Here and now.
In addition to Hoftra, here are five local mid-major teams to keep an eye on as the NCAA Tournament approaches:
st peter’s
The Peacocks could finish third in the MAAC with a home win against first-place Quinnipiac on Saturday. St. Peter’s, picked 10th, had a strong season under second-year coach Bashir Mason.
The team, led by leading scorer and rebounder Corey Washington, turned up the heat at the right time, winning five of the last six games.
stony brook
The Seawolves, the No. 7 seed in the CAA Tournament, are sleepers.
Six of their eight league losses have been by single digits, and they continue to have a tough battle against the top teams in the league.
Stony Brook is well-balanced, with four players averaging double digits and plenty of experience led by seniors Chris Maydeau, Tyler Stevenson-Moore, Dean Knoll and Aaron Clark.
The tournament opens Saturday in Washington, D.C., against No. 10 Northeastern.
wagner
Wagner has already pulled off one upset and is now looking for two more.
The Seahawks defeated No. 3 Sacred Heart in the NEC Tournament opener on Wednesday and will visit top-seeded Central Connecticut on Saturday.
They were swept in the season series, but both lost by one point.
Junior guard Melvin Council Jr. does it all for Wagner as a leader in points, rebounds, steals and blocks.
princeton
One of the favorites last March, Tigers is once again a candidate to do some damage with his dancing. But only if they can get there. It’s not easy.
Yale and Cornell, who are tied for first place in the conference with Princeton with one game remaining, will have a tough battle in the Ivy League tournament next weekend in Columbia.
All three teams will split their season series with each other.
The big two of Xaivian Lee and Kaden Pierce are versatile shot makers in an offense that ranks 31st in the country in efficiency.
Iona
Tobin Anderson’s first season in New Rochelle has been tough, especially recently.
The Gaels are tied for seventh in the MAAC heading into Saturday’s final regular-season game against Siena, but have lost five of six games.
Losing leading scorer and rebounder Greg Gordon (for personal reasons) was devastating.
Still, it would be foolish to count Iona out with the always unpredictable MAAC.
