Siena Basketball

All but two MAAC teams (Loyola vs. St. Peter's was cancelled because of weather) were in action on Friday night. 

Current MAAC Standings

Siena 14-1

Iona 10-5

Fairfield 10-5

St. Peter's 9-5

Rider  7-8

Niagara 7-8

Loyola 5-9

Manhattan 4-11

Marist 1-14

Marist @ Canisius

Canisius and Marist opened the night for the MAAC. Marist's one win came in a close game against Manhattan at the start of January.

Marist only scored two points in the first eight minutes but fought back to stay within six points at halftime. 

Canisius came out strong in the second half and did not give any room for Marist to think about its second win on the season. Canisius went up by 64-49 with six minutes left. Marist scored the final four points to cut the final score to 71-56. 

Julius Coles led Canisius with 18 points, but Frank Turner had the best overall game. Turner scored 16 points, dished out 10 assists, and grabbed seven rebounds.

Candon Rusin led Marist in scoring with 17 points.

Fairfield @ Rider

This game was close all the way. The largest lead of the game on either side was Fairfield by six.

Fairfield led 71-66 with 2:32 left, but Rider still had some fight. Jhamar Youngblood made a lay-up with two minutes left to cut the lead to three points. With 11 seconds left, Youngblood dunked on a fast break to cut the lead to 71-70. 

Anthony Johnson split a pair of free throws to put Fairfield up 72-70. Justin Robinson came down the floor for Rider and hit a game-tying lay-up. 

Fairfield scored the first five points of overtime. Rider could not hit shots in the final few minutes, and Fairfield won 79-75.

Johnson led all scorers with 27 points. He also had 14 rebounds. 

Freshman star Derek Needham scored 20 points for the Stags.

All of Rider's starters scored in double digits. Ryan Thompson led the Broncs with 18 points.

Manhattan @ Iona

Poor execution by the Jaspers cost them their first game against Iona, and they lost 56-53. But this time, the Jaspers had different plans.

Iona led 5-3 early on, but that would be its final lead of the game. Manhattan went on a 15-5 run to take a double-digit lead. Manhattan would go up as many as 19 points, taking a 40-21 lead into halftime.

Iona came out strong in the second half with an 11-0 run, cutting the lead to eight. After Barry Rohrssen took a time-out, the Jaspers responded with a 7-0 run to push the lead back to double digits. 

Manhattan looked like it was in a comfortable position, up 59-51 with 2:23 left, but a Ben Mockford three-pointer cut the lead to five. Rico Pickett then split a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession.

Jermel Jenkins hit two free throws with 35 seconds left to cut the lead to 60-56. Pickett then responded with his own pair of free throws. 

Iona chose not to take a time-out and ran up the floor. Milan Prodanovic dished to Kyle Smyth, who drained a three-pointer. Laurence Jolicoeur hit a pair of free throws to put the Jaspers up two possessions with 18.6 seconds left. 

Ben Mockford turned the ball over for Iona, and then just about wrapped things up. Nick Walsh hit two free throws to put Manhattan up 66-59. 

Patrick Bouli then committed an utterly stupid foul with six seconds left at half court. Rashon Dwight split the free throws, and then the Jaspers ran out the clock. 

Pickett led all scorers with 24 points. This was the MAAC's leading scorer's first time in the starting lineup in a few games. 

Darryl Crawford scored 14, and freshman Mohammed Koita scored 10—all in the first half. Koita suffered an "unspecified right wrist injury" early in the second half and missed the rest of the game. 

Kyle Smyth led Iona with 12 points. Scott Machado had 11 points and five rebounds before fouling out late in the second half.

Siena @ Niagara

And finally, the matchup of the night. Last year, Niagara hosted Siena and handed the Saints their first conference loss of the year. This year, they looked at repeating. 

Siena got out to a nine-point lead with seven minutes left in the first half. But Siena hit a cold stretch and let Niagara crawl back in and even take a 39-37 lead at halftime.

The game stayed tight for the first seven minutes of the second half, and then the rout started. 

Niagara went on a 15-0 run to take a 70-53 lead. Siena looked like it might crawl back in, cutting the lead back to 70-57, but then Niagara went on a quick 6-2 run.

Niagara would go up as many as 18 with 3:15 left. A three-pointer by Kyle Griffin cut the final score to 87-74, and then the party started in Niagara. 

Ryan Rossiter led Siena with 23 points and 12 rebounds. 

Edwin Ubiles scored 12 points, and Alex Franklin added nine points and eight rebounds.

Tyrone Lewis led all scorers with 24 points. Lewis also had four assists. 

Kashief Edwards scored 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Edwards had two big dunks in the second half to give Niagara some momentum. Bilal Benn recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. 

————————————————————————————————————————————

The MAAC is back in action on Sunday, February 14. Iona hosts Loyola, Niagara hosts Marist, and Canisius hosts Siena. 

For more college basketball, follow Jesse Kramer on Twitter by clicking here.

You've heard the saying "the rich get richer." Well, in the MAAC, it looks like the hot will get hotter as the conference tournament approaches.

