2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: Quinnipiac
Best Overall Player: Amarri Monroe, QU
Best Shooter: Josh Pascarelli, Marist
Best Defenseman: Amarri Monroe, QU
Sleeper Team (Conference): Manhattan
Sleeper Team (March): Iona
Manhattan Guard Shaquil Bender; Via Shaquil Bender/Instagram1. Marist Red Foxes
2023 Record: 18-13
The Red Foxes are notorious for tough defensive outfits that bottle up open shots and suffocate opposing offenses on the boards. With three returning starters back in Poughkeepsie, coach John Dunne will rely on an experienced and talented backcourt spearheaded by the conference’s best shooter in Josh Pascarelli to evolve on a MAAC Final Four appearance in 2023. Returning sophomore guard Jadin Collins-Roberts will be instrumental to the offense as its facilitator and Pascarelli will be looked upon for immediate offensive production.
2. Quinnipiac Bobcats
2023 Record: 24-10
Quinnipiac has finished inside the top three of the MAAC conference standings each of the last two seasons but have just one postseason win to show for its league-high 44 wins in that period. Luckily for coach Tom Pecora, four starters elected to return to Hamden including potential MAAC Player of the Year Amarri Monroe and savvy veteran Savion Lewis in the backcourt.
Finding a consistent presence outside the arc will be paramount for the Bobcats who shot just 34.6% from three last season. With the addition of Miami-Ohio guard Ryan Mabrey this off season, the Bobcats may have found just that. QU ran one of the country’s fastest paced offenses last season and found success in the MAAC until conference tournament time rolled around.
3. Iona Gaels
2023 Record: 16-17
Tobin Anderson enters year two in New Rochelle following a harrowing 2023 which saw the Gaels record their lowest winning percentage since 2009. Anderson rebranded the roster with vital portal additions such as Dejour Reaves and D-II All-American James Patterson in the backcourt and forward Yaphet Moundi on the wing. Landing three star guard Adam Njie provides depth behind Reaves and Patterson. Iona struggled tremendously rebounding the basketball last season which contributed to its 50.7 eFG%. Finding early season consistency with its new roster will be pressing for the Gaels who seek to return to the NCAA Tournament.
4. Saint Peter’s Peacocks
2023 Record: 19-14
Last season’s NCAA Tournament representee returns three starters but lost its two top scorers this off season. The Peacocks’ overall size will help in its quest to defend its second MAAC Championship in three years through backbreaking defense and a league best FG% allowed last season. Mouhamed Sow is one of the conference’s top returning defenders and will pair nicely with the backcourt duo of Marcus Randolph and Armoni Zeigler. Finding more offensive consistency — particularly from inside the arc — will be needed in Saint Peter’s title defense season.
5. Manhattan Jaspers
2023 Record: 7-23
The Jaspers finished only three games ahead of four-win Siena in 2023 as Manhattan turned in its worst season since 2011. The league’s most dangerous backcourt will help in its goal to contend in the upper half of the conference. Top returnee Shaq Bender led the MAAC in scoring last season and will pair up with Jaden Winston and Brett Rumpel to form a three headed monster bound to contribute most of the Jasper points this season. Manhattan must establish itself down low and improve on its dreadful 31% shooting from three last season.
6. Fairfield Stags
2023 Record: 24-13
Two starters — both in the frontcourt — return for the Stags in 2024, but gone are all of the backcourt’s major contributors and over 41 points per game. Coach Chris Casey poached two Patriot League stars in Deon Parry and Kyle Jenkins to patch up the holes in the backcourt in an attempt to continue a league best 40.7% from three last season. The frontcourt will be tasked with improving one of the league’s worst interior defenses as an overall new team will take time to gel.
7. Merrimack Warriors
2023 Record: 21-12
The Warriors are new to the MAAC and new to the idea of competing for a conference championship that earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Top scorer Jordan Derkack departed for Rutgers but in steps talented sophomore Adam Clark to guide a starting lineup returning three starters. Coach Joe Gallo went portal hunting and plucked many D-II and D-III transfers ready to contribute for a dynamic offensive outfit.
8. Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers
2023 Record: 13-19
Mount Saint Mary’s will quite literally look to rebound following a rough 13-win 2023. In steps new coach Donny Lind and a bevy of frontcourt talent bound to be the focal point of the Mountaineers’ offense. Jedy Cordilia and Dola Adebayo are playmaking bigs that have the potential to take over games single handedly. They are the lone two returning starters, however, as Mount will look for any substance of backcourt play following the departure of its three leading scorers. Success in 2024 will hinge upon the Mountaineers’ ability to limit turnovers and rebound better offensively.
9. Rider Broncs
2023 Record: 15-17
Gone is program legend Mervin James for the Broncs but in comes a select group of dynamic transfers headlined by Jay Alvarez from Houston Christian. Rider ran the conference’s second most efficient offense per KenPom in 2023 but struggled tremendously on the defensive end, particularly with fouls. There is a talented group of wings ready to lead the Broncs including brothers TJ and Tyriek Weeks along with Tariq Ingraham, who will look to continue a dangerously good rebounding squad.
10. Niagara Purple Hawks
2023 Record: 16-16
All five of the Purple Hawks’ starters departed in the off season leaving coach Greg Paulus with a blank slate as he prepares for year six at Niagara. Tennessee Tech transfer forward Josiah Davis will be the focal point early as all 12 of the other newcomers have relatively no experience. Will Shortt is a name to watch out of IMG Academy on the wing. Niagara will seek to improve its league-worst offensive rebounding percentage of 23.7%.
11. Canisius Griffins
2023 Record: 14-18
Paul McMillian IV is the headliner of the Griffins’ eleven player transformation over the off season. The former top-100 recruit is dangerous with the ball in his hands and will be the center piece of a Griffins offense ranking near the bottom of nearly every advanced statistical category in 2023. Lone returning starter Cam Palesse averaged 6.8 points per game last season and will tasked with being the Griffins’ second option. Canisius’ mix of almost entirely new players will cause inevitable growing pains in the early season.
12. Siena Saints
2023 Record: 4-28
The Saints turned in its worst season in program history with an astounding 4-28 win loss record and an even worse three point shooting percentage of 26%. Syracuse transfer Peter Carey will be a staple down low as the Saints look to re-face its historically bad offense from 2023. Guards Marcus Jackson and Major Freeman will be looked to early for offensive production and Carey will have to take on the bulk of the rebounding down low.
13. Sacred Heart Pioneers
2023 Record: 16-16
SHU comes over along with Merrimack to join the ranks of the MAAC following its 16-16 campaign in the NEC. There is one returning starter to build off, being Aidan Carpenter in the backcourt. Tanner Thomas is a double-digit scorer off the bench and will be an integral piece early. Bryce Johnson is an intriguing presence to pair with Carpenter and will create opportunities for other Pioneers to score. Sacred Heart struggled on the boards last season and will look to improve its rebounding percentages to find success in its new league.