MAAC Monday: Points per shot against, percentage of shots given up, stat leaders, power rankings

Monmouth's bench has had much to celebrate this season, including giving up fewest points per field goal among all MAAC teams. (Photo courtesy of USA Today)

Now three weekends into Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, the league standings have begun to take shape to the point where we are able to get a clear gauge on each team's prospects for the remainder of the season. In our last post a week ago, we focused on points per shot and the percentage of shots each team took. This week, we will turn that sheet of paper over to reflect the same metrics on the defensive end, examining more closely what each team gives up in terms of points per shot and percentage of shots. From there, we will once again highlight the MAAC's stat leaders, and conclude with a new set of power rankings across the conference. As always, any and all statistics reflected within are not only up to date, but were also gleaned from the individual stat pages of each school's website.

Points Per Shot Against (from lowest to highest, not taking free throws into account)
1) Monmouth (0.89)
2) Quinnipiac (0.938)  
3) Siena (0.945)
4) Rider (0.95) 
5) Iona (0.96)
6) Niagara (0.97)
7) Saint Peter's (0.987)
8) Fairfield (0.989) 
9) Marist (1.0534)
10) Manhattan (1.0535)
11) Canisius (1.11)

Analysis: Monmouth's impressive field goal defense, forcing opponents into a 38 percent shooting effort from the floor, is the reason why the Hawks are at the top of this chart. King Rice has always been a strong proponent of his team's defense, and what has made Monmouth even stronger is the tenacity with which they guard the arc, yielding just a scant 31 percent mark from three-point range. What Quinnipiac has lacked in shooting and offense, they have more than made up for on the defensive end. Tom Moore was incredibly excited about the prospect of being more versatile on the defensive end this season, and with all the looks the Bobcats can throw out, the aggressiveness has remained constant. To no surprise, Rider, who led the MAAC in defensive efficiency, is still a thorn in opponents' sides on that particular end, and Siena has balanced an uptempo attack with a stingy opposition that has made Jimmy Patsos' team one of the more balanced units in the conference. Only three teams give up more than one point per field goal, and each has their own reasons why. Marist's inexperience, coupled with their Princeton-influenced offense, have made it easy for teams to score on the Red Foxes. Manhattan's unusually high number is the product of the Jaspers having to navigate through a minefield of injuries in November and December, while Canisius' tendency to run has caught up with them more than Jim Baron and the Golden Griffins may have hoped.

Percentage of Shots Against (schools are listed in alphabetical order, with a breakdown of two-point field goals, three-point field goals, and free throws from left to right)
Canisius: 45.6% 2-pt FG, 25.2% 3-pt FG, 29.2% FT
Fairfield: 47.4% 2-pt FG, 26.8% 3-pt FG, 25.8% FT
Iona: 48.1% 2-pt FG, 25.8% 3-pt FG, 26.1% FT
Manhattan: 46.5% 2-pt FG, 19.7% 3-pt FG, 33.9% FT
Marist: 47.2% 2-pt FG, 26.1% 3-pt FG, 26.7% FT
Monmouth: 43.4% 2-pt FG, 27.8% 3-pt FG, 28.8% FT
Niagara: 50.7% 2-pt FG, 26.3% 3-pt FG, 23.0% FT
Quinnipiac: 47.5% 2-pt FG, 22.4% 3-pt FG, 30.1% FT
Rider: 46.3% 2-pt FG, 29.8% 3-pt FG, 23.8% FT
Saint Peter's: 45.7% 2-pt FG, 28.6% 3-pt FG, 25.7% FT
Siena: 46.1% 2-pt FG, 23.4% 3-pt FG, 30.5% FT

Analysis: Niagara is the only team in the MAAC to give up more than half its shots inside the three-point line, and the small lineup Chris Casey has played in his three years on Monteagle Ridge may be the biggest cause of this statistic. On the other end of the spectrum, the conference-low mark posted by Monmouth could be attributed to the presence of two 6-10 rim protectors on their roster in Chris Brady and Zac Tillman. Beyond the arc, Manhattan's tendency to yield very few threes has long been a part of Steve Masiello's game plan in Riverdale, as his defense makes it a point to guard the arc just as strongly as they force turnovers and catch opponents off kilter. The Jasper coach has consistently harped on his team's three-point defense, and the numbers show how vital it is to what Manhattan does. Staying with the two-time reigning MAAC champions, the Jaspers' inflated percentage of free throws surrendered is more a product of the physical style that they play than it is a tight whistle. The same can be said of Siena, who relies on its three-tiered front line of Brett Bisping, Lavon Long, and Javion Ogunyemi even more now in the absence of Marquis Wright, a trend that has taken its toll on the Saints when other teams get to the free throw line.

