What Is 2011 MAAC men's basketball tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2011 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 4–7, 2011, at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY. The winner, Marist College, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after defeating Fairfield 79–71 in the final.

Key Facts

The 2011 MAAC Tournament occurred from March 4–7, 2011
Games were held at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York
Marist College won the championship with a 79–71 victory over Fairfield
Marist earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Tournament
The tournament featured 10 teams from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Overview

The 2011 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason championship for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) during the 2010–2011 NCAA Division I season. It determined which team from the conference would receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, a high-stakes incentive for mid-major programs.

The tournament followed a single-elimination format and included all 10 conference teams, seeded based on regular-season performance. The event culminated in a championship game on March 7, 2011, at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, a neutral site traditionally used for the MAAC Tournament.

March 4–7, 2011: The tournament spanned four days, beginning with first-round matchups and ending with the final on March 7.
Times Union Center: Located in Albany, NY, this 15,500-seat arena has hosted the MAAC Tournament multiple times, including in 2011.
Marist College: The Red Foxes entered as the No. 1 seed after finishing first in the regular-season standings with a 15–3 conference record.
Fairfield University: The Stags reached the final as the No. 3 seed, defeating No. 2 seed Iona in the semifinals in a 68–63 upset.
Championship Game: Marist defeated Fairfield 79–71 in the final, led by junior guard Jared Jordan’s 22 points and six assists.

How It Works

The MAAC Tournament follows a structured bracket system that rewards higher-seeded teams with advantages such as home-court proximity and byes. Understanding the format helps explain how underdogs can advance and how automatic NCAA bids are awarded.

Single-Elimination Format: Each game is win-or-go-home, meaning one loss eliminates a team from championship contention and NCAA Tournament hopes.
Seeding Based on Record: Teams are seeded 1 through 10 based on their win-loss record during the 18-game MAAC regular season.
First-Round Byes: The top six seeds receive byes to the quarterfinals, while seeds 7–10 play in the opening round.
Neutral Site: All games are played at the Times Union Center, ensuring no team has true home-court advantage.
NCAA Automatic Bid: The tournament champion earns the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Selection Committee Impact: Teams not winning the tournament may still receive at-large bids, though this is rare for MAAC teams due to lower RPI rankings.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2011 MAAC Tournament to prior years reveals trends in competitiveness, attendance, and NCAA success. Below is a table summarizing key data from 2009 to 2011.

Year	Champion	Runner-Up	Score	Location	Attendance (Final)
2009	Siena	Marist	72–65	Albany, NY	9,179
2010	St. Peter’s	Lehigh	72–63	Albany, NY	8,412
2011	Marist	Fairfield	79–71	Albany, NY	8,795
2009	Siena	Wake Forest (NCAA)	W 84–72	First Round	N/A
2011	Marist	Butler (NCAA)	L 71–78	First Round	N/A

The 2011 tournament saw slightly higher attendance than 2010 but less than 2009. Marist’s NCAA appearance ended in the first round, continuing a trend where MAAC teams rarely advance past the opening weekend. The consistency in venue and format underscores the conference’s commitment to fairness and tradition.

Why It Matters

The 2011 MAAC Tournament had lasting implications for the conference, member schools, and student-athletes. Winning the tournament not only brought prestige but also significant financial and exposure benefits through NCAA Tournament revenue sharing.

NCAA Tournament Revenue: Each game played in the NCAA Tournament earns the MAAC approximately $200,000 in units toward the conference’s NCAA basketball fund.
Recruiting Boost: Marist’s appearance elevated its national profile, helping attract higher-rated recruits in subsequent seasons.
Historic Win for Marist: It was the first MAAC Tournament title in school history, marking a milestone for the program.
Financial Impact: The MAAC distributed over $1 million in tournament-related revenue to member institutions based on performance.
Player Recognition: Marist’s Jared Jordan was named Tournament MVP, enhancing his post-college opportunities.
Conference Representation: The MAAC’s single bid highlighted the challenge mid-majors face in earning at-large NCAA berths.

The 2011 tournament exemplified the high stakes of conference postseason play, where a single week can define a season and shape a program’s future trajectory for years to come.