Oct. 24, 2006

New York, N.Y. - The Siena men's and women's basketball programs were picked to finish in the top half of the conference announced today at MAAC Media Day in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Head coach Fran McCaffery and his squad was chosen to finish third in the league, while the Siena women were predicted fourth for the upcoming 2006-07 season.

On the men's side, the Saints are expected to stand tall this season under McCaffery. The team was picked third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior center Michael Haddix (Vineland, N.J./St. John Neumann/St. Augustine Prep) and 2006 Rookie of the Year Kenny Hasbrouck (Capital Heights, Md./Maine Central Prep) were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team. Marist was the unanimous choice to take the MAAC in 2006-07 behind Preseason Player of the Year Jared Jordan.

Junior standout Laura Menty (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug) earned Preseason All-MAAC First Team honors, while teammate Katelyn Dooley (Troy, N.Y./Lansingburgh) was named to the Third Team. The Saints are predicted to rebound to the top half of the league this season under head coach Gina Castelli. Coaches around the conference voted the Saints fourth overall in the preseason poll. Iona was selected as the team to beat on the women's side in the upcoming season. Gaels forward Martina Weber was named 2006-07 Preseason Player of the Year.

The Siena men travel to Stanford on Nov. 11 to open the season. This begins a four game road trip as the Saints also travel to Holy Cross (Nov. 18), Dartmouth (Nov. 22) and NJIT (Nov. 27). The women open their season on the road at St. Bonaventure on Nov. 11. They return to the Capital District for the home opener versus cross-town rival UAlbany on Nov. 15 at the Pepsi Arena.