From SienaSaints.com…

Rossiter saved his best for last. He scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Siena’s Senior Night win over archrival Marist. In the process, he broke Siena’s 61-year old single-season rebounding record, and racked up the 66th double-double of his career.

He leads the MAAC in points and rebounds per game– I would be shocked if he’s not MAAC POY.

Freshman: 11MPG, 1.9PPG, 2.9RPG
Sophomore: 30MPG, 10.0PPG, 7.9RPG
Junior: 33MPG, 13.8PPG, 10.0RPG

The preseason hype comes as no surprise as he looks to be the third straight Saint to bring home the MAAC Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of former teammates Kenny Hasbrouck (2008-2009), and Alex Franklin (2009-2010);

Can Rossiter deliver Siena’s third straight MAAC Player of the Year?
As the season approaches I find myself asking the following questions:

-How will Ryan generate his own offense with the loss of Ronald Moore’s court vision?

-Will the known fact that Coach B plans on going deeper into the bench this year lead to a decrease in Ryan’s minutes?

-With Ryan being more involved in the scoring offense, will that hurt into his rebounding on the offensive glass?

All in all, Ryan has done very little to disappoint the loyal Siena fans, playing above his potential year after year. Albeit the questions do linger, his work ethic and hustle night in and night out cannot be ignored, thus I envision a season ending stat line resembling 14.8PPG, and 9.0RPG. Are those stats enough to win MAAC POY, of course, just take a look at the reigning POY Alex Franklin’s stat line from last season, 33MPG, 16.1PPG, 8.1RPG.

At the end of the day stats are just that stats, and the personnel accolades tend to follow when combined with wins and Championship banners. Do I believe Ryan will bring home the third straight MAAC POY to Loudonville? My gut is telling me it’s too early to make this kind of bold prediction, but with such a wide open conference this year, a deeper bench, and a younger nucleus around him, I am pressed to say no. Needless to say I sure will be rooting Rossiter on along with the rest of the team towards another successful season in Green and Gold.

We also had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Ryan and here is what he had to say:

SienaSaintsBlog: What conference game(s) did you circle this year on the schedule?

Ryan Rossiter: It is going to be a grind night in and night out in conference, but I would say Fairfield, Marist, and Manhattan.

SSB: Who is the toughest player to go pound for pound in the MAAC?

Ryan: It is hard to name just one player but the ones that come to mind are: Corey Bower (Marist), Ryan Bacon (St. Peter’s), and Derek Needham (Fairfield).

SSB: Who would you say is going to break onto the scene this year and make the biggest impact on the team?

Ryan: I would have to say the combo of Griffin, Rakeem, and John Breeden at PG. They have some big shoes to fill with the departure of Ronald Moore.

SSB: What did you do over the summer break?

Ryan: I worked out in the weight room putting on 25lbs., and worked out with my older brother Steve Rossiter (a 2010 graduate of Davidison who saw some success in the 2009 NCAA Tournament). I did miss an NBA workout in Indianapolis due to a brief illness.

SSB: What are your team goals for the season?

Ryan: A fourth straight MAAC Championship.

SSB: Knowing personal accolades are not your first priority, what would you say is your top goal this year that is consistent with your team’s success?

Ryan: I feel that it’s hard to focus on one personal goal in particular, but I do believe that personal success goes hand in hand with our team’s success.

SSB: In a few words how would you describe your team?

Ryan: Young, Tough, Driven, Up for a Challenge

SSB: In a few words how would you describe your game?

Ryan: Toughness, Hard Working, Pound the Glass

MAAC Player of the Year: Alex Franklin, Siena

Senior Alex Franklin was honored with MAAC Player of the Year Thursday. Franklin ranks in the top six in MAAC individual categories with 15.8 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game and a 56.6% field goal percentage. This counts as a culmination of hard work for Franklin. Franklin made his first All-MAAC First Team this year and has built on a career that shined early with 27 points, as a Freshman, in Siena’s loss to Niagara in the 2007 MAAC Championship.

MAAC Rookie of the Year: Derek Needham, Fairfield

Derek Needham dominated as a Freshman and shattered offensive records at Fairfield this year. He set records in points, 460, and assists, 156, at Fairfield this year for a freshman. Needham ties the most weekly MAAC Rookie of the Week awards won this year with 10. Needham led the Stags and all MAAC freshmen in scoring with 15.9 points per game and 5.4 assists per game. He ranks as the seventh best freshman scorer in the nation.

MAAC Coach of the Year:  Kevin Willard, Iona

Willard led the Gaels to a 21-9 record and their first 20+ win season since reaching the NCAA tournament in 2006. They have done it with defense as they rank second in the MAAC in defensive efficiency and second in scoring defense (61.8 ppg). Willard’s Gaels challenged Florida State and Baylor in both of their games in the MAAC-hosted Old Spice Classic and then finished the event with a victory over Creighton. The Gaels also went on an eight game win streak besting the 2005-06 champion Gaels streak of seven.

MAAC Defensive Player of the Year:  Anthony Johnson, Fairfield

Senior Athony Johnson led the Stags with 2.3 blocks per game and averages 9.9 rebounds per game. Johnson’s presence helped the Stags finish first in blocked shots in the MAAC. Johnson has improved on the glass every year, blocking more shots and grabbing more rebounds per game in every season as a Stag.

MAAC 6th Man of the Year: Mike Evanovich, Fairfield

Senior Mike Evanovich has been a presence off the bench, shooting 46% from three point range to win MAAC 6th Man of the Year. Evanovich’s 46% is also best in the MAAC entering this weekend’s tournament and helped the Stags rank fourth in three point field goal percentage at 34.4%.

Very much thanks to our twitter followers who received the news first, hat tip to friend of the site @geoffbrault for help as well on the awards!

Men’s All-MAAC First Team
Anthony Johnson Fairfield
Ryan Thompson Rider
Alex Franklin Siena
Ronald Moore Siena
Ryan Rossiter Siena

Men’s All-MAAC Second Team
Derek Needham Fairfield
Scott Machado Iona
Bilal Benn Niagara
Tyrone Lewis Niagara
Edwin Ubiles Siena

Men’s All-MAAC Third Team
Frank Turner Canisius
Rico Pickett Manhattan
Wesley Jenkins St. Peter’s
Nick Leon St. Peter’s
Clarence Jackson Siena

Men‘s All-MAAC Rookie Team (candidates for Rookie of the Year)
Derek Needham Fairfield
Kyle Smyth Iona
Robert Olson Loyola
Candon Rusin Marist
Darius Conley St. Peter’s