Big game after a trying week
First-place Saints, saddened by deaths, host second-place Iona
LOUDONVILLE — A week that began with personal tragedy for the Siena men’s basketball program will end with the Saints playing at home against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s dominant program and Hall of Fame coach on national television
The first-place Saints will try to navigate those highs and lows against second-place Iona and Rick Pitino at 7 p.m. Friday in MVP Arena in an important MAAC showdown on ESPNU.
“These guys are hungry and driven and obviously we’re in first place and Iona’s the preseason favorite and no one gave us a chance to be even near first place this year,” Siena coach Carmen Maciariello said. “It’s all on the table for us. We’re excited to play. We’re excited to do what we love to do and hopefully bring joy to our fans and the community.”
Siena (13-7 overall, 7-2 MAAC) was picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll. The Saints started 6-0 in league play before dropping two of their past three, including last Sunday’s 62-52 home defeat to Fairfield.
Siena played that game just hours after the heartbreaking news that graduate forward Michael Baer lost his father, John, to bladder cancer. A day later, the Saints were hit with more sorrow when honorary team member Evan Franz, a Tamarac High senior, died of brain cancer.
“We’re a close group,” Siena graduate forward Jackson Stormo said. “We do a lot of things together, but there’s a reason we’re here, and that’s to win games in March. It’s about recognizing the moment, recognizing how someone can be special in your life and how much they can mean to you, but also life goes on and we’ve got to dedicate the rest of the season to (Franz and John Baer) and just try to win it for them.”
Friday’s game falls during Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week, when coaching staffs wear that attire on the sideline. The game is also designed as Siena’s “Gold Rush” game with fans wearing gold T-shirts.
Siena knocked off Iona 70-64 in last year’s “Gold Rush” contest, also televised on ESPNU, with students rushing the court at the final horn. Siena graduate
guard Andrew Platek didn’t play in that game because of injury but will on Friday.
“That was awesome,” Platek said. “It made me forget about my (Achilles tendon) injury for a little bit. But that was really cool for us to get a win at home and we’re going to try to repeat that.”
Pitino, in his third year with the Gaels, is trying to win his second MAAC title and the program’s record 14th championship. The Gaels (13-6, 6-2) are led by junior Daniss Jenkins (16.3 points per game) and sophomore Walter Clayton Jr. (15.6 ppg), a duo Pitino said is as good as any backcourt on the East Coast.
The Gaels also have 6-9 junior forward Nelly Junior Joseph, who averages 15.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. But they lost 6-9 power forward Quinn Slazinski, a Louisville transfer, for the season with a foot injury. Iona lost by 23 at Quinnipiac on Jan. 8 and by 3 on a Dwight Murray Jr. 3-pointer against Rider on Jan. 15.
“I look at this league and I thought we had one of the two best teams, along with Siena, prior to the season, as far as depth,” Pitino said last week. “Now we’re like one of seven or eight.”
Siena has its own injury issues. The availability of sophomore point guard Javian Mccollum, the team’s leading scorer at 15.8 points per game, is unclear after he missed the second half against Fairfield with recurring back issues. Maciariello texted Thursday tests results came back “fine” and Mccollum is day-to-day.
Freshman forward Killian Gribben (ankle), who missed the past two games, was seen working out Thursday and might return for Iona. Senior forward Jordan Kellier remains out following foot surgery.
Michael Baer returned from Iowa following his father’s death and is expected to play.
“I expect the city to show out,” Stormo said. “I expect Siena students and Saints faithful to show out in numbers. Big game, there’s no two ways about it.”