For some more insight on the Stags, I turned to Tom Cleary, who holds to jobs I used to have: Men's basketball beat writer and Editor in Chief at The Mirror, Fairfield's student newspaper.

My answers to Tom's questions are on The Mirror sports blog.

1. Please tell me you're petitioning the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility at The Mirror. If you graduate, I will no longer have any more connections there.

It's unbelievable that we are almost graduating. I think we all would love to stay another year and are a bit worried about the future of Mirror Sports. It's also scary that after our class there will be no connections to your class, it seems like just yesterday Dan Akeson was sports editor and you were running the show. But overall these four years covering Fairfield sports have been amazing for all three of us (Keith Connors, Chris Simmons and myself). Keith and I started covering Fairfield basketball in Cooley's first season and we have watched Fairfield basketball develop over four years. While we will definitely continue to follow Stags basketball, we will always miss the chance to go to Stags games and sit on the court and have the opportunity to cover the game.

2. Surprised by the Stags' success this year?

I'm somewhat surprised, only because of the injuries to Warren Edney and Greg Nero. After last season, with all the injuries and the problems with Jon Han, it was unclear whether the Stags would continue developing well or if they would regress. As it turns out they have advanced by leaps and bounds. Derek Needham has been a huge part of that, because he has given Cooley a point guard that can push the ball and make plays with athletic players around him like Anthony Johnson and Yorel Hawkins. I wasn't sure what to expect entering the year, but from early on, really as soon as Hawkins came back from his bout with appendicitis and as we saw what Needham could do, I felt that the Stags were going to have a special year. Even if the schedule has been lighter than in the past, the Stags have won the games they are supposed to. Now they just have to win the games they aren't, which they have not yet.

3. Ed Cooley told me Derek Needham is humble but extremely confident. How is he in interviews and press conferences?

Derek Needham has been unlike any other freshmen I've seen at Fairfield in my four years and unlike many freshmen around the country. He is cocky and confident enough to be a great point guard, but is also collected, calm and wise beyond his years. I've only seen him get down once, after a tough performance against a great team in Siena. Usually he remains upbeat, confident that he and the team will bounce back. He also has a quiet confidence about him that is much different from what we saw in Han, who was outwardly cocky. Needham knows he can play with anyone and has confidence that his team can do the same. He handles himself well in press conferences. He's been through a lot in his life and has earned a lot of respect from both his coaches and teammates. I think he is going to go down as one of the greatest in Fairfield history, both in the record books and in the memories of Stags fans, who will love him even more the more they get to know him.

4. Who is Fairfield's most improved player?

Yorel Hawkins. He had his fair share of good games last season, but the problem with him was his choice of shots. This year he has been far more selective with his shooting and is making shots when it matters. He has reached the point where he can take over a game. At the same time he has improved greatly defensively and runs the floor very well, providing a weapon for Needham on the break. Hawkins is shooting 49 percent from the field (10th best in the league), after shooting 40 percent last season. Needham deservedly gets most of the attention, along with Anthony Johnson, but without Yorel Hawkins the Stags would be in a lot of trouble.

But consideration has to go to Anthony Johnson, who put on a lot of muscle this off season and is a real force inside. He can dominate a game also and makes a lot more of his shots inside (50 percent this season) and is also improving from the free throw line. However, we all knew that if he was healthy he would be a top player again.

5. Gun to your head, how many MAAC wins will Fairfield finish with?

13 wins. The Stags will lose two of the last seven this season, probably one to Rider and one to Siena. The Stags won't lose to Iona at home and I think they can pull out a close game against Niagara on the road. Fairfield struggles on the trip down to Rider and I think that will continue this season. 13 wins probably gets the Stags third place, but the way the MAAC has gone this season, it could be good enough for second place.