2013 MAAC Tournament schedule and bracket: Fairfield kicks off play in wide open tournament

The MAAC Tournament begins on Friday night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. This is the second year Springfield has hosted the MAAC Tournament, with Loyola cutting down the nets last year. The tournament should be among the most competitive in the country with seven out of 10 teams posting a .500 record or better in conference play.

Any team could come out the winner in a conference that is so even from top to bottom. Of the four teams that play in the first round, Fairfield has the best chance of making a run. The Stags, who finished 9-9 in conference and hold one of the best out of conference wins of any team in the MAAC with a win at St. Joesph's, lost in the finals of the tournament last year as a four seed.

Fairfield will take on St. Peter's, who finished last in the conference with a 3-15 record. Marist and Siena will play in the other first round game.

Last year Iona made it in to the NCAA Tournament as one of the last at-large teams, but there is no chance of any MAAC team landing an at-large bid this time around. SB Nation's Chris Dobbertean has the winner of the MAAC as a 16-seed in his bracket projections.

The full 2013 MAAC Tournament bracket is below. All times are Eastern.

Friday, March 8 - First Round

7:30 p.m.: No. 8 Marist Red Foxes vs. No. 9 Siena Saints (Game 1)
9:30 p.m.: No. 7 Fairfield Stags vs. No. 10 St. Peter's Peacocks(Game 2)

Saturday, March 9 - Quarterfinals

2:30 p.m.: No. 1 Niagara Purple Eagles vs. Game 1 Winner (Game 3)
4:30 p.m.: No. 4 Iona Gaels vs. No. 5 Canisius Golden Griffins (Game 4)
7:30 p.m.: No. 2 Rider Broncos vs. Game 2 Winner (Game 5)
9:30 p.m.: No. 3 Loyola Greyhounds vs. No. 6 Manhattan Jaspers (Game 6)

Sunday, March 10 - Semifinals

2 p.m.: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner
4:30 p.m.: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner

Monday, March 11 - Championship

9 p.m.: Semifinals Winners, ESPN/ESPN2

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