Siena has a tough schedule, but they also have too much talent and chemistry to be beaten on anything other than an "off" night. With the exception of Siena, Iona's schedule is extremely favorable for the Gaels.

Siena is already 12-0 in MAAC play. In first place by three games, the Saints' magic number is three. A win at home tonight over Iona would cut the number to one.

Siena has already beaten all six of their remaining MAAC opponents. Considering the Saints handled Iona and Fairfield on the road, they should win—possibly in close games—at home, where they have taken 32 straight.

Although the Purple Eagles have deep talented guard play, Niagara has struggled this year without a true big man. Siena has two powerful post players in Alex Franklin and Ryan Rossiter, who combined for 35 points in Siena's 83-65 defeat of Niagara. Next Friday's match should be a similar story.

Canisius kept Siena close when the two teams met in January, but the Saints walked away with a 12-point win. Siena's guards have the edge over Frank Turner and Julius Coles while Rossiter and Franklin should overpower the Golden Griffins' post players.

Rider is climbing in the standings as a result of hot play, and the Saints better hope the Broncs slow down before February 26. A hot Rider team against an undefeated Siena team will create a hostile environment in Lawrenceville.

Rider's Mike Ringgold and Novar Gadson have the bodies to battle Franklin and Rossiter. While Siena's guard play is superior, Rider's guards are streaky. Ryan Thompson, Justin Robinson, and Jhamar Youngblood can all catch fire, so Siena will need to suffocate the perimeter—a task they have struggled to fulfill this season.

If Siena's going to lose a MAAC game without having a team-wide "off" night, they'll lose to Rider.

Siena ends its regular season against Marist. Expect a rout.

Expected MAAC finish: 18-0

The MAAC's most pleasant surprise, Iona, is currently 17-6 and has possession of second place with a 9-3 MAAC record.

Iona will commence the final third of MAAC play on the road at Siena.

If Iona can hustle back on defense to prevent Ronald Moore from achieving maximum effectiveness, the Gaels will be able to limit Siena's high-percentage shots—the Saints shot 50 percent against the Gaels in December as a result of pushing the ball. Iona's half-court defense is possibly the MAAC's best, so the Gaels must force Siena into a half-court game.

Iona, who leads the MAAC with a 37.7 percent conversion rate on treys, can take advantage of Siena's inconsistent perimeter defense like they did in December.

Alejo Rodriguez will need to avoid foul trouble and, if possible, draw fouls from Franklin and Rossiter. Overall, the Gaels will need to toe the charity stripe more than the six times they did in December.

Unfortunately for the Gaels, their eight game winning streak will most likely end tonight. However, they have the weapons to defeat Siena.

Following the Siena game, Iona plays three consecutive games against teams who will be playing on Friday night in the MAAC tournament. The Gaels have already beaten Marist, Manhattan, and Loyola.

Although Manhattan and Loyola kept Iona close, the Gaels were on the road. Now, they'll host the Jaspers and the Greyhounds. Neither opponent had an offense capable of penetrating Iona's defense at home; neither opponent will be able to be efficient on the road.

Iona will conclude regular season play with road games at Fairfield and Saint Peter's.

The Gaels couldn't contain Anthony Johnson (25 points) when they hosted the Stags in January, but the defense held the rest of Fairfield to 33 points. Iona should be hot entering this game while Fairfield could potentially take the floor as losers of four of their last five.

Fairfield is the worst MAAC defender of the three, so Iona should be able to take advantage once again.

Iona versus Saint Peter's will feature defense. The Peacocks won the first battle by two at Iona, but expect the Gaels to return the favor in the regular season's final game by giving Wesley Jenkins extra attention on defense. If the Gaels eliminate Jenkins from the Peacocks' offense, Saint Peter's doesn't have enough offensive threats to beat Iona.

Expected MAAC finish: 14-4

Surprise Appearance

Until two weeks ago, Rider's season seemed like a lost cause. Then, the Broncs picked up three straight wins against Niagara, Manhattan, and Fairfield to hit the .500 mark in conference play.

Now 6-6 in the MAAC, Rider has the stretch schedule every team dreams for. Five of the Broncs' last six conference games will be played at home, in Alumni Gymnasium.

Rider might only be 5-3 at home, but you can expect more and more fans to pass through the turnstiles if Rider has a chance at a top three MAAC finish. As more fans come to the games, Alumni Gymnasium will become more and more hostile.

This team was voted to finish third in the MAAC for a reason. Don't be surprised if the Broncs win four or even five their final six conference games.

Expected MAAC finish: 10-8

For more MAAC and mid-major basketball, follow Ari Kramer on Twitter by clicking here .

Rank. Team (Previous Ranking)

1. Siena Saints (1)

Record: 17-4, 10-0

RPI: 34

Siena remains undefeated in the MAAC. The Saints continued their home win-streak with a win over Loyola (MD), then beat the Manhattan Jaspers in a close game on the road where they have struggled in the past.

