5 Stats to know from MAAC Opening Weekend

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I’ve written plenty about how the MAAC was the most competitive league in college basketball last season during conference play in terms of volume of close games. I wrote an entire story on late-game heroics in the conference during my first season on the beat for Mid-Major Madness. But this weekend felt different than what I’m used to from this league.

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Through 13 games of MAAC basketball, we had just one decided by a single possession. That game was Merrimack’s 68-66 win over Rider on Thursday night, which ended in the most MAAC way possible.

Yes. The ball hit the ceiling. Seems as though other MAAC teams will have to get used to playing in a hockey rink when they visit North Andover, as the Warriors will not host any games at Hammel Court this year.

Sacred Heart’s game against Mount St. Mary’s on Wednesday night was very competitive most of the way, but there wasn’t any drama on the final possession, like we’ve become accustomed to from the best games in the league.

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Why was this the case this week? Matchups played a part in it, in my eyes. The conference has four teams in KenPom’s top 200, and none others higher than 276th. It also has three teams in the bottom 25 that all went 0-2, five of the six losses coming handedly. Niagara and Canisius both went on the road to Siena, sure. Marist hosted two teams in the 300’s, understood. Quinnipiac got to play Rider at home, that makes sense. But that doesn’t explain it. It never has in this league.

Marist’s win over Manhattan on Sunday felt like it was headed for a strong finish, but also felt like it had five minutes left when it had 10 minutes left. The Jaspers’ defense broke down in the second half. Sacred Heart got punched in the mouth to start the second half against Iona, the same way the Gaels got punched in the mouth by Quinnipiac on Friday early in the second. Neither team could recover and make it close.

It’s a small sample, so it will probably normalize, but I’m…

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Publish date : 2025-12-08 14:45:00

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