MAAC Tournament Pick'em

By Peyton Wesner

Things to Remember:

Last Year's Winner: 

Manhattan

Contenders: 

Iona

Rider

Manhattan

Monmouth

My Sleeper:

Quinnipiac

First Round

#9 Niagara vs. #8 Siena

5:00 PM EST

8-21 (7-13) Niagara

Good Wins:

-Albany 65-47 (Home)

-Manhattan 73-61 (Home)

-Rider 65-61 (Road)

-Canisius 82-71 (Road)

Single-Digit Conference Losses:

-Manhattan 84-75 (Road)

-Iona 80-79 (Home)

-Siena 74-70 (Home)

-Marist 65-61 (Home)

-Marist 63-61 (Road)

-Rider 69-60 (Road)

Last Game:

-Win Against Fairfield 57-56 (Home)

Head-to-Head Against Opponent:

-(January 8) Loss 79-69 (Road)

-(January 18) Loss 74-70 (Home)

Key Contributors:

---#2 Emile Blackman (SO)

-13.6 PPG & 3.9 RPG.

---#11 Ramone Snowden (SO)

-10.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, & 1.1 SPG.

---#10 Wesley Myers (SO)

-9.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, & 1.6 APG.

---#22 Dominique Reid (FR)

-9.3 PPG & 5.8 RPG.

---#12 Karonn Davis (FR)

-7.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, & 2.8 APG.

10-19 (7-13) Siena

Solid Wins:

-St. Bonaventure 73-70 (Road)

-Quinnipiac 88-67 (Home)

-Fairfield 68-67 (Road)

-Rider 79-72 (Home)

Single-Digit Conference Losses:

-Manhattan 87-79 (Road)

-Iona 87-83 (Road)

-Saint Peter's 65-57 (Road)

-Canisius 69-63 (Home)

-Manhattan 80-74 (Home)

Last Game:

-Loss To Monmouth 63-57 (Road)

Head-to-Head Against Opponent:

-(January 8) Win 79-69 (Home)

-(January 18) Win 74-70 (Road)

Key Contributors:

---#33 Rob Poole (SR)

(DNP at Monmouth due to ankle injury.)

-14.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, & 1.1 SPG.

---#1 Marquis Wright (SO)

-12.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, & 2.1 SPG.

---#24 Lavon Long (SO)

-10.1 PPG & 4.9 RPG.

---#0 Javion Ogunyemi (SO)

-9.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, & 1.6 BPG.

---#5 Evan Hymes (SR)

-8.9 PPG.

---#3 Ryan Oliver (JR)

-6.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, & 1.1 SPG.

Prediction:

What a game to start off this year's MAAC Conference Tournament as we will watch eight of the best Sophomores and Freshmen in the conference face-off. Both teams come into today's important matchup on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Siena Saints have crawled, opposed to marched, to the post-season and have lost their last five games. The play of Senior leader Rob Poole has suffered as he is dealing with an ankle injury that will require surgery after the season. Poole's numbers during the losing streak have declined since he is averaging 10.3 points per game on 26.8% shooting during the span. Tonight the rumor is that Poole will be able play, but he must be able to put up big numbers against a red-hot Niagara team to extend his career at Siena one more game. The Purple Eagles of Niagara seem to have finally figured out what to do to win. Since February 19th, the team has won four games. What is so significant about that? They only had four wins prior to February 19th. The sudden life from the Purple Eagles is definitely attributed to the great play of "Sophomore Stud" Emile Blackman. Blackman, unlike Poole, comes into today averaging 15.3 points per game. In addition, Blackman filled up the scoreboard with thirty points a few weeks ago at home against Rider. But Niagara is not a one-man team. They also have "Sophomore Studs" Ramone Snowden and Wesley Myers and Freshman Dominique Reid, who all have the capability to put the ball in the hoop. Although, during the regular season Siena swept the series, I believe this afternoon's game will not have the same result. I foresee the youngsters on Niagara playing with a "chip on their shoulder" ultimately showing Siena that they will not be defeated a third time. What about Rob Poole? Niagara will attack his ankle and cause his shooting deficiency to continue while their scorer, Emile Blackman, will net twenty points in Rob Poole's last collegiate game.

---Niagara 65, Siena 62

PW's Regular Season Prediction Record: 191-65 (73-17 in the MVC)