2011-12 MAAC Basketball Preview: Can Iona Overtake Fairfield for the MAAC Title?

The MAAC has been one of the stronger mid-major conferences for a number of years. This year, the MAAC even has an outside chance at getting multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament with Fairfield and Iona being two of the top mid-majors in the nation.

The MAAC will receive more publicity this season between Fairfield and Iona both having some of the best mid-major players. Iona's Scott Machado and Michael Glover were recognized last season as two of the top mid-major players, and Fairfield junior Derek Needham was one of the best mid-major freshman in the nation two seasons ago.

The fight between Fairfield and Iona for first place in the MAAC will be an exciting and interesting one. Both teams are loaded with talent.

Read on for a preview of the MAAC for 2011-12, including a projection of the final standings.

*Check back soon for All-MAAC Preseason Teams.

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Marist should be preparing for another last place season. The Red Foxes have spent the last three seasons with at least a share of last place in the MAAC, and things are not brightening up for them in 2011-12.

Last season, it looked like the Red Foxes could be able to pick up a few wins in 2011-12. Last year's team was young and had some talent. However, most of that talent is gone.

Sam Prescott and Candon Rusin, two of the team's three leading scorers from a season ago, transferred to Mount St. Mary's and Vermont, respectively. In addition, forward Menelik Watson left the team.

Marist won only three MAAC games last year, and the Red Foxes will need some luck to improve on that number.

As a positive, Chuck Martin is bringing in a solid group of freshman this year, led by Isaiah Morton, a two-star recruit on ESPN. 

The 5'8" Morton is known for his speed and seems to have the potential to be a solid backup for R.J. Hall this year.

The Red Foxes will also have freshmen Manny Thomas and T.J. Curry. 

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Canisius' three leading scorers departed after last season. All together, Canisius lost 68 percent of its scoring from last year. 

The Golden Griffins return a pair of solid guards in Gaby Belardo and Alshwan Hymes, but they will need a post presence and more depth in the backcourt if they want to do any damage this year.

This will be a rebuilding year for Canisius. Expect the Golden Griffins to hang out in the bottom of the MAAC.

Coach Tom Parrotta is bringing in one freshman that could have an impact in the MAAC this year—Josiah Heath.

Heath, a 6'9" center, averaged 24 PPG, 16 RPG, and 2.8 BPG at Irondequoit High School during his senior season. Although Heath did not receive any hype on recruiting websites, anybody who puts up numbers like those must have some talent.

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Although St. Peter's pulled off a couple of upsets in the MAAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament last season, this year's St. Peter's squad will not be going dancing.

St. Peter's lost its four leading scorers from a season ago, and no players that averaged more than 25 minutes per game are returning. In addition, Steven Samuels, an expected starter, was dismissed from the team in October.

John Dunne proved his coaching abilities last season, and that alone should keep St. Peter's from falling even farther down in the MAAC.

The Peacocks will have a pair of new players this year: Lamin Fulton and Markese Tucker.

Fulton, the 5'9" guard from Philadelphia, is reported as a solid point guard who could potentially take the place of Nick Leon. ESPN says Fulton "plays very hard, has a high basketball I.Q., makes good decisions with the ball, and is a vocal leader."

Tucker was recruited by a slew of MAAC schools but chose St. Peter's over Iona, Canisius, and Fairfield. The 6'6" power forward will serve as a big body off the bench.

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The mighty Siena Saints have fallen far in the last two years. After three-peating as MAAC champions, the Saints finished seventh in the MAAC last year, and things do not look too good for them in 2011-12.

Siena lost Ryan Rossiter and Clarence Jackson, the team's two leading scorers, at the conclusion of last year. In addition, backup point guard Jonathan Breeden left the team.

The Saints will rely heavily on O.D. Anosike, Kyle Downey, and Owen Wignot. All three of these players have proven themselves in the past as solid role players, but it will be interesting to see how they adapt to being the main players on the team.

There was hope for Siena's Imoh Silas and Lionel Gomis, but the NCAA ruled the two freshmen will have to sit out for the 2011-12 season. 

Aside from Silas and Gomis, the Saints bring in a pair of guards and a center.

Point guard Evan Hymes and shooting guard Robert Poole will contribute off the bench this year. Hymes is undersized at 5'9", but Siena had success with an undersized point guard in Ronald Moore a few years ago. Poole is classified as a perimeter player and was given a two-star rating on ESPN.

The Saints will also have 6'8" center Marcus Hopper. Hopper has a large frame, but his skills as a big man are questionable according to ESPN.

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The Jaspers are starting a new era with rookie head coach Steve Masiello at the helm for the 2011-12. After five, rough years under Barry Rohrssen, the Manhattan fanbase has much higher hopes in Masiello.

Manhattan returns four starters while bringing in the additions of DeCarlos Anderson, Donovan Kates, Emmy Andujar and Ryan McCoy.

6'2" DeCarlos Anderson joins the Jaspers from Norcom High School in Virginia. Anderson is reported to be a potentially explosive scorer. On a team that has struggled to find a consistent point guard in recent years, Anderson could be expected to play a distributor role. 

Masiello used his Kentucky connections to sign Donovan Kates. Out of Christian County High School, Kates is a 6'5"guard/forward. ESPN reports that Kates has "NBA shooting range". Kates will be a good complement to shooters Kidani Brutus and Torgrim Sommerfeldt. 

Out of Rice High School, Emmy Andujar chose Manhattan over a number of mid-level, Northeast schools. The 6'5" small forward has the potential to make an immediate impact on this Manhattan squad. Andujar is reported to be a good driver, but his jump shot needs improvement.

