Previewing the 2019-20 MAAC season

Fresh off record fourth straight MAAC championship, Iona enters 2019-20 as prohibitive choice to extend its dynasty behind four returning starters. (Photo by Jaden Daly/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

On the heels of one of the more unpredictable seasons in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference history, order was somewhat restored one year ago, as Iona emerged from a 2-9 start to win ten consecutive games and power its way through the MAAC Tournament to claim an unprecedented fourth consecutive conference championship.

With four starters returning and a glut of depth usually not seen around New Rochelle, the Gaels are forwardly positioned to begin the 2019-20 campaign, which culminates in a new locale, as the MAAC shifts its postseason tournament to Atlantic City for the next three seasons. Iona hit a jackpot of sorts when head coach Tim Cluess, once considered among the candidates to replace Chris Mullin at St. John's when the Red Storm suddenly found itself in need of a new leader this past April, decided to remove himself from consideration and remain in command of his budding dynasty, and should yet again be the class of the league behind a well-rounded core anchored by senior forward E.J. Crawford. The Connecticut native enters his final go-round in maroon and gold in the best shape of his career, having lost 15 pounds as part of a summer conditioning program, and has committed himself to becoming a better all-around talent while the likes of Asante Gist, Tajuan Agee and Ben Perez all return to a rotation that could go ten-deep on most nights, and that does not even account for the possibility of incoming transfers Isaiah Washington and Mo Thiam potentially receiving waivers to play immediately. Behind the machine stands a group of hungry programs determined to play spoiler and break the stranglehold that the New York metropolitan area holds upon the conference, with eight of the last nine league champions hailing from, or just outside, the city limits of the Big Apple.

Siena returned to the forefront of the MAAC last season behind the unexpected outburst of production from first team all-conference guard and Rookie of the Year Jalen Pickett, who now heads into his sophomore campaign as a realistic threat to be the Saints' first conference Player of the Year since Ryan Rossiter captured the distinction in 2011. Evan Fisher has graduated and assistant coach Carmen Maciariello has moved one chair over following the departure of Jamion Christian to George Washington, but the Capital Region should still be able to boast a winning program as Siena blends experienced incumbents with an intriguing freshman class and two transfers in Donald Carey and Elijah Burns, both of whom sat out last year.

Rider appears to be the consensus second choice behind Iona on paper, with four returning starters much like the Gaels. Senior point guard Stevie Jordan remains one of the premier ball handlers in the MAAC, and Dimencio Vaughn continues to prove himself as a dynamic scorer. Up front, the pairing of Frederick Scott and Tyere Marshall should make a name for itself as one of the top front lines in the league. The concern for Kevin Baggett, however, remains the same, that of the program's inability to advance past the quarterfinals in March since the head coach assumed the reins in 2012.

One program who may very well take the next step could be Quinnipiac. The Bobcats will need to replace the reigning MAAC Player of the Year in Cameron Young, but the pairing of Rich Kelly and Jacob Rigoni will take Baker Dunleavy's squad a long way. Redshirt freshmen Savion Lewis and Matt Balanc only augment a cadre of guard depth that also includes a budding star in sophomore combo guard Tyrese Williams, and a deep freshman class ensures that the future will be bright in Hamden for years to come. Monmouth, who left the Northeast Conference alongside Quinnipiac to join the MAAC in 2013, is primed for a similar uptick as King Rice and the Hawks return arguably one of the conference's top backcourts in juniors Ray Salnave and Deion Hammond, the latter of whom may be flying under the radar somewhat after a promising rookie season was followed by a sophomore year that was overshadowed in some ways by Salnave's transcendent play down the stretch.

Manhattan enters the final year of a prosperous decade in what is seemingly a make-or-break season for Steve Masiello, who begins his ninth year at the helm with perhaps the most returning talent he has ever had in Riverdale, bringing everyone back with the exception of graduated seniors Tom Capuano and Samson Usilo. A healthy Pauly Paulicap, back at 100 percent after missing nearly all of last year due to injury, will enable Tyler Reynolds to play his natural small forward position as Paulicap and Warren Williams protect the paint, while Samir Stewart and Bud Mack shoulder the majority of responsibility in the Jaspers' backcourt.

