2017–18 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball season

The 2017–18 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball season began with practices in October 2017, followed by the start of the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 10. Conference play started in January and concluded on March 15, 2018. This was the 37th season of MAAC basketball.

On February 25, 2018, the last day of the MAAC regular season, both Rider and Canisius won their final game to claim a share of the MAAC Regular Season title. Rider and Canisius both split their regular season games, but Rider had a 1–0 record against third place Niagara and Canisius went 1–1, so Rider was awarded the No. 1 seed in the 2018 MAAC tournament, while Canisius secured the No. 2 seed.

The 2018 MAAC Tournament was held from March 1–5, 2018 at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY. No. 4 seed Iona defeated No. 6 seed Fairfield 83–71 to win the tournament championship, their third consecutive. They joined former member La Salle University (1988–90) and Siena College (2008–10) as the only teams to ever win three consecutive tournament championships. No team has won four consecutive as of 2018. As a result, Iona received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They earned a No. 15 seed and lost to No. 2 seed Duke 67–89 in the first round. Rider, a conference champion who failed to win its conference's tournament, received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, losing 86–99 at Oregon. Canisius was invited to play in the College Basketball Invitational, and lost at home to Jacksonville State 78–80OT in the first round. Niagara was invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, and lost at Eastern Michigan 65–83.

Head coaches

Coaching changes On March 7, 2017, head coach Tom Moore was fired. He finished at Quinnipiac with a ten-year record of 162–146. On March 27, Villanova assistant coach Baker Dunleavy was hired as the Bobcats next head coach.

Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Year at school Overall record MAAC record MAAC Tournament championshipsCanisius Reggie Witherspoon Chattanooga(asst.) 2 0Fairfield Sydney Johnson Princeton 7 0Iona Tim Cluess LIU Post 8 3Manhattan Steve Masiello Louisville(asst.) 7 2Marist Mike Maker Williams College 4 0Monmouth King Rice Vanderbilt(asst.) 7 0Niagara Chris Casey LIU Post 5 0Quinnipiac Baker Dunleavy Villanova(asst.) 1 0Rider Kevin Baggett Rider(assoc. HC) 6 0Saint Peter's John Dunne Seton Hall(asst.) 12 1Siena Jimmy Patsos Loyola (MD) 5 1 Notes: All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2017–18 season. Overall and MAAC records are from time at current school and are before the beginning of the season. Previous jobs are head coaching jobs unless otherwise noted.

Preseason

Preseason Coaches Poll

RankTeam 1. Iona (9) 2. Manhattan (2) 3. Monmouth 4. Fairfield 5. Niagara 6. Siena 7. Rider 8. Saint Peter's 9. Canisius 10. Marist 11. Quinnipiac

() first place votes

Preseason All-MAAC teams

2017-18 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAAC Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Jermaine Crumpton – Canisius †Tyler Nelson – Fairfield Zane Waterman – Manhattan †Micha Seaborn – Monmouth Matt Scott – Niagara Rickey McGill – Iona Deyshonee Much – Iona Rich Williams – Manhattan Kahlil Dukes – Niagara Nico Clareth – Siena Zavier Turner – Manhattan Brian Parker – Marist Chaise Daniels – Quinnipiac Stevie Jordan – Rider Nick Griffin – Saint Peter's † denotes unanimous selection

Preseason Player of the Year Recipient SchoolTyler NelsonFairfield

MAAC regular season

Conference matrix This table summarizes the final head-to-head results between teams in conference play.   CanisiusFairfieldIonaManhattanMaristMonmouthNiagaraQuinnipiacRiderSaint Peter'sSienavs. Canisius – 0–1 0–2 0–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1vs. Fairfield 1–0 – 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–2vs. Iona 2–0 1–1 – 0–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–1vs. Manhattan 1–0 0–2 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–2vs. Marist 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 – 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1vs. Monmouth 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 – 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2vs. Niagara 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 0–2 1–0 1–1 0–1vs. Quinnipiac 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–1 2–0 – 2–0 2–0 0–2vs. Rider 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 – 0–2 0–1vs. Saint Peter's 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 – 1–1vs. Siena 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 –Total15–39–911–79–94–147–1112–67–1115–36–124–14

