Shaheen Holloway and Saint Peter’s have found a groove heading into second half of MAAC season by renewing commitment to hard-nosed defense and toughness. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)
MAAC Monday reaches the midpoint of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season this week, and as a result, the standout performers from the first half of the league slate will be recognized here in a special segment devoted to midseason all-conference selections, before transitioning to stat leaders and power rankings. Prior to that, this week’s team spotlight will take a closer look at one of the strongest threats to unseat Iona from the MAAC throne.
Since returning from a holiday COVID pause, Saint Peter’s has challenged undefeated Iona as one of the hottest teams in the MAAC, playing eight games in 17 days and winning six of them in a rejuvenation period that has seen the Peacocks find another gear while discovering not only a newfound appreciation for the opportunity to play, but also a return to their roots as far as team identity is concerned.
With senior forward KC Ndefo finding the rhythm that landed him preseason Player of the Year recognition, as well as a suffocating defense that has allowed just over 62 points per game since its January 14 return to action, Saint Peter’s has once again established itself as the gritty, fearless, undaunted team no one wants to see as the season heats up.
“I thought the guys that went on pause had a chance to really reflect and understand when something’s taken away from you, you don’t realize it until it’s gone,” head coach Shaheen Holloway said Friday after Saint Peter’s defeated Manhattan. “And when they came back, they came out with a different sense of urgency, plus the five guys that have been starting, they didn’t go in (isolation) and they’ve been working. KC is a big part of who we are and what we do. He’s starting to play like KC again, and that’s why we’re playing that way.”
“In the first couple of months, I was kind of like, ‘okay, we’ve got a new team, let me try to figure things out.’ Now I’m like, no. Now we’re getting back to the way I want to play. Early on, I wasn’t putting my stamp on the program like I needed to be. The pause helped me get focused, too, it helped me get back to who I am.”
Saint Peter’s pushed Iona to the limit Sunday, leading the Gaels early in the second half before an 18-4 Iona run changed the tenor of the game, but the manner in which the Peacocks have been molded was not lost on Holloway’s counterpart on the floor in New Rochelle.
“That was the toughest team we’ve faced since I’ve been here,” Rick Pitino remarked after his Iona team remained unbeaten in league play Sunday, but not before needing a full 40-minute effort to vanquish the scrappy Peacocks. “They’re physically tough, and they play tough. I’ve known Shaheen for a long, long time, but I didn’t know how good of a coach he was until coaching against him tonight. He was a great player as you all know, he beat out Kobe Bryant for an MVP in an all-star game, and he’s a terrific coach, too. I’m proud of him.”
Midseason MAAC Awards
Player of the Year: Tyson Jolly, Iona
Rookie of the Year: Jao Ituka, Marist
Sixth Man of the Year: Dylan van Eyck, Iona
Defensive Player of the Year: KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s
Coach of the Year: Rick Pitino, Iona
All-MAAC First Team
Marcus Hammond, Niagara
Tyson Jolly, Iona
Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona
George Papas, Monmouth
Jose Perez, Manhattan
All-MAAC Second Team
Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac
Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac
Walker Miller, Monmouth
Dwight Murray, Jr., Rider
Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth
Ricardo Wright, Marist
All-MAAC Third Team
Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter’s
Jao Ituka, Marist
Elijah Joiner, Iona
Colby Rogers, Siena
Dimencio Vaughn, Rider
All-Rookie Team
Jao Ituka, Marist
Jared Billups, Siena
Walter Clayton, Jr., Iona
TJ Long, Fairfield
Jaylen Murray, Saint Peter’s
Scoring Leaders
1) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (17.8 PPG)
2) Jose Perez, Manhattan (17.8)
3) George Papas, Monmouth (15.9)
4) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (14.7)
5) Tyson Jolly, Iona (14.7)
6) Jao Ituka, Marist (14.7)
7) Walker Miller, Monmouth (14.6)
8) Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth (14.6)
9) Ricardo Wright, Marist (14.6)
10) Colby Rogers, Siena (14.5)
Rebounding Leaders
1) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (10.8 RPG)
2) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (8.2)
