Siena junior forward Alex Franklin missed five games last season with a bad back.

On Monday at the weekly Media Luncheon, he was asked if he was happy not to have to answer questions about his back anymore.

“I’m so happy my back is back at 100 percent. I really think it’s making dramatic improvements in my game," Franklin said.

Quietly Franklin is averaging 11.5 points, good for second best for the Saints, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, through Siena's 2-0 start.

“My explosiveness is always there,” Franklin said. “It doesn’t go in and out. It’s constantly there.”

As the Saints prepare for the Old Spice Tournament and newly ranked No. 12 Tennessee on Thanksgiving, Franklin will be asked to have another big performance.

Franklin said it was the focus through the team's first two games that has satisfied him the most.

“I think we’re all playing well,” Franklin said. “I think we’re playing well as a team. We’re really sharing the ball well and our focus is really good right now. That’s what I like the most about how we’re playing.”

Franklin said he'd never been to Disney World, so he's extra excited to escape the Northeast for the week.

“It’s always exciting to play on national television, especially on Thanksgiving,” Franklin said. “It’s going to be a fun experience — we’re down in Orlando, what’s there not to be excited about?”

Franklin will be away from most of his family on Thanksgiving because his cousin is getting married, but he talked about how he would normally spend the holiday if he wasn't contending with the Volunteers (the ones from Tennessee).

“I do a lot of the cooking at my household,” Franklin said. “We always go to my grandfather’s house at the end and have one big dinner there.”

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The Saints picked up 10 votes in the ESPN/USA Today poll - that's up from two in last week's poll.

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Also, senior co-captain Kenny Hasbrouck was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the second week of the season.

Hasbrouck averaged 21 points and shot 56 percent from the field, while leading the Saints in scoring in both victories during the week.

Hasbrouck also averaged 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals during the week.

This is the first time Hasbrouck, who was voted the MAAC's preseason Player of the Year, has received the award - in his career.