Ed Cooley's Stags are featured in two of the blog's top three games of the week.

What figures to be one of the least predictable early-January weeks in recent MAAC history tips off tonight. From now through next Sunday, we've got a total of 12 games including MAAC teams, with all but one -- Marist-Princeton on Wednesday -- being part of conference play.

The blog's top five:

5. Iona at Rider, 3 p.m. Saturday

Exactly what's at stake won't become clear until after tonight, but both teams enter the week 1-2 in the league but thinking they could be -- or should be -- contenders. The Gaels have a premier road win at Niagara, but also lost at home to Saint Peter's. I'm inclined to say it's impossible that Rider will continue to play as poorly as it's played, but if you had asked me after the Mississippi State game, I would have told you there'd be a better chance the Broncs would be 12-3 after 15 games than 8-7.

4. Siena at Loyola, 7 p.m. tonight

Normally, this would be a lock for Siena, and I still think the Saints will win fairly comfortably. But after the Saints needed a last-minute miracle to survive against Mount Saint Mary's and the Hounds showed signs of life Sunday against Rider, it's worth keeping an eye on. A Loyola win would shake things up quite a bit and make assembling the season's first Press MAAC Index tomorrow a difficult task to say the least.

3. Loyola at Fairfield, 9 p.m. Friday, ESPNU

If the Hounds and Stags ever met in the MAAC title game, the lead-up to the game would be the most fun 24 hours in the history of the league. Jimmy Patsos and Ed Cooley, not necessarily in that order, are the best two quotes in the league and two of the best in all of college basketball. Making things better is that the two coaches have a rocky relationship. Making things even better is that the teams have played great games over the last two years and both appear to be on upswings.

2. Niagara at Siena, 1 p.m. Saturday

How can this game not be No. 1 on the list? Because given Niagara's struggles and the fact that the game is in Albany, I'd be shocked if the Eagles won and relatively surprised if the game was close in the final minutes. Yes, I know Niagara is a LOT better than Mount Saint Mary's and may still be the second best team in the league, especially with Bilal Benn back. But I'll take the Saints and give you at least six or seven points.

1. Fairfield at Niagara, 7 p.m. tonight

How can this game be No. 1? Like Niagara-Siena, it's a matchup of two top-tier MAAC teams. Unlike Niagara-Siena, the home team is coming off a home loss to a supposedly inferior team and the visiting team is looking to declare itself a legit title contender. We've seen enough of the Stags to know they're not merely the product of a weak schedule, but not enough to know if they've become the top threat to Siena's crown.

We'll find out a little more tonight.