Next: Thursday, at St. Peter's

2. Iona Gaels (3)

Record: 15-6, 7-3 

RPI: 72

Iona has now won six-straight games. The Gaels won at Manhattan on Friday, then beat Fairfield on Sunday.

Next: Thursday, Marist

3. Fairfield Stags (2)

Record: 14-6, 7-3

RPI: 116

Fairfield lost for the second time in four games with its loss to Iona on Sunday. Fairfield is now in a three-way tie for second place in the MAAC.

Next: Thursday, at Loyola (MD)

4. St. Peter's Peacocks (4)

Record: 12-8, 7-3

RPI: 144

St. Peter's has won five-straight games since losing at Manhattan. This week, the Peacocks beat Niagara and Canisius during their western New York trip.

Next: Thursday, Siena

5. Canisius Golden Griffins (5)

Record: 10-11, 5-5

RPI: 191

Canisius beat Rider, but then cost itself a spot as the No. 4 team with a loss to St. Peter's.

Next: Friday, Niagara

6. Rider Broncs (7)

Record: 11-11, 4-6

RPI: 154

Rider snapped a three-game losing streak with a win at Niagara on a tip-in with five seconds left. Two of Rider's last three wins have come on tip-ins to cap comebacks in the final 10 seconds.

Next: Thursday, Manhattan

7. Niagara Purple Eagles (6)

Record: 11-11, 4-6

RPI: 174

Niagara lost both of its games to St. Peter's and Rider this week. Bilal Benn rushed back from an injury and this could be limiting his ability to play well.

Next: Friday, at Canisius

8. Loyola (MD) Greyhounds (9)

Record: 10-10, 3-7

RPI: 192

Loyola (MD) played Siena close in its first game of the week, and stayed strong with a 16-point win at Marist.

Next: Thursday, Fairfield

9. Manhattan Jaspers (8)

Record: 7-13, 2-8

RPI: 223

Manhattan has now lost five-straight games. It has played close in all of its games, but poor coaching has resulted in losses.

Next: Thursday, at Rider

10. Marist Red Foxes (10)

Record: 1-19, 1-9

RPI: 338

Marist continues to lose, with its only win of the season coming against the Manhattan Jaspers.

Next: Thursday, at Iona

High expectations almost always disappoint. If you don't hold credence in that statement, recall the predictions for the Siena Saints' 2009-10 season. Then, look at their OOC performance.

The Associated Press slated Siena at No. 27 in its preseason poll while Sports Illustrated put the Saints at No. 20. To be blunt, they were incorrect.

Although Siena is currently a perfect 7-0 and is atop the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Saints were not opportunistic in their significant non-conference games. They fell short against Temple, Saint John’s, Georgia Tech, and Northern Iowa en route to a 7-4 OOC (out-of-conference) record, which lacked a win capable of boosting Siena’s postseason résumé.

As of now, nobody “knows” if Siena can beat a top team, so a trip to the Sweet 16—which some predicted for the Saints in the preseason—seems a bit far-fetched to many. However, this year’s Siena squad shares many characteristics with the Saints teams that advanced to the Round of 32 in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Siena 2009-10

77.4 points per game, 38.7 rebounds per game, 15.5 assists per game, 13.2 turnovers per game, 10.1 steals per game, 3.8 blocks per game, 14.3 personal fouls per game, 46.1 percent FG, 65.5 percent FT, 31.4 percent 3PT, and 1.27 points per shot.

 

Siena 2008-09

77.4 points per game, 36.4 rebounds per game, 15.3 assists per game, 13.2 turnovers per game, 8.8 steals per game, 4.5 blocks per game, 14.8 personal fouls per game, 46.7 percent FG, 66.4 percent FT, 33 percent 3PT, and 1.26 points per shot.

 

Siena 2007-08

76.9 points per game, 33.8 rebounds per game, 14.4 assists per game, 11.3 turnovers per game, 9.4 steals per game, 3.5 blocks per game, 15.4 personal fouls per game, 45.1 percent FG, 68.9 percent FT, 38.2 percent 3PT, and 1.27 points per shot.

Despite their lack of a “big” win, this year’s team is arguably better—on paper—than the teams from a year or two ago. The Saints still consistently post a high score and their rebounding, passing—mainly Ronald Moore—stealing, and fouling have all improved.

Opponents used to plan on preventing three Saints—Kenny Hasbrouck, Edwin Ubiles, and Alex Franklin—from scoring. Now Hasbrouck is gone, but Clarence Jackson and Ryan Rossiter have stepped in as legitimate offensive threats.

Add Moore, the nation’s assists leader, into the mix and the Saints have a loaded starting lineup which is unmatched by any other MAAC team. Siena leads the MAAC in scoring, rebounding, distributing, stealing, fouling, field goal shooting, points per shot, and turnovers forced (16.9 per game).

Siena has already beaten the six teams behind them in the MAAC standings. An eight-point win at second-place Fairfield was the Saints’ only conference win by less than 11 points.

There are two ways Siena can lose in conference play.

The Saints don't have the same depth they've had in the past. They don't have a Tay Fisher or a Clarence Jackson who can be relied on off the bench.

