Don't Overlook Siena Saints Because of Poor OOC Performance

High expectations almost always disappoint. If you don't hold credence in that statement, recall the predictions for the Siena Saints' 2009-10 season. Then, look at their OOC performance.

The Associated Press slated Siena at No. 27 in its preseason poll while Sports Illustrated put the Saints at No. 20. To be blunt, they were incorrect.

Although Siena is currently a perfect 7-0 and is atop the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Saints were not opportunistic in their significant non-conference games. They fell short against Temple, Saint John’s, Georgia Tech, and Northern Iowa en route to a 7-4 OOC (out-of-conference) record, which lacked a win capable of boosting Siena’s postseason résumé.

As of now, nobody “knows” if Siena can beat a top team, so a trip to the Sweet 16—which some predicted for the Saints in the preseason—seems a bit far-fetched to many. However, this year’s Siena squad shares many characteristics with the Saints teams that advanced to the Round of 32 in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Siena 2009-10

77.4 points per game, 38.7 rebounds per game, 15.5 assists per game, 13.2 turnovers per game, 10.1 steals per game, 3.8 blocks per game, 14.3 personal fouls per game, 46.1 percent FG, 65.5 percent FT, 31.4 percent 3PT, and 1.27 points per shot.

Siena 2008-09

77.4 points per game, 36.4 rebounds per game, 15.3 assists per game, 13.2 turnovers per game, 8.8 steals per game, 4.5 blocks per game, 14.8 personal fouls per game, 46.7 percent FG, 66.4 percent FT, 33 percent 3PT, and 1.26 points per shot.

Siena 2007-08

76.9 points per game, 33.8 rebounds per game, 14.4 assists per game, 11.3 turnovers per game, 9.4 steals per game, 3.5 blocks per game, 15.4 personal fouls per game, 45.1 percent FG, 68.9 percent FT, 38.2 percent 3PT, and 1.27 points per shot.

Despite their lack of a “big” win, this year’s team is arguably better—on paper—than the teams from a year or two ago. The Saints still consistently post a high score and their rebounding, passing—mainly Ronald Moore—stealing, and fouling have all improved.

Opponents used to plan on preventing three Saints—Kenny Hasbrouck, Edwin Ubiles, and Alex Franklin—from scoring. Now Hasbrouck is gone, but Clarence Jackson and Ryan Rossiter have stepped in as legitimate offensive threats.

Add Moore, the nation’s assists leader, into the mix and the Saints have a loaded starting lineup which is unmatched by any other MAAC team. Siena leads the MAAC in scoring, rebounding, distributing, stealing, fouling, field goal shooting, points per shot, and turnovers forced (16.9 per game).

Siena has already beaten the six teams behind them in the MAAC standings. An eight-point win at second-place Fairfield was the Saints’ only conference win by less than 11 points.

There are two ways Siena can lose in conference play.

The Saints don't have the same depth they've had in the past. They don't have a Tay Fisher or a Clarence Jackson who can be relied on off the bench.

As unlikely as it is for a team that only commits 14.3 fouls per game, the Saints cannot afford to have starters foul out early. Kyle Downey, Owen Wignot, and O.D. Anosike are all talented ballplayers, but they have not received the floor time to be deemed reliable.

A contagiously bad performance is the only other way Siena will lose a MAAC game this season.

Come MAAC Tournament time, the Saints will play host to the league’s other nine teams. Siena has won 30 straight home games, and it will be difficult to dethrone the reigning champs.

But what the Saints do in the MAAC doesn’t matter, right? They couldn’t beat anyone out of conference, so they won’t be able to advance in the Big Dance, right?

Possibly. But, remember what the Saints of 2007-08 and 2008-09 accomplished in the OOC?

In 2007-08, Siena scheduled up. They lost to No. 25 Syracuse, No. 2 Memphis, and Saint Joseph’s. Without Brook Lopez, No. 20 Stanford was vulnerable to Siena’s attack and fell to the Saints by 12 in Albany.

So Siena didn’t have one true résumé-building win, yet they upset Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament.

Last year, the Saints struggled against higher talent—they couldn’t defeat No. 12 Tennessee, Oklahoma State, No. 3 Pittsburgh, or Kansas. Regardless, they went 16-2 in the MAAC, won the conference championship, outlasted Evan Turner and Ohio State, and nearly upset Louisville in the second round.

The Saints can never win the weighted OOC games in November and December, but they gel during MAAC play and win in the Big Dance. This year’s team is Fran McCaffery’s best—statistically speaking—and Siena’s coveted Sweet 16 appearance is becoming more and more conceivable.

If the Saints advance to the tournament’s second weekend, those lofty expectations will be fulfilled.

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