A Look at the MAAC's Biggest Surprises

 Will Sydnor - Manhattan freshman forward

Ranking in the top-ten within the MAAC in per-game scoring (15.2), rebounds (6.2) and blocks (1.1), Sydnor has been a revelation for the Jaspers as the freshman forward is quickly becoming one of the brightest two-way stars in the league. 

What can’t Sydnor do? He can score off the dribble, rock the rim with thunderous dunks, stretch the floor, hit the boards on both ends, protect the rim and switch on defense. 

Marcus Randolph - Saint Peter’s guard

Randolph entered the season as a steady, veteran floor-stretcher for the Peacocks, entering the season with a career 40% three-point shooting rate, but Randolph has hit another gear this season on the offensive end supplementing his perimeter offense with a newfound ability to utilize Saint Peter’s improved floor spacing to attack off-the-dribble. With a career-high 16.2 ppg, 40.4 FT Rate and 84.2 FT%, Randolph is now a true bucket-getter and is now one of the conference’s best endgame closers. 

Brendan Coyle - Siena junior forward

Coyle has done an excellent job continuing the breakout he started late last season when he hit double-digits in scoring in half of the last six games of the season after totaling just thirteen points prior in his career. 

Siena was one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the nation last year, but now with a new head coach and a mostly new roster, Coyle is now one of the best floor spacers in the conference, shooting nearly 43% from three and averaging a trio of three-pointers per game. In addition to Coyle’s steady perimeter scoring, the stretch-forward is key in opening up space for Justice Shoats and Major Freeman to score and facilitate.

Khaden Bennett - Quinnipiac sophomore guard

Playing springly his freshman season, a smattering of injuries up-and-down Quinnipiac’s roster helped catapult Bennett into the starting lineup and this has showcased Bennett’s scoring and facilitating in the halfcourt and in transition. 

Over the last six games, Bennett has been a revelation, averaging 15.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. An incredibly efficient scorer inside the arc – 55.8 2P% – Bennett’s athleticism has helped him become one of the MAAC’s breakout downhill scorers.