As unlikely as it is for a team that only commits 14.3 fouls per game, the Saints cannot afford to have starters foul out early. Kyle Downey, Owen Wignot, and O.D. Anosike are all talented ballplayers, but they have not received the floor time to be deemed reliable.

A contagiously bad performance is the only other way Siena will lose a MAAC game this season.

Come MAAC Tournament time, the Saints will play host to the league’s other nine teams. Siena has won 30 straight home games, and it will be difficult to dethrone the reigning champs.

But what the Saints do in the MAAC doesn’t matter, right? They couldn’t beat anyone out of conference, so they won’t be able to advance in the Big Dance, right?

Possibly. But, remember what the Saints of 2007-08 and 2008-09 accomplished in the OOC?

In 2007-08, Siena scheduled up. They lost to No. 25 Syracuse, No. 2 Memphis, and Saint Joseph’s. Without Brook Lopez, No. 20 Stanford was vulnerable to Siena’s attack and fell to the Saints by 12 in Albany.

So Siena didn’t have one true résumé-building win, yet they upset Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament.

Last year, the Saints struggled against higher talent—they couldn’t defeat No. 12 Tennessee, Oklahoma State, No. 3 Pittsburgh, or Kansas. Regardless, they went 16-2 in the MAAC, won the conference championship, outlasted Evan Turner and Ohio State, and nearly upset Louisville in the second round.

The Saints can never win the weighted OOC games in November and December, but they gel during MAAC play and win in the Big Dance. This year’s team is Fran McCaffery’s best—statistically speaking—and Siena’s coveted Sweet 16 appearance is becoming more and more conceivable.

If the Saints advance to the tournament’s second weekend, those lofty expectations will be fulfilled.

For more mid-major and MAAC basketball, follow Ari Kramer on Twitter by clicking here .

Rank. Team (Last Week's Ranking)

Please Note: All stats as of Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, 9 a.m.

1.  Northern Iowa Panthers (1)

Record: 14-1, 5-0 MVC

RPI: 15

Northern Iowa continued to show their dominance in the Missouri Valley Conference with wins over Missouri State, Southern Illinois, and Illinois State—all three of them in the better half of the conference.

Key Wins: Boston College (Neutral), Siena (Home), Missouri State (Home)

Key Losses: Depaul (Neutral)

2. Butler Bulldogs (2)

Record: 11-4, 4-0 Horizon

RPI: 19

Butler beat conference-rival Wright State on Friday night to improve to 4-0 in the Horizon League. Butler plays at Detroit (11-5, 4-1 Horizon) on Sunday.

Key Wins: Northwestern (Road), Ohio State (Home), Xavier (Home)

Key Losses: Clemson (Neutral)

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs (4)

Record: 12-3, 1-0 WCC

RPI: 18

Gonzaga picked up a win in their first conference game at Portland.

Key Wins: Cincinnati (Neutral), Wisconsin (Neutral), Illinois (Road)

Key Losses: Wake Forest (Home)

4. Siena Saints (5)

Record: 12-4, 5-0 MAAC

RPI: 42

Siena improved to 5-0 in the MAAC with wins over Loyola (MD) and Niagara. The Saints have now won five in a row and seven out of their last eight. With the win over Niagara, Siena has won 29-straight games at home.

Key Wins: Northeastern (Home), Niagara (Home)

Key Losses: Temple (Road), Northern Iowa (Road)

5. Old Dominion Monarchs (8)

Record: 12-5, 4-1 CAA

RPI: 39

Currently in a four-way tie for first place in the CAA, Old Dominion beat Hofstra, George Mason, and Towson this week.

Key Wins: Marshall (Home), Georgetown (Road)

Key Losses: Richmond (Road), George Mason (Road)

6. St. Mary's Gaels (9)

Record: 14-2, 1-0 WCC

RPI: 33

St. Mary's beat San Francisco, 83-62, in their only game this week.

Key Wins: Utah State (Road), San Diego State (Home)

Key Losses: Vanderbilt (Home)

7. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (10)

Record: 9-4, 2-0 Sun Belt

RPI: 44

Western Kentucky picked up close wins against Mississippi State and South Alabama this week. The Hilltoppers have now won seven out of their last eight.

Key Wins: Murray State (Home), Mississippi State (Home)

Key Losses: Indiana State (Home), South Carolina (Road)

8. Missouri State Bears (6)

Record: 13-3, 3-2 MVC

RPI: 45

After losing close games to Northern Iowa and Wichita State—two of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference—Missouri State beat Bradley, 88-69.

Key Wins: Auburn (Home), Tulsa (Home), Illinois State (Home)

Key Losses: Arkansas (Road), Wichita State (Home)

9. Portland Pilots (7)

Record: 9-6, 0-1 WCC

RPI: 78

Portland lost to Gonzaga, 81-78, in their only game this week.

Key Wins: Minnesota (Neutral)

Key Losses: Portland State (Home), Idaho (Road)

10. Illinois State Redbirds (11)

Record: 12-4, 3-2 MVC

RPI: 91

Illinois State beat Southern Illinois and Evansville before losing to Northern Iowa, 59-44, on Saturday.

