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What's at stake Sunday
In terms of contingency scenarios, today doesn't have a ton to offer. The top two seeds in the MAAC tournament have been settled, and Rider, which can finish anywhere from fifth to seventh, is the only team with more than two possible seeding slots.
Here, though, is the seeding picture -- and what each team can accomplish Sunday.
Siena -- clinched No. 1 seed
Fairfield -- clinched No. 2 seed
Iona -- can clinch No. 3 seed with a win at Saint Peter's
Saint Peter's -- can clinch No. 3 seed with a win over Iona
Niagara -- can clinch No. 5 seed with a win at Fairfield
Rider -- can clinch No. 5 seed with a win and a Niagara loss; can clinch No. 6 seed with a win over Canisius
Canisius -- can clinch No. 6 seed with a win at Rider
Loyola -- can clinch No. 8 seed with a win over Manhattan, but will be play Manhattan either way
Manhattan -- can clinch No. 8 seed with a win at Loyola, but will play Loyola either way
Marist -- locked into No. 10 spot
The game with the biggest implications is Canisius-Rider, because the loser will fall into the play-in round. That's an important factor for both teams -- for Rider because it would add further embarrassment to an already disappointing season, and for Canisius for this reason:
With Frank Turner set to graduate, this is the end of a cycle for Tom Parrotta. If Parrotta can't avoid the play-in round this year, it'll be awfully hard for him to make the case that he's moved the program forward.
Here, though, is the seeding picture -- and what each team can accomplish Sunday.
Siena -- clinched No. 1 seed
Fairfield -- clinched No. 2 seed
Iona -- can clinch No. 3 seed with a win at Saint Peter's
Saint Peter's -- can clinch No. 3 seed with a win over Iona
Niagara -- can clinch No. 5 seed with a win at Fairfield
Rider -- can clinch No. 5 seed with a win and a Niagara loss; can clinch No. 6 seed with a win over Canisius
Canisius -- can clinch No. 6 seed with a win at Rider
Loyola -- can clinch No. 8 seed with a win over Manhattan, but will be play Manhattan either way
Manhattan -- can clinch No. 8 seed with a win at Loyola, but will play Loyola either way
Marist -- locked into No. 10 spot
The game with the biggest implications is Canisius-Rider, because the loser will fall into the play-in round. That's an important factor for both teams -- for Rider because it would add further embarrassment to an already disappointing season, and for Canisius for this reason:
With Frank Turner set to graduate, this is the end of a cycle for Tom Parrotta. If Parrotta can't avoid the play-in round this year, it'll be awfully hard for him to make the case that he's moved the program forward.
posted by Kyle Franko at
1:47 AM
3 Comments:
Not sure how people feel, but lets do away with the "Play-In" Round in the MAAC. Straight to the quarters. If you finish 9 or 10, you stay home.
Other conferences have done this. Is anyone interested in seeing Marist or a Manhatten/Loyola rematch Friday night?
I completely agree with that. No disrespect to a team like Marist, but the school spends all of that money for transpotaton, lodging, food, etc, only to most likely lose in the 1st round. Play in's should be eliminated.
The argument against expansion of the NCAA tournament to 96 teams from the current 65 is that every team has a chance to get into the NAtional tournament. I am against the elimination of bottom teams from a conference being excluded for the conference tourney. Give each and every team a chance to catch lightning in a bottle and maybe advance to the big dance. Maybe have the play in games on campus and then go neutral site like some other conferences, but to do away with some teams like the A-10 is doing doesn't seem right.
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