3) Supreme Cook, Fairfield (8.0)
4) Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (7.7)
5) Nikkei Rutty, Monmouth (6.9)
6) Dwight Murray, Jr., Rider (6.9)
7) Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter’s (6.9)
8) Anthony Gaines, Siena (6.6)
9) Jackson Stormo, Siena (6.5)
10) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (6.2)
Assist Leaders
1) Jose Perez, Manhattan (4.9 APG)
2) Dwight Murray, Jr., Rider (4.4)
3) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (4.1)
4) Noah Thomasson, Niagara (3.5)
5) Ahamadou Fofana, Canisius (3.4)
6) Dylan van Eyck, Iona (3.3)
7) George Papas, Monmouth (3.2)
8) Matthew Lee, Saint Peter’s (3.1)
9) Elijah Joiner, Iona (2.9)
10) Caleb Green, Fairfield (2.9)
Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Jordan Jones, Marist (.681)
2) Josh Roberts, Manhattan (.667)
3) Dylan van Eyck, Iona (.609)
4) Warren Williams, Manhattan (.590)
5) Jordan Cintron, Niagara (.561)
6) Supreme Cook, Fairfield (.558)
7) Jao Ituka, Marist (.552)
8) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (.542)
9) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (.539)
10) Jackson Stormo, Siena (.523)
Free Throw Percentage Leaders
1) Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter’s (.920)
2) Doug Edert, Saint Peter’s (.884)
3) Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth (.881)
4) Jared Billups, Siena (.848)
5) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.841)
6) George Papas, Monmouth (.836)
7) Quinn Slazinski, Iona (.820)
8) Walker Miller, Monmouth (.813)
9) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (.813)
10) Jose Perez, Manhattan (.810)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Colby Rogers, Siena (.457)
2) Doug Edert, Saint Peter’s (.439)
3) Nick Hopkins, Siena (.426)
4) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (.422)
5) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.402)
6) Ricardo Wright, Marist (.402)
7) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (.400)
8) Samir Stewart, Manhattan (.394)
9) Caleb Green, Fairfield (.391)
10) Taj Benning, Fairfield (.390)
Steal Leaders
1) Nick Hopkins, Siena (1.9 SPG)
2) Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (1.8)
3) Jordan Cintron, Niagara (1.7)
4) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (1.5)
5) Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan (1.4)
Blocked Shot Leaders
1) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s (2.1 BPG)
2) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (1.8)
3) Jordan Jones, Marist (1.2)
4) Jackson Stormo, Siena (1.1)
5) Josh Roberts, Manhattan (1.1)
1) Iona (18-3, 10-0 MAAC)
Last Week: 1
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 vs. Saint Peter’s (W 85-77)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 at Canisius, 7 p.m.
2) Saint Peter's (9-8, 7-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 2
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 at Iona (L 85-77)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 vs. Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.
3) Siena (8-8, 5-3 MAAC)
Last Week: 3
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 vs. Quinnipiac (W 85-76)
Next Game: Tuesday 2/1 vs. Canisius, 7 p.m.
4) Quinnipiac (11-8, 6-5 MAAC)
Last Week: 4
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 at Siena (L 85-76)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 at Saint Peter's, 7 p.m.
5) Monmouth (13-7, 5-4 MAAC)
Last Week: 5
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 vs. Niagara (L 70-69)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 vs. Fairfield, 7 p.m.
6) Fairfield (10-10, 4-5 MAAC)
Last Week: 7
Last Game: Friday 1/28 at Rider (W 76-65)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 at Monmouth, 7 p.m.
7) Manhattan (11-7, 4-5 MAAC)
Last Week: 6
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 vs. Marist (W 72-66)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 at Niagara, 7 p.m.
8) Niagara (9-11, 4-7 MAAC)
Last Week: 9
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 at Monmouth (W 70-69)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 vs. Manhattan, 7 p.m.
9) Rider (7-13, 3-7 MAAC)
Last Week: 11
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 vs. Canisius (W 70-62)
Next Game: Friday 2/4 at Siena, 7 p.m.
10) Canisius (7-14, 3-7 MAAC)
Last Week: 10
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 at Rider (L 70-62)
Next Game: Tuesday 2/1 at Siena, 7 p.m.
11) Marist (8-12, 3-8 MAAC)
Last Week: 8
Last Game: Sunday 1/30 at Manhattan (L 72-66)
Next Game: Sunday 2/6 at Saint Peter's, 2 p.m.
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