Is Siena On The Verge Of One And Done In MAAC Tourney?

The MAAC Tournament tips off this Thursday at the Times Union Center and it's not a big surprise that a tough season will continue for Head Coach Jimmy Patsos and his Siena Saints Men's team. The Saints started one of the youngest teams in all of college hoops this season and the growing pains were evident. The Saints limped across the finish line with a 8 - 23 overall 4 - 14 in the MAAC record.

There's no shortage of reasons why this was a tough year for the Saints. We already mentioned the youth and inexperience, but injuries were also huge. Factor that in with the exit of Nico Clareth and Patsos was forced to start 19 different starting line ups. Which is the most in the nation according to the Times Union:

Patsos used his 19th starting lineup of the year, most in Division I, on a team that still hasn't won back-to-back games.

"I thought we'd use two," Patsos said. "Going into the year, I literally thought two or three starting lineups. It's just either somebody's hurt, or somebody's tired. Poor Hammer (trainer Greg Dashnaw) needs a rest."

Siena lost at Saint Peter's for the eighth straight year.

So here's my fear: In a year of turmoil where the Saints have shown flashes of talent and stretches of inexperience, do they have what it takes to upset #7 Quinnipiac in round one of the MAAC Tournament and keep their NCAA Tourney hopes alive? I certainly hope so because losing the Saints in the first day of the MAAC tournament means a weekend full of hoops on their home court that will not involve our local team at all.