Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Standings
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I conference made up of 11 schools located in the Northeastern United States. The conference was established in 1980 and sponsors 25 championships each year, including men’s and women’s basketball.
Overview of the Conference
The MAAC is made up of 11 schools:
- Canisius College
- Fairfield University
- Iona College
- Manhattan College
- Marist College
- Monmouth University
- Niagara University
- Quinnipiac University
- Rider University
- Saint Peter’s University
- Siena College
The conference has a diverse mix of schools, ranging from small, private Catholic institutions like Iona and Saint Peter’s to larger state schools like Rider and Niagara. The conference headquarters are located in Edison, New Jersey.
Men’s Basketball Standings
The MAAC men’s basketball season typically runs from November through February, with the conference tournament taking place in March. Each team plays 20 conference games during the regular season, facing each opponent twice (once at home and once on the road).
The MAAC uses a point system to determine the regular season standings. Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a tie. The tiebreaker system is as follows:
- Head-to-head competition
- Record against highest seed outside of tied teams
- Record against next highest seed outside of tied teams
- Record against each team descending in the standings until all tied teams have been isolated
- Goal differential in head-to-head competition
- Goal differential in games against common opponents
- Coin toss
The top six teams in the regular season standings qualify for the MAAC Tournament, with the top two teams receiving byes into the semifinals.
Recent Champions
Here are the champions of the MAAC men’s basketball tournament over the past five years:
- 2020: Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2019: Iona
- 2018: Iona
- 2017: Saint Peter’s
- 2016: Iona
Iona has been the dominant team in the MAAC over the past decade, winning seven conference championships since 2012. However, the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 tournament was won by a surprise champion in Fairfield.
Key Players and Teams to Watch
While Iona has historically been the team to beat in the MAAC, several other schools have emerged as contenders in recent years. Here are some of the top teams and players to watch in the upcoming season:
Rider University
Rider has been one of the most consistent teams in the MAAC in recent years, finishing in the top four of the regular season standings in each of the past three seasons. They return several key players from last year’s team, including leading scorer Dwight Murray Jr. and rebounding machine Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson.
Monmouth University
Monmouth has been a surprise contender in the MAAC in recent years, making the conference tournament in each of the past five seasons. They lost several key players to graduation, but return guard Deion Hammond, who averaged 16.6 points per game last season.
Jalen Pickett, Siena College
Pickett was the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2019 and has emerged as one of the top point guards in the conference. He averaged 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game last season and will be looking to lead Siena to a conference championship this year.
Conclusion
The MAAC is a competitive and entertaining conference that features a variety of schools and playing styles. With several top teams returning key players and emerging contenders looking to make their mark, the upcoming season promises to be an exciting one. Keep an eye on the standings and key players throughout the season to see who will come out on top in the race for the MAAC men’s basketball championship.