Key Wins: Saint Bonaventure (Home), Wichita State (Home)

Key Losses: Ohio (Road)

11. Murray State Racers (12)

Record: 13-3, 5-0 OVC

RPI: 83

The Racers beat Austin Peay, Tennessee State, and Tennessee Martin by double digits this week.

Key Wins: Eastern Kentucky (Home)

Key Losses: Louisiana Tech (Road)

12. Virginia Commonwealth Rams (3)

Record: 10-4, 2-3 CAA

RPI: 52

After losing to Northeastern and Drexel, Virginia Commonwealth rebounded with a win over Delaware.

Key Wins: Oklahoma (Home), Nevada (Home), Richmond (Home)

Key Losses: Western Michigan (Road), Drexel (Road)

13. Cornell Big Red (14)

Record: 13-3

RPI: 32

Cornell made the headlines this week as they almost pulled off an upset against No. 1 Kansas. The Big Red lead for almost the whole game, before Kansas pulled off a 71-66 victory on their home floor. Cornell rebounded with a win at South Dakota.

Key Wins: Alabama (Road)

Key Losses: None

14. Harvard Crimson (16)

Record: 12-3, 1-0 Ivy

RPI: 46

Harvard beat Santa Clara and Dartmouth this week, extending their winning streak to five games.

Key Wins: William & Mary (Home), Boston College (Road)

Key Losses: Army (Road)

15. Wichita State Shockers (17)

Record: 15-2, 4-1 MVC

RPI: 62

Wichita State has now won 13 out of their last 14. This week, they beat Bradley, Missouri State, and Creighton.

Key Wins: Texas Tech (Home), Missouri State (Road)

Key Losses: Pitt (Neutral)

16. Northern Colorado Bears (19)

Record: 15-3, 4-1 Big Sky

RPI: 76

Northern Colorado beat Weber State and Idaho State to extend their winning streak to six games.

Key Wins: Montana (Road)

Key Losses: Montana State (Road), Wyoming (Road)

17. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (23)

Record: 15-2, 3-0 WAC

RPI: 74

Louisiana Tech beat Utah State and Idaho this week. The Bulldogs have won their first three WAC games.

Key Wins: Murray State (Home), Houston (Road)

Key Losses: Arizona (Road)

18. William & Mary Tribe (18)

Record: 12-3, 4-1 CAA

RPI: 20

The Tribe picked up a heartbreaking loss to UNC Wilmington to start off the week, but then rebounded with wins over Delaware and Drexel.

Key Wins: Wake Forest (Road), VCU (Home), Maryland (Road)

Key Losses: UNC Wilmington (Home)

19. Wright State Raiders (21)

Record: 10-6, 3-2 Horizon

RPI: 129

Wright State lost a close game to Butler this week, falling to fourth place in their conference.

Key Wins: Sam Houston State (Home)

Key Losses: Northeastern (Road), Miami Ohio (Home)

20. Western Carolina Catamounts (15)

Record: 12-3, 2-1 SoCon

RPI: 54

Western Carolina beat Berea to start the week, but then fell at Georgia Southern for their first conference loss.

Key Wins: Louisville (Road)

Key Losses: Clemson (Road), Georgia Southern (Road)

21. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (24)

Record: 16-2, 6-0 Big South

RPI: 155

Coastal Carolina remains red hot, as they have now won 15 out of their last 16, with the loss coming to Cal State Northridge. The Chanticleers play Radford on Jan. 14.

Key Wins: College of Charleston (Home), Indiana State (Neutral)

Key Losses: Cal State Northridge (Neutral)

22. Akron Zips (Not Ranked)

Record: 11-4, 1-0 MAC

RPI: 158

Akron rebounded from a close loss to Rhode Island with a win over Bowling Green in the conference opener.

Key Wins: Niagara (Home)

Key Losses: Austin Peay (Home)

23. Niagara Purple Eagles (25)

Record: 10-7, 3-2 MAAC

RPI: 124

Niagara lost at Siena, following a win over Fairfield. The Purple Eagles are now in third place in the MAAC.

Key Wins: UCF (Neutral), Illinois State (Road)

Key Losses: Austin Peay (Road), Buffalo (Home)

24. South Alabama Jaguars (23)

Record: 11-6, 3-2 Sun Belt

RPI: 194

South Alabama lost to Western Kentucky and Arkansas State in their two games this week. With those losses, they dropped from first place in the Sun Belt to sixth.

Key Wins: Florida (Road)

Key Losses: Rice (Road), Arkansas State (Home)

25. Morgan State Bears (13)

Record: 9-7, 2-0 MEAC

RPI: 131

Morgan State has slumped, although Reggie Holmes continues to score. The Bears lost to Robert Morris and Baylor, and then picked up a 90-58 win over Howard.

