LOUDONVILLE, NY - For the first time in 298 days, defending MAAC Champion Siena Basketball returns to the court. The Saints commence their highly anticipated season and ring in the New Year when they host MAAC rival Monmouth Sunday (3 PM) and Monday (5 PM) on campus at the Alumni Recreation Center. Both games will be televised locally in the Capital Region on My4 Albany, and will be available to view elsewhere through ESPN's streaming platform.
Due to current COVID-19 protocols, fans are not permitted to attend Siena home games at this time.
Fans can watch Siena Basketball home games this season once again locally in the Capital Region on My4 Albany, which is available locally over the air on Channel 51, and is available to Spectrum subscribers in the Capital Region on Channel 4. Check your local listings for more information. Robert Lee and Kelly O'Donnell have the call of both games, which are also available to watch through ESPN's streaming platform. Sunday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Monday's tilt airing on ESPN3. The ESPN broadcasts are accessible by clicking the corresponding links, on smartphones and tablets via the ESPN app, and on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Pregame coverage commences 30 minutes prior to tip-off locally on Talk1300 AM and 98.7 FM with A.J. Kanell and Conner Fenlon '12 on the call. Complimentary online audio of the broadcast can also be accessed by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the page.
Siena embarks upon the program's milestone 80th season with the latest start to a campaign in program history. The reigning MAAC Champions posted a 20-10 overall record last season, including a 15-5 mark in conference action, and captured the program's eighth regular season championship. The Saints defeated Manhattan in their final game in the MAAC Quarterfinals on Mar. 11 in Atlantic City, prior to the remainder of the MAAC Championships being postponed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The unanimous pick to repeat as MAAC Champions according to the league's preseason coaches' poll, Siena puts the nation's fifth longest active winning streak at 10 straight on the line. The Saints also hold the nation's ninth longest active homecourt winning streak at 14 in a row, after completing an unblemished 14-0 season last winter at the Times Union Center. Siena will begin its season without fans by playing on campus at the Alumni Recreation Center. The ARC served as the program's exclusive home from 1974-90, and part time home from 1990-97. The Saints are set to play their first regular season game at the ARC in 24 years, spanning a total of 8,720 days since hosting Loyola (MD) on Feb. 18, 1997. Siena, which is a stellar 210-60 (.778) all-time at the ARC, last played a meaningful game here when the program defeated Fresno State to win the College Basketball Invitational Championship on Apr. 5, 2014.
Siena is led by the dynamic duo of unanimous Preseason First Team All-MAAC selections
Jalen Pickett and
Manny Camper. The unanimous MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Pickett is averaging 13.5 points and 6.0 assists in four career games vs. Monmouth, while Camper posted double-doubles in last year's sweep of the Hawks, averaging 12.5 points and 15.5 rebounds. Monmouth leads the all-time series between the program 12-6, ans holds an 11-14 advantage since joining the MAAC in 2013.
While the Saints prepare for their first games of the season, the Hawks enter the fray having played five times so far. Predicted to finish tied for third with Saint Peter's according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Hawks are 3-2 overall and off to a 3-1 start in league action. Led by Preseason First Team All-MAAC selection Deion Hammond, Monmouth plays its first road games of the season in this series.
Social media updates will be provided courtside throughout the series by following the Saints' official twitter page @SienaMBB. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #MarchOn. Upload pictures of yourself watching the game and cheering on the Saints remotely through the Selfiefinder platform by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the page, or by downloading the Selfiefinder app and searching "Siena." The best selfies will be tweeted out from the Siena Basketball twitter account at halftime.
