Tuesday MAAC Preview

Thanks to the ESPN idea that the college basketball season needs a "kickoff" event, three MAAC schools will have to wake up early on Tuesday to play their games. It's good exposure for the programs even if the game happens to tip at 6 AM. That honor goes to Saint Peter's, who will host Monmouth at the Yanitelli Center. For Monmouth's sake at least they don't have to travel far, choosing to make the hour drive north in the early hours before the game.

The Peacocks have made an event out of this, offering students a pregame breakfast before they head inside to cheer on their team. And what they should see is a highly-competitive game in which both teams have their share of stars in the backcourt. Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon will lead the way for SPC while Whitney Coleman, Will Campbell and James Hett handle things for Dave Calloway's Hawks.

Both share a common opponent (Seton Hall), with the Pirates needing a desperation shot from Eugene Harvey to beat the Peacocks while they had an easier time (comparatively speaking) at Monmouth on Sunday. The battle inside should be fun as well with Ryan Bacon (SPC) going up against the likes of Travis Taylor and freshman Ed Waite for Monmouth. What this may come down to is which team gets the sleep out of their eyes the quickest, and that could prove to be a bit more difficult for the visitors.

Niagara, who dropped a close decision in their opener at Auburn, gets a slightly better time (8 AM) in their matchup with Drexel. Tyrone Lewis went down with an injury on The Plains and it remains to be seen if the senior will be able to play. But the Purple Eagles are a seasoned team that should be able to adjust should he not play. Bilal Benn is also a preseason First Team All-MAAC selection, and guards Anthony Nelson and Rob Garrison have been through the ringer a few times themselves. Swingman Demetrius Williamson provides a spark off the bench for Joe Mihalich.

But they're going to have their hands full with Bruiser Flint's team, a solid defensive team that will need to keep this one in the sixties if they're to win. Jamie Harris scored twenty in their season-opening loss to St. Joseph's and forwards Evan Neisler and Leon Spencer can be a handful on the glass. Redshirt freshman Chris Fouch is another player to keep an eye on, especially if Niagara leaves him open on the perimeter. Niagara will have the edge in both home court and offensive firepower but they will be made to work for everything they get.

And lastly there's Siena, who hosts Northeastern in the second game of the day between MAAC and CAA schools. The Saints handled Tennessee State with ease on Friday night but they won't be able to get away with twenty-nine turnovers against Bill Coen's Huskies. One of the day's better individual matchups will also be on display with Edwin Ubiles and Northeastern's Matt Janning on the floor. Janning is given a little more responsibility in regards to handling the ball but both can do a variety of things on the floor.

Both teams returned four starters apiece, and Manny Adako could prove to be a handful for Alex Franklin and Ryan Rossiter in the paint. Nkem Ojouboh is a good shot blocker but could stand to add a bit more to the Northeastern effort on the boards, and guard Chase Allen has started every game of his career and led the Huskies in rebounding last season. This game offers up a number of good individual matchups and with the Huskies likely looking at this game as an opportunity to show their worth to a national audience it should be entertaining as well.

The three other games on the MAAC schedule involve teams hitting the road. Ed Cooley's Stags will have the toughest test as they head to College Park to take on a Maryland team that many expect to be in the NCAA Tournament. Iona has a chance to start 2-0 while the Golden Griffins open up in Chicago. Both of those games are winnable and they'll provide an early answer in regards to how well these two teams picked to finish in the bottom half of the conference can play on the road.

Tuesday's Schedule

6 AM Monmouth @ Saint Peter's (ESPN)
8 AM Drexel @ Niagara (ESPN)
Noon Northeastern @ Siena (ESPN)
7 PM Iona @ Hampton
8 PM Fairfield @ Maryland
       Canisius @ Loyola (IL)