Key Wins: Arkansas (Road)

Key Losses: Appalachian State (Road), Loyola Maryland (Road), Robert Morris (Road)

Teams By Conference:

MVC: 4

CAA: 3

WCC: 3

Horizon: 2

Ivy: 2

MAAC: 2

Sun Belt: 2

Big Sky: 1

Big South: 1

MAC: 1

MEAC: 1

OVC: 1

SoCon: 1

WAC: 1

Added: Akron

Dropped: George Mason

Considered: Fairfield, Stephen F Austin, Indiana State, Iona, Texas San Antonio, Green Bay, Loyola (IL), Western Michigan

Mid-Major Team To Watch—Montana State Bobcats (9-6, 4-1 Big Sky)

Montana State's best win is over Northern Colorado. They have also played close with Southern Miss. With a win over Portland State on Friday night, the Bobcats are now 4-1 in the Big Sky, in a three-way tie for first place.

With nearly a quarter of conference play in the dust, Siena and Northern Iowa each stand 4-0 in their respective conferences, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference. 

Tomorrow, they will each have an opportunity to prove they are indeed the No. 1 in their leagues.

On the other hand, Niagara and Illinois State can upset the favorites and tighten the standings.

Niagara (10-6, 3-1 MAAC) at Siena (11-4, 4-0 MAAC) 1 PM

Siena's OOC performance lacked the "big" win. The Saints could not take advantage of contests at Temple, currently ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll, and Georgia Tech, No. 23 at the time.

However, the Saints are gelling, riding a five game winning streak into tomorrow's match. With the exception of an unexpected close game against Mount Saint Mary's, the Saints have steamrolled their competition during the streak, beating Rider, Saint Joe's, Saint Peter's, and Loyola-MD all by double-digits.

The Saints will encounter an inconsistent Niagara squad, which tends to struggle in close games. The Purple Eagles have fallen in five of their six losses by six or less points.

Siena boasts a 45.8 percent field goal percentage while Niagara's defense only allows its foes to convert 41.7 percent of their shots. Struggling from beyond the arc, Siena shouldn't perform better than their usual 29.3 percent average from three against Niagara, who defends the perimeter well.

Siena allows opponents to hit 43.5 percent of their shots, so Niagara's guards should receive a decent amount of open looks.

Disregarding the percentages, though, there are two factors that should lead to a Siena victory: Niagara's lack of an inside presence and Siena's home-court advantage. 

Entering the season, the Purple Eagles knew they would struggle against bigger competition. They have been out-rebounded by an average of 5.5 boards per game, worst in the MAAC.

With Ryan Rossiter and Alex Franklin in the front-court, the Saints are the MAAC's best rebounding team and out-rebound opponents by an average of 3.1 boards per game.

The Saints dominate at the Times Union Center, where they have won 28 straight contests dating back to February 2008. Niagara has not won on Siena's home floor since Fran McCaffery began roaming the sidelines. 

Siena 79, Niagara 68

Northern Iowa (13-1, 4-0 MVC) at Illinois State (12-3, 3-1 MVC) 4 PM on ESPN2

Northern Iowa is the country's hottest mid-major. The Panthers have beaten Boston College, Iowa State, Iowa, Siena, Creighton, and Missouri State in their current 12 game winning streak.

On the other side is a team that has not answered the door when good competition rings the bell. Illinois State's best win is in conference against a talented Wichita State team, but the Redbirds have fallen to Niagara, Ohio, and Missouri State. 

The resumes alone provide a convincing argument for the Panthers, but Illinois State is certainly capable of pulling off the upset.

Averaging 74.2 points per game, the Redbirds flaunt the Valley's highest scoring offense. They will be met by the conference's lowest scoring defense—the Panthers' opponents are averaging 57 points per game.

However, the Panthers' points allowed per game are somewhat deceiving. UNI does not play suffocating defense. Instead, they simply keep a moderate pace as opposed to Illinois State's up-tempo style.

Illinois State will get some good looks against Northern Iowa's defense. The Redbirds only shoot 32.9 percent from deep, but the Panthers are rather weak on the perimeter. If Illinois State gets hot from outside, UNI could find itself in trouble.

Osiris Eldridge's performance could possibly decide the outcome. If the Panthers shut down the Valley's top scorer, a win could come relatively easily. However, Eldridge might be able to dominate, in which case Illinois State will probably emerge victorious.

Statistics tend to brainwash the mind. Although Illinois State has the stats on its side, Northern Iowa has succeeded against reputable competition.

Northern Iowa 71, Illinois State 68

For more mid-major basketball, follow Ari Kramer on twitter by clicking here.

Rank. Team. (Previous Ranking)

1. Siena Saints (2)

Record: 11-4, 4-0 MAAC

RPI: 44

The Saints have now won five straight games and seven out of their last eight. Edwin Ubiles is now back to full strength after an unspecified injury kept him out of a game against Georgia Tech and left him playing hurt in some other games. After seeing the Saints the last few weeks, they are the favorite to win the MAAC.

