There are definitely three big-time players for Siena that many people recognize...all three of them are on the All-MAAC First Team, but how do none of the other coaches realize junior point guard Ronald Moore's importance.

Siena coach Fran McCaffery constantly refers to the "big four."

If you picked the top 16 players (there are six on the Second Team) regardless of team, Moore would find his way on the list, probably on the Second Team.

With that said here are the three teams.

First Team

Kenny Hasbrouck,* Siena

Alex Franklin, Siena

Edwin Ubiles, Siena

Jonathan Han, Fairfield

Ryan Thompson, Rider

Second Team

Anthony Johnson, Fairfield

Gary Springer, Iona

Brian Rudolph, Loyola

Antonie Pearson, Manhattan

Tyrone Lewis, Niagara

Harris Mansell, Rider

Third Team

Frank Turner, Canisus

Marquis Sullivan, Loyola

Devon Austin, Manhattan

David Devezin, Marist

Wesley Jenkins, St. Peter's

*Preseason Player of the Year

(AP)

Here are Moore's stats from last season....
8.6 points, 5.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds per game and a 2.4 assist to turnover ratio

Here are some of the guards who made it over him....

Frank Turner 12.9 pts, 4.6 ast, 4.3 reb - 1.2 ast/to ratio
David Devezin 9.7 pts, 4.3 ast, 2.4 reb - 2.1 ast/to
Brian Rudolph 7.1 pts, 4.3 ast, 3.0 reb - 1.8 ast/to

You see from theses stats that if Moore doesn't belong with that group, something is wrong. He's got the second most points, top in assists and second in rebounds, while having the best assist to turnover ratio. 

Here are the polls for the teams. Not surprisingly Siena is the unanimous favorite. 

2008-09 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1) Siena (10) 100
2)Fairfield 85
3) Rider 74
4) Niagara 73
5) Loyola 54
6) Manhattan 49
7) Iona 48
8) Canisius 29

9) Saint Peter's 22
10) Marist 16

The Siena women's team was picked to finish seventh and that's when Shondaya Burrell was thought to be on the team. 

Burrell was selected to the First Team. 

A person who was in NYC for the Media Day told me it was very strange when the video came up with Burrell in it. 

This is not good news for the women's team. 

It was just 11 days ago that Siena senior guard Shondaya Burrell was called the "face of the program" for Siena women's basketball by head coach Gina Castelli.

Today, the "face of the program" was suspended immediately and indefinitely for conduct "violating College policy."

“This is unfortunate, but it is the right thing to do,” said Director of Athletics John D’Argenio in a email on Friday. “Suspending someone from something that they deeply enjoy doing is not a decision that is made lightly, but actions have consequences. Part of our mission is to teach our students responsibility and accountability.”

Burrell averaged 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds last season and seemed ready to take over this season as the Saints top player until this.

“We have always talked to our team about the importance of making good choices and winning the right way,” Castelli said. “Although we are greatly disappointed, I’m confident we will move forward, learn a valuable lesson and enjoy a successful season.”

With the season opener, Friday, Nov. 14 against Syracuse three weeks from tonight, that leaves fifth-year senior Heather Stec the team's leading returning scorer at 7.5 points per game and then a major drop off to junior Sarah Fullmer and her 3.4 points per game in 2007-08.

This also leads a gaping hole at the guard position.

This isn't good for a team that went 11-18 last season and was already trying to fill in a couple of key spots.

Siena hosted their women's basketball media day today.

Head coach Gina Castelli called senior guard Shondaya Burrell, the "face of the program."

I thought it was a little strange that she wasn't named a co-captain then with fellow senior Heather Stec.

Still, I digress.

Burrell was very optimistic about the upcoming season, seeing as the Saints are coming off of a 11-18 year and they lost 50 percent of their scoring when Laura Menty (19.1 points per game) and Melissa Manzer (13.3) graduated.

Burrell said she is in great shape coming into the year, after running hills in Lincoln Park with her father and boxing in her uncle's gym during the summer.

Burrell had knee surgery in Sept. 2007 and had to miss three and a half weeks of conditioning, but she feels like the increased running and boxing will help her.

“It worked a lot of different muscles that I didn’t know I had,” said Burrell of the boxing. “Boxing is totally different than basketball.”

Burrell said her games has changed drastically since she was a freshman, thanks to Castelli.

“When I was in high school, I was drive, drive, drive,” said Burrell, who played locally at Colonie High School. “When I came here, Coach Castelli sat me down and talked to me about being an all-around good player…I think from high school to now, my jump shot has gotten better, I drive with a lot more urgency, my rebounding is a lot stronger — so I think everything has become so much better because Coach Castelli has really led me in the right direction.”

Castelli said she is confident that Burrell can give the team a leadership type player, but she needs to do it on more of a consistent basis.

“I think she wants that type of notoriety in a sense,” Castelli said. “She’s shown, last year, that she was able to put us on her shoulders.”

Burrell said the team also did a lot of training in the pool, which was difficult for her because she's not the greatest swimmer.

“She’s fast on the court, that’s all that matters,” said Stec, who added that she tried to help Shondaya with her swimming technique.

Stec is back, after missing the first 10 games of last year because of a broken metatarsal bone in her foot.

Stec said that she wears orthotics in her shoes, even when she's not on the court.

The Saints open Friday, Nov. 14, against Syracuse and Castelli's former assistant coach Quentin Hillsman, who led the Orange to a 22-9 record last season and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.