Published: January 25, 2009 12:12 am      

MAAC INSIDER: Hosting plan emboldens Siena

ALBANY — Even before Saturday’s convincing win over Niagara, Siena had established itself as the clear favorite in the MAAC. They have the most talent, plenty of depth, and even more confidence.

They will also again benefit from hosting the MAAC championship tournament at Albany’s Times Union Center.

This year’s tournament was supposed to be played in Trenton, N.J., but Sovereign Bank Arena pulled out of its hosting commitment for financial reasons.

So the tournament was moved back to Albany, where it’s proven to be a good draw (44,591 total attendance last year). It will compete for fans this year with the America East tournament, which Albany is hosting at SEFCU Arena.

There’s been plenty of talk about making the state capital a permanent host. Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos — never one to withhold an opinion — has publicly supported that idea.

Niagara coach Joe Mihalich said Albany has proven to be the best place to host the tournament, but that he doesn’t think it’s fair to play there every year.

“That said, somebody has to step up and decide they want to host it,” Mihalich said.

The Trentonian, citing an unnamed source, reported last week that the Mohegan Sun Casino has emerged as the frontrunner to host the MAAC tournament in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The issue of playing college basketball games on casino grounds surfaced last spring, and the NCAA indicated that it would not block such an event.

MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor disputed The Trentonian’s story, according to a blog post at timesunion.com by Siena beat writer Pete Iorizzo.

According to Ensor, the Mohegan Sun is among eight venues that have been invited to make proposals at this year’s MAAC tournament for hosting the event after it leaves Albany in 2010. The others include: Buffalo’s HSBC Arena, the Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, Conn.), Sovereign Bank Arena, Izod Center (East Rutherford, N.J.), the Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), and 1st Mariner Arena (Baltimore).

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The MAAC, as part of its recently announced five-year plan, hopes to make the upcoming tournaments at Times Union Center more of a neutral environment by adding additional team purchase options within the center court sections of the lower bowl, replacing Siena imaging with MAAC signage, and giving each team the ability to distribute four seats behind the bench and six courtside seats.

Individual tickets for this year’s tournament will be available Feb. 2. Tickets, which range from $18.50 to $37.50, can be purchased at maacsports.com and timesunion.com, or by calling 1-800-30-EVENT.

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Canisius comes into the Gallagher Center on Monday following a 79-70 win at Marist, where the Purple Eagles were beaten by 18 two weeks ago.

During that span, Canisius has played four solid games, losing by just three points at Fairfield, trouncing Rider at home by 18, and losing in double overtime to Iona by one point, when point guard Frank Turner sank a 2-point runner at the buzzer when the Griffs needed a 3-pointer.

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.