The 2020–21 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball season began with practices in October 2020, followed by the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 25. Conference play started in December and concluded in March 2021. This season was the 40th season of MAAC basketball.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the MAAC revised their scheduling policy for conference games as follows: A 20-game double round robin conference schedule with five home series and five away series for each team. A Friday/Saturday playing schedule at the same venue for both games, with 24 hours of spacing between the two contests. The men’s and women’s schedules will mirror each other so that the women’s program may be playing a team for a 2-game home series, with the men’s program playing the same opponent on the road - and vice versa in subsequent weeks. Make up week retained for the second to last week of the season. The use of the same officiating crew for both games of a series, when possible. When teams are traveling, only institutional staff and student-athletes that are designated as Tier 1, along with Tier 2 Presidents, Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators and key conference staff members are permitted entrance to a team’s facility. Retained a ban on fan attendance at venues through December. Approved the threshold for the minimum number of players available for the game to be contested as 8 counter (scholarship) players and at least one coach.

The 2021 MAAC tournament was held from March 8 through March 13 at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the second year in a row. For this season, since it was official that not all MAAC teams would reach the originally scheduled 20 conference game mark, team seeding in the tournament was based on overall conference regular season wins – not including any third games scheduled between teams in lieu of non-conference opponents. A tiebreaker system to seed teams with identical conference records was also used.

Head coaches

Coaching changes

On March 13, 2020, Tim Cluess stepped down as head coach of the Iona Gaels due to health concerns. A day later, the school named former Louisville coach Rick Pitino the Gaels' new head coach.

Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Year at school Overall record MAAC record MAAC Tournament championshipsCanisius Reggie Witherspoon Chattanooga(asst.) 5 0Fairfield Jay Young Rutgers(asst.) 2 0Iona Rick Pitino Louisville 1 0Manhattan Steve Masiello Louisville(asst.) 10 2Marist John Dunne Saint Peter's 3 1Monmouth King Rice Vanderbilt(asst.) 10 0Niagara Greg Paulus George Washington(asst.) 2 0Quinnipiac Baker Dunleavy Villanova(asst.) 4 0Rider Kevin Baggett Rider(assoc. HC) 9 0Saint Peter's Shaheen Holloway Seton Hall(asst.) 3 0Siena Carmen Maciariello Siena(asst.) 2 0 Notes: All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2020–21 season. Overall and MAAC records are from time at current school and are before the beginning of the 2020–21 season. Previous jobs are head coaching jobs unless otherwise noted.

Preseason

Preseason Coaches Poll

RankTeam 1. Siena (11) 2. Iona T3. Monmouth T3. Saint Peter's 5. Manhattan 6. Niagara 7. Quinnipiac 8. Fairfield 9. Marist 10. Canisius 11. Rider

( ) first place votes

Preseason All-MAAC teams

2020-21 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAAC Teams First Team Second Team Third Team †Deion Hammond – Monmouth †Marcus Hammond – Niagara KC Ndefo – Saint Peter's †Manny Camper – Siena †Jalen Pickett – Siena Majesty Brandon – Canisius Asante Gist – Iona Isaiah Ross – Iona Warren Williams – Manhattan Tyrese Williams – Quinnipiac Jesus Cruz – Fairfield Raheem Solomon – Niagara Jacob Rigoni – Quinnipiac Daryl Banks – Saint Peter's Doug Edert – Saint Peter's

† denotes unanimous selection

Preseason Player of the Year Recipient School†Jalen PickettSiena

MAAC Regular Season

Conference matrix This table summarizes the final head-to-head results between teams in conference play.   CanisiusFairfieldIonaManhattanMaristMonmouthNiagaraQuinnipiacRiderSaint Peter'sSienavs. Canisius 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1vs. Fairfield 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0vs. Iona 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–0 0–2 vs. Manhattan 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0vs. Marist 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1vs. Monmouth 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0vs. Niagara 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1vs. Quinnipiac 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 vs. Rider 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0vs. Saint Peter's 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1vs. Siena 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 Total7–57–116–36–1210–812–67–97–105–1310–812–4

