2006-2007 Season

Siena beats UAlbany in double overtime 76-75. Ubiles scores 20 points after hitting 4 from beyond the 3-point arc.

In a normal February game against Manhattan, Ronald Moore has his first double digit asst game with 10 dimes. This would be the first of many. Recap »

After losing two very close games to Marist earlier in the year, the Saints beat the #1 ranked Red Foxes in a semifinal classic and head to the title game for the first time since 2004. Recap »

Alex Franklin ends his freshman year with a bang by scoring 27 points on 10 out of 12 shooting in Siena’s 83-79 MAAC championship loss to Niagara. Recap »

2007-2008 Season

Siena defeats 20th ranked Stanford 79-67 at the Times Union Center. Franklin scores 14 points and Ubiles adds 11. Students and fans stormed the court after the win. Recap »

Josh Duell came up big on the road in Lawrenceville, NJ, hitting a three with 1.3 seconds remaining and capping an 11-2 run in the final 1:58 against the fiesty Broncs. Recap »

In the BracketBuster game the Saints went to Boise State to play the 20-win Broncos and crushed them 93-70. Franklin had a monster game with 30 points and 18 rebounds. Ubiles had 22 points and Moore had 9 assists. Recap »

Siena trounces Rider in the MAAC championship game 74-53. In a game known primarily for Tay Fisher’s six 3’s off the bench, Ubiles added 15 points and Franklin with 10 points. Recap »

For the program’s first NCCA tournament win since 1989, Siena upsets #4 seeded Vanderbilt 83-62. Ubiles scores 11, Franklin 10, and Moore has 6 assists for Siena. Recap »

2008-2009 Season

Siena plays their toughest schedule in school history. #12 Tennessee, Oklahoma State, #3 Pitt, and a Kansas team one year removed from a national title.

After going through the season not being able to beat any significant non conference teams, Siena defeats Northern Iowa 81-75 in their BracketBuster match up. In a balanced scoring game Ubiles scores 10 points, Franklin 9 points, and Moore 8 points. Even a kid made a $25,000 shot. Recap »

Siena gets revenge on Niagara from two years before by beating them in the MAAC championship game 77-70. Franklin puts up 16 points, Ubiles contributes 9 points, while Moore has 7 assists. Recap »

After getting bumped up to a #9 seed, the Saints beat Ohio State 74-72 in double overtime. Ubiles has 20 points and Franklin has a double-double performance with 10 points 13 rebounds. Moore has 11 points with his 7 assists, along with two of the most well-known shots in Siena history that extends the game into the 2nd OT where he then won it. The greatest game in Siena history Recap »

Siena took Rick Pitino and the #1 seeded Louisville to the brink, but lose a close game 79-72. All three players played well with Ubiles scoring 24 points, Franklin 19 points, and Moore with 10 assists. Recap »

2009-2010 Season

After opening up the season with a win against Tennessee State, Siena gets another victory over a solid Northeastern team 59-53. Ubiles scores nearly half the team’s points with 26. Franklin finishes with 9 points and Moore adds 5 assists in this low scoring game. Recap »

The Big Three end their career vs UAlbany with a nearly 30 point victory, 83-54. Ubiles doesn’t play much due to injuries but Franklin has 14 points while Moore puts up a double-double with 13 points 11 assists. Recap »

The seniors’ last victory together made them MAAC champions in a 72-65 defeat of Fairfield. Ubiles leads all scorers with 27 points. Franklin adds a double-double of 22 points and 12 boards. Moore contributes 9 points and 6 assists. Recap »

An end of an era came in the team’s opening round 72-64 loss to Purdue. Franklin scores 10 points and grabs 14 rebounds. Ubiles leads the team with 18 points, and Moore scores 14 points. Recap »

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s official blogger, Steve Amedio combines his years of experience covering the MAAC with insightful opinions on his site: Keepin’ Track of the MAAC. Recently he outlined all ten teams and how they’ve fared so far, finishing with Marist. In our first part, we get his evaluations on the Saints so far this season. We’ll have more conversation on the MAAC with Steve Amedio as Siena breaks after visiting Northern Iowa…

Ryan/Siena Saints Blog: I think Siena has been very good at beating the teams they’re supposed to beat: going undefeated at home so far but dropping games to the likes of Temple, St. John’s and Georgia Tech. I think Saturday’s game at Northern Iowa is a real test and if Siena can pull off the win, it would be the statement win of this third of the season (Siena will be off 12 days after that game) What’s your evaluation of Siena so far?