Player of the week Throughout the regular season, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference offices named player(s) of the week and rookie(s) of the week. Week Player of the week Rookie of the weekNovember 13, 2017Tyler Nelson, FairfieldWassef Methnani, FairfieldNovember 20, 2017Isaiah Reese, Canisius Jordan Allen, RiderNovember 27, 2017Matt Scott, NiagaraJordan Allen (2), RiderDecember 4, 2017Matt Scott (2), NiagaraJordan Allen (3), RiderDecember 11, 2017Kahlil Dukes, NiagaraRich Kelly, QuinnipiacDecember 18, 2017Matt Scott (3), NiagaraRoman Penn, SienaDecember 26, 2017Austin Tilghman, MonmouthRich Kelly (2), QuinnipiacJanuary 2, 2018Jermaine Crumpton, CanisiusTakal Molson, CanisiusJanuary 8, 2018Frederick Scott, RiderDeion Hammond, MonmouthJanuary 15, 2018Kahlil Dukes (2), NiagaraTakal Molson (2), CanisiusJanuary 22, 2018Isaiah Reese (2), CanisiusAidas Kavaliauskas, FairfieldJanuary 29, 2018Austin Tilghman (2), MonmouthDeion Hammond (2), MonmouthFebruary 5, 2018Tyler Nelson (2), FairfieldTakal Molson (3), CanisiusFebruary 12, 2018Dimencio Vaughn, RiderJordan Allen (4), RiderFebruary 19, 2018Dimencio Vaughn (2), RiderRich Kelly (3), QuinnipiacFebruary 26, 2018Isaiah Reese (3), CanisiusTakal Molson (4), Canisius

Records against other conferences 2017–18 records against non-conference foes. Records shown for regular season only.

Power 7 ConferencesRecordAmerican0–4ACC0–4Big East0–6Big Ten1–4Big 120–1Pac-120–2SEC0–1Power 7 Total1–22Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecordAmerica East4–8A-103–6ASUN1–3Big Sky1–0Big South1–2Big West1–0CAA3–7C-USA0–1Horizon League2–2Ivy League8–4MAC1–3MEAC4–0MVC0–2Mountain West0–1NEC11–3OVC0–2Patriot League9–6Pacific West0–0SoCon1–0Southland1–0SWAC2–0The Summit0–0Sun Belt1–3WAC0–1WCC0–2Other Division I Total54–56NCAA Division I Total55–78

Postseason

MAAC Tournament

2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, Times Union Center, Albany, New York

* denotes number of overtimes

NCAA Tournament

Seed Region School 1st Round 15 Midwest Iona L 67–89 vs. (2) Duke – (Pittsburgh)

Game summary

National Invitation Tournament

Seed Bracket School 1st Round 6 Notre Dame Rider L 86–99 at No. 3 Oregon – (Eugene, OR)

Game summary

College Basketball Invitational

School 1st Round Canisius L 78–80OT vs. Jacksonville State – (Buffalo, NY)

Game summary

CollegeInsider.com Tournament

School 1st Round Niagara L 65–83 at Eastern Michigan – (Ypsilanti, MI)

Game summary

Honors and awards

MAAC Awards 2017-18 MAAC Men's Basketball Major Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Co-Players of the YearJermaine Crumpton, Sr, F, QuinnipiacKahlil Dukes, Sr, G, NiagaraCoach of the YearKevin Baggett, RiderRookie of the YearTakal Molson, Fr, G, CanisiusDefensive Player of the YearPauly Paulicap, So, F, ManhattanSixth Player of the YearFrederick Scott, Fr, F, Rider

2017-18 MAAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Rookie Team Jermaine Crumpton, Sr, F, Canisius Tyler Nelson, Sr, G, Fairfield Isaiah Reese, So, G, Canisius †Kahlil Dukes, Sr, G, Niagara Dimencio Vaughn, Fr, G/F, Rider Rickey McGill, Jr, G, Iona Stevie Jordan, So, G, Rider Rich Williams, Sr, G, Manhattan Matt Scott, Sr, G, Niagara Cameron Young, Jr, G, Quinnipiac Zane Waterman, Sr, F, Manhattan Brian Parker, Jr, G, Marist Frederick Scott, Fr, F, Rider Austin Tilghman, Sr, G, Monmouth Jordan Allen, Fr, G, Rider Takal Molson, Fr, G, Canisius Deion Hammond, Fr, G, Monmouth Rich Kelly, Fr, G, Quinnipiac Jordan Allen, Fr, G, Rider Prince Oduro, Fr, G/F, Siena † denotes unanimous selection

References

External links MAAC website