MAAC Midpoint: Ray Floriani's Tempo-Free Analysis

Tim Cluess and Iona own MAAC's top offensive efficiency. (Photo courtesy of NBC Sports)

A look at the MAAC with a tempo-free breakdown. Halfway through the regular season Iona has established themselves as a front runner in several areas. Conference games are computed with numbers courtesy of bbstate.com, and the efficiency margin subtracts the defensive from the offensive efficiency:

Efficiency Margin:

1) Iona, 12

2) Canisius, 9

3) Rider, 8

4) Monmouth, 6

5) Manhattan, 2

6) Saint Peter's, 1

7) Quinnipiac, 0

8) Fairfield (-3)

9) Siena (-5)

10) Niagara (-13)

11) Marist (-14)

Best Offenses:

1) Iona (112 offensive efficiency)

2) Canisius (104)

3) Siena (101)

Top Defenses:

1) Rider (90 defensive efficiency)

2) Monmouth (94)

T-3) Canisius/Quinnipiac (95)

Fastest Pace: Iona, 72 possessions per game

Most Deliberate: Saint Peter's, 63.6 possessions per game

Notes: Siena has an above average offense. The defense's 106 efficiency is below average, and is what plagues Jimmy Patsos & company. 

Iona pushes the pace, yet cares for the ball with a better than average 17% turnover rate. The Gaels also knock those shots down on offense with a MAAC leading 58% eFG perentage. Canisius is next at 51%.

Offenses strive to keep the turnover rate below 20%. Only five MAAC schools have succeeded so far:

1) Canisius (16.5% TO rate)

2) Iona (16.6)

3) Monmouth (18)

4) Saint Peter's (18)

5) Fairfield (19.8)

Who forces the most turnovers? Monmouth, with a 22% defensive TO rate. As much as you want to keep your offense under 20%, you aspire to get opponents to cough up the ball one fifth of their possessions (20%), or more.

The runner-up is Iona, at 21.9%, another main reason Tim Cluess’ club is so effective and dangerous to face.

Rider gives up the least points in conference 61.6 points per game. The beauty of tempo free is the illustration we get seeing their 90 defensive efficiency and a 39% defensive eFG mark. The best indicators of their excellent defense.