Last season, Marist men’s basketball won 20 games in a season for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Despite a lackluster finish and the departure of key pieces from a season ago, expectations remain high for the Red Foxes this season.
The panel looks into what Marist needs to do to win their first MAAC championship in program history.
Who do you see making the biggest offensive impact in the wake of Pascarelli and Price’s transfer?
Luke Reistle, Contributor: When looking at the Marist offense, the obvious guy to lead this team is senior guard Elijah Lewis. A familiar face from last season, Lewis finished second in points per game for the Red Foxes, while being a crucial piece to Marist in the clutch. With two key players gone, Lewis can be the key player that this team decides to play through. If he can get his assist numbers up as well as his shooting percentage, Elijah Lewis will be the player that opposing defenses struggle to contain.
Jordan Rosen, Contributor: A player that I think can really produce for the Red Foxes this season on offense is Rhyjon Blackwell. The transfer from USC Aiken is a score-first guard who is an exceptional three-point shooter; last season, he averaged 13.3 points per game while shooting nearly 38 percent from three and 84 percent from the line. Additionally, Blackwell scored 20 or more points in eight games last year and hit four or more threes in six. Although it will be extremely difficult to replace the production of Pascarelli and Price, Rhyjon Blackwell can heat up quickly and put points up in a hurry for the Red Foxes this season.
Sierra Fisher, Copy Editor: As Pascarelli and Price have parted ways with Marist, the opportunity for senior guard Elijah Lewis to make an offensive impact is wide open. Coming off of a third team All-MAAC selection, Lewis’ success from a season ago should set him up to be able to lead the team this season with their new starting five. Lewis was one of three players to start in every game last season, finishing only behind Pascarelli in points per game. He is a consistent player head coach John Dunne can lean on when making game decisions, and with an average of 30.8 minutes per game, Lewis can be just what the Foxes need to maintain their stamina and stay ahead of their competition.
James Giunco, Contributor: The Marist offense has a void to fill this season with the loss of Pascarelli and Price. Senior guard Elijah Lewis is poised to be a big scoring option this season, averaging 11.6 points per game last season, good for second on the team behind Pascarelli. Coming off a 27.7 percent mark from three-point range, he needs to improve his shooting. If he can figure out the three-ball and become a more versatile playmaker, teams are going to have to watch out for him this season.
Which teams in the MAAC are poised for deep postseason runs?
Luke: The first team in the MAAC that looks poised for a great season is last year’s regular-season champions, Quinnipiac. Ranked No. 1 in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Bobcats retained a few of their top pieces from last season while adding some great new prospects as well. With reigning MAAC Player of the Year Amarri Monroe on their roster, it’s hard not to mention Quinnipiac. Another team of note coming off an extreme high from last season is Mount St. Mary’s. After winning the MAAC tournament and playing in March Madness last spring, the Mount has shown that they are ready to compete and can win in big moments. While they may be seen as underdogs, ranked No. 9 in the preseason poll, Mount St. Mary’s has demonstrated that they are an underrated team to look out for.
Jordan: When talking about teams that are poised for a deep run this year in the MAAC, it’s hard not to mention the Quinnipiac Bobcats. The Bobcats are ranked first in the preseason coaches’ poll for the 2025–26 season and are the reigning regular-season champions. They also have the MAAC Player of the Year from last season, Amarri Monroe. With Monroe and a few key additions through the transfer portal, it will be difficult to imagine Quinnipiac not competing for a spot in March this year. Another team that is one to watch this season is the Siena Saints. Although head coach Gerry McNamara’s first season with the Saints did not go as planned, this year’s squad has the pieces to make a run in the MAAC. By keeping important players from last year’s team as well as adding a few new transfers, this team is bound to improve on last season and could make a deep run in the postseason.
Sierra: Looking at the teams that are poised for a deep postseason, Siena and Quinnipiac are the first that come to mind. The Bobcats posted the best record in the MAAC last season, returning the majority of their roster and earning the top spot in the preseason coaches’ poll. They have a dominant offense that is quick at the rim, paired with a strong defense that creates a dual threat to their competitors. They have been deep in the postseason constantly in recent years and know how to end their season on a high note. Siena is a team that could be a wild card during the regular season and surprise people in the postseason. Ranked third in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Saints also return the majority of their roster, with the addition of junior forward Tasman Goodrick from the transfer portal to round out their starting five. These two teams will be on the radar all season and into the postseason when the championship is on the line.
James: The Quinnipiac Bobcats are primed to finally lift the MAAC championship trophy this season. Coming off a 15-5 conference record last season, they were not able to get past Iona in the semifinals. Being ranked No. 1 in the coaches’ poll, senior 2024 MAAC Player of the Year Amarri Monroe returning and consistently having a great regular season, they need to take the next step and earn key wins in the MAAC tournament this season. An underrated pick to win the MAAC Tournament is the Iona Gaels. After bringing in a new head coach, the team will start a fresh system with increased motivation after losing in the MAAC championship last season.
