However, Siena Head Coach Mitch Buonaguro said at the Saints’ media day in October that he expects the Saints to have a successful season in 2011-12.

“We are expecting to have a very successful season.” Buonaguro said. “We always do that at Siena. What matters is what happens at the end of the game. Who wins the game, not about what people say about your team.”

Fans might call on Buonaguro’s statement as overly optimistic. While the Saints lose MAAC Player of the Year Ryan Rossiter and Clarence Jackson, two players that combined to score 43% of Siena’s points last season, new Saints will have to pick up the slack.

The idea of what might constitute a successful season might come with how success is defined. Success is something Saints fans have become accustomed to over their recent history. Since entering the MAAC, the Saints have won seven regular season titles and five tournament titles in 22 seasons. When Paul Hewitt came to Siena in 1997, he helped usher in an era in which the Saints have had a total of just four losing seasons in the past 14 years. During that time the Saints only had two straight losing seasons once, in 2003-04 and 2004-05 was the last time under Rob Lanier. Lanier was fired after the 2005 season, a 6-24 campaign.

The MAAC Preseason Awards Show placed the Saints at sixth in the conference in 2011-12 after finishing in seventh the year before.

So if success a season over .500, a deep MAAC tournament run, or it could be more abstract to what student-athletes develop into reliable scoring options or how the six-man incoming freshmen class develops. We asked all of our experts throughout the preseason how they would define success for the Saints in 2011-12.

Projected Standings from Kenpom ratings

(as of Monday November 7th – pre-season ratings * – does not account for Brookins out for season)

54 Iona

94 Fairfield
147 Rider
148 Loyola MD
194 Siena
230 Manhattan
242 St. Peter’s
245 Canisius
270 Niagara
307 Marist

SienaSaintsBlog:  What Siena player are you looking forward to seeing play this year?

Raphielle Johnson/CollegeHoops.Net: Kyle Downey’s return will be good for the backcourt if he can stay healthy but the one player I really want to see is O.D. Anosike. You don’t just replace a player the caliber of Ryan Rossiter; other guys need to step up their play to collectively make up for the departure of a player like Ryan. Anosike averaged 8.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season, so clearly there will be more chances for him to increase those numbers. And with those chances will come more trips to the foul line, meaning that he’s got to step that part of his game up as well (how many points did Ringgold leave on the court due to his free throw troubles?). There are plenty of Saints to point out but if they’re to have a shot at finishing 4th it’s got to be Anosike who takes a big step forward.

SienaSaintsBlog:  Coach Mitch Buonaguro doesn’t want to call this a rebuilding year – but for all intents and purposes… is this a rebuilding year? where are the Saints on the cycle between retool/rebuild?

Raphielle Johnson/CollegeHoops.Net: I agree with Coach in terms of not using the dreaded “R word”; for a lot of fans that could also mean “resume”, as in “update your resume”. I think Siena’s in between retooling and rebuilding, with guys who are going from their freshman to sophomore years to step up. Rakeem Brookins is a player who comes to mind in that regard, as does Trenity Burdine and senior Brandon Walters needs to make good on his talent as well. Downey and Owen Wignot will help with regards to having steady leadership (as will Anosike), but the youngsters will need to step up as well.

SienaSaintsBlog:  What two things need to happen for Siena to have a good season?

Raphielle Johnson/CollegeHoops.Net: The two things that need to happen are:

1. Anosike needs to become a consistent force on the low block. Not say he’s got to be on the level of a Mike Glover or Rossiter (that would be unrealistic) but he has to be a guy that Coach and the staff can count on for 13+ points and 7+ rebounds per night.

2. Brookins needs to become one of the better point guards in the MAAC. He’s clearly going to be tested when considering a Derek Needham or Scott Machado, but there’s room to take some steps when considering the losses at a Niagara (Anthony Nelson) or Saint Peter’s (Nick Leon). Can he get it done? Doing so will likely mean more scoring from him as well, but he’s got the tools needed to step up.

SienaSaintsBlog: Now for a MAAC preview, so you’re the believer in Rider this year (see here: article “Ignore Rider at Your Own Peril”) – make the case, can Rider win it?

Raphielle Johnson/CollegeHoops.Net: I think the Broncs can win the MAAC, although there is a gap between Fairfield, Iona and the rest of the conference. Rider loses two key players in Justin Robinson and Mike Ringgold, but in Novar Gadson they’ve got one of the best players in the conference. Jonathon Thompson (2nd on the team in assists per game last season) will have an expanded role that in talking with Coach Dempsey early in the fall he’s ready to take on, and freshman Eddie Mitchell will be key as well. And you can’t talk Rider front court play without mentioning reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Danny Stewart. Brandon Penn provides another experienced body inside, and Virginia transfer Jeff Jones ranks right up with Fairfield’s Rakim Sanders and Desmond Wade when discussing the top transfers. What Rider will need to do in order to pass the two favorites is continue to improve defensively. The numbers improved last season when compared to prior campaigns, but they need to continue defending at a consistent level in order to have a shot.

