What Is 2015 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Basketball Tournament determined the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Held annually since 1982, the MAAC Tournament features the top eight teams from the regular season competing in a single-elimination format.

This edition marked the 34th iteration of the event and was notable for Manhattan College's breakthrough victory. After decades without a conference title, the Jaspers claimed their first championship since 1970, defeating Iona in a rematch of a previous year’s final.

• March 5–9, 2015: The tournament spanned five days, beginning with first-round games on March 5 and culminating in the championship on March 9.
• Times Union Center: Hosted the event for the 12th consecutive year, providing a neutral site in Albany, New York, with a seating capacity of over 15,000.
• Manhattan College: Entered as the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with a 15–3 conference record, earning home-court advantage.
• Iona College: The No. 2 seed and defending MAAC champions, aiming for their fourth title in six years under coach Tim Cluess.
• 79–70 final score: Manhattan defeated Iona in the championship game, with senior Emmy Andujar scoring 15 points and earning Tournament MVP honors.

How It Works

The MAAC Tournament uses a structured single-elimination format to determine its NCAA Tournament representative. Teams are seeded based on regular-season conference records, with tiebreakers applied as needed.

• Single-elimination format: A loss at any stage eliminates a team; only the winner advances to the next round and ultimately the NCAA Tournament.
• Eight-team bracket: The top eight finishers in the 11-team MAAC qualify, with seeds 5–8 playing in the first round on March 5.
• Seeding rules: Based on win-loss records in conference play, with head-to-head results used as the primary tiebreaker for seeding.
• Automatic NCAA bid: The tournament champion receives the MAAC's automatic qualification to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
• Regular-season champion: Manhattan won the regular season title with a 15–3 record, giving them the top seed despite Iona’s higher national profile.
• Neutral site: Since 2004, the Times Union Center has hosted the event, ensuring fairness by avoiding home-court advantages.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of key teams and results from the 2015 MAAC Tournament:

The table highlights Manhattan’s dominance through the tournament, contrasting with Iona’s failure to secure a second consecutive NCAA berth despite a strong regular season. Monmouth’s NIT appearance marked a rare postseason success for a non-champion MAAC team, while lower seeds like Niagara and Quinnipiac fell early.

Why It Matters

The 2015 MAAC Tournament had lasting implications for several programs, players, and the conference’s national standing. Its outcome reshaped postseason opportunities and coaching narratives.

• Manhattan’s breakthrough: Winning their first MAAC title in 45 years revitalized the program and earned head coach Steve Masiello national recognition.
• Iona’s missed opportunity: Despite being a consistent mid-major power, Iona failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
• Emmy Andujar’s legacy: The senior captain’s leadership and 15-point performance in the final solidified his status as one of Manhattan’s all-time greats.
• MAAC representation: The conference secured only one NCAA bid, continuing a trend of limited national impact compared to other mid-major leagues.
• Neutral site success: The Times Union Center proved ideal for fan engagement, drawing over 30,000 attendees across the five days of games.
• Pathway for mid-majors: The tournament exemplified how disciplined programs can achieve national relevance through conference success.

Ultimately, the 2015 MAAC Tournament underscored the unpredictability and drama of college basketball, where long droughts can end in a single victorious week.