Steve Amedio/Keepin’ Track of the MAAC: Pretty much as expected. The three losses have come against very good teams, and all on the road. Siena clearly wore down against both Temple and St. John’s late in the games. I didn’t think they’d beat Georgia Tech. I keep in contact with Paul Hewitt, and I knew they were going to be real good this season. They’ve got two or three future NBA players on that roster.

Siena needs to find some depth so it can be fresh at the end of close games.

Kyle Downey had back problems over the summer and didn’t work out at all until September. He wasn’t 100 percent when the season started. Owen Wignot didn’t give them much in the first few games, although he’s started to play better. Kyle Griffin, the transfer 6-3 guard from La Salle, becomes eligible for the Dec. 23 game, and he should help. I’ve been told he’s been looking great in practices, a real coach on the floor type with great range who can also play some time at the point. Davis Martens, who is from Germany, is eligible as of Dec. 31. He’s a 6-9 forward with good “skills.” He can shoot.

Otherwise, Siena has looked terrific of late. Its win over UAlbany was the best it has played all year, particularly on the defensive end. It had a nice win at Iona, which is a pretty solid team. Moore makes the team go. I’ve  covered the team since 1985. He is the best “pure” point guard I have seen here. He’s not as good a player as, say, Marc Brown or Doremus Bennerman, both of which played the same position. But, as far as running a

team [and] being a distributor, Moore is the best I’ve seen. The fact that he leads the country in assists attests to that.

As for Northern Iowa, I guess you could call it the chance at a “statement” win. Northern Iowa is very good, 6-1 so far and has beaten Boston College, Iowa and Iowa State, three quality victories.

That said, Siena hammered Northern Iowa here last year. Northern Iowa plays a very deliberate style. If Siena can force the tempo, like it did last year, it has a decent chance of winning. Last year, Northern Iowa’s “bigs” were pretty much non factors; they couldn’t contend with the quickness of Ryan Rossiter [and] Alex Franklin.

Still, they’ve pretty much got everyone back from last year so they’re better. That’s a long trip for a single game and it’s a tough place to play. It would be a very nice win if Siena can get it, but it won’t be anywhere as easy to do that as it was last year.

Not only does he threaten the opponent with a double-double each night, he brings a terrifc basketball IQ to the team behind the scenes, and it always shows on the floor. He denied a look inside on a possession early in the second half, gathered the loose ball and threw it out to Clarence Jackson, who tossed it to Edwin Ubiles for two fast break points. Again, not on the stat sheet, but Duelly noted Ryan.

He’s also extremely impressive with accepting the entry pass. Watching Ryan and Ronald Moore work together, a little R & R, it’s truly a privilege to watch. There are so many big men throughout college basketball who struggle with handling the ball and getting it up quickly and efficiently. In his first two games this season, Rossiter has 21 points and 21 rebounds to accompany his off the ball skills.

