5 local mid-majors to watch

It’s conference tournament time and the local mid-majors are practicing their steps in hopes of qualifying for the Big Dance. Here are five schools to watch:

Hofstra

Hofstra avoided any COVID-19 pauses until a bad time: The final two weeks of the season. That means the Pride will enter the CAA Tournament having gone 20 days without playing a game. The league’s defending champion was having an upand-down season up to that point. Hofstra started 7-3, only to lose three of its last four games. The fourth seed has the potential to repeat.

Next Game: Sunday 11 a.m. vs. Delaware, CAA Tournament quarterfinals

Iona

Rick Pitino’s return to college basketball was a mess. The Hall of Fame coach’s team won six of its nine league games but just couldn’t avoid COVID-19 pauses. It had a 51-day layoff, played five games and was paused again on Feb. 21 to end its regular season prematurely.

Since the MAAC seeds based on the number of conference victories, Iona received the ninth seed and will have to win four games in five days to go dancing.

Next Game: Tuesday 5 p.m. vs. Quinnipiac, MAAC Tournament first round

Manhattan

The Jaspers can play with the best teams in the MAAC, as a win over Iona and narrow losses to Monmouth, Siena and Marist suggest. But putting quality performances together consecutively has proven challenging. Manhattan has backed up a win with another win just twice.

Next Game: Tuesday 7:30 p.m. vs. Fairfield, MAAC Tournament first round

Wagner

The biggest surprise in the area is Wagner, which was picked to finish seventh in the NEC after suffering its most losses (21) last year in a decade, and won the league outright. After starting 0-2 in league play, the Seahawks won 13 of their 16 games, including six straight at home.

Next Game: Saturday 2 p.m. vs. Mount St. Mary’s, NEC Tournament semifinals

St. Peter’s

Depth and balance are hallmarks of Shaheen Holloway’s program, and those remained constants this year in a thirdplace finish, even if sophomore forward KC Ndefo emerged as one of the best players in the MAAC. Shooting from deep (31.5 percent) and holding onto the ball (14.8 turnovers), however, held this team back.

Next Game: Thursday 5 p.m. vs. Canisius/Rider winner, MAAC Tournament quarterfinals