The Siena Saints look to start the year off 3-0, for the first time since the 2002-03 season, tonight when they take on the Bonnies, from the Atlantic-10.

I found it hard to believe that Siena didn't start a season 3-0, when they had their incredible run of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles and NCAA tournament success, but here are the Saints' record for the first three games, dating back to '02-03.

2010-11 - 1-2
2009-10 - 2-1 (NCAA tournament & MAAC champs)
2008-09 - 2-1 (NCAA tournament & MAAC champs)
2007-08 - 1-2 (NCAA tournament & MAAC champs)
2006-07 - 1-2
2005-06 - 1-2
2004-05 - 0-3
2003-04 - 2-1
2002-03 - 3-0

That means that coach Mitch Buonaguro has a chance to do something tonight that Fran McCaffery didn't do in his time in Loudonville.

The Saints are also the only undefeated MAAC team remaining -- again it's real early, but that's a step in the right direction.

Siena is coming off of a victory at Mount St. Mary's in which freshman point guard Evan Hymes scored a career-high 30 points, becoming the first Saints freshman to score 30, since Jack McClinton did so, in 2005. Incredibly, Hymes, who is only starting because of the injury to Rakeem Brookins, is averaging 20.0 points per game through his first two collegiate games.

While the first two wins were nice and I'm sure provided a huge boost of confidence for the team, this is the Saints' first real test of the season.

St. Bonaventure sports one of the best big men in the country, in 6-foot-8 Andrew Nicholson.

Here is a link to a ESPN feature from last year, on Nicholson (right), who is a Naismith Watch List and Wooden Award candidate.

Nicholson will be a tough task for O.D. Anosike and Brandon Walters, but it should help that they can switch between two big men.

If Siena wins tonight, watch out.