2021–22 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball season

The 2021–22 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball season began with practices in October 2021, followed by the start of the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 9. Conference play started in December and concluded in March 2022. This was the 41st season of MAAC basketball.

The 2022 MAAC tournament was held from March 8 through March 13 at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the third year in a row. Saint Peter's defeated Monmouth in the championship to win the conference's automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011. Saint Peter's received a No. 15 seed in the NCAA tournament East Region, and faced No. 2 seed Kentucky in the first round. They became the tenth No. 15 seed on record to upset a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament with a shocking 85–79 victory in overtime. Advancing to the second round, they took on No. 7 seed Murray State, winning that game 70–60, and became the third No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16. At the same time, they became the first MAAC men's basketball program to ever advance to the Sweet 16 as well. In the Sweet Sixteen, Saint Peter's would become the first ever No. 15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight after beating No. 3 seed Purdue 67–64. Their magical season would come to an end in the Elite Eight, with a loss to No. 8 seed North Carolina 49–69.

This was the final MAAC season for Monmouth, which joins the Colonial Athletic Association on July 1, 2022. On May 2, 2022, it was announced that Mount St. Mary's will leave the Northeast Conference and join the MAAC, replacing Monmouth on the same date.

Coaching changes
No coaching changes occurred in the offseason.

Coaches
Notes:
 * All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only.
 * Year at school includes 2021–22 season.
 * Overall and MAAC/NCAA records are from time at current school and are before the beginning of the 2021–22 season.
 * Previous jobs are head coaching jobs unless otherwise noted.

Preseason Coaches Poll
 first place votes

Preseason All-MAAC teams
† denotes unanimous selection

Conference matrix
This table summarizes the final head-to-head results between teams in conference play. *Completed for 2021–2022 season*

Player of the week
Throughout the regular season, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference offices named player(s) of the week and rookie(s) of the week.

Records against other conferences
Records against non-conference foes for the 2021–22 season. Records shown for regular season only.

MAAC Tournament

 * 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Game summaries
First round

Second Round

East Regional semifinal

East Regional final

NCAA Tournament Awards and honors
East Region All-Tournament Team
 * Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter's
 * Doug Edert, Saint Peter's

MAAC Season Awards
† denotes unanimous selection

Individual statistic NCAA Top 100 leaders
*Final 2021–22*

Scoring
 * Jose Perez, Manhattan (18.9/game): 45th
 * Marcus Hammond, Niagara (18.1/game): 66th

Total Points
 * Jose Perez, Manhattan (567): 80th

Rebounding
 * Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (10.2/game): 14th
 * Supreme Cook, Fairfield (8.3/game): 56th
 * Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (8.2/game): 58th

Total Rebounds
 * Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (316): 19th
 * Supreme Cook, Fairfield (274): 48th
 * Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (272): 52nd

Defensive Rebounds
 * Anthony Gaines, Siena (6.11/game): 46th

Offensive Rebounds
 * Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (3.27/game): 17th
 * Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (3.10/game): 32nd
 * Supreme Cook, Fairfield (2.88/game): 49th

Assists
 * Dwight Murray Jr., Rider (4.7/game): 55th
 * Jose Perez, Manhattan (4.3/game): 65th

Total Assists
 * Dwight Murray Jr., Rider (150): 52nd
 * Jose Perez, Manhattan (136): 87th

Assist Turnover Ratio
 * Dylan van Eyck, Iona (2.08): 70th
 * Elijah Joiner, Iona (1.98): 88th

Steals
 * Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (1.9/game): 52nd

Total Steals
 * Dimencio Vaughn, Rider (62): 43rd

Blocks
 * KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's (2.82/game): 11th
 * Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (1.88/game): 50th

Total Blocks
 * KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's (96): 7th
 * Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (62): 42nd

Minutes
 * Dwight Murray Jr., Rider (37.2/game): 9th
 * George Papas, Monmouth (35.1/game): 64th

Total Minutes Played
 * Dwight Murray Jr., