter’s (16-13 overall, 12-8 MAAC)
The Peacocks are another team that exceeded expectations in head coach Bashir Mason’s second year. Their style is aggressive, physical defense and attacking the glass on offense with a top 100 defensive efficiency in the country while first in the MAAC in offensive rebounds.
The four-guard lineup is led by senior Latrell Reid–the MAAC defensive player of the year and All-MAAC First-Team forward Corey Washington–whose ball handling and athleticism allow him to wreak havoc on the floor. The sophomore has averaged 21 points in his last five games and is the focal point of the offense. If the Peacocks can imprint their style of play on the game, teams will struggle to handle their defensive intensity.
TIER 3: Dark Horses
Niagara (15-15 overall, 11-9 MAAC)
Senior guard Luke Bumbalough’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer was called off against Marist on Mar. 9, and that moment for the Purple Eagles illustrates the paper-thin margins of life in the MAAC.
A single play put Niagara from a top-five seed to now sitting in the No. 6 hole and playing Tuesday night. The Purple Eagles operate an efficient offense under young and energetic head coach Greg Paulus, shooting 47% from the field and 37% from 3-point range. Every player in their seven-man rotation averages over 7.5 points, and four of them shoot over 36% from 3-point range.
Freshman guard Ahmad Henderson has cooled off since his hot start to the season, coming off the bench the last three games and averaging 7 points in his last five games, averaging 12 on the season. Niagara struggles on the glass and will rely on seven-footer Harlan Obioha to be an anchor in the paint. The sophomore from Hoxie, Kan. has three double-doubles in his last five games and is integral to Niagara’s chances of advancing in Atlantic City.
Iona (15-16 overall, 10-10 MAAC)
The Gaels have ruled the MAAC in recent years, winning seven of the last 10 MAAC titles. Post Rick Pitino, head coach Tobin Anderson has picked up the pieces and quickly assembled a competitive roster. The only thing missing is a lack of size, but the Gaels make up for that with a high-paced offense, averaging the most team assists in the MAAC and with the best turnover margin in the conference with their high-intensity press.
Iona took a big hit with the loss of junior guard Greg Gordon, who left the program for personal reasons. His interior scoring at six-foot-five was important to keeping teams off-balanced and allowed Anderson to press with him at a forward position. Iona has lost five of their last seven, but a win at Marist showed the ceiling of the offense, with multiple guards scoring at will and graduate student guard Whea Panzo spraying 3-pointers left, right and center.
As far as awards go, graduate student guard Idan Tretout was placed on the All-MAAC Third Team and freshman guard Jeremiah Quigly on the All-MAAC Rookie Team. Graduate student forward Oshborn Shema is one of the lone returners to the roster and his shooting will be key to keeping him on the floor to protect the rim as a seven-footer.
Mount St. Mary’s (13-18 overall, 9-11 MAAC)
The Mount shoot the most efficient of any in the MAAC at 47% and are matchup nightmares for smaller teams with their supreme size and athleticism. Senior guard Dakota Leffew earned an All-MAAC First-Team selection, scoring 17 points a night with silky smooth offense off of ball screens. The emergence of freshman guard De-Shayne Montgomery put him on the All-MAAC Rookie Team.
Montgomery has been red hot of late, scoring 20 or more points in five of his last six games. Mount will need to limit turnovers as they cough it up over 14 times per game. Outside of Leffew and Montgomery, guys like senior guard Josh Reaves and sophomore forward Dola Adebayo must offer some offense to alleviate the pressure of their top dogs.
The Mount is as dangerous as anyone and extremely streaky, offering a roller coaster of results throughout the season. This team can knock off one of the top seeds if they get hot, and could become a buzzsaw in the later rounds in Atlantic City.
TIER 4: Need a lot of luck
Canisius (13-17 overall, 8-12 MAAC)
Injuries to two Preseason All-MAAC players have derailed the Golden Griffins season. Junior guard Tre Dinkins paced the offense with 15 points per game and was an All-MAAC Third-Team selection, draining 37% of his 3-point attempts. Junior forward Frank Mitchell led the MAAC in rebounds and is fourth in the nation, earning All-MAAC Second Team. Senior forward Siem Uijentaal is the other perimeter shot-maker, but his status is up in the air after playing just 16 minutes in his last game on Mar. 3 and missing five of the team’s last six games due to injury.
Sophomore guard Devean Williams has stepped up averaging 14.6 points per game in his last five outings. Canisius struggles with turnovers and does not turn opponents over either, stressing the importance of each possession and the hard road they have to make noise in Atlantic City.
Manhattan (7-22 overall, 4-16 MAAC)
The Jaspers in year one of John Gallagher struggled to stop opponents from scoring, allowing a MAAC-worst 76 points per game. Their conference’s worst rebounding margin put them at a disadvantage throughout the season which they could not overcome. Two separate losing streaks of seven or more games spelled doom for a young team that returned one rotation player from 2022-2023.
Freshman forward Seydou Traore earned All-MAAC Rookie-Team honors, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds per game through his athletic mid-post game and ability to handle the ball. Freshman guard Jaden Winston is second in the MAAC in assists at 5 per game and steals at 2.2 per game with his hyper-quick movement and active hands. The Jaspers have the opportunity to manufacture momentum by playing on the first day, but their defense will need to limit opponents to give them a chance at making any sort of run.
Siena (4-27 overall, 3-17 MAAC)
It was a disastrous season for the Saints who were picked to finish fourth in the preseason. Junior guard Sean Durugordon did not get his transfer approved until mid-December, but they were 2-8 at that point and mightily struggled the rest of the way. The two-time transfer averages 19 points per game, but the Saints’ poor offensive metrics were too much for one player to overcome.
Siena finished the season losing seven games in a row with Durugordon out with injury and sophomore guard Michael Eley absent for several games in the final stretch. The passionate fanbase in the capital region will want to forget this historically awful season, as Siena ranks as the fourth-worst team in the nation according to kenpom.com.
The opening tip of the men’s tournament is at 5:15 on Tuesday, Mar. 12 as Canisius and Mount St. Mary’s face off at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.
Edited By Dan Aulbach
Photo By Cara Lacey
