What Is 2000 MAAC men's basketball tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2000 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament was held from March 3–6, 2000, at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York. The tournament was won by the Siena Saints, who defeated Hofstra 70–68 in the final to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Key Facts

The 2000 MAAC Tournament took place from March 3–6, 2000
Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York hosted the event
Siena Saints won the championship with a 70–68 victory over Hofstra
Siena earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA Tournament
The tournament featured 10 teams from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Overview

The 2000 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason championship for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) during the 1999–2000 NCAA Division I season. It determined the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament and showcased top mid-major programs competing for a national stage.

Hosted at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York, the tournament followed a single-elimination format with all 10 MAAC teams qualifying. Siena emerged as champions, capturing their first MAAC title and marking a historic achievement for the program.

Siena defeated Hofstra 70–68 in the championship game on March 6, 2000, securing their first conference title in school history.
The Pepsi Arena in Albany hosted the tournament for the second consecutive year, providing a neutral site with a capacity of over 15,000.
Ten teams participated, reflecting the full MAAC membership at the time, with seeds based on regular-season conference records.
Jason Roche of Siena was named Tournament MVP after averaging 18.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game during the event.
The MAAC champion received an automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA Tournament, where Siena was seeded 15th in the East Region.

How It Works

The MAAC Tournament determines the conference’s representative in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament through a single-elimination format. Teams are seeded based on regular-season conference performance, with lower seeds playing preliminary games to advance.

Format: The tournament uses a single-elimination bracket with all 10 teams qualifying. The top six seeds receive byes to the quarterfinals, while seeds 7–10 play in opening-round games.
Seeding: Teams are seeded 1 through 10 based on their win-loss record in MAAC conference play during the regular season, with tiebreakers applied as needed.
Location: Since 1999, the Pepsi Arena in Albany has served as the primary neutral-site host, centralizing the event for fan accessibility and media coverage.
Automatic Bid: The winner of the championship game receives the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, regardless of their national ranking or resume.
Game Duration: Each game follows standard NCAA rules—40 minutes of regulation play divided into two 20-minute halves, with overtime if necessary.
Officials: NCAA-certified referees are assigned to each game, with oversight from the MAAC conference office and NCAA compliance staff.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2000 MAAC Tournament with other mid-major conference tournaments from the same year:

Conference	Champion	Runner-Up	Location	Attendance
MAAC	Siena	Hofstra	Albany, NY	12,407 (final)
Atlantic 10	Temple	UMass	Philadelphia, PA	16,200
WAC	Pepperdine	Utah	Las Vegas, NV	13,500
Horizon League	Butler	Eastern Illinois	Indianapolis, IN	9,100
Big West	UC Santa Barbara	Utah State	Fullerton, CA	7,800

The 2000 MAAC Tournament ranked among the better-attended mid-major events of the year, with the final game drawing over 12,000 fans. While smaller than power conference tournaments, its competitive balance and neutral-site format enhanced visibility for member schools.

Why It Matters

The 2000 MAAC Tournament had lasting implications for Siena and the conference, highlighting the importance of postseason success in college basketball. It demonstrated how mid-major programs can achieve national relevance through tournament performance.

Siena’s NCAA appearance was their first since 1989, reigniting interest in the program and boosting recruiting efforts in the Northeast.
Exposure from the NCAA Tournament helped increase television visibility and alumni engagement for smaller MAAC schools.
Financial incentives from NCAA Tournament revenue sharing benefited all MAAC institutions, with payouts based on games played.
Player recognition rose for MAAC athletes, with Jason Roche and others gaining attention from professional scouts.
Conference realignment discussions intensified as MAAC success contrasted with other mid-major leagues, influencing future membership decisions.
Albany’s role as host solidified its status as a regional sports hub, leading to multi-year contracts for future tournaments.

Overall, the 2000 MAAC Tournament exemplified how postseason success can elevate a mid-major conference’s profile, providing long-term benefits beyond a single championship.