Bracketology 2023: 5 key mid-major games as the season winds down

Mar 5, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker Devries (12) celebrates with fans after scoring the game winning point in overtime against the Missouri State Bears in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Bracketology Siena Saints guard Javian McCollum Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports /

Siena Saints 17-10 (11-5) at Rider Broncs 14-11 (11-5)

Friday, February 24, Lawrenceville, NJ, 7:00 PM ET, ESPNU

The Siena Saints have a big finish to the regular season upcoming. Their finale is a road trip to league-leading Iona, but more importantly on Friday night, they have a chance to lock up the No. 2 seed in the MAAC tournament when they host Rider.

Siena took out Broncs 68-63 last month thanks to 24 points from Jackson Stormo and 16 Rider turnovers. However, since that win, the Saints have been a bit of an enigma going just 6-5 with a loss to cellar dweller Canisius and a 17-point win over Iona. They would’ve gone to the NCAA tournament in 2020 after winning the conference tournament had covid not ended that dream. As a result, the Saints have their eyes set on their first appearance since 2010.

Rider is looking for the season split and some revenge on Siena. Kevin Baggett’s squad enters this game loser of two straight, a double-overtime loss to Quinnipiac last time out and a loss to that pesky Canisius team. Much like Siena, they also have a victory over Iona in January with theirs being of the road variety. The Broncs will be looking to end a 29-year tournament drought, not having been since they won the NEC in 1994. The road to a title may go through Iona, but both these teams have knocked off the Gaels and this will be a big-time matchup in the MAAC that should decide the tournament’s No. 2 seed.

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