MAAC schedule: Thoughts and games of interest

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference released its league schedule Wednesday morning, a slate that, for the second straight year, is an 18-game conference season for each of its eleven member institutions, creating an unbalanced schedule that is generated through a matrix largely fueled by a consensus preseason ranking of each team.

Before we look into some of the prevailing opinions of the schedule and how it benefits everyone, plus some significant games of interest, here are two quick thoughts:

• The Nassau Coliseum tripleheader games -- Quinnipiac-Fairfield, Monmouth-Marist, and Manhattan-Iona -- that were slated to return to Long Island in the second of a two-year agreement were scrapped this season, presumably due to paltry attendance (a grand total of 2,515 attended the three games last January) and the MAAC's selection of Atlantic City as its future tournament venue, beginning in 2020. Coincidentally, Fairfield, Marist and Iona, each of whom were to give up their home game against their aforementioned opponents to accommodate the tripleheader, lose the game entirely, and will once again be the road team against Quinnipiac, Monmouth and Manhattan, respectively, in the lone meeting between the schools this year.

• Expounding on that point, the fact that Manhattan-Iona -- arguably the MAAC's marquee rivalry over the past decade given that Steve Masiello and Tim Cluess have combined to win each of the last six conference championships -- is only a one-off renewal this season is a major loss to both the conference and its fans, who have usually turned both Draddy Gymnasium and the Hynes Center into sellout crowds. With that said, the Friday time slot for this year's reprisal between the Jaspers and Gaels (February 22) will almost certainly lend itself to an ESPN telecast, but being a one-game series for the first time since the MAAC's inception in 1981 changes the dynamic of what has always been one of the league's best games and atmospheres.

Takeaways and Games of Interest

Canisius: The Golden Griffins will have the chance to show the potential that has Reggie Witherspoon excited to build on one of the more successful seasons in program history, opening with five of eight games away from home. On paper, the opening trip to Marist and Siena should be a 2-0 start if all goes well, leading into a pivotal early weekend test against Rider and Iona, the regular season and tournament champions from last season, respectively.

Games of Interest: January 11 vs. Rider, January 13 vs. Iona, January 30 at Niagara, February 27 vs. Niagara

Fairfield: The Stags have mounds of opportunities to cultivate a home court advantage in the first part of the conference season, with six of nine games in familiar territory to open league play. Not having to undertake the Buffalo trip until mid-February is also a boon to Sydney Johnson's squad as life without Tyler Nelson begins in earnest. Having to start the slate against Rider and Iona will serve Fairfield well toward the end of the year.

Games of Interest: January 3 vs. Rider (only meeting with Broncs), January 27 vs. Iona

Iona: Aside from only getting one crack at archrival Manhattan, against whom the Gaels are undefeated over the past three seasons, the three-time reigning champions have a favorable road ahead to what could be an unprecedented and historic four-peat come March. One key statistic in Iona's schedule is that seven of its nine conference home games will come while school is in session, allowing the Maroon Maniacs to assert themselves as the MAAC's most influential and raucous student section inside the conference's strongest home court.

Games of Interest: January 25 vs. Rider, February 22 at Manhattan, March 1 at Rider

Manhattan: After getting its first two league games at home, the Jaspers are subject to a four-game road trip over twelve days, something that will have Steve Masiello building character in a team that could potentially be the most intriguing in the league behind Pauly Paulicap, last year's MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. The schedule catches up to Manhattan in February, when four straight games are played in Riverdale. 

Games of Interest: January 12 at Monmouth, February 5 vs. Rider, February 22 vs. Iona

Marist: Expectations are high for the Red Foxes as John Dunne journeys up the Palisades Parkway from New Jersey and into the Hudson Valley, where a cadre of seniors are seeking to bring Marist its best finish in over a decade. Dunne is among the best at getting blood out of a stone, and getting his first three conference games at McCann Arena will go a long way toward shaping the season.

Games of Interest: January 3 vs. Canisius, January 13 at Saint Peter's, February 22 vs. Saint Peter's

Monmouth: The opening to last year's conference schedule was one Hawks fans would love to forget. Having to go to Iona to begin league play this season does not do Monmouth any favors either, but several winnable games await before taking the Buffalo trip in late January. Having three of its final four games at home will certainly help King Rice and his program continue to turn the corner.

Games of Interest: January 3 at Iona, January 20 vs. Iona, February 24 vs, Quinnipiac

Niagara: Head coach Chris Casey remains confident in his Purple Eagles even without Kahlil Dukes and Matt Scott, and his beliefs will be tested with both a late start to conference play and a two-game road trip to Manhattan and Fairfield to get the ball rolling. Four home games bridging January and February, including one with crosstown rival Canisius, are going to be the biggest key to the schedule.

Games of Interest: January 11 vs. Iona, January 30 vs. Canisius, February 27 at Canisius

Quinnipiac: Baker Dunleavy's encore from an improbable run to the MAAC Tournament semifinals begins in the same venue his regular season ended last year -- Draddy Gymnasium -- as the Bobcats seek to avenge a double-overtime loss to Manhattan. Projected to be among the top tier of the league this season, Quinnipiac gets games against Rider and Canisius in its first five MAAC contests, enabling Dunleavy to gauge his team's progress right out of the gate.

Games of Interest: January 5 at Rider, January 17 vs. Canisius, February 8 at Iona

Rider: The prohibitive favorite to repeat as regular season champions will have four of its first six MAAC games contested on the road, having to go to Buffalo in the third and fourth games of the season before taking on Iona in New Rochelle less than a week later. With the schedule fairly even in terms of home and road swings, Kevin Baggett's group will truly have to earn the title of league's best if the Broncs are to make lightning strike twice.

Games of Interest: January 11 at Canisius, January 13 at Niagara, January 25 at Iona

Saint Peter's: The Shaheen Holloway era has already seen the Peacocks land high-profile non-conference games, and will be christened formally in MAAC play with Siena on January 3 at the Yanitelli Center, where the Saints have not won since 2009-10, the last of the three-straight MAAC championship seasons under former coach Fran McCaffery. Saint Peter's gets six of its next eight games away from home, however, forcing a young team to grow quickly under its charismatic new mentor. Only having to play one game in Western New York could prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Games of Interest: January 13 vs. Marist, January 22 at Niagara, January 31 at Rider

Siena: Jamion Christian has quickly shown the understanding of what he is getting himself into in the basketball hotbed of Albany, and believes that the Saints could surprise the skeptics in his first year at the helm. Having to begin league play at Saint Peter's, where the Saints carry an eight-year winless streak into Jersey City, is no easy task, but the Saints have chances to quickly build something with the hand they have been dealt. Of significant consequence are two road trips: One to Monmouth (January 31) and Iona (February 2), and the season-ending swing in Buffalo.

Games of Interest: January 31 at Monmouth, February 2 at Iona, March 1 at Canisius, March 3 at Niagara