2018–19 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball season
Sports season
The 2018–19 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball season began with practices in October 2018, followed by the start of the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 6. Conference play started in January and concluded March 22, 2019. This season was the 38th season of MAAC basketball.
The MAAC season saw four teams spend considerable time being in first place; Rider, Monmouth, Canisius and Iona. Rider started MAAC play off strong, winning seven of their first eight MAAC games, and looking like they would prove the preseason #1 pick correct. But then a five-game losing streak left them at 7–6, and two games out of first place. Monmouth started the regular season 0–12 at one point, but rebounded when MAAC play started, posting a 9–4 conference mark by February 9. Then a four-game losing streak struck down the Hawks, knocking them out of first place. Canisius had a solid season, keeping up with Monmouth the whole way. Consecutive losses to Iona and Niagara late in the season struck down their first place hopes. Iona, which had won the MAAC Tournament three consecutive times coming into the season, started off 5–2, but like the others, a four-game losing streak left them at 5–6 in MAAC play. Sitting in sixth place, Iona found their new starting five combination, and reeled off seven straight wins to end the MAAC season, and take the regular season crown in 2019. It was the 11th MAAC regular season championship for the Gaels.
The 2019 MAAC tournament was held from March 7 through March 11 at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York . This marked the 20th time Albany has hosted the event.[ 1] No. 1 seed Iona defeated No. 6 seed Monmouth in the championship game 81–60 to win the conference's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA tournament . With the win, Iona became the first MAAC team to win four consecutive MAAC Tournament championships.[ 2]
Quinnipiac was the first MAAC team of the season to see postseason action, as they accepted an invitation to participate in the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament ,[ 3] losing to NJIT 81–92 in the first round.[ 4] Iona received a No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region, and faced No. 1 seed North Carolina in the first round on March 22, 2019. Iona led 38–33 at halftime, but despite Iona making 10 of 21 3-point tries in the first half, North Carolina started the second half on a 32–11 run to take control of the game, winning 88–73.[ 5]
Head coaches
Coaching changes
On March 5, 2018, Marist head coach Mike Maker was fired.[ 6] He finished at Marist with a four-year record of 28–97. Marist hired Saint Peter's coach John Dunne as Maker's successor on April 3.[ 7] [ 8]
On April 10, 2018, Seton Hall assistant coach Shaheen Holloway was hired as the new head coach at Saint Peter's.[ 9]
On April 13, 2018, Siena head coach Jimmy Patsos resigned amid an investigation regarding abusive conduct and financial improprieties within the program.[ 10] [ 11] On May 2, the Saints hired Mount St. Mary's head coach Jamion Christian for the job.[ 12]
Coaches
Notes:
All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only.
Year at school includes 2018–19 season.
Overall and MAAC records are from time at current school and are before the beginning of the season.
Previous jobs are head coaching jobs unless otherwise noted.
Preseason
Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank
Team [ 13]
1.
Rider (11)
2.
Canisius
T3.
Iona
T3.
Quinnipiac
5.
Monmouth
6.
Marist
7.
Fairfield
8.
Manhattan
9.
Niagara
10.
Saint Peter's
11.
Siena
() first place votes
Preseason All-MAAC teams
2018-19 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAAC Teams [ 13]
First Team
Second Team
Third Team
Takal Molson – Canisius
Roland Griffin – Iona
Pauly Paulicap – Manhattan
Brian Parker – Marist
Frederick Scott – Rider
E.J. Crawford – Iona
Deion Hammond – Monmouth
Marvin Prochet – Niagara
Rich Kelly – Quinnipiac
Jordan Allen – Rider
† denotes unanimous selection
Preseason Player of the Year
Recipient
School
Isaiah Reese
Canisius
MAAC regular season
Conference matrix
This table summarizes the final head-to-head results between teams in conference play.
