MAAC Basketball Team Outlooks

The Metro Atlantic Conference is one of the best Mid-Major Conferences in College Basketball.  Many pros came out of the MAAC and the MAAC currently has a few players that have the opportunity to be on an NBA roster.  After watching a few of the MAAC teams play this year, it's going to be an interesting year to see this conference play out.  Some of the teams in year's past, look much more well rounded and seem to be on the same page.  

Current Power Rankings for the MAAC conference: 

1.     Iona (4-1)

2.     Fairfield (3-4)

3.     Loyola (4-1)

4.     Siena (2-3)

5.     Rider (1-6)

6.     Niagara (3-3)

7.     Manhattan (3-3)

8.     Marist (2-4)

9.     Canisius (1-3)

10.   St. Peters (1-4)

#1 Iona Gaels - The Iona Gaels are the best team in the MAAC.  They have the most complete team in the MAAC with a lot of experience on the floor.  Mike Glover who leads the MAAC at 21.2 PPG & 11 RPG, is the complete package any college coach would love to have on their team.  He will win Player of the Year or Scott Machado his teammate might bump him aside.  Scott Machado is one of the best point guards in the country.  Averages right around 19 PPG and leads the country with 12.2 APG.  Machado knows who to utilize his strong body to get into to the lane and dish off to his forwards.  Iona will win the MAAC conference this season. Iona is putting up an impressive 95.4 PPG.  

#2 Fairfield - The Fairfield Stags have a very solid roster this year and I do believe that have a shot to win the MAAC championship this season if they can get better as the season goes on.  Led by Rakim Sanders, who averages 18 PPG & 7 RPG, he is the complete forward package.  Ryan Olander a 6'11 forward, is another inside presence that is going to give many MAAC teams issues.  Mariuce Barrow is another tough player that gives Fairfield an edge.  Derek Needham the PG for the Stags has had a fantastic career thus far and should continue to have good this year as well.  Needham is a floor general and his team will look to him when they need a last minute bucket.  

#3 Loyola - Loyola Greyhounds have a well-rounded team this season and have some very talented players that can make some noise this season in the MAAC.  Led by Dylon Cormier, Erik Etherly, and Shane Walker these young men are high-level athletes in the MAAC conference.  Shane Walker is a lanky 6'11 player who has put some muscle on since he joined the Greyhounds giving teams a headache inside. Expect them to finish in the top 5 this season if all goes well for them.  They are out rebounding their opponents by nearly 8 rebounds a game, which is always an important factor in the game of basketball.  

#4 Siena - The Siena Saints have a solid team this year and played well in their first few games.  Although they don't have Fran anymore as their head coach, they seem to have picked up right where he left off.  Led by Evan Hymes, Kyle Downey, and O.D. Anosike this is their core group of players who have responded in there first few games.  O.D. Anosike has been improving each season while playing under Ryan Rossiter, he seems to be kicking up his game a notch making him one of the Elite Rebounders in the MAAC conference.  I'm not sure if Siena has a solid bench to backup their starters.  This could become an issue down the road for the Saints.  

#5 Rider - Rider is off to an awful start at 1-6 BUT, I do believe this team has a lot of talent and when they win a few games I think they will get back on track.  Jeff Jones (14.7 PPG) a transfer from Virginia is going to give defenses in the MAAC problems.  Daniel Stewart is an upcoming forward in the MAAC this will make some noise this season putting up some impressive numbers averaging 15 PPG and about 8 RPG.  Rider can beat* anybody in the MAAC and even though they started out 1-6 they have the personnel to knock off the top 3 teams in the MAAC.    

#6 Niagara - The Niagara Purple Eagles are off to a decent start at 3-3.  They have three solid scorers: Antoine Mason (16.3), Juan'ya Green (16.0), and Marvin Jordan (10.5).  They have played some decent teams thus far and have put up a good fight against some solid teams.  They play Fairfield this week which will be a good test for them to see where they fall in the MAAC.  I expect them to stick around with Fairfield for most of the game but I don't think they will have enough to beat the Stags.  

#7 Manhattan - The Jaspers are very thin other than their starters.  George Beamon is their leading scorer 14.8 PPG.  They really just find ways to win games and they have a decent team.  Look for them to make some noise this season and probably will finish in the bottom 3 in the league.  

