We all know you’re looking for the story, the cinderella, well the shoe fits. Davidson was the talk of 2008– with one storied sophomore. This team has three seniors– one the nation’s assist leader, one the conference player of the year, and at least one who is heading for an exciting NBA draft day. Three great kids who are going to graduate, and three great kids who know how to put on a show. If you want a story, give this team an 11 or 12 seed and give them the shot to make a deep run. In 2006, George Mason made that run. It’s been four years, Siena wears green and gold, give these seniors the chance to make that memorable run your friends at CBS would like to see.

Selection Committee, you can help.

Denzel Yard has chosen to withdraw from Siena College effective immediately. Yard informed Head Coach Fran McCaffery of his decision this week. The freshman guard had been suspended for academic reasons, and last played December 12 at Northern Iowa.

“I regret that things didn’t work out with Denzel,” McCaffery said. “We wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Dude, this is sick… Where can I get a copy of this game?

Friday night’s games will be broadcast on MAACSports.com. Saturday’s and Sunday’s games will be broadcast on the MSG family of networks, and the MAAC title game will be on ESPN2. The winner of Monday’s night game will go to the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Tickets–

Ticket packages for all 9 games can be purchased online, buy now.

Schedule–

• Monday March 8th
• 7:00: Final
• Sunday March 7th
• 4:00: Semifinal I
• 6:30: Semifinal II
• Saturday March 6th
• 2:30: #5 Rider v #4 St. Peter’s
• 4:30: #1 Siena v TBD
• 7:30 #2 Fairfield v TBD
• 10:00: #3 Iona v #6 Niagara
• Friday March 5th
• 7:30: #9 Manhattan v #8 Loyola
• 9:30: #10 Marist v #7 Canisius

Download the 2010 MAAC Championship Bracket as a word document. DOC

Siena Saints Blog is now featured on CBS 6’s website and is the sports site of the week at The Sports Hot Sheet.

When Rider faced Siena this earlier this season, the Saints’ dominant performance began Siena’s record 15 game winning streak. Siena has clinched the #1 seed in the MAAC Tournament, while Rider is still in the hunt with Niagara and St. Peter’s for the #4 seed.

Friday night will feature the two leading candidates for MAAC Player of the Year on each side of the court. After a slow start to the season, the preseason MAAC POY, Ryan Thompson, has been on fire of late. Over the last 8 games, Thompson is averaging 23.8 PPG and 3.8 APG, yielding 5 Rider wins and 2 close overtime losses, one to their Bracket Buster opponent, Hofstra. Alex Franklin has scored 20+ points in six out of his last ten games, and is averaging 16 PPG – 7.7 RPG – 1.5 APG on the year. Contrast that with Thompson’s season numbers; 17.1 PPG – 5.1 RPG – 2.7 APG, and this game could be the final judgement call for MAAC POY.

The Saints physically dominated their previous meeting, with Franklin and Rossiter both posting double-doubles. The Broncs didn’t help their cause, shooting 0-15 from beyond the arc and ultimately losing by more than 20. Siena held Ryan Thompson assist-less, and to just 4 total points that night. In what could be Ryan’s last game against the Saints, it would be a tall order to expect that same result. With all of Siena’s losses coming on the road this year, look for this game to be much more competitive.

Read Our Preview »

More on Butler:
David Woods II, Gordon Hayward Scouting Report,
Bracket Buster Coverage Wrap
All Posts Tagged Butler

Even More:
Where are the Students
Where to Watch
SSB on CollegeHoopsJournal

New York City: Copper Door

Students: You’re on your own

Readers– where will you be watching?

My team (Creighton Bluejays) aren’t doing well this year, so I’m gathering Creighton Fans to cheer for your Siena Saints in the run to March Madness. Omaha, NE is now Saints Central, please have your fans join our facebook group

Thanks Tom, we all do appreciate it. It’s great to see mid majors supporting each other, and it’s really great to see this level of recognition for Siena. The title of the group is “My Hoops Team Isn’t Doing Well This Year, So I’ve Adopted The Siena Saints!” While our hoops team is doing well this year, join anyway– it will help spread the word about Siena and perhaps attract more fans.

• Saints rebound from ugly loss, beat Canisius
  

  Ryan Rossiter said a Canisius fan at the Koes­sler Center was on Rossiter’s case all afternoonon on Sunday, at one point telling Siena’s junior center that he’d “never be in Vogue” magazine.
  Maybe not, but perhaps Rossiter could make the cover of “Seventeen,” because that’s how many rebounds he had against Canisius, one short of a career high as the Saints rebounded from their first loss in two months by beating Canisius, 74-57.

• Saints bounce back to beat Griffs
• Siena rebounds, routs Canisius