Canisius
Fairfield
Iona
Manhattan
Marist
Monmouth
Niagara
Quinnipiac
Rider
Saint Peter's
Siena
vs. Canisius
–
0–2
2–0
1–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–1
0–2
vs. Fairfield
2–0
–
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–0
1–0
1–1
2–0
vs. Iona
0–2
1–1
–
0–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–1
1–1
vs. Manhattan
0–1
1–1
1–0
–
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
vs. Marist
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
–
0–1
0–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
vs. Monmouth
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–0
–
1–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
vs. Niagara
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–0
0–1
–
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
vs. Quinnipiac
2–0
0–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
–
1–1
0–2
0–1
vs. Rider
1–1
0–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
–
0–2
1–0
vs. Saint Peter's
1–0
1–1
1–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
–
1–1
vs. Siena
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–0
0–1
1–1
–
Total
11–7
6–12
12–6
8–10
7–11
10–8
6–12
11–7
15–3
6–12
11–7
Player of the week
Throughout the regular season, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference offices named player(s) of the week and rookie(s) of the week.[ 14]
Week
Player of the week
Rookie of the week
November 12, 2018
Brian Parker, Marist
Neftali Alvarez, Fairfield
November 19, 2018
Marvin Prochet, Niagara
Neftali Alvarez (2), Fairfield
November 26, 2018
Dimencio Vaughn, Rider
Jalen Pickett , Siena
December 3, 2018
Jalen Pickett, Siena
Jalen Pickett (2), Siena
December 10, 2018
James Towns, Niagara
Tyrese Williams, Quinnipiac
December 17, 2018
Marvin Prochet (2), Niagara
Calvin Whipple, Fairfield
December 24, 2018
James Towns (2), Niagara
Neftali Alvarez (3), Fairfield
December 31, 2018
Evan Fisher, Siena
Jalen Pickett (3), Siena
January 7, 2019
Rickey McGill, Iona
Jalen Pickett (4), Siena
January 14, 2019
Cameron Young, Quinnipiac
Jalen Pickett (5), Siena
January 21, 2019
Isaiah Reese, Canisius
Jalen Pickett (6), Siena
January 28, 2019
Cameron Young (2), Quinnipiac
Jalen Pickett (7), Siena
February 4, 2019
Cameron Young (3), Quinnipiac
Samir Stewart, Manhattan
February 11, 2019
Evan Fisher (2), Siena
Jalen Pickett (8), Siena
February 18, 2019
Cameron Young (4), Quinnipiac
Jalen Pickett (9), Siena
February 25, 2019
Rickey McGill (2), Iona
Jalen Pickett (10), Siena
March 4, 2019
E.J. Crawford, Iona
Jalen Pickett (11), Siena
Records against other conferences
2018–19 records against non-conference foes. Records shown for regular season only.
Postseason
MAAC Tournament
First round Thursday, March 7 ESPN3
Quarterfinals Friday/Saturday, March 8/9 ESPN3
Semifinals Sunday, March 10 ESPN3/ESPNU
Championship Monday, March 11 ESPN2
1
Iona
73
9
Saint Peter's
71
8
Marist
68
9
Saint Peter's
71*
1
Iona
73
5
Siena
57
4
Rider
81
5
Siena
87
1
Iona
81
6
Monmouth
60
2
Canisius
69*
7
Manhattan
65
7
Manhattan
57
10
Fairfield
53
2
Canisius
59
6
Monmouth
73
3
Quinnipiac
92
6
Monmouth
98
6
Monmouth
76
11
Niagara
72
* denotes number of overtimes
NCAA Tournament
Game summary
No. 16 Iona 73, No. 1 North Carolina 88
Scoring by half: 38–33, 35–55
Pts : McGill – 26Rebs : Ristanovic – 6Asts : Gist – 5 Gist – 17 pts
Pts: Johnson – 21Rebs: Maye – 9Asts: Johnson & White – 4 Little– 19 pts NCAA Tournament first round
CollegeInsider.com Tournament
Game summary
Quinnipiac 81, NJIT 92
Scoring by half: 33–37, 48–55
Pts : Young – 29Rebs : Marfo – 11Asts : Kelly – 6 Young – 8 reb, 2 stl
Pts: Cooks – 34Rebs: Diakite – 9Asts: Gibbs – 7 Gibbs – 15 pts CIT First Round
Honors and awards
MAAC Awards
2018-19 MAAC Men's Basketball Major Individual Awards [ 16]
Award
Recipient(s)
Player of the Year
†Cameron Young , Sr, G, Quinnipiac
Coach of the Year [ 17]
Tim Cluess , Iona
Rookie of the Year
†Jalen Pickett , Fr, G, Siena
Defensive Player of the Year
Jonathan Kasibabu, Sr, F, Fairfield
Sixth Player of the Year
Ryan Funk, Sr, G/F, Marist
2018-19 MAAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams [ 18]
First Team
Second Team
Third Team
Rookie Team
†Cameron Young, Sr, G, Quinnipiac
Rickey McGill , Sr, G, Iona
Jalen Pickett, Fr, G, Siena
