CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 15. Up next: The MAAC Tournament.
There was no shortage of MAACtion this year, with loads of exciting games and upsets in the conference. In the end, Merrimack pulled away, winning by three games and earning its first MAAC title since moving to the conference last year.
Last tournament had no shortage of madness, with the six-seed Mount St. Mary’s taking the title after beating the 4 seed Iona in the final. One of Iona and Saint Peter’s have participated in all but one championship game since 2011, an impressive stat. Merrimack, Siena, and co. are looking to change that.
Only ten teams make the tournament, so unfortunately for Niagara, Canisius, and Rider, they’ll have to wait another year if they want to dance. The one seed has only made the final once since moving to Atlantic City in 2021, so that means we could see absolute chaos on our TV screens all week long.
2026 MAAC Awards
Player of the Year: Kevair Kennedy, Merrimack
Freshman of the Year: Kevair Kennedy, Merrimack
Transfer of the Year: CJ Anthony, Iona
Coach of the Year: Joe Gallo, Merrimack
First Team:
- G: Kevair Kennedy, Merrimack (18.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.9 SPG)
- G: Ernest Shelton, Merrimack (15.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG)
- G: Brent Bland, Saint Peter’s (14.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
- G: Gavin Doty, Siena (17.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.3 AP, 1.3 SPG)
- F: Amarri Monroe, Quinnipiac (15.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG)
Second Team:
- G: Jaden Zimmerman, Quinnipiac (15.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG)
- G: Braden Sparks, Fairfield (17.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG)
- G: Jaden Winston, Manhattan (15.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.6 SPG)
- G: Justice Shoats, Siena (12.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG)
- F: Anquan Hill, Sacred Heart (17.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG)
2026 MAAC Tournament Simulation
First Round – Thursday, Mar. 5
8. Iona (18-13, 10-0) vs. 9. Sacred Heart (13-18, 9-11) – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
These two teams played all the way back in December, and obviously, a lot has changed since then. If Sacred Heart wants to win this game, they’re going to need to force turnovers, which they have not been able to do as of late. This isn’t your Rick Pitino Gaels, but they’ll get it done here.
Ariel’s Pick: 8. Iona
7. Fairfield (19-12, 11-9) vs. 10. Manhattan (12-19, 8-12) – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Manhattan dropped three straight heading into this tournament, and in their matchup against Fairfield in January, they lost by 36. Enough said.
Ariel’s Pick: 7. Fairfield
Quarterfinals Day 1 – Friday, Mar. 6
1. Merrimack (21-12, 17-3) vs. 8. Iona – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
These two teams played in the second-to-last game of the season, and it took 2 overtimes to find a victor. Iona took advantage of Merrimack’s biggest weakness, rebounding, where they out-rebounded them 45-32. They outshot them as well, but still lost. Not to mention that Iona did actually beat them by 1 at home. So, will we see the upset in the quarterfinals? It’ll be close, but Kevair Kennedy will put the game in his hands and get it done.
Ariel’s Pick: 1. Merrimack
2. Saint Peter’s (17-11, 14-6) vs. 7. Fairfield – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Saint Peter’s led by 28 points with 14:36 to go in their game in mid-February. Fairfield did a nice job cutting down the lead and only losing by nine, but it felt like that was more Saint Peter’s taking their foot off the gas than Fairfield playing like the better team. Fairfield shot 10 threes in that game, and if they’re going to find themselves down again, they’ll need to be more aggressive.
Ariel’s Pick: 2. Saint Peter’s
Quarterfinals Day 2 – Saturday, Mar. 7
4. Quinnipiac (19-12, 12-8) vs. 5. Marist (18-11, 12-8) – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
The preseason favorite Quinnipiac definitely had a down year for their expectations, but are still a dangerous team in this tournament. This one could get sloppy, as both teams have struggled shooting the ball as of late. Marist really struggled against the top 4 of the league, going 1-6, and that’ll continue in this game.
Ariel’s Pick: 4. Quinnipiac
3. Siena (20-11, 13-7) vs. 6. Mount St. Mary’s (15-16, 11-9) – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
For the second straight year, Mount St. Mary’s finds themselves as the six seed. Last year, they won the entire conference tournament. Can they do it again this year? Mount St. Mary’s had the second-best record in the MAAC in February- March at 6-2, winning four of those by double digits. The defense has really stepped up, holding Fairfield to 47 points in the finale. The quest to go back-to-back gets closer as they pull off the upset.
Ariel’s Pick: 6. Mount St. Mary’s
Semifinals – Sunday, Mar. 8
1. Merrimack vs. 5. Quinnipiac – 6 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Merrimack gets the benefit of having a day off between games, and like the quarterfinal game for Quinnipiac, this one could be ugly as well. The final score of their game in mid-February was 56-49, Merrimack, where Quinnipiac shot 1-16 from three and 28% from the field. They’ll probably make a couple more this time around, but Merrimack still gets it done.
Ariel’s Pick: 1. Merrimack
2. Saint Peter’s vs. 6. Mount St. Mary’s – 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN+
Can MSM do it again or will Saint Peter’s make it to their 3rd championship game in five years? This one could come down to how Brent Bland plays. In their win against Mount St. Mary’s, Bland scored 17 points on 5-10 shooting. In their loss, he scored 12 points on 3-12 shooting. Mount St. Mary’s turns the ball over at the fourth-highest rate in the country, and that’ll come back to bite them here.
Ariel’s Pick: 2. Saint Peter’s
Championship – Tuesday, Mar. 10
1. Merrimack vs. 2. Saint Peter’s – 9 p.m ET on ESPN2
Merrimack looks to make the tournament in their third year of eligibility after transitioning from D2. As mentioned earlier, Saint Peter’s looks for their third title in 5 years. Kentucky is praying for a Merrimack win, but the Peacocks won’t let them have a say. Saint Peter’s handed Merrimack one of their three losses in mid-January, but Merrimack got their revenge a few weeks later.
These games are all about the best players showing up in the biggest moment, and there’s no player better in this entire conference than Kevair Kennedy. He’s averaging 21.6 a game in the final ten games of the season, where they went 9-1. If Saint Peter’s wants to win, they’re going to have to take advantage of Merrimack’s biggest weakness, rebounding. Merrimack won this conference by three games for a reason, though, and they’ll finally get to experience the feeling of punching their ticket to the big dance.
Ariel’s Pick: 1. Merrimack