MAAC to debut new tournament format in 2016
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is trying something new for its annual basketball tournaments.
The conference announced on Thursday that, starting with the 2016 championships in Albany, N.Y., the men's and women's basketball championship bracket will give the top two seeds a rest day between the quarterfinals and semifinal games.
First-round games will be played on Thursday, but the No. 1 and 2 seeds in both men's and women's brackets will play their quarterfinal games Friday, before earning a rest day on Saturday. Saturday will now feature quarterfinal games between the third and fourth seeds.
"The vote for the revised format was 9-1-1, with Manhattan opposed and Quinnipiac abstaining," said MAAC commissioner Rich Ensor in the statement. "The format change has been accepted by the Times Union Center which is hosting the 2016 and 2017 championships under a current three-year contract."
Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello did not seem pleased with the speed at which this change was made, noting to the Asbury Park Press's Josh Newman that changes of this magnitude usually take longer to accomplish.
"I can't recall a time when some changes happen within eight, nine months. Why not wait until the next contract?" said Masiello.
The head coach then pointed out that maybe it was the Jaspers' success that spurred along this change.
"Basically, to have this changed, I have yet to get an answer why, which is what I find very puzzling. I think maybe people are tired of Manhattan and they don't want to talk about that elephant in the room, our style and our depth. We've been to three title games in three years, back-to-back winners in two. I have a feeling that people didn't like that because maybe we weren't supposed to be there."
Thursday, March 3
Women's Opening Round
9:30 a.m.: #8 Seed vs. #9 Seed
11:30 a.m.: #7 Seed vs. # 10 Seed
1:30 p.m.: #6 Seed vs. #11 Seed
Men's Opening Round
5 p.m.: #8 Seed vs. #9 Seed
7 p.m.: #7 Seed vs. #10 Seed
9 p.m.: #6 Seed vs. #11 Seed
Friday, March 4
Women's Quarterfinals
12 p.m.: #1 Seed vs. 8/9 Winner
2:30 p.m.: #2 Seed vs. 7/10 Seed
Men's Quarterfinals
7 p.m.: #1 Seed vs. 8/9 Winner
9:30 p.m.: #2 Seed vs. 7/10 Seed
Saturday, March 5
Women's Quarterfinals
12 p.m.: #3 Seed vs. 6/11 Winner
2:30 p.m.: #4 Seed vs. #5 Winner
Men's Quarterfinals
7 p.m.: #3 Seed vs. 6/11 Winner
9:30 p.m.: #4 Seed vs. #5 Winner
Sunday, March 6
Women's Semifinals
11 a.m.: 1/8/9 vs. 4/5 winner
1:30 p.m.: 2/7/10 vs. 3/6/11 winner
Men's Semifinals
4:30 p.m.: 1/8/9 vs. 4/5 winner
7 p.m.: 2/7/10 vs. 3/6/11 winner
Monday, March 7
Women's Championship TBD Semifinal Winners
Men's Championship TBD Semifinal Winners