By Jon Alba
*CORRECTION: Quinnipiac won both Fairfield contests in 2013-2014*
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced its men’s basketball league schedule for the 2014-2015 school year last Wednesday, rounding out each team’s individual slates for the season. Last year’s MAAC champion and 13-seed in the NCAA Tournament Manhattan nearly dropped Louisville in the tournament’s first round, bringing an exciting conclusion to the first year for the newly-expanded league.
Quinnipiac finished its first year in the conference at 14-6, losing in the second round of the conference tournament to the eventual league champions 87-68. The Bobcats lose guard Umar Shannon and program standout Ike Azotam to graduation for the new season, but return rising-star forward Zaid Hearst alongside 6-9 big man Ousmane Drame. The team also adds two-year transfer Gio McLean at guard, who had initially committed to the University of Oklahoma.
The Bobcats’ conference schedule is as followed:
Dec. 5 @ Siena, The Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y.
Dec. 7 vs. Fairfield, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Jan. 2 vs. Saint Peter’s, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Jan. 6 @ Iona, Hynes Athletic Center, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Jan. 9 @ Monmouth, MAC, West Long Branch, N.J.
Jan. 11 vs. Marist, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Jan. 15 vs. Rider, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Jan. 18 @ Marist, McCann Field House, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Jan. 21 @ Saint Peter’s, Yanitelli Center, Jersey City, N.J.
Jan. 23 vs. Manhattan, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Jan. 30 @ Canisius, Koessler Athletic Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
Feb. 1 @ Niagara, Gallagher Center, Lewiston, N.Y.
Feb. 5 vs. Monmouth, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Feb. 8 vs. Niagara, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Feb. 13 @ Fairfield, Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Feb. 15 vs. Iona, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Feb. 19 @ Rider, Alumni Gymnasium, Lawrenceville, N.J.
Feb. 21 vs. Canisius, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
Feb. 27 vs. Siena, TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, Conn.
March 1 @ Manhattan, Draddy Gymnasium, New York, N.Y.
In the video above, Q30 Sports reporter Jon Alba breaks down his top matchups for the Bobcats’ MAAC schedule this season.
