By: Ryan Chichester
Follow @RyanChichester1
In men’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference basketball this season, Quinnipiac vs. Siena has officially become a trilogy.
The No. 7 seed Quinnipiac Bobcats look to secure a postseason win in Albany on Thursday night, when it takes on the No. 10 seed Siena Saints for the third time this season.
The Bobcats took each of the first two games against the Saints, who limp into the tournament while nursing a painfully long list of injuries.
The Bobcats have an opportunity to take advantage of a banged-up Saints roster and earn their first tournament win since 2014. Last season produced an uninspiring blowout loss to Niagara in the first round, and the eventual exit of former head coach Tom Moore.
Now in just the first season of the Baker Dunleavy era, the Bobcats can clinch their most successful season in almost five years.
Here is what you need to know before the action begins at the Times Union Center on Thursday evening:
Shorthanded Saints
It has been a tough go for Jimmy Patsos and company, particularly since the calendar flipped to 2018.
Siena’s leading scorer and team captain Nico Clareth (also the team’s hero in last season’s conference tournament run), left the team in early January before announcing his intent to transfer at the end of the academic year. The news came just days after Clareth scored only two points in 19 minutes in the Saints’ 71-70 loss to the Bobcats on New Year’s Day.
Freshman Roman Penn temporarily shouldered the scoring load that Clareth left behind, but was injured after the team’s thrilling triple-overtime win over St. Peter’s a month ago. Penn underwent heel surgery and was lost for the rest of the season, and the Saints have struggled to pick up the pieces since. The team is just 1-7 since Penn’s injury, including a current four-game losing streak.
Still, the Saints can find ways to score despite their depleted roster. The three-pointer has been particularly kind to the Saints this season against the Bobcats. Through two games against Quinnipiac, Siena has shot 21-for-34 (62-percent) from downtown, with only three of those triples coming from Clareth or Penn. Junior Evan Fisher has been leading their three-point barrage against the Bobcats, shooting 6-for-8 from three in games against Quinnipiac this season.
The Saints are definitely lacking in depth and a prolific scorer, but they have shown they can still score against the Bobcats, so Quinnipiac’s perimeter defenders like Isaiah Washington and Cam Young will have to be on their toes for the Bobcats.
Weary travelers
Despite holding the 10th seed and a slim roster, Siena enters the first round with a 59.5-percent chance of advancing, per KenPom.
Here are the MAAC probabilities. Fun fact: The 10-seed is hosting. pic.twitter.com/RoYE97I7CR
— Ken Pomeroy (@kenpomeroy) February 26, 2018
Quinnipiac has depth and recent head-to-head success on its side, but hold an uninspiring 3-12 road record. Meanwhile, the Saints are always capable of finding ways to win on their home floor, where the entirety of the MAAC tournament will take place.
We saw Siena’s home floor magic in last season’s tournament, when it shocked top-seeded Monmouth in the semifinals behind an unbelievable performance from Clareth. This season has shown flashes of the same at times.
Even without Clareth and Penn, Siena stole a thrilling overtime win against reigning tournament champion Iona two weeks back. Regardless of roster structure, the Saints can provide an inspiring performance at any time in front of their home crowd.
The Bobcats have struggled on the road, and Thursday’s task will be tougher than normal.
It is difficult to beat any team three times in one season, especially twice on the opponent’s own court. A quick start will be vital for the Bobcats on Thursday in an attempt to subdue the crowd and claim early momentum.
Though it certainly will be easier said than done.
