The MAAC pulled off a rare feat a few years ago for a low major conference: two bids. It was a strange situation when the NCAA committee allowed Iona, who led the conference but lost the MAAC Tournament, was allowed an at large bid in a First Four game as a 14 seed. Despite this, though, Iona lost that game as has every other MAAC team in the NCAA Tournament since 2009. The last time a MAAC team won a tournament game when Siena won as a 9 seed in the 2009 and the previous year as a 13 seed.
Monmouth won this conference for the second year in a row. Last year, the Hawks lost in the MAAC Tournament and ended up as one of the first four teams out of the tournament. This year, Monmouth won the conference by a convincing four games over Saint Peter's. They are not in the running for an at large bid this year, so they will need to win the tournament to get in. Monmouth is currently averaging a 13 seed in bracket projections.
The MAAC has 11 teams and all of them will be in the tournament. The top five teams received a bye to the quarterfinals. The tournament will take place from March 2nd to 6th at Times Union Center in Albany, New York.
First Round-Thursday, March 2nd
#11 Manhattan vs. #6 Rider
#10 Marist vs. #7 Canisius
#9 Niagara vs. #8 Quinnipiac
Quarterfinals-Friday, March 3rd, Saturday, March 4th
#8 Quinnipiac vs. #1 Monmouth
#5 Fairfield vs. #4 Siena
#7 Canisius vs. #2 Saint Peter's
#6 Rider vs. #3 Iona
Semifinals-Sunday, March 5th
#5 Fairfield vs. #1 Monmouth
#7 Canisius vs. #3 Iona
Championship-Monday, March 6th
Iona and Monmouth played for the 2016 MAAC title with Iona winning 79-76. The two teams had had a contentious year up to that point with the Gaels not taking kindly to Monmouth's bench antics. This year has been much more quiet as Monmouth rocked its way to the regular season title. That won't be the only MAAC title they win this year, as the Hawks will win over the Gaels and go dancing.
Iona 65, Monmouth 69
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