MAAC Monday returns today with its usual team spotlight preceding updated stat leaders and power rankings for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Following last week’s closer look at Canisius in its return to conference play, this week’s profile follows a similar vein in chronicling the 298-day odyssey that culminated in an emphatic first impression to validate its status as the MAAC’s preseason favorite.
Nine months, 24 days and multiple pauses later, Siena finally took the floor three days into the new year to begin a season that carried perhaps the highest expectations since the Saints brought a third straight MAAC championship to the Capital Region in 2010. But even after the transcendent end to head coach Carmen Maciariello’s maiden voyage at the helm of his alma mater, question marks remained considering only four major players from last year’s regular season championship-winning rotation remained.
Needless to say, the questions appear to be very much answered, and in convincing fashion, too.
After holding on for a gritty 78-77 victory in the first of two contests against a Monmouth team that came into Loudonville as the MAAC leader, Siena seized further momentum to sweep the Hawks with a powerful 76-62 triumph last Monday. And following the MAAC calling an audible after Canisius’ latest COVID-19 shutdown rerouted the Saints to Fairfield, the unanimous pick to win the league proved itself unfazed by the last-minute switch, scoring a decisive 74-58 win Saturday prior to doubling up the Stags in a 75-68 decision Sunday without Jalen Pickett, but 4-0 after finally getting a chance to take the floor.
“Siena basketball is a special program,” Maciariello told Mark Singelais of the Albany Times Union after Sunday’s victory capped off the first four of what the Saints hope will be 20 games before a potential postseason run in March. “We put our heart and soul into it, and today shows why we do what we do. Everybody stepped up.”
“We talk about coming together during adverse times and growing our togetherness and our bond, and I think we did that. I love this team. I’m really proud of this group and how they’ve overcome everything we’ve been through.”
With Pickett unavailable Sunday after a leg injury late in Saturday’s game, one Maciariello insists is not as serious as it may have appeared, Aidan Carpenter made his first appearance in a Saints uniform Saturday, and his first start Sunday, scoring 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the latter contest to fulfill the sky-high plaudits deflected his way entering the year, not to mention offer a glimpse of what the backcourt could look like when Pickett returns, with sophomore Jordan King and graduate transfer Nick Hopkins also capable of providing a lift to a potent ensemble.
“I knew I had to come in and perform for us to win,” Carpenter said to Michael Kelly of The Daily Gazette Sunday. “(There was) no pressure. This was my moment to take, and I took it.”
“Aidan’s a very skilled guard,” Pickett added. “He can play the one, two or three, bring up the ball for us and expand that shooting. He’ll just help us get deeper with another guard off the bench, and he’ll be able to make us faster and rest our legs better.”
While the guards took advantage of their moments to shine this week, two new stars may have been born this week on the front line in Kyle Young and Jackson Stormo. Tasked with the responsibility of replacing Elijah Burns as the Saints’ rim protector, the pair has delivered in a big way, combining to average 20 points and nearly nine rebounds through Siena’s first four contests.
“We have big shoes to fill, so I knew something had to change in my game,” said Young after a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double eight days ago against Monmouth. “I feel we’ve built a lot of team chemistry, on and off the floor, since we got here. With the late start, we didn’t get to have a summer session, but right now, we’re just focused on the season.”
“I trust Kyle a lot out there,” Pickett gushed with regard to Young’s progression. “I played with him last year, too, and I’m seeing the growth and the work he’s put in. I love how he runs the floor, and then Jackson’s just a skilled big man. They’re very high-IQ basketball players, both of them. They’re both tough and physical, and Harrison Curry comes in with that three-headed monster that Carm loves at the big.”
“I have a platform to show what I can do,” Stormo, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Pepperdine who scored just five points last season with the Waves said Saturday after his second double-figure scoring effort of the season validated his two-way potential as a forward who can run the floor and facilitate. “Personally, I couldn’t be happier.”
Colin Golson is still in the chamber as the freshman continues to navigate COVID protocols, but any doubts of Siena’s depth appear to have been eased through the Saints’ first week of live game competition, making it easier for Pickett and Camper to pick up where they left off last year amid first team all-conference honors. In fact, the two lead the MAAC in rebounding, and for Camper, the first week back in the saddle reaffirmed his warrior mentality everyone in the program raves about.
“It’s very important, especially with us being a brand-new team,” Camper said of his necessity to be a fighter. “They look up to the guys that have been here — me, Jalen, Jordan — so we have to lead by example every day, whether we’re tired or not. We’ve got to come in and push each other every day and compete at a high level. That’s what we stand by.”
“I told him not to worry about anything and just continue to defend,” Maciariello said of Camper and his ability to bounce back after a 3-for-16 effort in Siena’s opener against Monmouth. “He puts so much pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to drive and make plays, so I’m just really happy with him.”
