The 2019–20 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball season began with practices in October 2019, followed by the start of the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 1. Conference play started in January and concluded March 11, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This season was the 39th season of MAAC basketball.
In a most unpredictable season, all 11 teams had an equal shot at being the top team in the MAAC, but at the end, only one could emerge. The regular season crown came down to the final day. Siena, picked sixth, controlled their own destiny, beat Monmouth and clinched their first outright MAAC regular season championship in almost a decade. Siena would put the game away early and cruise to an 86–72 victory, clinching the MAAC regular season championship and the #1 seed in the 2020 MAAC tournament. Upstart Saint Peter's, picked ninth, would finish one game behind Siena, so close to their first conference championship since 1987. Iona, who was the preseason favorite in the MAAC, was without their coach Tim Cluess, who missed the entire 2019–20 season with an undisclosed illness, and finished in sixth place. It was their lowest finish in the standings since finishing seventh in 2008–2009.
The 2020 MAAC tournament was held on March 10 and March 11 at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 2020 MAAC Basketball Championship moved to the historic Boardwalk Hall for the first time in MAAC history. However, after the two quarterfinal games on March 11, the other two quarterfinal games, semifinals and finals were cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Siena, who was the #1 seed, and who had won their quarterfinal game, would have been the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament should it have been held. On March 12, the tournament, as well as all other NCAA championships for the remainder of the academic season, were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time the tournament had been cancelled since its creation in 1939.
Head coaches
Coaching changes On March 11, 2019, Fairfield head coach Sydney Johnson was fired. He finished at Fairfield with an eight-year record of 116–147. On April 3, Rutgers assistant Jay Young was announced as Johnson's replacement.
On March 11, 2019, Niagara head coach Chris Casey was fired. He finished at Niagara with a six-year record of 64–129. On March 28, 2019, Niagara hired Patrick Beilein as their new head coach. On October 24, it was announced that Beilein would be stepping down from his job, citing personal reasons. That same day, assistant coach Greg Paulus was announced as interim head coach.
On March 21, 2019, it was announced that Siena head coach Jamion Christian would be accepting the head coaching position at George Washington. On March 25, it was announced that assistant coach Carmen Maciariello would be named as Christian's successor.
Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Year at school Overall record MAAC record MAAC Tournament championshipsCanisius Reggie Witherspoon Chattanooga(asst.) 4 0Fairfield Jay Young Rutgers(asst.) 1 0Iona Tim Cluess LIU Post 10 5Manhattan Steve Masiello Louisville(asst.) 9 2Marist John Dunne Saint Peter's 2 1Monmouth King Rice Vanderbilt(asst.) 9 0Niagara Greg Paulus George Washington(asst.) 1 0Quinnipiac Baker Dunleavy Villanova(asst.) 3 0Rider Kevin Baggett Rider(assoc. HC) 8 0Saint Peter's Shaheen Holloway Seton Hall(asst.) 2 0Siena Carmen Maciariello Siena(asst.) 1 0 Notes: All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2019–20 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 (10) 2. Rider (1) 3. Quinnipiac 4. Monmouth 5. Manhattan 6. Siena 7. Canisius 8. Marist 9. Saint Peter's 10. Niagara 11. Fairfield
() first place votes
Preseason All-MAAC teams
2019-20 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAAC Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Tajuan Agee – Iona †E.J. Crawford – Iona Stevie Jordan – Rider Rich Kelly – Quinnipiac Jalen Pickett – Siena Asante Gist – Iona Deion Hammond – Monmouth Malik Johnson – Canisius Ray Salnave – Monmouth Frederick Scott – Rider Dimencio Vaughn – Rider Jesus Cruz – Fairfield Tyere Marshall – Rider Pauly Paulicap – Manhattan Jacob Rigoni – Quinnipiac Landon Taliaferro – Fairfield Warren Williams – Manhattan
† denotes unanimous selection
Preseason Player of the Year Recipient SchoolJalen PickettSiena
MAAC Regular Season
Conference Matrix This table summarizes the final head-to-head results between teams in conference play during the regular season. CanisiusFairfieldIonaManhattanMaristMonmouthNiagaraQuinnipiacRiderSaint Peter'sSienavs. Canisius 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1vs. Fairfield 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0vs. Iona 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0vs. Manhattan 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1vs. Marist 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0vs. Monmouth 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0vs. Niagara 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1vs. Quinnipiac 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0vs. Rider 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1vs. Saint Peter's 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1vs. Siena 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 Total7–138–129–118–126–1412–89–1110–1012–814–615–5
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 11, 2019Frederick Scott, RiderTyler Saint-Furcy, MaristNovember 18, 2019Malik Johnson, Canisius Jacco Fritz, CanisiusNovember 25, 2019Tyere Marshall, RiderJacco Fritz (2), CanisiusDecember 2, 2019Landon Taliaferro, FairfieldJacco Fritz (3), CanisiusDecember 9, 2019Rich Kelly, QuinnipiacGary Harris, Jr., SienaDecember 16, 2019Ray Salnave, MonmouthFousseyni Drame, Saint Peter'sDecember 23, 2019Elijah Burns, SienaHassan Drame, Saint Peter'sDecember 30, 2019Jalen Pickett, SienaArmon Harried, CanisiusJanuary 6, 2020Tykei Greene, ManhattanDaryl Banks III, Saint Peter'sJanuary 13, 2020Kevin Marfo, QuinnipiacArmon Harried (2), CanisiusJanuary 20, 2020Malik Johnson (2), CanisiusHassan Drame (2), Saint Peter'sJanuary 27, 2020Jalen Pickett (2), SienaTyler Sagl, MaristFebruary 3, 2020Dimencio Vaughn, RiderAaron Estrada, Saint Peter'sFebruary 10, 2020E.J. Crawford, IonaFousseyni Drame (2), Saint Peter'sFebruary 17, 2020Marcus Hammond, NiagaraAaron Estrada (2), Saint Peter'sFebruary 24, 2020Jalen Pickett (3), SienaDoug Edert, Saint Peter'sMarch 2, 2020Marcus Hammond (2), NiagaraAaron Estrada (3), Saint Peter'sMarch 8, 2020Elijah Burns (2), SienaFousseyni Drame (3), Saint Peter's
Records against other conferences 2019–20 records against non-conference foes. Records shown for regular season only.