To watch a replay of Tuesday’s action click here »

For the Saints this was a tale of two halves. The game began with a number of unforced turnovers, and the team struggled to shoot from the field. The players, coaches, and fans were getting frustrated as Northeastern jumped out to a 20-6 lead. Similar to the Tennessee St. game, the Saints ended the half strong and went into the locker room trailing by only six. In the second half Siena looked much more aggressive on both sides of the court, and the shooting finally came around (heck, even Rossiter hit a 3-pointer). Ubiles had an impressive performance in front of the Albany home crowd finishing as the game’s high scorer with 26 points. At times he looked unstoppable on offensive, and was able to create his own shot seemingly at will. The team needed this type of game from Ubiles because he was clearly the most athletic player on the court. Rossiter contributed a solid double-double outing (13 pts, 14 rbs) and did an excellent defensive job against the Huskies powerful frontcourt players. Jackson had two aerobatic blocks that kept the Saints in the game early on and helped create the momentum shift the team desperately needed. While Moore finished the game with only four points, they were all on clutch foul shots down the stretch to seal the win.

This was not an easy victory for Siena, and all the credit for that goes to the great efforts by the Northeastern players. They refused to quit, and never allowed the Saints to put the game out of reach until the very end. If this game is any indication, the Huskies should be in the hunt to visit atop the standings in the Colonial Athletic Conference. Matt Janning lead the team with 14 points, and point guard Chaisson Allen finished with 11 points. Center Nken Ojougboh should also be commended for being a solid paint presence for the Huskies. A lot of credit must go to Siena’s defense because at no point during the game did a Northeastern player seem to dominate on offensive, and it was clear it was difficult for them to get into a consistent rhythm.

While there seemed to be a lacking student body turnout for a nationally televised game, there was an excellent overall attendance for a noon tip-off game at the TUC. For the first ten minutes there were more Northeastern students than Siena students in the stands, and since the team wasn’t playing well the crowd wasn’t vocal. However, students began trickling in right on time as the team went on their second half run and the atmosphere intensified quickly. Thank you to all the students, alumni, and fans who helped welcome in college basketball to the capital region for another exciting season.

The Saints fought hard for a nice comeback win, but they have another tough opponent this Saturday at Temple. With this victory over Northeastern and a win over Temple, Siena will only increase their bid to be voted into the AP Top 25 Poll. They may also need a loss from a current Top 25 team, so if you can please catch a game or two on TV to root against one of these programs.

Coming off their opening game victory against Tennessee St., Siena comes back home to defend their 21-game home winning streak at the TUC. The team hopes to continue their second half dominance in that first game tomorrow against the Huskies, while avoiding the early chemistry issues that lead to some sloppy turnovers in the first half. All five starters in that first game played for over twenty minutes, which could be an indication for how much they will be relied upon against Northeastern and for the entire year.

Northeastern is coming off one their most successful seasons in recent memory finishing with 19 wins and matching their best conference win total in the Colonial Athletic Conference with 12 wins. This is the season opener for a Huskies team who has been predicted to finish second in the CAA by their coaches’ poll. They are lead by their senior duo of Matt Janning and Many Adako.

Janning, a 6’4” guard-forward lead the team in scoring last year with 14.3 ppg and has been selected onto the CAA preseason first team squad. Adako is a 6’8” presence down low averaging 11.3 ppg while shooting an impressive 57% from the field. Another player to watch out for is junior point guard Chisson Allen who lead the team in assists and rebounds lat year, in addition to being named as a member of the CAA All-Defensive Team. Another aspect about this Northeastern team is their ability to perform in hostile road environments, and that is something that doesn’t go unnoticed by coach McCaffery:

This is a team that won 11 road games last year – they won 19 games, 11 on the road. So it’s a team that knows how to win. So we have our hands full with them, I can tell you that.

Keys to the Game:

Siena really dictated the flow of their game against Tennessee St. with their full court defensive pressure and aggressive offensive mentality, and this will need to continue for the Saints to be successful against this experienced Huskies team. Last game Jackson and Franklin lead a pretty balanced scoring attack, but this game doesn’t appear like it will turn into the type of blowout we saw on Friday night. Ubiles will most likely need to contribute more on the offensive end, and the bench players will need to take advantage of their open opportunities.

So all those in the Albany area try to get off from work/school and make the TUC a true home-court advantage for our Saints. If you are unable to attend, do not fear because you can find live in-game updates right here at sienasaintsblog.com!

