FORT MYERS, FL – Siena Basketball is set for its third straight Thanksgiving Week Tournament in the Sunshine State. The Saints continue play in the Fort Myers Tip-Off with a pair of Palms Division matinees Monday and Tuesday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.
 
Siena (3-2) opens vs. Miami (Ohio) Monday at 11 a.m. in a Palms Division which also features Jacksonville and Mercer, who will square off against each other at 1:30 p.m. The winners of Monday's semifinals will play in the Palms Division Championship Game Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., preceded by the third-place game at 11 a.m. The Saints began Fort Myers Tip-Off action with an 80-55 defeat at BIG EAST foe Xavier in a campus site game Wednesday in Cincinnati.
 
Lucas Nicholson has the call of the games for the video stream online at passthaballlive.com, which can be viewed by clicking the corresponding link. Mike Demos and former Saint Conner Fenlon '12 will have the radio call of both games locally in the Capital Region on JAMZ 96.3 FM, with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes prior to tip-off each day.
 
Siena looks to get back on track this week following consecutive losses after three straight wins to begin the Gerry McNamara Era. The Saints registered 11 blocks Wednesday night against the Musketeers – just three off a program single-game record – with eight different players recording a rejection. As of Sunday, Siena ranks 17^th nationally averaging 6.2 blocks.
 
This week's matchups feature both unfamiliar foes and conferences for the Saints. Of their three potential Palms Division opponents, Siena has only previously played Jacksonville, dropping both ends of a home-and-home series 29 years ago. Moreover, the Saints have played just 11 total games (4-7) vs. the combined 22 members which currently comprise the Atlantic Sun and Southern Conferences, of whom both Jacksonville and Mercer belong to, respectively. Siena is 17-13 all-time vs. programs from the "other" MAC, of which Miami (Ohio) belongs, although they played their first league member last season in 15 years. The Saints also faced a Mid-American Conference school in their Thanksgiving Week Florida Tournament opener last year, falling 70-56 to Central Michigan in the Sunshine Slam held in Daytona Beach.
 
Monday's opponent Miami (2-2) posted a 15-17 overall record last season, including a 9-9 mark in the MAC. The Redhawks were predicted to finish sixth out of 12 teams according to the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Miami is led by a pair of one-time Xavier products in former head coach Travis Steele, who enters the matchup with 99 career head coaching victories, and transfer Kam Craft who averages 17.5 points. Craft and Siena newcomer Reid Ducharme were teammates on the Musketeers last season. As of Sunday, the Redhawks rank 25^th nationally in threes (10.8), and lead the MAAC averaging 9.0 steals.
 
Jacksonville (3-2) arrives in Fort Myers fresh off a 74-64 victory at Virginia Tech Wednesday. Predicted to finish fifth out of 12 teams according to the ASUN Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 16-17 (5-11) record a year ago, the Dolphins are led by ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Robert McCray V. As of Sunday, Jacksonville ranks 15^th nationally in offensive rebounding (15.4), and leads the ASUN in both blocks (5.2) and rebound margin (+6.6).
 
Both Mercer (2-3) victories to date have come against non-Division I opponents. The Bears were 16-17 a season ago, including 8-10 in the Southern Conference. Mercer was picked seventh (10 teams) according to the SoCon Preseason Poll. As of Sunday, the Bears rank fourth nationally in steals (12.6) and sixth in fast break points (23.4).