The MAAC went 7-3 in BracketBusters this season in the final installment of the series with ESPN. The conference has drawn national games against high profile opponents during the 11-year span drawing television games against teams from all across the country.
MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor said that he believes the BracketBuster has helped the conference through its 11-year run.
“I think it helped a lot over the years,” Ensor said. “I’d like to see it continue but it wasn’t our call.”
“The title BracketBuster ESPN owns that title but we could run a similar event with any network CBS, NBC/Comcast partnership. Some of it is driven by the current agreement was driven by the language in our contracts with ESPN that bound us to associate with BracketBusters to participate in it. We obviously don’t have a contract with CBS or NBC but certainly if they would open up an event, we’d be interested in participating.”
However Ensor said that the BracketBuster is only a small part of their overall deal with ESPN a deal that continues for the next five years.
Niagara, one of the three MAAC teams featured on the ESPN family of networks, won their MAAC’s only TV BracketBuster game, a 92-76 win over Northwestern State (LA). Purple Eagles head coach Joe Mihalich said that the BracketBuster game helped their program this year but that it has not always helped in the 11 years. Antoine Mason returned from an ankle injury on Saturday, scoring 20 points in 37 minutes in the victory.
“I’ll be honest with you the BracketBuster does not always help your program,” Mihalich said. “The reason you play the BracketBuster game is to get on TV, play against a team that’s going to help you get better and play a game that’s going to excite your players.”
“We’ve been fortunate. We’ve had mostly it’s been a great experiences and especially the one this past weekend we were on national TV we played a really good team, we played them at home, we beat them and we did things that helped us get better for the league.”
Loyola (MD) traveled to Nashville and pulled out a 69-67 win at Tennessee State, beating a team that prior to their meeting had won all their home games. With the win the Greyhounds won their 20th game in back to back seasons, that despite traveling for 17 separate road trips spanning all across the country.
Head coach Jimmy Patsos said that he likes the way the program has progressed throughout his nine years in Baltimore.
“I’m pleased that we’re graduating kids, I’m pleased that we have good character kids, I’m pleased that we play really hard I’m pleased that we have fun,” Patsos said.
The Greyhounds will be traveling on their final road trip in the MAAC before tournament play in Springfield with a trip to Iona on Friday night.
The Rider Broncs hosted Charleston Southern, leader of the southern division of the Big South, coming up with a 61-54 victory. The Bucanneers sat sophomore Saah Nimbley from the game to keep him from furthering a back problem he has.
Broncs coach Kevin Baggett said that he knows teams were more apt to rest players in the BracketBuster out of concern for injury.
“Any time you have a chance to go outside and play somebody else in the non-conference, it gives you the opportunity if you need to continue to build your resume,” Baggett said. “That can only help you I don’t think it can hurt you.”
“I know some guys are concerned with injuries. I understand that part of it as well but I think it helps you if you’re trying to build your resume for the season.”
During Jason Thompson’s senior season, the Broncs drew a BracketBuster game at Cal State Northridge, winning 73-72 and boosting Thompson’s NBA exposure.
“I thought it was a benefit for us,” Baggett said of the BracketBuster for the Rider program. “In the past I thought it’s done good things for us with Jason Thompson’s senior year when we played Cal State Northridge. It gave him more exposure I certainly think it’s a good vehicle.”
Fairfield hosted America East opponent Albany in their final home game of the season. The Great Danes, who were without Peter Hooley, beat the Stags 58-50. Fairfield was without freshman Amadou Sidibe with a nose injury to go with senior Desmond Wade who had been nursing a knee injury. Fairfield head coach Sydney Johnson said he expects Sidibe and Wade to be back for the final weekend of the regular season.
“I’m excited to say that we’re 100% healthy for Friday/Sunday,” Johnson said. “It will be exciting to have our full team back and I know how huge that’s been for us to not have been healthy as we’ve wanted to be so hopefully we can build some momentum now that we’ve had everyone back.”
Johnson, who has had two years experience with the BracketBuster at Fairfield, said that he gives the event mixed reviews with their recent 0-2 performance.
“I like the event, we’ve performed on it probably not as well as I’d want to,” Johnson said. “We got wins against Austin Peay and Milwaukee on the return games so we’re 2-2. I’d like to be better than 2-2 in the games.”
“I think it’s good for mid-major teams that are looking, it’s hard to schedule. It helps them in terms of scheduling and it definitely helps with exposure when you’re on those TV games. Our performance has not been as good as I’d like but in general I think the people who came up with the idea had the right thing in mind.”
After an eight hour travel day by bus to Virginia Friday, St. Peter’s won 66-59 on the road at Hampton on Saturday. Sophomore Desi Washington led the Peacocks with a game-high 26 points who rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to win their fourth road game of the season.
“The guys persevered they were ready to play,” Dunne said. “The thing about our group this year is our spirits are staying up and not to say that we don’t get down at times because we do but especially when you’re losing games it’s hard to keep spirits up consistently but our practices have been good.”
“They’re still putting themselves in position game after game to win. We’ve fallen short a lot more than we’ve been victorious but we’ve given ourselves a chance. If we can continue to do that I’ll be proud of their effort.”
Dunne said that in his seven year experience with BracketBusters their experience has been indifferent. His team has drawn teams twice from the Horizon League and America East as well as an opponent from the MAC, MEAC, and Ohio Valley in his seven years as head coach.
“We haven’t had an opportunity to really play in a TV game, where it’s a real true bracket buster experience playing for the NCAA tournament,” Dunne said. “Overall it’s been good for the league but for our program in particular hasn’t made much difference.”
Siena notched the MAAC’s seventh win on the weekend with a 65-57 overtime win over Radford of the Big South. The Saints registered the victory without sophomores Evan Hymes and Rahkeem Brookins who are nursing injuries to their ankle and back respectively.
Siena head coach Mitch Buonaguro said he was happy how the team was able to distrubute the ball and shots without Hymes in the lineup. The Saints got valuable minutes for freshman walk on Chris Leppanen and junior Davis Martens. Leppanen started at point guard and dished out a team high seven assists while Martens went for a career high 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
“He’s practiced a lot better,” Buonaguro said of Martens. “I’d say the last two weeks he’s really stepped his game up.”
“If we can get near double figures out of him, that would be a big plus. We haven’t had that all year.”
Buonaguro said that he is concerned he might be without Brookins due to his back issues; however, he expects Hymes to play Friday against Marist.
“I just don’t see the progression,” Buonaguro said of Brookins. “He’s not practicing, it doesn’t feel good.”
“One thing about Brookins is he’s a tough kid, if he could go he would go so he’s got real issues with his back. He wants to play, he’s a warrior that’s what I really like about him but he doesn’t want to go if he can’t help his team physically. Until I hear it from him that he could go, I’d say doubtful.”
Manhattan won their final BracketBuster game, making another trip to Buffalo to win 65-64. Head coach Steve Masiello, who was an assistant on Bobby Gonzalez’s staff when they drew a 12-seed during the 2003-04 season and a BracketBuster game against Milwaukee, said that it had meaning for them that season but hasn’t had an impact on his program during his tenure.
“I’m not a big BracketBuster guy,” Masiello said. “As long as you win and no one gets hurt. My fear is if you’re playing well, which I thought we were, and you lose you lose a little momentum with your team and confidence with your team.”
“If you have a top 50 RPI and you’re on the bubble, look at Indiana State I think it was good for them because they were on national TV and they won, if you’re on national TV and you have a legitimate chance of getting an at-large yes, then it’s good but besides that but I don’t think it’s worth playing.”
Ryan Restivo covers the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo.
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