2021 MAAC Conference Tournament Info, Facts, & Preview Links
First Round (Atlantic City, NJ; Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall)
Monday, March 8, 2021
Game 1: (11) Rider 78 (5-16 overall; 5-13 conf) vs. (6) Canisius 76 (7-5 overall; 7-5 conf) at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Game 2: (9) Iona (8-5 overall; 6-3 conf) vs. (8) Quinnipiac (9-12 overall; 7-10 conf) at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 3: (10) Manhattan (7-12 overall; 6-12 conf) vs. (7) Fairfield (7-16 overall; 7-11 conf) at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Quarterfinals (Atlantic City, NJ; Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall)
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Game 4: (9) Iona/(8) Quinnipiac winner vs. (1) Siena (12-4 overall; 12-4 conf) at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 5: (10) Manhattan/(7) Fairfield winner vs. (2) Monmouth (12-7 overall; 12-6 conf) at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Game 6: (11) Rider (6-16 overall; 5-13 conf) vs. (3) St. Peter’s (13-10 overall; 10-8 conf) at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 7: (5) Niagara (8-10 overall; 7-9 conf) vs. (4) Marist (12-8 overall; 10-8 conf) at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Semifinals (Atlantic City, NJ; Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall)
Friday, March 12, 2021
Game 8: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner at 6 p.m. ET (ESPNEWS)
Game 9: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner at 8:30 p.m. (ESPNEWS)
Championship Game (Atlantic City, NJ; Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall)
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Game 10: Championship Game (Auto Bid) at 4 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Tournament Winners (last 10 years):
2020: Cancelled due to the scourge known as COVID
2019: (1) Iona (17-16 overall; 12-6 conf)
2018: (4) Iona (20-14 overall; 11-7 conf)
2017: (3) Iona (22-13 overall; 12-8 conf)
2016: (2) Iona (22-11 overall; 16-4 conf)
2015: (3) Manhattan (19-14 overall; 13-7 conf)
2014: (2) Manhattan (25-8 overall; 15-5 conf)
2013: (4) Iona (20-14 overall; 11-7 conf)
2012: (2) Loyola (Md.) (24-9 overall; 13-5 conf)
2011: (4) St. Peter’s (20-14 overall; 11-7 conf)
NET ratings through games of 3/7/21 (347 teams)
Siena-136
Iona-154
Monmouth-158
St. Peter’s-178
Canisius-185
Niagara-218
Marist-220
Quinnipiac-245
Manhattan-275
Rider-280
Fairfield-292
Kenpom ratings as of 3/8/21
Siena-181
Iona-201
Monmouth-204
St. Peter’s-213
Canisius-241
Niagara-247
Marist-260
Quinnipiac-273
Rider-310
Manhattan-315
Fairfield-324
Here are some links for previews of the 2021 MAAC Conference tournament and the official tournament championship page (in no particular order):
Official MAAC Conference tournament page: https://maacsports.com/tournaments/?id=1608&path=mbkb
Three Man Weave preview link: https://www.three-man-weave.com/3mw/maac-tournament-preview-2021
Sports Betting Dime preview link: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/ncaab/2021-maac-tournament-odds-picks-bracket/
The Game Haus preview link: https://thegamehaus.com/college-basketball/maac-tournament-bracket-breakdown/2021/03/08/
My brief take on the 2021 MAAC conference tournament: So I know I am a little late with this one too, but it's not like a lousy 11th-seeded Rider team was going to beat 6th-seeded Canisius anyways, right? Oh. Never mind. Anyways, I wasn't going to pick either of those teams to win the tournament. The MAAC always seems to provide some early round big upsets only to have Iona win it in the end. After all, Iona has won the thing the last 4 times it was played to completion, and 5 of the last 7 years a MAAC tournament champion has been crowned. Due to the ridiculous seeding system the MAAC used (conference wins?), 9-seed Iona will have to first beat the 8 seed Quinnipiac and then beat 1 seed Siena in the quarterfinals! Rick Pitino and the Gaels are perfectly capable of doing that, but I think this crazy year will end Iona's stranglehold on this tournament. I am going with 2-seed Monmouth to win it because the 1 seed has only won this tourney once in the last 10 years. That's in-depth analysis. You are welcome. Enjoy!
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