MAAC Monday: Seeding scenarios, stat leaders, power rankings

The penultimate MAAC Monday of the 2021-22 season opens, as it always does in the next-to-last edition of the weekly Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference recap, with a look at all possible seeding scenarios for next week’s MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship, held at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City from March 8-12, 2022. Presently, Iona has already clinched the regular season championship and NIT autobid, while three other teams — Siena, Saint Peter’s and Monmouth — have each clinched first-round byes into the quarterfinals. In addition, six teams remain in contention for the fifth and final bye at this time. Only Canisius, with five conference wins at the moment with only two games to play and fifth-place Marist already owning nine league wins, cannot mathematically clinch a bye. Updated stat leaders and power rankings will follow the seeding scenarios, which will be listed in order of the present MAAC standings, from first to last:

Iona (16-2): Has clinched regular season Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and automatic bid to National Invitation Tournament. The Gaels will play the #8 or #9 seed in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 9, at 7 p.m.

Siena (12-6): Has clinched a first-round bye and will finish as #2 or #3 seed. The Saints control their own destiny for the #2 seed, and can clinch it with wins at Niagara Thursday and Canisius Saturday, OR with one win AND a Saint Peter’s loss to Manhattan Tuesday or Fairfield Saturday.

Saint Peter’s (12-6): Has clinched a first-round bye and will finish as #2 or #3 seed. The Peacocks can clinch the #2 seed with wins at Manhattan Tuesday and vs. Fairfield Saturday, AND a Siena loss at Niagara Thursday or Canisius Saturday.

Monmouth (10-8): Has clinched a first-round bye and will finish as #4 or #5 seed. The Hawks will play in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 10, at 9:30 p.m., and control their own destiny for the #4 seed. Monmouth can clinch the #4 seed with wins vs. Quinnipiac Thursday and at Rider Saturday, AND a Marist loss at Canisius Thursday or Niagara Saturday.

Marist (9-9): Can finish as #4, #5, #6, or #7 seed. The Red Foxes can clinch a first-round bye with a win at Canisius Thursday OR at Niagara Saturday, and can clinch the #4 seed with wins at Canisius Thursday and Niagara Saturday AND a Monmouth loss vs. Quinnipiac Thursday or at Rider Saturday, OR with a win at Canisius or Niagara AND Monmouth losses vs. Quinnipiac and at Rider.

Quinnipiac (7-11): Can finish as #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, or #11 seed. The Bobcats can clinch a first-round bye and the #5 seed with wins at Monmouth Thursday and Iona Saturday, Marist losses at Canisius Thursday and Niagara Saturday, a Niagara loss THURSDAY vs. Siena, AND a Manhattan loss Tuesday vs. Saint Peter’s OR Thursday vs. Iona.

Fairfield (7-11): Can finish as #5, #6, or #7, #8, #9, #10, or #11 seed. The Stags can clinch a first-round bye and the #5 seed with wins vs. Rider Thursday and at Saint Peter’s Saturday, Marist losses at Canisius Thursday and Niagara Saturday, a Quinnipiac loss Thursday at Monmouth OR Saturday at Iona, AND a Manhattan loss Tuesday vs. Saint Peter’s OR Thursday vs. Iona.

Rider (7-11): Can finish as #5, #6, or #7, #8, #9, #10, or #11 seed. The Broncs can clinch a first-round bye and the #5 seed with wins at Fairfield Thursday and vs. Monmouth Saturday, Marist losses at Canisius Thursday and Niagara Saturday, a Quinnipiac loss Thursday at Monmouth OR Saturday at Iona, AND a Manhattan loss Tuesday vs. Saint Peter’s OR Thursday vs. Iona.

Niagara (7-11): Can finish as #5, #6, or #7, #8, #9, or #10 seed. The Purple Eagles can clinch a first-round bye and the #5 seed with wins vs. Siena Thursday and vs. Marist Saturday, a Marist loss THURSDAY at Canisius, a Quinnipiac loss Thursday at Monmouth OR Saturday at Iona, a Manhattan loss Tuesday vs. Saint Peter’s OR Thursday vs. Iona, a Rider loss Thursday at Fairfield OR Saturday vs. Monmouth, AND a Fairfield loss Thursday vs. Rider OR Saturday at Saint Peter’s.

Manhattan (7-11): Can finish as #5, #6, or #7, #8, #9, #10, or #11 seed. The Jaspers can clinch a first-round bye and the #5 seed with wins vs. Saint Peter’s Tuesday and Iona Thursday, Marist losses at Canisius Thursday and Niagara Saturday, a Quinnipiac loss Thursday at Monmouth OR Saturday at Iona, AND a Niagara loss THURSDAY vs. Siena.

Canisius (5-13): Can finish as #8, #9, #10, or #11 seed. The Golden Griffins will play in the opening round on Tuesday, March 8.

These scenarios will be updated both on this site and on Twitter (@DalyDoseOfHoops) in the days leading up to the first tournament game on Tuesday, March 8.

