2003 Women's Tournament Bracket (PDF)EDISON, NJ ?“ The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has announced the implementation of a new format for the men?™s and women?™s basketball championships, beginning with the 2003 MAAC Basketball Tournament at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey.
?As part of a multi-year strategic planning process the MAAC membership reviewed the operation of its joint men?™s and women?™s basketball championships and the revised bracket and schedule of events is a product of the evaluation,? MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor said. ?The MAAC Council of Presidents directed that the revisions lessen missed class time and improve the conference?™s opportunities to place teams in post-season play in either the NCAA, NIT or WNIT championships. I believe the new formats meet these mandates and will make for a better championship experience for the student-athletes and fans.?
Along with the new format, the banquet that was originally held on Thursday evening has been replaced by a media/sponsor function that will be held at the arena between sessions on Friday. At Friday?™s function, the Pepsi MAAC Player of the Year, the MAAC Rookie of the Year, the Spalding MAAC Coach of the Year and the New York Lottery Scholar-Athlete of the Year for both men?™s and women?™s basketball programs will be announced.
?While there are several reasons for the new format, the most significant change is a bye to the semifinals as a reward to the regular season champion,? MAAC Assistant Commissioner Larry Keating said. ?It places a significant premium on in-season play.?
This year?™s men?™s tournament will begin on Friday, March 7, with three first round games between seeds five through 10. The winners of those games will advance to the second round on Saturday, March 8, playing against the #2, #3 and #4 seeds. The second round winners will then compete with the #1 seed in the semifinals on Sunday, March 9, and the championship game will be played on Monday, March 10, at 7:00 p.m., and will air live on ESPN. All of the men?™s second round and semifinal contests will air live on the MSG Network.
?We are looking forward to hosting the 2003 MAAC Tournament at the Sovereign Bank Arena,? Rider University?™s head men?™s basketball coach Don Harnum said. ?The new format certainly puts a greater premium on where teams finish in the regular season and will help create a great atmosphere for college basketball in Trenton.?
The women?™s tournament will begin on Thursday, March 6, with three first round games including seeds five through 10. The first-round winners will face #2, #3 and #4 seeds in the second round on Friday, March 7. The second round winners along with the #1 seed will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, March 8, and the championship game will be played on Sunday, March 9. All of the women?™s semifinal and championship contests will air live on the MSG Network.