After months of uncertainty, something just became very certain.
There will be MAAC basketball this season.
The MAAC conference, home of Quinnipiac University men’s and women’s basketball, announced a revised schedule for the 20-2021 season. The season tips off Nov. 25, with the men’s team playing Fairleigh Dickinson and the women’s team playing Central Connecticut State University.
Quinnipiac’s schedule has its men’s and women’s teams playing the same nights, with one team playing at home while the other is on the road.
A highlight in the Quinnipiac women’s schedule is Nov. 28, when the Bobcats take on UConn. The Huskies are the No. 3 team in the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic ended last year’s season, cutting conference tournaments short, just as the men’s team was finding their stride. The Bobcats ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak, and ranked fifth in the MAAC standings. They finished the season with a record of 15-15, 10-10 in MAAC play. Head coach Baker Dunleavy has a challenge ahead of him, as he looks to replace Rich Kelly, the team’s leading scorer, and Kevin Marfo, the nation’s leading rebounder and team’s second-leading scorer. Players such as junior guard Tyrese Williams and senior forward Jacob Rigoni, who were named to the second and third MAAC preseason teams, respectively, will likely take a larger role.
Quinnipiac’s women’s team finished last year towards the middle of the pack in the MAAC standings as well, something fans haven’t seen in several years. The Bobcats had ran away with the MAAC title from 2016-2019, going 53-3 in conference play. Last season, however, head coach Tricia Fabbri led a young Bobcats team to a 12-8 MAAC record, ending on a two-game winning streak, trying to sneak back into the NCAA tournament for a fourth straight year.
COVID-19 has left its mark in every sport that’s attempted to play so far in 2020. Although a schedule is in place, games can still be cancelled as nothing seems to ever be certain this year.