Scoring Leaders
1) Isaiah Ross, Iona (22.2 PPG)
2) Deion Hammond, Monmouth (19.1)
3) Jalen Pickett, Siena (17.7)
4) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (16.3)
5) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (15.1)
6) Dwight Murray, Rider (14.0)
7) George Papas, Monmouth (13.6)
8) Manny Camper, Siena (13.0)
9) Kobi Nwandu, Niagara (12.9)
10) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s (12.8)
Rebounding Leaders
1) Manny Camper, Siena (9.8 RPG)
2) Jalen Pickett, Siena (9.7)
3) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (7.5)
4) Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter’s (7.4)
5) Malek Green, Canisius (7.0)
6) Dylan van Eyck, Iona (6.9)
7) Dwight Murray, Rider (6.6)
8) Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac (6.3)
9) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (6.3)
10) Marcus McClary, Monmouth (6.2)
Assist Leaders
1) Manny Camper, Siena (5.3 APG)
2) Jalen Pickett, Siena (4.3)
3) Dwight Murray, Rider (4.3)
4) Matthew Lee, Saint Peter’s (4.2)
5) Asante Gist, Iona (4.2)
6) Savion Lewis, Quinnipiac (3.7)
7) Brendan McGuire, Quinnipiac (3.4)
8) Jacco Fritz, Canisius (3.2)
9) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (3.0)
10) Samuel Chaput, Monmouth (2.9)
Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Seth Pinkney, Quinnipiac (.826)
2) Jackson Stormo, Siena (.810)
3) Kyle Young, Siena (.700)
4) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (.625)
5) Jordan Jones, Marist (.610)
6) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (.565)
7) Melik Martin, Monmouth (.534)
8) Brendan McGuire, Quinnipiac (.533)
9) George Papas, Monmouth (.526)
10) Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter’s (.524)
Free Throw Percentage Leaders
1) Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac (1.000)
2) Jordan King, Siena (.929)
3) Justin Roberts, Niagara (.917)
T-4) Taj Benning, Fairfield (.889)
T-4) Ahamadou Fofana, Canisius (.889)
6) Dwight Murray, Rider (.875)
T-7) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (.857)
T-7) Jalen Pickett, Siena (.857)
9) Raheem Solomon, Niagara (.842)
10) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (.821)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Brendan McGuire, Quinnipiac (.583)
2) Javon Cooley, Marist (.526)
3) George Papas, Monmouth (.491)
4) Donovann Toatley, Monmouth (.464)
5) Jordan Henderson, Canisius (.455)
6) Tymu Chenery, Quinnipiac (.444)
7) Nick Hopkins, Siena (.429)
8) Isaiah Ross, Iona (.424)
9) Asante Gist, Iona (.421)
10) Dwight Murray, Rider (.417)
Steal Leaders
1) Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan (2.3 SPG)
2) Berrick JeanLouis, Iona (2.3)
3) Myles Ruth, Monmouth (1.6)
4) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s (1.6)
T-5) Majesty Brandon, Canisius (1.5)
T-5) Manny Camper, Siena (1.5)
Blocked Shot Leaders
1) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s (3.6 BPG)
2) Seth Pinkney, Quinnipiac (3.0)
3) Jordan Jones, Marist (2.1)
4) Warren Williams, Manhattan (1.7)
5) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (1.5)
Power Rankings
1) Siena (4-0, 4-0 MAAC)
Last Week: 2
Last Game: Sunday 1/10 at Fairfield (W 75-68)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 at Rider, 7 p.m.
2) Monmouth (5-4, 5-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 1
Last Game: Sunday 1/10 vs. Marist (W 72-62)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 vs. Quinnipiac, 5 p.m.
3) Iona (5-3, 3-1 MAAC)
Last Week: 4
Last Game: Wednesday 12/23 vs. Coppin State (W 85-65)
Next Game: Sunday 1/17 vs. Saint Peter’s, 4 p.m.
4) Saint Peter’s (6-5, 3-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 5
Last Game: Saturday 1/2 at Canisius (L 63-60)
Next Game: Sunday 1/17 at Iona, 4 p.m.
5) Canisius (3-3, 3-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 6
Last Game: Saturday 1/2 vs. Saint Peter’s (W 63-60)
Next Game: Friday 1/22 at Fairfield, 5 p.m.
6) Marist (6-4, 4-4 MAAC)
Last Week: 3
Last Game: Sunday 1/10 at Monmouth (L 72-62)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 vs. Fairfield, 5 p.m.
7) Niagara (5-5, 4-4 MAAC)
Last Week: 7
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 vs. Rider (W 66-55)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 at Manhattan, 4 p.m.
8) Quinnipiac (3-3, 1-1 MAAC)
Last Week: 8
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 vs. Manhattan (L 45-42)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 at Monmouth, 5 p.m.
9) Manhattan (3-4, 2-4 MAAC)
Last Week: 9
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 at Quinnipiac (W 45-42)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 vs. Niagara, 4 p.m.
10) Rider (3-8, 3-5 MAAC)
Last Week: 10
Last Game: Saturday 1/9 at Niagara (L 66-55)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 vs. Siena, 7 p.m.
11) Fairfield (2-11, 2-6 MAAC)
Last Week: 11
Last Game: Sunday 1/10 vs. Siena (L 75-68)
Next Game: Friday 1/15 at Marist, 5 p.m.
Saints are marchin all the way to March!
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