Player of the week Throughout the regular season, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference offices named player(s) of the week and rookie(s) of the week. Week Player of the week Rookie of the weekNovember 30, 2020Fousseyni Drame, Saint Peter'sTymu Chenery, QuinnipiacDecember 7, 2020Isaiah Ross, Iona Nelly Junior Joseph, IonaDecember 14, 2020Ant Nelson, ManhattanHakim Byrd, MaristDecember 21, 2020Isaiah Ross (2), Iona Nelly Junior Joseph (2), IonaDecember 28, 2020Isaiah Ross (3), Iona Nelly Junior Joseph (3), IonaJanuary 4, 2021Marcus Hammond, NiagaraRicardo Wright, MaristJanuary 11, 2021Manny Camper, SienaAidan Carpenter, SienaJanuary 18, 2021Jordan King, SienaColin Golson, Jr., SienaJanuary 25, 2021Dwight Murray, Jr., RiderRicardo Wright (2), MaristFebruary 1, 2021Kobi Nwandu, NiagaraRicardo Wright (3), MaristFebruary 8, 2021Melik Martin, MonmouthLuis Kortright, QuinnipiacFebruary 15, 2021Elijah Buchanan, ManhattanNelly Junior Joseph (4), IonaFebruary 22, 2021Malek Green, CanisiusLuis Kortright (2), QuinnipiacMarch 1, 2021Manny Camper (2), SienaLuis Kortright (3), QuinnipiacMarch 8, 2021Jalen Pickett, SienaRicardo Wright (4), Marist

Records against other conferences Records against non-conference foes for the 2020–21 season. Records shown for regular season only.

Power 7 ConferencesRecordAmerican0–0ACC0–2Big East0–5Big Ten–––Big 12–––Pac-12–––SEC–––Power 7 Total0–7Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecordAmerica East5–4A-101–0ASUN–––Big Sky–––Big South–––Big West–––CAA1–3C-USA–––Horizon League–––Ivy League–––MAC–––MEAC2–1MVC–––Mountain West–––NEC2–1OVC–––Patriot League–––Pacific West–––SoCon–––Southland–––SWAC–––The Summit–––Sun Belt–––WAC–––WCC–––Other Division I Total11–9NCAA Division I Total11–16

Postseason

MAAC Tournament

2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey

* denotes number of overtimes

NCAA Tournament

Seed Region School 1st Round 15 East IonaL 55–68 vs. (2) Alabama – (Hinkle Fieldhouse|Indianapolis, IN Game summary

Honors and awards

MAAC Awards 2020-21 MAAC Men's Basketball Major Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Player of the YearManny Camper, Sr, G SienaCoach of the Year King Rice, MonmouthRookie of the YearNelly Junior Joseph, F, IonaDefensive Player of the YearKC Ndefo, Jr, G, Saint Peter'sSixth Player of the YearMalek Green, Jr, F, Canisius

2020-21 MAAC Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Rookie Team †Manny Camper, Sr, G, Siena †Deion Hammond, Sr, G, Monmouth †KC Ndefo, Jr, G, Saint Peter's Jalen Pickett, Jr, G, Siena †Isaiah Ross, Sr, G, Iona Marcus Hammond, Jr, G, Niagara Dwight Murray, Jr., Jr, G, Rider Kobi Nwandu, Sr, F, Niagara George Papas, Sr, G, Monmouth Jacob Rigoni, Sr, F, Quinnipiac Darryl Banks III, So, G, Saint Peter's Malek Green, Jr, F, Canisius Jordan King, So, G, Siena Melik Martin, Sr, F, Monmouth Ant Nelson, Jr, G, Manhattan Warren Williams, Jr, F, Manhattan Hakim Byrd, Fr, G, Marist †Tymu Chenery, Fr, G/F, Quinnipiac †Nelly Junior Joseph, Fr, F, Iona †Luis Kortright, Fr, G, Quinnipiac †Ricardo Wright, Fr, G, Marist

† denotes unanimous selection

All-MAAC tournament team 2021 MAAC Men's Basketball All-Championship Team Raheem Solomon, Niagara KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's Jake Wojcik, Fairfield Taj Benning, Fairfield Berrick Jeanlouis, Iona Isaiah Ross, Iona MVP Asante Gist, Iona

2020–21 Season statistic leaders Completed for 2020–21 season

+ Scoring leaders1Isaiah Ross (Iona) 332 18.42Deion Hammond (Monmouth) 336 16.83Dwight Murray (Rider) 364 15.84Kobi Nwandu (Niagara) 292 14.65Manny Camper (Siena) 240 14.1

+ Rebound leaders1Manny Camper (Siena) 165 9.72Nelly Jr. Joseph (Iona) 135 7.53Warren Williams (Manhattan) 146 7.34Malek Green (Canisius) 91 7.05Fousseyni Drame (Saint Peter's) 174 7.0

+ Field goal leaders (avg 5 fga/gm)1Jackson Stormo (Siena) 76 116 .6552Nelly Jr. Joseph (Iona) 81 136 .5963Jordan Jones (Marist) 78 132 .5914Warren Williams (Manhattan) 88 155 .5685Jacco Fritz (Canisius) 30 56 .536

