2013 College Basketball Picks: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournamant Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – MAAC Tournament Schedule and Tournament Bracket: There are competitive conferences, and there is the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The regular season title was in doubt for almost the entire season, and five teams eventually finished within two games of each other at the top of the standings. Not to mention the fact that four of those teams lost at least three games at home. Plain and simple, just about any team could win on any given night. As a result, the MAAC Tournament is going to be wide open this year. Throw in the fact that the MAAC is a one-bid conference and only the conference tournament champ will reach the NCAA Tournament, and there are going to be some desperate teams going at it. Here is a closer look at the teams that have the best chance of emerging from the crowded pack and winning the MAAC Tournament.
2013 MAAC Tournament Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
The Contenders
By winning four of their final five games, the Niagara Purple Eagles (18-12, 13-5 MAAC) were able to capture the MAAC regular season crown. While they aren’t a particular efficient offensive team or all that stingy on the defensive end, the Purple Eagles do win the turnover battle on a consistent basis. They also have a potent backcourt in the form of Antoine Mason and Juan’ya Green. The sophomores are both averaging more than 17 points per game on the year, and both get to the foul line on a regular basis.
Led by a stingy defense, the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds (21-10, 12-6 MAAC) finished just a game out of first place during the regular season. Although the Greyhounds don’t shoot a great percentage on the offensive end, they do have decent balance with guard Dylon Cormier and forward Erik Etherly both averaging more than 16 points per game. On the flip side, Loyola (MD) relies almost exclusively on its starting five as all five starters play more than 30 minutes per game. Depth can be an issue.
No team in the MAAC has more momentum entering the conference tournament than the Rider Broncs (18-13, 12-6 MAAC). They have won seven of their last eight games, including five straight, and have defeated regular season champ Niagara twice during the stretch. The Broncs don’t look very good on paper, especially on the offensive end. However, Rider has a solid defense to rely on and is hot at the right time.
Their defense is laughable at times, but the Iona Gaels (17-13, 11-7 MAAC) can score points in bunches. Not only do they lead the conference in scoring, but the Gaels actually rank second in the country in scoring at 81.2 points per game. A dynamic backcourt leads the powerful offensive attack, and Lamont Jones and Sean Armand are averaging a combined 40 points per game this year. If the Gaels get hot from the field, watch out.
Bottom Line
As the final regular season standings suggest, no team is a lock to win the MAAC Tournament. That being said, Rider could have the inside track to the NCAA Tournament for a couple of reasons. For one, they roll into the conference tournament playing their best basketball of the season, and you can’t manufacture momentum. Meanwhile, the Broncs are a defensive-oriented team, and it is a lot easier to give consistent effort on the defensive end than it is to have a hot shooting night on the offensive end. Not to mention the fact that Rider’s perimeter defense is particularly stingy, giving the Broncs the perfect weapon to counteract the potent backcourts of Iona and Niagara. Overall, Rider’s defense gives it the opportunity to control the tempo of every game and win the MAAC Tournament despite an unimpressive offense.
Prediction: Rider Broncs Win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament
Odds to Win 2013 MAAC Tournament
Iona +230
Loyola – MD +450
Niagara +475
Canisius +600
Fairfield +650
Rider +800
Manhattan +950
Marist +4000
Saint Peter’s +15000
Siena +20000
2013 MAAC Tournament Schedule
First Round, March 8:
No. 8 Marist vs. No. 9 Siena, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 Fairfield vs. No. 10 St. Peter’s, 9:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals, March 9:
No. 1 Niagara vs. Marist/Siena, 2:30 p.m.
No. 4 Iona vs. No. 5 Canisius, 4:30 p.m.
No. 2 Rider vs. Fairfield/St. Peter’s, 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 Loyola vs. No. 6 Manhattan, 9:30 p.m.
All games streamed on ESPN3.
Semifinals, March 10:
Niagara/Marist/Siena vs. Iona/Canisius, 2 p.m.
Rider/Fairfield/St. Peter’s vs. Loyola/Manhattan, 4:30 p.m.
Both games streamed on ESPN3.
Championship, March 11, ESPN2, 9 p.m.
All times Eastern.
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