Basketball Preview: The MAAC

As we count down the days to the tip-off of 2008-2009 Men’s Basketball season let’s take a quick tour around the rest of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

During the MAAC Coaches Media Day at the ESPN Zone in New York City last week, the Siena Saints were named a unanimous preseason favorite for the conference championship and their senior guard Kenny Hasbrouck was tabbed preseason Player of the Year.

The coaches ranked Fairfield second, Rider third, Loyola fourth, followed by Manhattan, Iona, Canisius, St. Peter’s and Marist.

The preseason all-MAAC team is led by a trio of Saints from Siena, Hasbrouck, Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin and also includes Fairfield’s Jonathan Han, and Rider’s Ryan Thompson.

Loyola’s sophomore point guard Brian Rudolph headlines the second team along with Fairfield’s Anthony Johnson, Iona’s Gary Springer, Manhattan’s Drew Pearson, Niagara’s Tyrone Lewis, and Harris Mansell from Rider.

The third team is comprised of five high scoring perimeter players: Frank Turner of Canisius, Devon Austin of Manhattan, David Devezin of Marist, and Wesley Jenkins of St. Peter’s.

That’s how the coaches see it; I on the other hand think the MAAC standing might look a little something like this:

1) Siena
2) Niagara
3) Loyola
4) Rider
5) Fairfield
6) Iona
7) Manhattan
8) St. Peter’s
9) Marist
10) Canisius

In recent years the MAAC has proven to be a second chance for a lot of players who choose to transfer, whether its to be closer to home, or because at there original spots they weren’t getting the PT they had hoped, the MAAC has had their arms open to players looking to relocate. This season is no different. Niagara will be led by former UConn Huskie Rob Garrison, and Villanova Wildcat Bilal Benn. Chris Smith, brother of J.R., and formerly of Seton Hall will be at Manhattan. And at Loyola, Jamal Barney an ex-Providence Friar will look to shoulder some of the scoring load left by another ex-Friar, Gerald Brown.
Those guys aside, the following is a list of who I believe to be the most talented players in the conference. If there were nine blank rosters and the MAAC had a player draft, here would be a list of the most coveted guys.

1) Edwin Ubiles, F Siena: The best athlete in the conference. He’s long, 6’6, and lean 215lbs, and has size and skill to play the post or wing. As the case of many of his Saint teammates he’s at his best on the run in the open floor.
2) Ryan Thompson, G Rider: The Thompson brothers are finally split up. Jason is now a Sacramento King and Ryan is long last king in Lawrenceville. A phenomenal shooter, and passer, Thompson will have a big time breakout year.
3) Alex Franklin, F Siena: The most unheralded of Siena Big 3, but maybe the team’s most consistent player. Franklin uses hustle and grit to score layups in transition and finished putbacks off the offensive glass to get him points and a high field goal percentage.
4) Kenny Hasbrouck, G Siena: He’s a leader and a winner. He’s the preseason POY and deserved to be. Ask him to handle at the point and run the offense, OK. Ask him to defend the opposing teams best player at the 1, 2, or 3, no problem. Ask him to do anything that will help the team win, Hasbrouk will - without a doubt.
5) Brian Rudolph, G Loyola: In a conference where good point guard play is crucial in Rudolph, Loyola has the best pure passer and playmaker in the MAAC. He attacks the rim ferociously and always seems to find open guys setting up for the 3. If last year’s Rookie of the Year can hit the open shot himself, he will definitely make the first team all-MACC at year’s end.
6) Tyrone Lewis, G Niagara: The 5’11 combo guard from Philadelphia will get plenty more chances to score after Charron Ficsher’s graduation from the program. Going, into his third season, Lewis has seen the highest of highs – going to the dance and being on the all-MAAC Tourney Team as a freshman and the lowest of lows – being upset in last year’s first round as a sophmore.
7) Frank Turner, G Canisus: Turner is Canisius’ quickest player, its best defender, its best shooter, its best penetrator, and its leader. Frank Turner, a third year starter in his Junior season will once again shoulder a big load as the Golden Griff’s do-it-all guy. It would be great to see Turner get to play with a decent set of teammates… unfortunately this won’t be the season that happens.
8) Devon Austin, G Manhattan: One of the MAAC’s most exciting players. Solidly built at 6’6 he has the athleticism to finish on the run and the quickness to get to the basket in the half court. Austin’s a guy who has a nose for the ball.
9) Anthony Johnson, F Fairfield: The only post player on the list. Last year, it was Jason Thompson and everybody else. This year its… well, just everybody else. Johnson, teammate Greg Nero, and Loyola’s Isaac Reid could be this year’s best big.
10) Wesley Jenkins, G St. Peter’s: Last year as a freshman, he showed a great ability to be able to score the basketball. He can nail 3’s with the best of them, get to the lane with the best of them, and is always on the verge of scoring in waves.