I’ve never coached a game at Siena that he (Hasbrouck) didn’t start in. So it will be new foreign territory for me. But what I told the players after the game was he set the standard for how you work and how you prepare. And I think when you look at the junior class mark that you mentioned, the reason that they play with the intensity level and the determination that you just witnessed is because of the great senior leadership that we got from Kenny and from Josh Duell. So the standard has been set, and our intention, of course, is to keep the program moving forward. That said, we know it’s not easy. It’s not easy to win a regular season championship, a tournament championship, and to get back here. But we know what it’s like. We know what a phenomenal experience it is, and that gives you the incentive that you need to continue to prepare to get better and to reach your potential. We have a great recruiting class coming in, and I have great expectation for our team next year.

And Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino’s opening statement to the media:

Well, first I want to congratulate Siena. What I told our guys before the game is that Siena could compete in the Big East, be in the top half of the league, and I really meant it in watching them. … I said, guys, they’re not going to go away. I said they’ve played Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Kansas on the road. They’re not going away. And they didn’t, obviously. And they made some big defensive plays by slapping down and coming up with steals. And we could say it was our carelessness with the ball, but it was more their great plays. And you gotta give them all the credit in the world. … A lot of people said you press and this and that. And we knew our press was not going to create a lot of turnovers tonight. We wanted to wear them out so they didn’t shoot the ball well. But I wasn’t sure about our team. When people asked me how good they were, I couldn’t answer it honestly when we were down 4 and we had to make big plays offensively and we had to make big rebounds defensively. … I’m proud of them and my respect level for Siena was extremely high before the game, and it hasn’t changed. They’re a great basketball team.

Whoever the Saints are matched up with, they will be looking to match (or improve upon?) last year’s success.

Andy Katz previews championship week and says among other things:

Albany always supports this event, and a third meeting between Niagara and Siena this season would certainly pack the place. Niagara and Siena have the talent to win a first-round game in the NCAA tournament.

Pete Iorizzo says that Siena F Josh Duell will play Saturday in the Saints Quarterfinal game:

Duell, who missed the final two regular-season games because of a calf injury, expected to miss practice Tuesday and wasn’t sure when or if he’d practice this week.

“If my leg isn’t getting cut off, I’m going to play,” Duell said. ”That’s what I told the trainers, and coach (McCaffery) knows that. I just want to go out there and help the team whatever way I can.”

Kyle Whelliston swears, talks about conference tournaments and mid major at-larges in a zero-sum fashion:

As it stands now, your team will get into the NCAA Tournament, or it won’t. It might be lucky, or it might be screwed. Your team can avoid all this cosmic randomness by winning the next three or four games. But if the Saints or Bluejays or Gaels lose before Selection Sunday, they’ll have a lot to answer for. If your team doesn’t make it, there will be a reason why, and it will begin with “Because it lost.” Your level of denial may vary, and so may your insistence that conference tourneys are dumb and should be replaced by something else.

Raphielle Johnson gives us the season series information for Friday/Saturday matchups.

Jeff Goodman of FOXSports.com says that Siena is in danger along with Utah State and Davidson of needing to win their conference tournament:

Siena? The Saints will be on the fence after failing to get a resume win and also losing at Niagara last week. Fran McCaffery’s team will need to win the MAAC title or else will be sweating it out a week from Sunday.

The Saints took the lead from the get-go and did not look back. It was Clarence Jackson who fueled the team in the first half, scoring 4 of his 5 attempted shots from beyond the arc. Jackson finished up with 14 points. Siena also got quality minutes from senior capitain Josh Duell. Josh finished up with 8 points and 5 assists (4 in the first half). It’s great to see Josh back and contributing, especially with Rossiter on the bench and in foul trouble. We will need that come Tourney time. Kenny Hasbrouck rounded out the Siena scoring with 16 points and 3 assists.

By the time halftime rolled around, the Saints opened up a 40-19 lead. The defense was really the story– holding UNI to under 23% from the floor and just 5 successful attempts.

Siena got comfortable in the second half and frankly took some poor shots; allowing Northern Iowa to sneak back into the game. From the 13:51 mark to 6:22, the Saints scored just two points and credit to the Panthers, they never quit.

Northern Iowa was sinking some ridiculous shots in the second half. Siena got out on D, but they were hitting shots with hands in their faces– which is why UNI is a dangerous team. Fran spoke in the post game about how disrupting UNI’s rhythm with the press was a primary goal.

The crowd went absolutely ballistic when Brendan Bradt hit a half court shot to win $25,000. All the players admitted to watching the shot and cheering for Brendan.

Fans will have the chance to wave goodbye to Kenny Hasbrouck, Josh Duell and Erik Harris tonight, even though the Bracketbuster pairing remains as the team’s last regular season home game.

Next year’s class will likely be regarded as the best recruiting class ever at Siena, but the impact of Kenny Hasbrouck as a program changer, Josh Duell as a big game player,  and Erik Harris as a team stalwart can not be overlooked.  The college owes a great deal to these three young men.

As far as the game goes, Manhattan will be looking to recover from an abysmal shooting night against Iona, a game the Jasper’s somehow managed to win.  They actually can shoot and score the ball, the question is ‘will they?’  If the Saints can continue to improve their perimeter defense, and Fran can find a way to extend the bench, they should be fine.

Come back later, as I will be live blogging at the game.  I’ll be there early for the Senior Night ceremonies as well, and hopefully I’ll grab some good pictures.  Feel free to comment along or ask questions as I’m writing.

I’m just trying to stay positive,” Magee said. “I do feel fine for the whole day, which is miles away from where I was before. I’m just hoping at the end, when I’m 40, I’ll have a wife and kids and be able to play sports with him.

Wow, that doesn’t sound too promising for next season, but if he does come back, it can be as a red shirt junior. We wish Cory all the best, and are hoping for successful results from the surgery.

Josh Duell dressed for the Iona game yesterday, but was not available to play. Coach McCaffery still believes he is a few weeks away.

Josh Duell is walking without crutches and working out in the pool as he works he recovers from the sprained knee that he suffered Jan. 6 against Kansas.

Though he said he doesn’t yet have a timetable for a return, Duell said before practice Tuesday that he feels much better. He was given an estimated recovery time of three to six weeks when he first suffered the injury, which should allow for a return before the MAAC Tournament begins March 6.

You can read the full story here.

Josh Duell has a Grade 2 MCL sprain and an ACL sprain (not tear) along with bone bruising in the area. The prognosis is roughly a 3-6 week recovery period.

Three weeks would first make him eligible for the (1/29) home game against Canisius, and six weeks would bring him back for (2/16) at Iona. He should be eligible for the Bracket Buster game.

Duell has been plauged with injury this season but required crutches to walk on Wednesday. (A three and a half hour flight can’t help.) Josh will be examined when he gets back to Albany and is hoping it’s only a sprain (anywhere from 2-6 weeks).