CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 16. Up next: The MAAC Tournament.
The MAAC Tournament always brings some exciting games and unexpected twists. In 2024, 5 seed Saint Peter’s won it all. The year before, 11 seed Marist went all the way from playing on day one to the championship game. This time around, there could be even more upsets in Atlantic City as just six games separate top seed Quinnipiac and 9 seed Siena.
Speaking about Quinnipiac – they look to be the favorites after finishing the regular season strong and boasting the top record in conference. However, they are far from runaway favorites, which should make for some great basketball in Atlantic City.
2025 MAAC Awards
Player of the Year: Adam Clark, Merrimack
Freshman of the Year: Will Sydnor, Manhattan
Transfer of the Year: Dejour Reaves, Iona
Coach of the Year: John Gallagher, Manhattan
First Team:
- G: Adam Clark, Merrimack (20.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.4 RPG, 2.7 SPG)
- G: Dejour Reaves, Iona (16.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.0 APG,, 2.1 SPG)
- G: Josh Pascarelli, Marist (15.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 40.8 3P%)
- F: Amarri Tice, Quinnipiac (17.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 2.3 SPG)
- F: Paul Otieno, Quinnipiac (13.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.1 BPG, 59.0 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Justice Shoats, Siena (16.0 PPG, 4.5 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG)
- G: Adam Njie, Iona (12.1 PPG, 4.1 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG)
- G: Elijah Lewis, Marist (11.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.0 APG)
- G: Wesley Robinson, Manhattan (11.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 40.0 3P%)
- F: Will Sydnor, Manhattan (14.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 BPG, 35.3 3P%)
2025 MAAC Tournament Simulation
First Round – Tues., Mar. 11
8. Rider (13-18, 9-11) vs. 9. Siena (14-17, 9-11) – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Gerry McNamara once won four games in four days in his playing days at Syracuse, but can he win four in five to get Siena to the NCAA Tournament? They’ll have to go up against a Rider team led by TJ Weeks and Jay Alvarez, a steady senior-led backcourt. Rider’s game is all about closer shots – they led the MAAC in two-pointers attempted per game but didn’t hit them at a high percentage. However, Siena’s 2-point defense was nothing to brag about. Something will have to break but I’m gonna have to go with the first-year head coach to get it done in round one.
Mat’s pick: 9. Siena
7. Sacred Heart (14-17, 10-10) vs. 10. Fairfield (12-19, 8-12) – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
It’s an all-Connecticut matchup in round one as SHU meets Fairfield in the nightcap. Anthony Latina’s Pioneers can score the basketball, dropping 83 on Fairfield on Mar. 2. The Stags will look to slow that down but I’m not sure if it’ll be enough to take them down.
Mat’s pick: 7. Sacred Heart
Quarterfinals Day 1 – Wed., Mar. 12
1. Quinnipiac (19-12, 15-5) vs. 9. Siena – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
To beat Quinnipiac and their monsters inside, you must have a strong interior presence. While Siena has the size to make things difficult, they don’t have the rebounding to make enough of a difference and pull off the big MAAC Tournament upset.
Mat’s pick: 1. Quinnipiac
2. Merrimack (17-14, 14-6) vs. 7. Sacred Heart – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
When you think of players who can take over a tournament, Adam Clark is the first one that comes to mind for the MACC Tournament. He hasn’t shot great in two games against SHU, so you have the feeling this could be the game he goes absolutely bonkers in.
Mat’s pick: 2. Merrimack
Quarterfinals Day 2 – Thur., Mar. 13
4. Iona (15-16, 12-8) vs. 5. Manhattan (17-12, 12-8) – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Tobin Anderson’s tenure at Iona has been less than to be desired, but he did lead the Gaels to a 4-seed. They’ve won three straight and also recently took down Manhattan, holding the Jaspers to 60 points in the win. However, in an earlier loss, Manhattan dropped 76 in a blowout of Iona. The Jaspers have also won four straight and have one of the top offenses in mid-major basketball. Seven players can score double digits on any given night and it’s tough to shut that down for a full 40 minutes.
Mat’s pick: 5. Manhattan
3. Marist (20-9, 13-7) vs. 6. Mount St. Mary’s (19-12, 12-8) – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
After one of the hottest starts to the season in college basketball, Marist has cooled down. They’ve lost four straight and their lack of scoring has really hindered a strong finish down the stretch. Mount St. Mary’s just beat them on Mar. 8, so you can bet they’ll get Marist’s best for revenge, but it’s tough to pick a team that hasn’t won a game since Feb. 23.
Mat’s pick: 6. Mount St. Mary’s
Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 14
1. Quinnipiac vs. 5. Manhattan – 6 p.m. EST on ESPNews
There is always madness in the MAAC Tournament and I think we see some here. Manhattan gets to play back-to-back games and keep some momentum, while Quinnipiac has a day of rest. I look at that as a plus for the Jaspers, who can be hard to slow down once they get going. While I want to pick the upset – I don’t know if it’s the smart pick. It’ll be very close, but Quinnipiac prevails thanks to their size inside.
Mat’s pick: 1. Quinnipiac
2. Merrimack vs. 6. Mount St. Mary’s – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPNews
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say the 2025 MAAC Tournament will be Adam Clark’s show. While Merrimack fell to Mount St. Mary’s in the regular season, he’s such a tournament-type of player I’m willing to overlook that and ride with his stardom.
Mat’s pick: 2. Merrimack
Championship – Sat., Mar. 15
1. Quinnipiac vs. 2. Merrimack – 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPNU
It might seem silly going with chalk picks in a MAAC Tournament that always provides upsets but here we are with a 1-2 matchup in the finals. While I’ve been siding with Clark this whole time, it comes down to matchups when playing Quinnipiac and I don’t think Merrimack – literally – sizes up. They are one of the worst rebounding teams in the country and that just won’t help a team’s case against the Bobcats.
Mat’s pick: 1. Quinnipiac