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Press MAAC Index, Week 7
We’ve crossed the half-way point in MAAC play, and it’s abundantly obvious that every team not named Siena is playing for second place. How safe is the Saints’ lead in the standings? Even if the unthinkable happened and they lost three of their final eight games, Niagara or Rider would have to win out just to force a tie.
And that RPI is high enough that we’re getting close to at-large bid territory in the event that they get clipped in the MAAC tournament.
So it comes as little surprise that Siena is in the top spot for the seventh week in a row. That aside, however, there are plenty of changes in this week’s Index.
1. Siena (16-5, 10-0, 20)
Saints are so good that once again, story of the week is that someone – Iona, in this case – almost beat them. Calendar still says January, but they’ve already clinched a winning record in the league.
2. Niagara (15-6, 6-3, 82)
Eagles didn’t show us much at Siena, then struggled a bit with Canisius at home. But 24 points Monday from Benson Egemonye was nice, and for now, they’re good enough to hold on to this spot.
3. Iona (10-11, 5-5, 146)
All you need to know: Since losing to Rider on New Year’s Day, Gaels are 5-2 with the losses coming at Rider and Siena by a combined two points. In spite of record, they’re awfully close to moving up another spot.
4. Rider (11-8, 6-3, 137)
What a difference a week makes. Win in hostile Alumni Hall – maybe Broncs’ most impressive victory to date -- was never in doubt, and Novar Gadson keeps getting better.
5. Loyola (10-12, 5-5, 164)
Late-game heroics at Marist made it five in a row for the Hounds. Maybe Jimmy Patsos was wrong: His team wasn’t overrated in preseason coaches’ poll.
6. Manhattan (11-9, 5-5, 191)
Loss to Iona was embarrassing, but win over Fairfield came at just the right time. Can they knock off Niagara Saturday at home?
7. Fairfield (12-9, 5-5, 93)
This incident exposed some pretty big problems, and this may be only the beginning. Can Stags put the wheels back on the bus before the season is lost?
8. Marist (7-15, 3-7, 253)
Suddenly, feel-good Foxes have dropped four straight and six out of seven. They’re closer to the bottom of the pack than the middle. Good news is somehow has to win their game Friday at reeling Fairfield. Why not them?
9. Canisius (7-13, 2-8, 205)
Is this the same team that started 0-6 in the MAAC and got blown out by Saint Peter’s? Sure doesn’t look like it – not after two wins and two respectable losses in the Griffs’ last four.
10. St. Peter’s (5-15, 2-8, 309)
Four-game losing streak will grow to seven unless Peacocks can pull off an upset in one of their next three. Lackluster start against Rider was anything but impressive.
And that RPI is high enough that we’re getting close to at-large bid territory in the event that they get clipped in the MAAC tournament.
So it comes as little surprise that Siena is in the top spot for the seventh week in a row. That aside, however, there are plenty of changes in this week’s Index.
1. Siena (16-5, 10-0, 20)
Saints are so good that once again, story of the week is that someone – Iona, in this case – almost beat them. Calendar still says January, but they’ve already clinched a winning record in the league.
2. Niagara (15-6, 6-3, 82)
Eagles didn’t show us much at Siena, then struggled a bit with Canisius at home. But 24 points Monday from Benson Egemonye was nice, and for now, they’re good enough to hold on to this spot.
3. Iona (10-11, 5-5, 146)
All you need to know: Since losing to Rider on New Year’s Day, Gaels are 5-2 with the losses coming at Rider and Siena by a combined two points. In spite of record, they’re awfully close to moving up another spot.
4. Rider (11-8, 6-3, 137)
What a difference a week makes. Win in hostile Alumni Hall – maybe Broncs’ most impressive victory to date -- was never in doubt, and Novar Gadson keeps getting better.
5. Loyola (10-12, 5-5, 164)
Late-game heroics at Marist made it five in a row for the Hounds. Maybe Jimmy Patsos was wrong: His team wasn’t overrated in preseason coaches’ poll.
6. Manhattan (11-9, 5-5, 191)
Loss to Iona was embarrassing, but win over Fairfield came at just the right time. Can they knock off Niagara Saturday at home?
7. Fairfield (12-9, 5-5, 93)
This incident exposed some pretty big problems, and this may be only the beginning. Can Stags put the wheels back on the bus before the season is lost?
8. Marist (7-15, 3-7, 253)
Suddenly, feel-good Foxes have dropped four straight and six out of seven. They’re closer to the bottom of the pack than the middle. Good news is somehow has to win their game Friday at reeling Fairfield. Why not them?
9. Canisius (7-13, 2-8, 205)
Is this the same team that started 0-6 in the MAAC and got blown out by Saint Peter’s? Sure doesn’t look like it – not after two wins and two respectable losses in the Griffs’ last four.
10. St. Peter’s (5-15, 2-8, 309)
Four-game losing streak will grow to seven unless Peacocks can pull off an upset in one of their next three. Lackluster start against Rider was anything but impressive.
posted by Ben Doody at
3:26 PM
5 Comments:
2, 3 and 4 are confusing. NU in second after Iona beat then at their place, Rider in 4th after sweeping Iona. There are still lots of games to be played but IMO 2 Rider, 3 Iona and 4 NU
I think those three teams are REALLY close, and you wouldn't be wrong to rank them in any order.
I'd just warn against using the transitive property to rank teams. Based on that logic, how could you rank Rider two spots ahead of Niagara when the Purple Eagles beat the Broncs by 14 in their only game?
NU has played only 4 road MAAC games. Rider and Iona have played 6. Rider had a bad Buffalo trip where they lost to NU. I think Iona and Rider will wind up 2 & third with NU finishing 4th. NU has a difficult schedule left in the MAAC
Good points. Like I said, I think the three teams are really, really close. I just need to see a little bit more from Rider before I put them at No. 2, and here's why: They were really awful at Canisius and far from great at Niagara. They then convincingly won two games on the road, which clearly counts for something. That's why they belong in the discussion about No. 2 status. But those wins came against a reeling Fairfield team and a St. Peter's team with a dismal track record. You're right that Rider has a favorable schedule -- six of their final nine games are at home --and if they play as well at home as they did last year, they'll finish second in the league. I'm just not certain yet that they'll play that well. Friday's game against a hot Loyola team will show us something.
Looks like Fairfield has crashed and burned. Hope for a speedy recovery for AJ
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