EDISON, NJ (Sep. 28, 2023) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) today announced the format for the inaugural MAAC Basketball Tipoff. The 2023 MAAC Basketball Tipoff will take place on Tuesday, October 17 at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ.
“We're excited to hold an in-person preseason basketball gathering for the first time in over a decade,” said MAAC Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. “The event in Atlantic City begins the journey towards our champions' crowning moments in March and serves as the perfect stage for the Conference to shine a spotlight on our men's and women's basketball coaches and student-athletes.”
“The MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships bring positive energy to Atlantic City and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall,” said CRDA Executive Director Sean Pattwell. “We are looking forward to welcoming back the student athletes, their families and fans in March 2024.”
“Once again, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is excited to host the Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships and are eager to kick-off the 2023-2024 basketball season, welcoming the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and faculty of each of the 11 universities back to Atlantic City,” said OVG360’s Jim McDonald, General Manager of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. “The MAAC hosting their Basketball Tip-Off meetings in Atlantic City shows their partnership and commitment back to us and the city.”
The 2023 MAAC Basketball Tipoff will begin with a breakfast and will be followed by two separate ESPN+ live shows which will be headlined by the announcements of the Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Polls, Preseason Players of the Years, and Preseason All-MAAC Teams. The live broadcasts will also include live interviews with head coaches and student-athletes from both men’s and women’s programs from all 11 MAAC institutions.
| 2023 MAAC Basketball Tipoff Attendees |
| Student-Athlete |
Institution |
Team |
| Tahj Staveskie |
Canisius |
Men’s Basketball |
| Sisi Eleko |
Canisius |
Women’s Basketball |
| Caleb Fields |
Fairfield |
Men’s Basketball |
| Janelle Brown |
Fairfield |
Women’s Basketball |
| Joel Brown |
Iona |
Men’s Basketball |
| Sierra DeAngelo |
Iona |
Women’s Basketball |
| Briggs McClain |
Manhattan |
Men’s Basketball |
| Petra Juric |
Manhattan |
Women’s Basketball |
| Javon Cooley |
Marist |
Men’s Basketball |
| Zaria Shazer |
Marist |
Women’s Basketball |
| Dakota Leffew |
Mount St. Mary’s |
Men’s Basketball |
| Jo Raflo |
Mount St. Mary’s |
Women’s Basketball |
| David Mitchell |
Niagara |
Men’s Basketball |
| Aaliyah Parker |
Niagara |
Women’s Basketball |
| Matt Balanc |
Quinnipiac |
Men’s Basketball |
| Jackie Grisdale |
Quinnipiac |
Women’s Basketball |
| Mervin James |
Rider |
Men’s Basketball |
| Makayla Firebaugh |
Rider |
Women’s Basketball |
| Latrell Reid |
Saint Peter's |
Men’s Basketball |
| Jada Leonard |
Saint Peter's |
Women’s Basketball |
| Michael Eley |
Siena |
Men’s Basketball |
| Anajah Brown |
Siena |
Women’s Basketball |
The 2023-24 campaign culminates with the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 12-16 at Atlantic City's Historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the fifth consecutive year dating back to 2020. For all information regarding the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit
MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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