Scoring Leaders
*A.J. English, Iona (23.3 PPG)
1) Khallid Hart, Marist (21.7 PPG)
2) Justin Robinson, Monmouth (20.5)
3) Marcus Gilbert, Fairfield (19.5)
4) Shane Richards, Manhattan (18.3)
5) Marquis Wright, Siena (17.3)
6) Malcolm McMillan, Canisius (16.6)
7) Rich Williams, Manhattan (16.4)
8) Brian Parker, Marist (15.6)
9) Jordan Washington, Iona (15.5)
10) Giovanni McLean, Quinnipiac (15.2)

Rebounding Leaders
1) Brett Bisping, Siena (8.6 RPG)
2) Deon Jones, Monmouth (7.9)
3) Isaiah Williams, Iona (7.4)
4) Quadir Welton, Saint Peter's (7.3)
5) Donovan Smith, Quinnipiac (7.1)
6) Rich Williams, Manhattan (7.1)
7) Kahlil Thomas, Rider (7.0)
8) Jamal Reynolds, Canisius (6.9)
9) Matt Scott, Niagara (6.5)
10) Javion Ogunyemi, Siena (6.4)

Assist Leaders
*A.J. English, Iona (6.5 APG)
1) Tyler Wilson, Manhattan (6.3 APG)
2) Jerome Segura, Fairfield (5.6)
3) Marquis Wright, Siena (4.6)
4) Trevis Wyche, Saint Peter's (4.4)
5) Malcolm McMillan, Canisius (4.4)
6) Teddy Okereafor, Rider (4.1)
7) Giovanni McLean, Quinnipiac (3.5)
8) Tyler Nelson, Fairfield (3.4)
9) Justin Robinson, Monmouth (3.3)
10) Lavon Long, Siena (3.2)

Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Chris Brady, Monmouth (.593)
2) Javion Ogunyemi, Siena (.553)
3) Kahlil Thomas, Rider (.539)
4) Jordan Washington, Iona (.539)
5) Brian Parker, Marist (.536)
6) Trevis Wyche, Saint Peter's (.528)
7) Lavon Long, Siena (.500)
8) Deyshonee Much, Iona (.491)
9) Khallid Hart, Marist (.484)
10) Xavier Lundy, Rider (.483)

Free Throw Percentage Leaders
1) Je'lon Hornbeak, Monmouth (.949)
2) Deyshonee Much, Iona (.893)
*A.J. English, Iona (.889)
3) Justin Robinson, Monmouth (.869)
4) Tyler Nelson, Fairfield (.868)
5) Shane Richards, Manhattan (.823)
6) Khallid Hart, Marist (.813)
7) Malcolm McMillan, Canisius (.808)
8) Micah Seaborn, Monmouth (.808)
9) Antwon Portley, Saint Peter's (.804)
10) Marcus Gilbert, Fairfield (.803)

Three-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Marquis Wright, Siena (.548)
2) Deyshonee Much, Iona (.493)
3) Isaiah Lamb, Marist (.452)
4) RaShawn Stores, Manhattan (.440)
5) Khallid Hart, Marist (.438)
6) Jerry Johnson, Fairfield (.414)
7) Justin Robinson, Monmouth (.409)
T-8) Marcus Gilbert, Fairfield (.400)
T-8) Ayron Hutton, Quinnipiac (.400)
10) Kassius Robertson, Canisius (.393)

Power Rankings
1) Monmouth (11-4, 3-1 MAAC)
Last Week: 1
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 vs. Quinnipiac (W 88-74)
Next Game: Monday 1/11 at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

2) Iona (9-6, 6-0 MAAC)
Last Week: 2
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 vs. Marist (W 90-80)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 vs. Monmouth, 9 p.m.

3) Saint Peter's (6-8, 4-1 MAAC)
Last Week: 6
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 at Canisius (W 70-53)
Next Game: Sunday 1/17 vs. Marist, 2 p.m.

4) Siena (10-6, 3-2 MAAC)
Last Week: 3
Last Game: Thursday 1/7 vs. Fairfield (W 91-76)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 at Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.

5) Manhattan (6-9, 3-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 8
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 at Niagara (L 55-53)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 vs. Canisius, 7 p.m.

6) Fairfield (8-7, 2-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 5
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 at Rider (W 69-64)
Next Game: Monday 1/11 vs. Monmouth, 7 p.m.

7) Niagara (5-12, 3-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 11
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 vs. Manhattan (W 55-53)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

8) Quinnipiac (5-9, 2-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 9
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 at Monmouth (L 88-74)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 vs. Siena, 7 p.m.

9) Canisius (7-9, 2-4 MAAC)
Last Week: 4
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 vs. Saint Peter's (L 70-53)
Next Game: Tuesday 1/12 at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.

10) Marist (4-10, 1-4 MAAC)
Last Week: 7
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 at Iona (L 90-80)
Next Game: Thursday 1/14 at Rider, 8 p.m.

11) Rider (4-12, 0-5 MAAC)
Last Week: 10
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 vs. Fairfield (L 69-64)
Next Game: Thursday 1/14 vs. Marist, 8 p.m.