SienaSaintsBlog: With MoMo Jones now eligible for the Iona Gaels, does anyone stand in their way?

Raphielle Johnson/CollegeHoops.Net: The addition of MoMo Jones is a good one for the Gaels. A team that was already deep on the perimeter with the likes of Scott Machado, Kyle Smyth, Jermel Jenkins and Sean Armand among others adds another piece. But if anything I think this does more to widen the gap between Iona/Fairfield and the rest of the MAAC than anything else. Fairfield brings back a wealth of experience and in terms of impact transfers I’d take Rakim Sanders over Jones. I’ll stick with the Stags to win the league at this point, but those two regular season meetings will be ones that no hoops fan will want to miss.

SienaSaintsBlog: What’s your top 3 in the MAAC for this year?

Raphielle Johnson/CollegeHoops.Net: My Top 3 in the MAAC are Fairfield, Iona and Rider. Fairfield has a lot back for a defending champion, and their transfers (Rakim Sanders and Desmond Wade) will be able to step in and have an impact immediately. And don’t forget about freshman Adam Jones; his activity is something else the Stags can add off the bench. I really like Iona. They’re likely going to be the best offensive team in the MAAC. You look at guys like Machado, Glover, Jenkins, Smyth coming back, not to mention newcomers such as Momo Jones and Rashad James, and Tim Cluess won’t lack for weapons. But defensively I give the edge to Fairfield right now, even with a new head coach. Should be fun to watch, that’s for sure.

Follow Raphielle Johnson on twitter at @raphiellej

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

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.

Northern Iowa (18-9) vs. Siena (21-6)
ESPN2, 3:00 PM ET, Saturday
For five weeks Northern Iowa was a huge surprise in the Missouri Valley-maybe even “the Drake of 2009.” Since then, however, the Panthers have lost three of their last four, as coach Ben Jacobson’s formerly efficient offense has begun to sputter. On Wednesday night UNI scored just 46 points in 59 possessions and lost by one at home to instate rival Drake. The Panthers might be struggling, but 7’1″ big man Jordan Eglseder still poses a formidable challenge to opponents at both ends of the court. Eglseder makes 60 percent of his twos and is one of the top defensive rebounders in the nation. Meanwhile Fran McCaffery’s Saints have clinched the MAAC regular season title with a speed that matches the accelerated tempo they show on the court, averaging 72 trips per 40 minutes. With 6’3″ senior Kenny Hansbrouck and 6’6″ junior Edwin Ubiles leading the charge, Siena scores the old-fashioned way, taking care of the ball and making their twos. Also keep an eye on 6-3 sophomore Clarence Jackson, averaging just 15 minutes a game but not at all shy about shooting.

Andy Katz got time to talk to Siena Head Coach Fran McCaffery going into this weekend:

Siena is No. 29 in the latest RPI, with a strength of schedule at 67.

“We’ve put ourselves in position to have a discussion,” McCaffrey said of the Saints. “We did what the committee tells you to do, to play the best teams in conferences and beat a number of them and then we took care of business in our league. We’ve put ourselves in position to be discussed as one of the best teams for the NCAA tournament. We’re right there.”

Raphielle Johnson offers his analysis of all the MAAC Bracket Busters. Did you know Canisius had one of their assistant coaches arrested? Interesting.

Jeff Goodman of FOXSports.com says:

The Saints (No. 29, RPI) played a difficult non-league schedule that resulted in losses to Tennessee, Wichita State and Oklahoma State down in Orlando and also a road loss at Pittsburgh. The team’s résumé win came against a probable NIT team in Saint Joseph’s. A slip-up against Northern Iowa in the BracketBusters could result in an NIT bid for Siena.

As of tonight there were still available tickets. And here’s an in-depth RPI look at the Saints from CBS Sportsline.

There are a lot of other articles out there. Most of them do say though that a loss would siginificantly damage the Saints chances at an at-large bid.

Raphielle Johnson, collegehoops.net / New York Metropolitan: Likewise, hope you are doing well.

SSB: Let’s cut to the chase. In your eyes, how do you see the MAAC playing out this year? Who are the top teams in your eyes and how does the rest of the conference shake out?

Johnson: Siena is the clear favorite to win the MAAC again. While some could see the schedule as a bit too much, it offers opportunities on two levels: building a strong resume (especially if they win some of those games) and getting more experience against teams that they could see in March from a talent standpoint. The Saints would have beaten Vanderbilt regardless of the schedule last year, but after playing at Memphis was there really a team that they’d see with better talent than the Tigers? I say no.