#8 Marist - The Marist College Red Foxes are a MUCH improved team from last year's squad.  I am most impressed with their freshman point guard Isiah Morton & Chavaughn Lewis.  Lewis leads the Foxes @ 12.2 PPG and Devin Price, the returning point guard is averaging 11.2 PPG.  They have Adam Kemp inside who is a developing force in the MAAC.  I expect him to become the best rebounder and best big-man in the MAAC by his senior year.  He has a big body and seems to understand the game very well.  Dorvell Carter has torn his ACL which is very tough loss for the Foxes. They needed his leadership on the floor but I'm sure he will help the team off the court as well.  He seemed like a leader on the floor when they played Kentucky their first game.  Marist has a chance to be a top FIVE team in the MAAC. Will Marist be able to keep teams off the glass? They have had significant problems keeping teams off the glass for the last few years and they have issues running the dribble drive offense.  It seems that they don't have the personnel to run a slashing type of offense. 

#9 Canisius- Canisius is off to a slow start but they do have some solid talent this season.  Harold Washington (18.3), Ashwan Hymes (14.2), and Gaby Belardo (11) are the leading scorers for the Golden Eagles.  They could be a top five team in the MAAC, but they are going to need a solid contribution from their bench to finish in the top half of the league.  

#10 St. Peters - St. Peters made it to the NCAA tournament last year but they lost most of the team due to graduation.  Chris Prescott (14.6) and Yvon Raymond (11.6) are leading the team in scoring up to this point in the season.  I expect them to finish near the bottom of the league this season. 

I hope you enjoyed my MAAC overview and I will update with future predictions for MAAC games. Enjoy!

MAAC Basketball Outlook & Projections

MAAC Basketball Outlook

Each Week I will randomly select a league and write a report on each team and the players from each team. This week the report will be on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.  Check back for an in-depth look at each team! Let me know if you want your league reviewed next! Thanks!

MAAC Teams:
Siena, Iona, Fairfield, Niagara, Marist, Manhattan, Canisius, Loyola, Rider, St. Peters

Top 5 Teams in College Basketball

These are my Top 5 Best Teams in College Basketball Today!

#1 - Kentucky is the best team in the country and are a final four team this year if they play their cards right.  They have the best recruiting class of 2011 and their freshman are stepping up to the plate and responding. Expect them to loose no more than 4-5 games this season and remain in the top 5 this entire year.  Doron Lamb and Terrance Jones are a complete disaster to guard for many opponents.  Anthony Davis is probably one of the most athletic 6'11 centers in the league and has NBA written all over him.  Davis will go in the top 5 of the 2012 NBA draft.

#2 - Duke, coached by the best Men's college basketball coach in the game today are the second best team in the country.  They play Ohio State on Tuesday and this game will be a dog fight until the end.  Duke has a fanstastic front court with the plumlee brothers and Ryan Kelly who is having a fantastic season thus far.  Duke's backcourt with Seth Curry and Austin Rivers leading the way are both prolific players in college basketball.

#3 - Ohio State - Ohio State is currently ranked at #2 in the nation but I believe that the team has some loopholes now that David Lighty graduated.  Jared Sullinger is arguably the best college basketball player in the country averaging a double-double.  I just don't see them finishing in the final four this year and they currently are the 3rd best team in the country but at some point I do believe they will hit a soft patch and lose some key games this season.

#4 - North Carolina - North Carolina has a championship caliber team this year. John Henson and Harrison Barnes are two of the best big men in college basketball.  They are athletic and have soft touch around the rim.  Tyler Zeller has improved his game and seems to have a couple moves they he has perfected around the rim this season.  I expect them to have a run at the final four this season.

#5 - Syracuse - Syracuse's 2-3 matchup zone is one of my favorite defenses to play when I played in college.  This team works very hard on the defensive end and makes plays from the games that I have watched thus far.  They have a bunch of hard nosed players that are hungry to win every night and never seem to give up on any play...

Tomorrows Matchup:

Duke Vs. Ohio State - I expect Ohio State to pound the ball inside and Duke to double down on the post as much as possible.  The game is being played at Ohio State giving the Buckeyes home court advantage.  Will the Buckeyes be able to stop Rivers and Curry?  Do they have an answer for the run-outs and fast break attempts by Duke?  I don't think they will & that's why I think Duke wins in a tight one tomorrow evening!

Let me know what Team/League/Player you want me to critique and I will write up and post on that particular Team/League/Player.

Thanks for Looking!