The Saints (23-11,13-5) coming off a MAAC Tournament Championship and a berth in the second round of last years NCAA Tournament will be on every opponents radar this season. They return all 5 starters for 2008-09 and are looking for at least a Sweet 16 this year. Siena is led by returning leading scorer Edwin Ubiles a 6'6'' junior swing player and a solid canidate for MAAC player of the year Kenny Hasbrouck a 6'3'' Senior guard. The achilles heel for the Saints maybe size down low, they do't have a player over 6'9'' on their roster but getting through the MAAC shouldn't be a problem.
Head Coach Fran McCaffery enters his 4th season leading the squad and has a 58-36 record since taking control of the Siena program. The key to surpassing last years effort may be 6'9'' JC transfer Wolfgang Gieler who holds an important role in size and minutes in the paint.
IF the newcomers gel with an already established starting 5 last years first round victory over 4th seeded Vanderbilt will be looked back upon a starting point to success this year. The top challengers in the MAAC for supremacy of the conference will bestow upon conference foes Iona, Loyola (MD) and Marist.
Look for the Saints to be a NCAA qualifier either on automatic bid or an at-large selection and probably being a possible entrant into the second round.
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