Canisius will need to replace both Isaiah Reese and Takal Molson after the former was suspended during last season before ultimately turning pro, while the latter decided to transfer to Seton Hall, where the Buffalo native will most likely replace Myles Powell when he regains his eligibility next season. Senior stalwart Malik Johnson, perhaps the most impactful player in the conference that not enough people are talking about, will have a chance to be a headliner for Reggie Witherspoon this season, and the Golden Griffins have proven to consistently get the most out of their supporting cast. Look for this year to continue that trend. Saint Peter's loses a pair of program cornerstones in Davauhnte Turner and Sam Idowu, and burgeoning big man KC Ndefo is no longer on the roster, so year two for Shaheen Holloway could be somewhat of a rebuilding campaign. The Peacocks do get Cameron Jones back for a fifth year, and Penn State transfer Nazeer Bostick should get mounds of opportunities to play right away, instilling Philadelphia-honed toughness into the young Saint Peter's roster. Twins Fousseyni and Hassan Drame should see significant minutes right away as well, giving each of the New York products instant chances to live up to their hype.

Fairfield and Niagara begin new eras this season, as the Stags turn to longtime Steve Pikiell assistant Jay Young to lead the way, finally earning a well-deserved shot to run a program of his own. Young was dealt a blow when Neftali Alvarez decided to transfer to Mercer in the offseason, but Jesus Cruz and Landon Taliaferro return to anchor a deceptively strong stable of guards. The Purple Eagles fly into the year with a household name in Western New York, as Patrick Beilein -- son of newly-minted Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John, and to those of a certain age, not completely removed from his playing days at West Virginia -- embarks upon his maiden voyage as a Division I head coach with senior point guard James Towns in his arsenal along with sophomores Marcus Hammond and Raheem Solomon. Finally, Marist essentially starts from scratch after Brian Parker graduated in May, but John Dunne retains sophomore Darius Hines while also gaining Matt Turner, a 6-foot-3 guard who sat out last year after transferring from Santa Clara.

Predicted Order of Finish:

1) Iona - For the past three years, the introductory video on the scoreboards at the Hynes Athletics Center has begun with the playing of WWE superstar Bobby Roode's entrance music, "Glorious Domination." If all goes according to plan, the Gaels will be the MAAC's version of Booker T, five-time conference champions under Tim Cluess.

2) Quinnipiac - If Rich Kelly comes anything close to his sophomore year, he'll be a Player of the Year contender come March. A healthy Kevin Marfo and graduate transfer Aaron Falzon give the Bobcats more interior depth than in recent years, and Baker Dunleavy boasts the deepest backcourt in the conference.

3) Rider - Experience will carry the Broncs a long way, but all eyes will be on Kevin Baggett in Atlantic City if the program fails to escape the quarterfinals again. Bench productivity outside of Tyrei Randall, who is back after redshirting last year, is also a major concern.

4) Siena - Jalen Pickett has a tough act to follow after his dominant rookie season, but Donald Carey and Elijah Burns -- along with highly-touted freshman Gary Harris, Jr. -- will ease the burden as Carmen Maciariello starts his head coaching career with a promising future upon which to build around.

5) Monmouth - The Hawks will most likely be better than this rating four months from now. Ray Salnave is a first team all-MAAC talent if he can remain consistent, and Deion Hammond is, quite possibly, the most underrated player in the league. Look for Mustapha Traore and Sam Ibiezugbe to finally emerge from the shadows this year and become serviceable big men for King Rice to rely upon.

6) Manhattan - Steve Masiello brings back the most experience of any team he has ever had. The last time he did that, the Jaspers cut down a net and nearly upset Louisville in the NCAA Tournament five years ago. This year's iteration of Manhattan basketball has a lot of work to do to get to that level, but a return to the MAAC's upper echelon is certainly attainable for this group.

7) Canisius - No one talks about Malik Johnson enough. That will change this season, as the most impactful point guard in the conference gets a chance to be the main attraction in Buffalo. Jalanni White and Scott Hitchon will become the latest in a long line of ancillary pieces to become targeted options in Reggie Witherspoon's arsenal.

8) Saint Peter's - Losing Davauhnte Turner and Sam Idowu will be tough for the Peacocks to overcome, but Shaheen Holloway has already proven his ability to get a lot out of a little.

9) Niagara - Year one under Patrick Beilein does not look as imposing as initially thought, as James Towns, Marcus Hammond and Raheem Solomon lead a team that should be able to pick off a couple of teams ahead of them on any given night. Size is going to be a concern, however.

10) Fairfield - Jay Young will undoubtedly change the culture for the Stags, going from a run-and-gun outfit to a more defense-oriented group. Landon Taliaferro could be one of the MAAC's leading scorers and sharpshooters once again, and that will only help this team moving forward.

11) Marist - John Dunne admitted he would essentially be starting over in year two, as he inherited a senior-laden roster after moving to Poughkeepsie from Saint Peter's. This season will see its share of bumps in the road for the Red Foxes, but at the end of the day, it will serve Dunne and Marist well for next year.