+ Assist leaders1Jalen Pickett (Siena) 67 4.82Dwight Murray (Rider) 95 4.13Manny Camper (Siena) 62 3.64Asante Gist (Iona) 57 3.65Matthew Lee (Saint Peter's) 89 3.6

+ Block leaders1KC Ndefo (Saint Peter's) 91 3.642Seth Pinkney (Quinnipiac) 51 2.323Jordan Jones (Marist) 40 1.904Nelly Jr. Joseph (Iona) 29 1.615Warren Williams (Manhattan) 32 1.60

+ Free throw leaders1Asante Gist (Iona) 74 83 .8922Jacob Rigoni (Quinnipiac) 67 78 .8593Dwight Murray (Rider) 67 78 .8594Jake Wojcik (Fairfield) 76 89 .8545Taj Benning (Fairfield) 74 88 .841

+ Steal leaders1Berrick JeanLouis (Iona) 40 2.22Miles Ruth (Monmouth) 36 1.83Elijah Buchanan (Manhattan) 33 1.74Samir Stewart (Manhattan) 24 1.55Savion Lewis (Quinnipiac) 21 1.5

+ Three point leaders1Brendan McGuire (Quinnipiac) 19 42 .4522Allen Powell (Rider) 37 84 .4403Ryan Myers (Iona) 19 44 .4314Dwight Murray (Rider) 35 84 .4175Jordan Henderson (Canisius) 21 51 .412

Individual statistic NCAA Top 100 leaders Scoring Isaiah Ross, Iona (18.4/game): 57th

Rebounding Manny Camper, Siena (9.7/game): 22nd

Field Goal Percentage (minimum avg 5 made per game) KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's (127–252 .504): 82nd

Assists per game Jalen Pickett, Siena (4.8/game): 57th

Blocks per game KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's (3.64/game): 1st (3rd in total blocks) Seth Pinkney, Quinnipiac (2.32/game): 22nd Jordan Jones, Marist (1.90/game): 39th Nelly Jr. Joseph, Iona (1.61/game): 65th Warren Williams, Manhattan (1.60/game): 68th

Free Throw Percentage (minimum avg 2.5 made per game) Asante Gist, Iona (74–83 .891): 16th Dwight Murray, Jr., Rider (67–78 .859): 49th Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac (65–76 .855): 53rd Jake Wojcik, Fairfield (76–89 .853): 57th Taj Benning, Fairfield (74–88 .840): 80th

Steals per game Berrick JeanLouis, Iona (2.22/game): 18th Miles Ruth, Monmouth (1.80/game): 66th Elijah Buchanan, Manhattan (1.74/game): 76th

Three-point percentage (minimum 1.5 made per game) Isaiah Ross, Iona (46–120 .383): 55th

Team statistic NCAA rankings of 340 Division I teams   CanisiusFairfieldIonaManhattanMaristMonmouthNiagaraQuinnipiacRiderSaint Peter'sSiena Scoring/game 195 (70.4) 332 (61.8) 172 (71.3) 322 (63.4) 321 (63.4) 63 (76.0) 311 (64.7) 263 (67.5) 262 (67.5) 325 (63.2) 259 (67.6) Defense/game 199 (71.2) 68 (66.7) 58 (66.1) 85 (67.2) 27 (63.6) 269 (74.3) 48 (65.2) 134 (69.0) 265 (74.0) 9 (61.5) 22 (63.0) FG% 305 (.408) 323 (.398) 169 (.441) 337 (.378) 243 (.426) 260 (.422) 308 (.407) 315 (.401) 239 (.427) 317 (.400) 68 (.459) FG% defense 254 (.452) 190 (.437) 26 (.402) 130 (.424) 11 (.391) 98 (.420) 131 (.424) 8 (.389) 284 (.462) 4 (.386) 42 (.408) Three Point % 318 (.296) 276 (.315) 128 (.346) 339 (.264) 292 (.310) 61 (.363) 283 (.313) 240 (.323) 105 (.352) 244 (.322) 138 (.343) Free Throw % 174 (.709) 218 (.695) 60 (.744) 290 (.665) 248 (.683) 179 (.707) 178 (.707) 236 (.687) 89 (.733) 213 (.697) 307 (.657) Scoring margin 217 (-0.8) 276 (-4.9) 91 (5.2) 257 (-3.8) 204 (-0.2) 158 (1.7) 212 (-0.5) 224 (-1.5) 294 (-6.5) 159 (1.7) 106 (4.6) Rebound margin 246 (-1.9) 160 (0.8) 47 (4.7) 199 (-0.6) 168 (0.4) 252 (-2.1) 307 (-4.5) 285 (-3.7) 215 (-0.8) 127 (1.8) 107 (2.3)

References

External links MAAC website