You can take a look at my season ending essay to get a feel of what I was thinking going into this essay. I’ve been working on other writing projects, and working in general like we all do, but my time between the final buzzer against Louisville until now has been far from idle.

I have studied and reveled in all the polls. Yes, all the polls in which the Siena Saints have been ranked in the Top 25. The Men’s Basketball team has been projected by numerous sporting publications to start the season as one of the best 25 teams in the country. Many have begun to believe, others still think the ranking is too high. It’s difficult to absorb the ramifications. As I promised to do in my season-ending essay I will not look to the future with rose-colored glasses, those days are over. In examining the goings-on of the men in green and gold I’ll take a look with close scrutiny while still maintaining the game to game enjoyment and growth of the program.

We live in a reality as Saints fans that is more clear-cut than ever before. But as a fan who has endured much, I write as a semi-impartial journalist who is here to make even clearer the realities that truly exist in the world of Siena men’s basketball fandom.

The Saints enter the season as the favorites once again, voted to finish first in the MAAC almost unanimously for the second consecutive season, with the sole dissenting vote coming from Tommy Dempsey, the head coach at Rider. A lot of Siena fans bashed the vote, but if you look at it objectively, it makes sense. I picked Rider to finish second – they return possible player of the year Ryan Thompson with experienced scorers and possess one of the best starting five players in the conference. Niagara should be a tough out once again, and the conference looks to be as difficult to win from top to bottom as it has ever been.

Anything can happen in March, before the big dance. Anything. Dempsey knows this, Joe Mihalich knows this, and everyone has to accept it. It’s the price of being a fan.

Am I trying to hedge my bets that Siena won’t win the MAAC tourney and get to the big dance? Hardly. I just know that as a lifelong Saints fan, and as a sports fan, and as someone who understands the complexities of competition it is difficult for any team to repeat, much less do it three times in a row.

If the Saints are fortunate enough to win the MAAC tourney for the third consecutive time it will be the first time in 20 years that a team not named La Salle has accomplished the feat. Siena has the personnel, it’s been well documented. Coach Fran McCaffery has said that this year’s team belongs to the senior PG Ronald Moore. He is the floor general, he has sneakers made of pure speed, and his basketball IQ and instincts are exemplary. He will make the team go, but add returning seniors Edwin Ubiles, Alex Franklin, junior Ryan Rossiter prowling in the post, and junior Clarence Jackson to the mix, you have a blend of players who know the McCaffery system and are going to spend forty minutes a night running and gunning until their opponent is gasping for air. The leadership, experience, and ability to create within the coach’s system should provide for fireworks and offense that will enthrall anyone watching a Saints game this year.

Now is the time to enjoy what’s going on, but to also understand that the future is bright in Loudonville, while also uncertain and possibly maddening. The pipeline seems to be working as coach continues to recruit well and to add players who are not only skilled but fit well in his system. This is the first time in the history of the Siena Saints when continuity seems to be working, and the coach is not only reloading each year, but truly building a program. The 2009-2010 season has one minimum goal – yes, one main goal – to return to the NCAA tournament and try to win at least one game in the big dance. Why just this one goal? Because if it doesn’t happen then everything the program has worked for will take a step back due to the amazing pre-season hype and rewards extolled on the players and coaches. If the Saints make it to the dance and lose, then at least they had the shot. Gonzaga, in making the progression they’ve made to get where they are today, lost a number of first round games in a row, but the fact that they continued to make it year after year is what got them to their perch. It’s what enabled them to be able to play BCS schools on a regular basis. It is the one goal that Siena needs to continue to set and attempt to make – returning to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament year after year.

Professional golfers repeat the cliché when playing in tournaments that the event can not be won on the first day, but it can be lost. The same can be said for mid-major basketball programs. Close is nice, but without getting over the hump continually then programs can not evolve in to perennial threats.