Next: Saturday vs. Niagara

2. Niagara Purple Eagles (1)

Record: 10-6, 3-1 MAAC

RPI: 114

After wins over Illinois State and Saint Bonaventure, Niagara picked up a tough loss to Air Force, followed by a loss to Iona. Iona is a solid team and this game was played on a "neutral" site in Buffalo, NY. Following the loss to Iona, the Stags beat Fairfield, another solid team.

Next: Saturday vs. Siena

3. Fairfield Stags (3)

Record: 10-4, 3-1 MAAC

RPI: 131

Fairfield picked up their first MAAC loss on the road Niagara. Fairfield still does not have a big, signature win, but after close games with Niagara and Rhode Island that resulted in losses, it is clear that the Stags could be the real deal.

Next: Friday vs. Loyola (MD)

4. Rider Broncs (4)

Record: 9-7, 2-2 MAAC

RPI: 144

Rider saved themselves from plummeting to No. 5 or even No. 6 with a come-from-behind win at Manhattan. The Broncs trailed by 16 points with one tick of the clock left in the first half. Ryan Thompson hit two free throws, and then Justin Robinson stole the inbounds pass and hit a buzzer-beater three to cut the lead to 11 at halftime. Rider stayed hot in the second half, and a tip in with 6.5 seconds left gave Rider the 65-64 win.

Next: Saturday vs. Iona

5. Iona Gaels (5)

Record: 9-6, 1-3 MAAC

RPI: 111

After beating Niagara in Buffalo, NY, Iona picked up a killer loss to Canisius. The Gaels' non-conference performance gave them the edge over Loyola (MD).

Next: Saturday vs. Rider

6. Loyola (MD) Greyhounds

Record: 8-6, 1-3 MAAC

RPI: 158

After winning four straight games, including wins over Indiana and Rider, Loyola was crushed by Siena, 76-56, on Monday.

Next: Friday @ Fairfield

7. St. Peter's Peacocks (9)

Record: 7-7, 2-2 MAAC

RPI: 230

Saint Peter's beat Marist on Monday to even their conference record at 2-2. They play a must-win at Manhattan on Friday. 

Next: Friday @ Manhattan

8. Canisius Golden Griffins (8)

Record: 7-8, 2-2 MAAC

RPI: 187

Following close losses to Saint Bonaventure and Fairfield, the Golden Griffins beat Iona on their home floor.

Next: Saturday @ Marist

9. Manhattan Jaspers (7)

Record: 6-8, 1-3 MAAC

RPI: 246

Manhattan has been miserable as of late. Following an embarrassing 86-48 loss to Vanderbilt, the Jaspers fell to Marist, giving the Red Foxes their first win of the season, and then blew a 16-point lead and lost to Rider.

Next: Friday vs. Saint Peter's

10. Marist Red Foxes (10)

Record: 1-13, 1-3 MAAC

RPI: 345

After picking up their first win against the Manhattan Jaspers, Marist lost games to Saint Peter's and Princeton. 

Next: Saturday vs. Canisius

For more information on the MAAC, follow Jesse Kramer on Twitter by clicking here.

You all knew about Siena.

First, they demolished the fourth seeded Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Then, minus Tay Fisher, the same Saints outlasted Ohio State and held a four-point lead with six minutes left against Louisville before Terrence Williams caught fire. 

Despite the graduation of Kenny Hasbrouck, this year's Siena team was destined for greatness. This would be the year that the Saints would crack the top 25—some preseason publications already had them top 20. This would be the year that the Saints would reach the Sweet 16. 

With a team as good as Siena, the MAAC had the opportunity to be a multi-bid league. The Saints could go undefeated in non-conference play, post another 16-2 conference record, lose the MAAC championship, and still be called on Selection Sunday.

But the Saints faltered. First, to the talons of the Temple Owls and then to the raging Red Storm of St. John's. 

The rest of Siena's OOC slate is like a mine field. It's dangerous and, just like one misstep, could create an explosion. One more OOC loss could make the Saints rely on a MAAC championship, which Niagara and Rider won't surrender easily, as it's their ticket to the Big Dance.

Brown and Albany should be cupcakes even for a Siena team that has struggled recently, but wins at Georgia Tech and Northern Iowa won't come easily. Even home games against Mount St. Mary's and a rebuilding St. Joe's cannot be taken lightly. 

If Siena rolls over the rest of their schedule, including conference, an at-large bid would be a possibility. Niagara or Rider could steal the MAAC title and Siena could once again go dancing. 

However, reality is that the Saints are still learning how to gel without Hasbrouck. As a result, odds are that the Saints will lose another OOC game, which will terminate their at-large opportunity and the MAAC's multi-bid aspiration.

High expectations almost always lead to disappointment, and this instance is no different.

If you like what you read here, check out my blog Ballin' is a Habit or follow me on twitter @ballinisahabit. For the complete list of the BIAH 2009-2010 season preview, click here.