As for who could challenge them, I’d go with Fairfield and Niagara as the primary suspects. The Stags have just about everyone back and their backcourt should have some more depth to give Jonathan Han a break without a serious drop off. As for the Purple Eagles, Coach Mihalich seems to plug in another one or two guards into his system every year and they still score points. With Bilal Benn and Rob Garrison now eligible the backcourt is even deeper when you consider guys like Tyrone Lewis and Anthony Nelson are also back. And don’t forget post player Benson Egemonye, who I think can challenge for league honors.

The middle looks to be a logjam of four teams who could even break into second or third if things break well for them. Loyola, Manhattan, Iona and Rider are those teams, and if they can build upon their development in the MAAC Tournament last year I can see the Jaspers being a possible dark horse with Devon Austin and Antoine Pearson leading the way. Canisius is a year older but I don’t think they have enough to make a major move in the standings, however they should finish ahead of Marist and St. Peter’s.

SSB: Do you think there is a more exciting mid-major team to watch in the North East this year?

Johnson: In terms of pure excitement, I’d say no. But thanks to the amount of talent back at Cornell the gap isn’t as big as some would think. Cornell didn’t win their tournament game, but that first taste of postseason play along with an Ivy League that is pretty weak behind them (Penn could challenge) could make them a team to watch in March.

Also keep an eye on the race at the top of America East. Vermont has Marqus Blakely, MIke Trimboli and Michigan State transfer Maurice Joseph on the perimeter, which gives them a shot in that league. And for a guard who gets little pub, Boston University’s Corey Lowe is a spectacular player.

SSB: Many people nationally will remember the sophomore trio of Ronald Moore, Alex Franklyn and Edwin Ubiles. In what aspects of their game will you see the most maturity having started the full two years they have been at Siena?

Johnson: One part of the game for each of those three that has come along is just their maturity. With that experience has come the confidence that they can compete with anyone on any level. Franklin was the eye-opener for me, especially when he went off for 30-18 in the BracketBusters game at Boise State. You could tell in March that it was all coming together with the skill and belief in themselves and the team. That should only improve this year, and with three guys like that it as a result makes a guy like Kenny Hasbrouck all the more dangerous.

SSB: Do you think this Siena team has a shot at winning half their games against Top 25 teams?

Johnson: I believe so. They’re not going to be intimidated by anyone on the schedule, and the Saints have the talent necessary to win a few of those games. Some people have been quick to forecast a Tennessee/Georgetown semi in Orlando; they’d better calm down with that.

SSB: What are your thoughts on the now named preseason player of the year Kenny Hasbrouck. What kind of value do you put in these preseason festivities? In the past three years the Preseason POY has won the POY. Do we see a repeat?

Johnson: I also like Hasbrouck to win the award. MVP of the tournament, I really don’t know where else you’d go with that vote. Franklin? Rider’s Ryan Thompson? As for preseason honors, you have to take them with a grain of salt, although in recent years the voters have done a good job of predicting what will happen throughout the year. As long as the players/teams honored don’t live off of those accolades they shouldn’t be much of an issue. Nothing’s won in October or November.

SSB: Kenny has made mention of shooting for the NBA. What are your thoughts on players from this conference trying to make it to the league?

Johnson: It’s a tougher road, due to the relative lack of exposure. To use college football as an example: Matt Cassel’s NFL prospects were helped immensely by the fact that he went to USC. Had he been a backup at a smaller school…doubt he even makes a team as a free agent much less get drafted. The thing that guys like Hasbrouck and recent guys from the MAAC have to deal with is the nitpicking at weaknesses. The fact that they normally don’t fit the NBA mold in regards to a particular size or level of athleticism can cause some teams to pass without giving them so much as a fair look. But as Jason Thompson going 12th proved last year, if you can play you’ll be found.

SSB: With the young talent Fran McCaffery continues to recruit, do you believe Siena is a mid major ready to break out and make consistent NCAA tournament trips?

Johnson: They can, but this league is tough due to the fact that most of the MAAC schools are located in the same general area. Six schools in New York, then Fairfield (CT), St. Peter’s and Rider in New Jersey. Loyola may have a slightly different recruiting base being in Maryland, but when you’ve got all those schools mining the same areas for talent things are spread a bit more evenly.

For Siena to be a NCAA team year-in and year-out, Coach McCaffrey will have to continue to be pro-active in regards to the scheduling. Some years it may be too much, but that’s the risk you take in building a perennial power at that level. It worked for Temple and UMass in the 80s and 90s, and Gonzaga into the new millennium. Anyone, anywhere, anytime.

SSB: Raphielle, it’s always great getting your insight about the world of Northeast college hoops. We’ll certainly be following your collegehoops.net blog, and look forward to seeing you in Albany at some point this year.

Johnson: Thanks, hope to talk to you soon. Be well.