What is your assessment of the Red Foxes being placed fifth in the pre-season coaches’ poll? (three spots down from last year)?
Luke: When you look at the full picture, Marist’s preseason ranking of No. 5 in the MAAC is accurate. The Red Foxes lost two of their main pieces this offseason with the departures of Josh Pascarelli and Jackson Price, and may find it hard to replace them. Marist did address some roster problems in the transfer portal, adding former Iona guard Justin Menard and graduate student guard Rhyjon Blackwell from USC Aiken. With these moves, along with new freshmen needing to make an impact, it is likely this Marist team will take a slight dip from last season. However, with coach John Dunne heading into his eighth season with the Red Foxes, do not be surprised if this team finds their groove and outplays their preseason ranking with a MAAC championship.
Jordan: Seeing Marist fall to fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll feels slightly harsh toward this unit. It can not be overstated how much Josh Pascarelli and Jackson Price meant to this team, but Marist also added some serious talent through the transfer portal. Graduate student Rhyjon Blackwell and sophomore Justin Menard will significantly improve the team’s guard play, and both are expected to see plenty of minutes on the court. While it’s fair to assume this Marist team might experience a slight dip from last year, they have the potential to surprise a lot of people come March.
Sierra: The Red Foxes getting ranked fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll showcases the impact of losing key players from last season, but fails to include the notable additions to the roster that should move them up in the rankings as the season goes on. Adding sophomore guard Justin Menard, a former Iona Gael, and graduate student Rhyjon Blackwell out of USC Aiken allows the Foxes to rebuild for the upcoming season. These additions shift the dynamic of the team, but allow them to find new strengths to improve their ranking and hold their own against the competition. The rankings are only a prediction; what matters will be their ability to succeed in the postseason tournament.
James: Being named fifth shows how the Red Foxes’ success over the past couple of seasons earns them respect in the MAAC every year, but the ranking acknowledges the talent they lost for the season in Pascarelli and Price. With the loss of two starters, they have guys that they are looking to step up, like graduate student guard Rhyjon Blackwell. Sometimes, when rosters undergo big changes, it is common for teams to have a slight reset and not play as well. Despite that, Marist has a great chance to overachieve this season, after not getting to where they wanted to be last year. They are still a threat to win the MAAC this season, but they are going to have to overcome a lot of obstacles if they are going to make a run at it this season.
What areas does Marist need to improve on to make it further than last year?
Luke: For Marist to improve on their decent season last year, one aspect that can improve is their offensive efficiency. Last season, they shot 44 percent from the floor and just over 31 percent from three, which are two stats that are the backbone of a successful team. Another aspect of Marist’s game that needs improvement is their turnover ratio. Marist averaged almost 12 turnovers per game last season, about 1.3 more than the average among other MAAC teams. If Marist wants to win close games and keep their efficiency up, they will need to be smarter with the ball in their hands.
Jordan: There are several important improvements Marist needs to make heading into this season. First, the Red Foxes must be more aggressive on offense and work to get to the free-throw line more often. Last year, they ranked near the bottom of the MAAC in free-throw attempts, averaging just 12.8 per game. Next, they need to sustain their performance throughout the latter part of the season. Marist was comfortably atop the MAAC standings midway through last year but lost six of their final ten games, falling to the third seed. Lastly, the team needs to be more efficient offensively. They shot just 44 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range last season, placing them near the bottom of the conference in both categories. If Marist can improve in these three areas, they can take major steps forward this year.
Sierra: For the Foxes to improve, they have to work on their cohesiveness at the end of the regular season and into the postseason. Marist ended the regular season with four consecutive losses to MAAC teams, tarnishing their seeding in the MAAC tournament. They have to continue to maintain their momentum from the beginning of the season to when they start to play conference teams and enter the postseason. Reducing their turnovers and taking command of the court will help the Foxes improve upon how their season ended last year.
James: The most important area Marist needs to be better at this year is keeping their focus near the end of the season. The Red Foxes lost their last five matchups last season, including their first round game of the MAAC tournament. The entire season is important, but the end of the year is where good teams put their best foot forward and look to keep advancing, something Marist did not do. Marist also needs to be a much improved three-point shooting team. From last season, their top five scorers shot an average of 28.7 percent from three. If Marist is going to compete against the top teams in the conference and win high-scoring games, they’re going to need to shoot better from distance.
Edited by August Lieberman and Mike Schiavone
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
Photos used in graphic via Marist Athletics and Stockton Photo
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