OLEAN, NY - Siena Basketball looks to reclaim the Franciscan Cup when the Saints battle sister-school St. Bonaventure Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the Reilly Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Ben Wagner and Joe Ceraulo have the call of the game on ESPN+. Watch the game on ESPN+ by clicking the corresponding link. ESPN+ is a subscription based service, which is available to purchase for $4.99 per month, or $49.99 for a year. ESPN+ offers a 7-day free trial as well.
Gameday Central coverage commences with The Anderson Group Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. locally on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM, and online at SienaAllAccess.com. A.J. Kanell and Conner Fenlon '12 have the call of the game both through the radio broadcast as well as the complimentary online audio stream, which can be listened to by clicking the corresponding link.
Social media updates will be provided courtside throughout the day via the Saints' official twitter page @SienaMBB. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn and #UnleashMayhem.
Here's Ten Things to Know About the Franciscan Cup Matchup
1.) The programs are meeting for the ninth consecutive season since the Franciscan Cup trophy was devised by the schools' Presidents to commemorate the annual renewal of the rivalry. St. Bonaventure has won five of the first eight official Franciscan Cup matchups. Six of the first eight games have been decided by single digits, including four by three points or less.
2.)
Jalen Pickett was named both the MAAC Player and Rookie of the Week Monday. Pickett became just the fourth MAAC freshman in the past 32 years to earn the conference's Player of the Week honors.
3.) Pickett ranks eighth nationally in assists (7.1), 27th in steals (2.4), and 48th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.17). He also ranks third in the MAAC in both scoring (16.6) and threes (20), fourth in blocks (0.9), and sixth in FG% (.490).
4.) Siena ranks in the top-10 nationally in both fewest fouls per game and fewest turnovers per game. The Saints rank fourth nationally committing just 14.1 fouls per contest, and stand seventh nationally averaging just 9.4 turnovers.
5.) The Saints also lead the MAAC and rank 30th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.44. Siena was 12th worst nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio last season (0.73).
6.) The Saints rank second in the MAAC averaging 8.9 made threes per game.
7.) The Saints are shooting 50.9% from the field over the past three games. Siena is connecting at a 65% clip on its two-point attempts, but just a 30.6% percentage from three.
8.) The combined overall record of the five teams that Siena has lost to is 27-13 (.675). All five teams currently possess winning records.
9.) St. Bonaventure and Siena meet for the 40th time overall, with the Bonnies leading the all-time series 30-9. St. Bonaventure is 18-1 all-time in Olean, with the Saints' lone true road win coming in 2014.
10.) St. Bonaventure posted a 26-8 overall record last season including a 14-4 mark in the A-10, and defeated UCLA in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament. The Bonnies were projected to finish ninth out of 14 teams according to the A-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll, with Courtney Stockard securing Preseason Second Team All-A-10 acclaim.