This is where Siena is trying to get to, and the last two years were huge hurdles that were leapt. The mountain is large, though, and the summit is still far away. If the Saints are fortunate enough to make the sweet sixteen this year then they’ve come pretty close to reaching their goal, I’d go as far to say as they made it. Then, next year, the journey begins anew, albeit starting closer than they’d ever started before.

This is not a primer on how to be a Saints fan – you all know how to do that already. It is just one voice saying things that need to be said. It’s cautious optimism, hiding a passion that knows that every non-conference win is a step closer to that holiest of college basketball grails – the at-large bid. The schedule isn’t as strong as last year, but with a pocketful of non-conference wins Siena will continue to garner attention based on all the looks that were given to them in the preseason.

I can’t wait to see the development of Kyle Downey and Owen Wignot, who should develop to be a huge addition off the bench as possibly the sixth man. He will be challenged by OD Anosike as the other player off the bench who could have a growing impact in the frontcourt, even as a freshman. There is a depth to this team that has possibly never been seen before– freshman guards Denzel Yard and Jonathon Breeden adding their versatility to the backcourt, La Salle transfer Kyle Griffen, and big man Davis Martens coming in midseason to give the Saints more options.

Capital District residents have been waiting for this era of Saints basketball to arrive since the 1989 win over Stanford in the NCAA tournament, and it is finally here. On Friday, the Saints will open the season on the road against Tennessee State. Road wins are always tough to come by, and the opening game result will go a long way to setting the tone for the season. The non-conference schedule doesn’t let up, with the home opener against CAA powerhouse Northeastern coming the following Tuesday. Temple, St. John’s, Georgia Tech, St. Joseph’s, Mount St. Mary’s – each win is step closer to what every Siena fan wants – a 25 win season and a chance to win the MAAC championship.

Get nervous before every game, listen to the General and Tommy Heurter, watch Sportscenter if we get ranked in the top 25 for highlights, read up on the next game and prepare if we don’t. It’s a long season, but the offseason has been more than rewarding. Let’s hope there are plenty of prizes on the way as the men of the Green and Gold pursue their third straight MAAC championship and postseason NCAA berth.

Get ready to march, and if the Saints are playing in March, get ready to scream. I’ll be right there next to you, ready. Have fun, Saints fans!

Sat. 12/5 vs. UAlbany

Then choose two of the following games…
Tue. 11/17 vs. Northeastern
Tue. 11/24 vs. Delaware (NCAA banner unveiling)
Tue. 12/29 vs. St. Joes
Sat.  1/2 vs. Mt. St. Mary’s

Packages start at a very affordable $40, and season tickets start at just $137 per seat. To get tickets, click here, or if you’re old school, call 518-487-2281.

Great Job by Siena here, in tough economic times, tickets to see a powerhouse couldn’t be more affordable. I’d rather see most of these games compared to Iona, St. Peter’s, Canisius and Marist anyway. I think no question the most ideal package is the Northeastern and St. Joes games, but Siena had the right idea in raising the banners against crappy Delaware.

“That game is like a whole weekend event around here. The games are usually real close, and the atmosphere is amazing.”

– Senior Kevin Risolo

After such a successful year, expectations remain high amongst the student body. It is clear that the general consensus is NCAA Tournament, or bust.

“They got to give us another road trip to see them play in the tournament. That’s all I ask.

– Senior Zach Croisset

Since Siena’s first home game against Northeastern is going to be nationally televised, I think it’s safe to say there is going to be a great student turn out at the Times Union Center to welcome in the new season.

If you’re looking for the short list, here’s how the non-conference shapes up so far…

11/13 @ Tennessee St
11/17 vs Northeastern
11/21 @ Temple
11/24 vs Delaware
11/27 vs St Johns (Philly Hoop Group Classic)
11/28 vs Brown (Philly Hoop Group Classic)
12/2 @ Georgia Tech
12/5 vs Albany
12/12 @ Northern Iowa
12/29 St Josephs
2/20 @ Bracket Buster