Power 7 ConferencesRecordAmerican0–3ACC0–4Big East0–3Big Ten0–3Big 120–2Pac-120–2SEC–––Power 7 Total0–17Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecordAmerica East6–5A-103–7ASUN3–1Big Sky–––Big South2–1Big West0–1CAA1–6C-USA0–1Horizon League2–0Ivy League2–6MAC1–4MEAC5–1MVC–––Mountain West–––NEC5–5OVC–––Patriot League8–3Pacific West–––SoCon2–2Southland0–1SWAC–––The Summit0–1Sun Belt–––WAC–––WCC–––Other Division I Total40–45NCAA Division I Total40–62
Postseason
MAAC Tournament
2020 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey Tournament was canceled before the games of March 12 began due to COVID-19.
* denotes number of overtimes
NCAA Tournament
Honors and awards
MAAC Awards 2019-20 MAAC Men's Basketball Major Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Player of the YearJalen Pickett, So, G, SienaCoach of the YearShaheen Holloway, Saint Peter'sRookie of the Year†Aaron Estrada, Fr, G, Saint Peter'sDefensive Player of the YearKC Ndefo, So, G, Saint Peter'sSixth Player of the YearKC Ndefo, So, G, Saint Peter's
2019-20 MAAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Rookie Team E.J. Crawford, Sr, G/F, Iona Deion Hammond, Jr, G, Monmouth Marcus Hammond, So, G, Niagara Dimencio Vaughn, Jr, G, Rider Manny Camper, Jr, G, Siena †Jalen Pickett, So, G, Siena Tajuan Agee, Sr, F, Iona Ray Salnave, Jr, G, Monmouth Rich Kelly, Jr, G, Quinnipiac Kevin Marfo, Sr, F, Quinnipiac Elijah Burns, Sr, F, Siena Malik Johnson, Sr, G, Canisius Pauly Paulicap, Sr, F, Manhattan Tyere Marshall, Sr, C, Rider Frederick Scott, So, F, Rider Aaron Estrada, Fr, G, Saint Peter's KC Ndefo, So, G, Saint Peter's Jacco Fritz, Fr, F, Canisius Chris Maidoh, Fr, F, Fairfield Tyler Sagl, Fr, G, Marist Darryl Banks III, Fr, G, Saint Peter's Doug Edert, Fr, G, Saint Peter's †Aaron Estrada, Fr, G, Saint Peter's
† denotes unanimous selection
2019–20 Season final statistic leaders
+ Scoring leaders1 E.J. Crawford (Iona) 525 18.82 Rich Kelly (Quinnipiac) 50016.73 Deion Hammond (Monmouth) 50616.34 Jalen Pickett (Siena) 43815.15 Dimencio Vaughn (Rider) 44314.8
+ Rebound leaders1 Kevin Marfo (Quinnipiac) 40013.32 Manny Camper (Siena) 31110.43 Tyere Marshall (Rider) 2338.04 Tajuan Agee (Iona) 2107.25 Pauly Paulicap (Manhattan) 2056.6
+ Assist leaders1 Jalen Pickett (Siena) 1756.02 Malik Johnson (Canisius) 1895.93 Rich Kelly (Quinnipiac) 1344.54 Stevie Jordan (Rider) 1224.15 Isaiah Washington (Iona) 1124.0
+ Block leaders1 KC Nedefo (Saint Peter's) 672.42 Pauly Paulicap (Manhattan) 591.93 Seth Pinkney (Quinnipiac) 431.44 Kevin Marfo (Quinnipiac) 371.25 Tajuan Agee (Iona) 361.2
+ Steal leaders1 Malik Johnson (Canisius) 642.02 Dimencio Vaughn (Rider) 541.83 Isaiah Washington (Iona) 481.74 Christian Hinckson (Monmouth) 471.55 Ray Salnave (Monmouth) 451.5
+ Three point leaders1 Matthew Lee (Saint Peter's) 27 59 .4582 Doug Edert (Saint Peter's) 53 120 .4423 Marcus Hammond (Niagara) 74 174 .4254 Justin Roberts(Niagara) 54 127 .4255 Jacob Rigoni (Quinnipiac) 66 163 .405
References
External links MAAC website