CBB: MAAC Conference Tournament Preview

Favorites (odds below +500)

Fairfield Stags (+300): Fairfield came as a huge surprise this season. They were supposed to just walk through the motions, get through this season and just look to the future. This is because their head coach stepped down just weeks before the season began! Led by interim head coach Chris Casey they’ve rallied to a 20 win season and they’re a clear contender for the MAAC title. They’ve gotten better as the year went on, only losing twice since 2/3. Can the Stags make the tournament for the first time since 1997??

Quinnipiac Bobcats (+350): This conference is full of amazing stories. Quinnipiac is coached by a 1st year head coach after their previous coach left to be an assistant at Villanova. All they did was have the best season in program history, won 25 games for the 1st time and won the regular second crown. Quinnipiac is a member of the never made the tournament club so now the next test is finishing the job, can they do it? This conference tournament season has been very unkind to 1 seeds and they lost half their games this season in a 4 game losing streak to end February, but they did get back on the right track.

St. Peter’s Peacocks (+390): Now here’s a familiar name. After a 1 year reset the Peacocks are back in contention! It’s great to see them back in contention, but they likely show up in the favorites section because they’re a popular name. Still prior to dropping their games last week the Peacocks went on a 5 game win streak so they’re getting hot at the right time.

Sleepers (+500 or above)

Marist Red Foxes (+700): Marist is another team having a solid season. They were able to upset Fairfield this year but couldn’t win either game vs Quinnipiac. That being said, I expect chaos to reign in this tournament and Marist is a program who can take advantage. If things break the right way the Red Foxes could make the tournament for the 1st time since 1987!

Iona Gaels (+1000): Now here’s a familiar name coached by a familiar coach. Iona is in the middle of a reset year under last year’s tournament hero Tobin Anderson. The Gaels lost basically everyone from last year’s Rick Pitino coached team. They didn’t finish the regular season strong either, only winning 3 of their last 9. However, conference tournament season is always Iona Gaels season and they play a fun chaotic style that is tough to face in a tournament setting.

Rider Broncs (+800): Rider struggled earlier this season, although they went up against a tough schedule to open the season. Rider finished the season strong with 7 straight wins so they are peaking at the right time.

Niagara Purple Eagles (+1500): Niagara was in the thick of the mix through most of the season but fell from contention when losing 4 of their last 5. Niagara is a fun story because they’re coached by Greg Paulus who is a former Duke PG that also played QB at Syracuse.

My Pick:

Iona Gaels (+1000): Yes, I’m going with Iona!! I see this conference tournament being absolutely crazy and we’ll likely end up with a program that’s built to win in this setting. It wasn’t the best year for them but conference tournament season is a new season, watch for the Gaels!