2008-2009 Record: 27-8, 16-2 MAAC (1st)

Key Losses: Kenny Hasbrouck (14.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG)

Key Returners: Edwin Ubiles (15.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG), Alex Franklin (13.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG), Ryan Rossiter (10.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG), Ronald Moore (8.7 PPG, 6.4 APG)

Newcomers: O.D. Anosike, Jonathon Breeden, Davis Martens, Denzel Yard

The Siena men's basketball team is in the midst of the best run in the history of its program. And despite losing guard Kenny Hasbrouck, the 2009 MAAC player of the year, that run should continue during the 2009-2010 season.

The biggest reason for that is small forward Edwin Ubiles. Ubiles, who has made two straight All MAAC first teams, is probably the best returning player in the conference.

Standing 6'6", Ubiles is widely considered the most athletic player in the MAAC. While his game is centered on his aggressiveness attacking the rim and defending, Ubiles has shown the ability to knock down perimeter shots (although, his 3PT% dropped from 42% to 31% last year).

But Ubiles will be far from the only weapon on the Saints roster. Joining him up front is Alex Franklin and Ryan Rossiter.

Franklin is a muscle-bound 6'5" senior that plays a good three inches taller than his actual height. An excellent rebounder for his size, Franklin has a knack for being able to score down low against much taller players. Rossiter had an excellent sophomore campaign, averaging 10 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He is a good complement to Franklin along the front line, as has a bit more of a face-up game than Franklin.

Two freshmen should also contribute up front. Davis Martens, who will have to sit out the first 12 games of the season after playing with professionals in his native Germany, is a 6'9", 220 lb center with range out to the three-point line. He is strong down low, but still needs to develop more of a back to the basket game. O.D. Anosike, a 6'7" freshman from Staten Island, is the only other player on the roster over 6'5".

The Saints backcourt is where a lot of the question marks come into play.

They return tournament hero Ronald Moore, a senior point guard who has started all four years with the Saints. He is not a great scorer (averaging right around 8 PPG for his entire career), but Moore is an excellent creator and doesn't make bad decisions with the ball.

The issue in the backcourt is where the Saints will make up the shooting and scoring they lose with Hasbrouck. The first option will probably be junior Clarence Jackson.

Jackson has shown flashes of being a big time scorer (he averaged 8.7 PPPG in just 14.3 MPG last season), including a 28-point outburst against St. Joe's.

But he is considered a shooter (142 three-point attempts in 514 minutes), and has yet to hit even a third of his three point attempts for a season. If he can get more consistent from deep (which should happen with the more consistent minutes he will receive this year), it's not a stretch to think that Jackson could become a dangerous weapon on the perimeter.

Sophomores Kyle Downey and Owen Wignot will be the Saints first two options off the bench in their backcourt this season.

Wignot has the potential to be quite a player at this level. At an athletic 6'5" (he was a high and long jump champion in high school), Wignot also possess range beyond the three point line. But until he adds something to his game besides hops and a jumper, he won't be much more than a role player.

Downey is ready to play. He's not going to blow you away with quickness, athleticism, or scoring ability, but he is a smart kid that knows how to play and won't make many mistakes.

Also keep an eye on freshman Jonathon Breeden, a quick 5'11" point guard that can make plays in the lane. With the talent the Saints have along their front line, a point guard that can get in the lane and find people is a valuable asset.

Outlook: You know what you're going to get with this Saints team. It is strong inside and loaded with experience. The biggest question mark is going to be where it replaces the scoring ability it lost on the perimeter with Hasbrouck's graduation. If guys like Jackson and Wignot can fill the void, this is a team that could make some noise in the NCAA Tournament.

The Saints won't play as tough of a non-conference schedule this season (Temple, St. Joe's, Northern Iowa, Georgia Tech, St. John's, BracketBusters Tournament), so unless they sweep those six games, this group is probably going to have to win the MAAC to earn a bid. That will be easier said than done, as Niagara will also be very good this year.

They've made the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years. They've pulled off upsets in each of those appearances. Now it is time for Siena to show they are ready to hang with some of the nation’s best.

The 2008 NCAA Tournament shed light on the small school just outside Albany, New York. After winning the MAAC Tournament, the Siena Saints rolled into the tournament as a No. 13 seed, but after shocking No. 4 Vanderbilt in the first round that year, their future potential started to surface.

After winning another MAAC Tournament title, Siena vaulted up to No. 9 seed in the bracket and took care of business yet again. After taking care of Ohio State in the first round and then nearly knocking off No. 1 seed Louisville, it was clear the confidence was rising.

But it’s now or never for Siena, who carries one of their best teams ever into the 2009-10 season. The season, full of expectations, is led by an emerging coach and a talented group of players who know that now is the time to shine.

The Saints did lose one of their top performers in Kenny Hasbrouck, but they bring back six of their top seven scorers from a year ago.

Point guard Ronald Moore made a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament last year with some big players, and he will be joined again by fellow wingmen, Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin in the backcourt. Junior center Ryan Rossiter will again be the anchor down low for the Saints.

Their non-conference slate is not as difficult as a year ago, but tough tests on the road at Georgia Tech and Northern Iowa will be good games to see. An early season test at home against Northeastern should be a good matchup for both teams, as well as games against Temple and St. John’s in the Philly Hoop Group Classic.