Ryan McCoy is the only Barry Rohrssen recruit that opted to play college basketball at Manhattan. On his blog, Masiello called McCoy the "biggest surprise" on the team. According to ESPN, the 6'8" forward is a strong jump shooter.

The Jaspers will rely on leadership from Kidani Brutus and George Beamon. Named co-captains in September, Brutus and Beamon are possibly the two most talented players on the Manhattan roster.

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Two of Rider's three leading scorers from last season, Justin Robinson and Mike Ringgold, departed. The Broncs will return Novar Gadson and Brandon Penn as the leaders of the team.

Last season, Gadson averaged 13.7 PPG and 5.8 RPG. The senior forward could be ready for a breakout season in 2011-12.

Penn averaged 9.4 PPG and 4.5 RPG last year and had an impressive 26 point performance at Manhattan last year. He showed the ability to be explosive last season but had trouble being a consistent go-to player.

Coach Tommy Dempsey is bringing in a very good class of freshmen, led by 6'8" center Junior Fortunat.

Fortunat was ranked the No. 36 center in last year's recruiting class and No. 11 in Pennsylvania on ESPN. The big man chose Rider over Missouri, Illinois, Seton Hall and Virginia Commonwealth.

Rider will also have a trio of freshmen guards, consisting of Charles Oliver, Mark Medley, and Eddie Mitchell. 

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Niagara had a poor season in 2010-11, finishing in eighth place in the conference. The Purple Eagles return a strong trio of guards from last year, consisting of sophomores Marvin Jordan and Malcolm Lemmons and redshirt freshman Antoine Mason.

Jordan and Lemmons had strong freshman years. Jordan averaged 11.8 PPG and had a season-high of 23 points against Canisius. Lemmons averaged 5.9 PPG.

In three games last year, Mason averaged 16.7 PPG and 4.3 RPG.

As always, you can expect Coach Joe Mihalich to do a good job with his Purple Eagles. Mihalich is one of the best in-game coaches in the MAAC, and his team always has a chance at winning a close game down the stretch.

Niagara is also bringing in a pair of freshmen shooting guards, Ameen Tanksley and Juan'ya Green.

Tanksley, a two-star recruit with a grade of 83 on ESPN, can pose a threat in the MAAC with his 6'6" frame.

Green, graded an 88 on ESPN, is compared by ESPN to J.R. Smith as "an impressive, athletic wing player."

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Loyola lost a key player in Jamal Barney at the end of last season, but he is the only key player that departed Loyola.

The Greyhounds return Shane Walker, Erik Etherly, Justin Drummond, Robert Olson, J'Hared Hall, and Dylon Cormier. Together, these six averaged nearly 60 PPG. 

Walker, who averaged 11.1 PPG and 7.1 RPG last season, could be ready for a breakout year in the MAAC.

The Greyhounds will have Tyler Hubbard and R.J. Williams, a pair of freshmen guards, joining the team. Hubbard is known as a three-point shooter, and the 5'8" Williams is more of a distributor.

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The defending MAAC champions will most likely be dethroned in 2012. The Stags are returning three starters, plus they will greatly benefit from the additions of freshman Adam Jones and Vincent Van Ness. Also, Rakim Sanders transferred from Boston College.

Although Fairfield could be more talented than Iona this year, the Stags might have a small setback due to a coaching change. Ed Cooley departed Fairfield after the 2010-11 season, and former Princeton coach Sydney Johnson was hired as his replacement.

Although Johnson proved himself to be a strong coach in his time at Princeton, many teams can still have a tough time getting into a groove with a new coach.

Freshmen Jones and Van Ness are the only two freshmen on the team this year. The 6'7" Jones is considered a "solid low post player" by ESPN. Out of Dorchester, England, Van Ness chose Fairfield over Florida International. Both freshmen were ranked as two-star recruits on ESPN.

More important than the freshmen, Sanders will be eligible to play in the 2011-12 season. Sanders averaged 11.8 PPG in three years at Boston College, and he will make an immediate impact in the MAAC.

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Iona is the best team in the MAAC and possibly the best team in all of New York. The Gaels, fresh off a 2011 CIT Championship, return three starters and could potentially add Arizona transfer Lamont "MoMo" Jones.

Jones will be eligible for the 2011-12 season if he gets a hardship waiver from the NCAA. Otherwise, he will have to wait until 2012-13 to play for the Gaels.

The Gaels return the three-headed monster of Michael Glover, Scott Machado, and Kyle Smyth.

Glover is the most talented player in the MAAC. He is a dominant post player and can knock down the mid-range jumper. In 2010-11, Glover averaged a double-double with 18.4 PPG and 10.1 RPG while shooting 61 percent from the field.

Machado is the best point guard in the MAAC. His 7.6 APG last season led the MAAC and ranked him second in assists in all of college basketball (Aaron Johnson, UAB). Machado is also a good scorer. He is able to score off the drive and also off jumpshots. Last season, he averaged 13.2 PPG.

Smyth complements the two stars very well. He was No. 3 in the MAAC in three-pointers made last season with 75. His shooting ability gives Machado the option to shoot, dish to Glover, or kick out to Smyth for a three-pointer off the drive.

The Gaels will also have freshman Josh Gomez and junior college transfers Taaj Ridley and Nyandigisi Moikubo.

Gomez has a good reputation out of Rice High School in New York City. He needs to put on some more weight, as the big man only weighed 190 lbs coming out of high school.

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