E.J. Crawford, Jr, G/F, Iona
Takal Molson, So, F, Canisius
Rich Kelly, So, G, Quinnipiac
Stevie Jordan, Jr, G, Rider
Tajuan Agee , Jr, F, Iona
Marvin Prochet, Sr, F, Niagara
Evan Fisher, Sr, F, Siena
Brian Parker, Sr, G, Marist
Davauhnte Turner, Sr, G, Saint Peter's
Malik Johnson, Jr, G, Canisius
Frederick Scott, So, F, Rider
Diago Quinn, Sr, C, Monmouth
†Jalen Pickett, Fr, G, Siena
Neftali Alvarez, Fr, G, Fairfield
Tyrese Williams, Fr, G, Quinnipiac
Warren Williams, Fr, F, Manhattan
Sloan Seymour, Fr, F, Siena
† denotes unanimous selection
2018–19 Season final statistic leaders
[ 19]
Scoring leaders
Name
Points per game
Cameron Young (Quinnipiac)
23.5
E.J. Crawford (Iona)
17.7
Takal Molson (Canisius)
16.9
Davauhnte Turner (Saint Peter's)
16.8
Evan Fisher (Siena)
15.9
Rebound leaders
Name
Rebounds per game
Tajuan Agee (Iona)
8.0
Kevin Marfo (Quinnipiac)
7.5
Jonathan Kasibabu (Fairfield)
7.4
Marvin Prochet (Niagara)
7.3
Tyere Marshall (Rider)
6.6
Assist leaders
Name
Assists per game
Jalen Pickett (Siena)
6.7
Rickey McGill (Iona)
4.8
Malik Johnson (Canisius)
4.8
Rich Kelly (Quinnipiac)
4.5
Stevie Jordan (Rider)
4.4
Block leaders
Name
Blocked shots
Dominic Robb (Niagara)
69
Samuel Idowu (Saint Peter's)
59
KC Ndefo (Saint Peter's)
56
Diago Quinn (Monmouth)
30
Jalen Pickett (Siena)
29
Steal leaders
Name
Steals
Rickey McGill (Iona)
78
Jalen Pickett (Siena)
66
Nick Rutherford (Monmouth)
61
Stevie Jordan (Rider)
56
Malik Johnson (Canisius)
55
3PT % leaders
Name
3FG
3FGA
3FG%
Cameron Young (Quinnipiac)
104
238
43.7
Landon Taliaferro (Fairfield)
90
213
42.3
Marvin Prochet (Niagara)
75
178
42.1
Ryan Funk (Marist)
79
200
39.5
Sloan Seymour (Siena)
94
252
37.3
References
^ "2019 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved February 16, 2019 .
^ "Iona Becomes First Team to Win Four Straight Men's Basketball Championships" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved March 23, 2019 .
^ "NJIT Set to Host Quinnipiac in First Round of CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament" . ASUN Sports . Retrieved March 23, 2019 .
^ "Quinnipiac falls to NJIT in opening round of CIT" . Q30TV . Retrieved March 23, 2019 .
^ "Iona vs. North Carolina-Game Recap-March 22, 2019" . ESPN . Retrieved March 23, 2019 .
^ Martelli, A.J. (March 5, 2018). "Marist fires Mike Maker; search for men's basketball coach begins" . Poughkeepsie Journal . Poughkeepsie, NY . Retrieved March 5, 2018 .
^ "Marist Hires John Dunne As Head Men's Basketball Coach" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved April 3, 2018 .
^ "LIVE UPDATES: New Marist coach John Dunne introduced" . Poughkeepsie Journal . Poughkeepsie, NY . Retrieved April 5, 2018 .
^ Carino, Jerry (April 10, 2018). "Saint Peter's to hire Seton Hall's Shaheen Holloway as basketball coach" . Asbury Park Press . Neptune, NJ . Retrieved April 10, 2018 .
^ "Jimmy Patsos resigns as Siena coach after verbal abuse allegations surfaced from team manager" . CBS Sports . Retrieved April 13, 2018 .
^ Singelais, Mark (April 13, 2018). "Jimmy Patsos out as Siena basketball coach after five years" . Times Union . Albany, NY . Retrieved April 13, 2018 .
^ Stoetzer, Pat (May 2, 2018). "Men's Basketball: Christian leaving Mount St. Mary's for Siena College" . The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018 .
^ a b "Rider Selected as Men's Basketball Preseason Favorite; Canisius' Reese Named Preseason Player of the Year" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved October 23, 2018 .
^ "Athlete Awards" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved February 18, 2019 .
^ "NCAA Tournament preview: The Iona Gaels are back for the fourth year in a row" . Mid-Major Madness . Retrieved March 15, 2019 .
^ "MAAC Men's Basketball Major Award Winners Announced" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved March 8, 2019 .
^ "Iona's Cluess Named The Rock MAAC Coach of the Year" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved March 8, 2019 .
^ "2018-19 MAAC Men's Basketball All-MAAC Teams Revealed" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved March 4, 2019 .
^ "2018-2019 Men's Basketball - Overall Statistics" . MAAC Sports . Retrieved March 22, 2019 .
External links
Teams Tournament & awards Seasons