Siena Saints
From Hoopedia
Siena College is a nationally recognized independent Catholic Liberal Arts College situated on US 9 in the suburban community of Loudonville, New York, two miles (3.2 km) north of the state's capital (Albany). Founded in 1937 by seven Franciscan friars, the college enrolls 2,900 students. The 164-acre campus is known throughout the community for its gold-domed building, Siena Hall, which has become both symbol and signature.
Siena sponsors 18 sports teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level. Seventeen Saints' sports teams compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), with field hockey playing in the Northeast Conference. Siena's Baseball team defeated nationally ranked (#5) Tennessee in 2006. Siena's football team was discontinued after the 2003 season due to multiple losing seasons.
In 1989, the Siena men's basketball had a first round NCAA Tournament victory (80-78) over third seed Stanford. The Siena men's basketball team made another leap into prominence in 2002 with an ESPN-televised opening round victory over Alcorn State. The Saints later fell to national champion Maryland before 20,000 fans at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.. This was the team's third trip to the "Big Dance". Siena has appeared in five NITs (1988, 1991, 1994, 2000, 2003) and three NCAA tournaments (1989, 1999, 2002) They reached the 1994 NIT final four, losing to Villanova University in the semifinals before beating Kansas St. in the consolation game.
Siena plays all of their home games at the 14,500 seat Times Union Center in downtown Albany.
Siena is coached by Fran McCaffery, entering his third season in Loudonville. In McCaffery's inaugural season Siena finished the 2005-2006 season at 15-13 in fourth place after being picked to finish unanimously last in the MAAC. Senior captain Antoine "Scoop" Jordan was voted first team all-MAAC.
In 2006-2007 Siena finished 20-12 (tied for third place) reaching the MAAC title game after defeating top seeded Marist 86-78 before losing 83-79 to Niagara. The season was highlighted by the admirable play of underclassmen Kenny Hasbrouck, Edwin Ubiles, Ronald Moore, and Alex Franklin. Hasbrouck won the conference's Rookie of the Year in 2005-2006, while Ubiles shared it in 2006-2007. Senior captain Michael Haddix was voted first team all-MAAC. Hasbrouck also made the second team as a sophomore.
In 2007-2008 Siena will host a likely ranked Stanford on November 17. They will also participate in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Syracuse on November 12 taking on the Orange. The Saints will also make a trip to national championship contender Memphis on January 3. Siena's first game of the year will be at James Madison on November 9.