Scoring Leaders

1) Jose Perez, Manhattan (19.0 PPG)

2) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (17.6)

3) George Papas, Monmouth (15.4)

4) Jao Ituka, Marist (14.2)

5) Walker Miller, Monmouth (14.9)

6) Tyson Jolly, Iona (14.7)

7) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (14.5)

8) Colby Rogers, Siena (14.2)

9) Ricardo Wright, Marist (14.0)

10) Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth (13.9)

Rebounding Leaders

1) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (10.4 RPG)

2) Supreme Cook, Fairfield (8.1)

3) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (8.1)

4) Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (7.9)

5) Nikkei Rutty, Monmouth (7.8)

6) Anthony Gaines, Siena (7.1)

7) Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter’s (7.0)

8) Jackson Stormo, Siena (6.8)

9) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (6.6)

10) Josh Roberts, Manhattan (6.4)

Assist Leaders

1) Dwight Murray, Jr., Rider (4.6 APG)

2) Jose Perez, Manhattan (4.5)

3) Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (4.1)

4) Noah Thomasson, Niagara (3.6)

5) Elijah Joiner, Iona (3.4)

6) Ahamadou Fofana, Canisius (3.3)

7) Matthew Lee, Saint Peter’s (3.0)

8) Dylan van Eyck, Iona (3.0)

9) George Papas, Monmouth (2.9)

T-10) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (2.8)

T-10) Dezi Jones, Quinnipiac (2.8)

Field Goal Percentage Leaders

1) Josh Roberts, Manhattan (.712)

2) Jordan Jones, Marist (.654)

3) Supreme Cook, Fairfield (.544)

4) Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson, Rider (.539)

5) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (.538)

6) Jordan Cintron, Niagara (.534)

7) Jao Ituka, Marist (.531)

8) Jackson Stormo, Siena (.531)

9) Malek Green, Canisius (.505)

10) Walker Miller, Monmouth (.478)

Free Throw Percentage Leaders

1) Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter’s (.894)

2) Doug Edert, Saint Peter’s (.891)

3) Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth (.861)

4) George Papas, Monmouth (.852)

5) Quinn Slazinski, Iona (.843)

6) Taj Benning, Fairfield (.833)

7) Marcus Hammond, Niagara (.828)

8) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.826)

9) Jose Perez, Manhattan (.805)

10) Mervin James, Rider (.795)

3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders

1) Doug Edert, Saint Peter’s (.425)

2) Colby Rogers, Siena (.413)

3) Tyson Jolly, Iona (.398)

4) Caleb Green, Fairfield (.397)

5) Tyrese Williams, Quinnipiac (.397)

6) Nick Hopkins, Siena (.395)

7) Ricardo Wright, Marist (.394)

8) Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter’s (.378)

9) Matthew Lee, Saint Peter’s (.373)

10) TJ Long, Fairfield (.370)

Steal Leaders

1) Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (1.9 SPG)

2) Anthony Nelson, Manhattan (1.7)

3) Nick Hopkins, Siena (1.6)

4) Jordan Cintron, Niagara (1.4)

5) George Papas, Monmouth (1.4)

Blocked Shot Leaders

1) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter’s (2.6 BPG)

2) Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (2.0)

3) Josh Roberts, Manhattan (1.3)

4) Jackson Stormo, Siena (1.3)

5) Jordan Jones, Marist (1.2)

Power Rankings

1) Iona (24-5, 16-2 MAAC)

Last Week: 1

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 at Rider (W 67-61)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 at Manhattan, 7 p.m.

2) Siena (15-11, 12-6 MAAC)

Last Week: 2

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 vs. Monmouth (W 70-59)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 at Niagara, 7 p.m.

3) Saint Peter’s (14-11, 12-6 MAAC)

Last Week: 3

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 vs. Niagara (W 63-36)

Next Game: Tuesday 3/1 at Manhattan, 7 p.m.

4) Marist (14-13, 9-9 MAAC)

Last Week: 5

Last Game: Friday 2/25 vs. Manhattan (W 74-56)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 at Canisius, 7 p.m.

5) Monmouth (18-11, 10-8 MAAC)

Last Week: 4

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 at Siena (L 70-59)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 vs. Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.

6) Rider (11-17, 7-11 MAAC)

Last Week: 9

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 vs. Iona (L 67-61)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 at Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.

7) Fairfield (13-16, 7-11 MAAC)

Last Week: 10

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 at Manhattan (W 66-62)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 vs. Rider, 7:30 p.m.

8) Manhattan (14-13, 7-11 MAAC)

Last Week: 6

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 vs. Fairfield (L 66-62)

Next Game: Tuesday 3/1 vs. Saint Peter’s, 7 p.m.

9) Quinnipiac (12-14, 7-11 MAAC)

Last Week: 7

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 vs. Canisius (L 72-67)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 vs. Monmouth, 7 p.m.

10) Niagara (12-15, 7-11 MAAC)

Last Week: 8

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 at Saint Peter’s (L 63-36)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 vs. Siena, 7 p.m.

11) Canisius (9-20, 5-13 MAAC)

Last Week: 11

Last Game: Sunday 2/27 vs. Quinnipiac (W 72-67)

Next Game: Thursday 3/3 vs. Marist, 7 p.m.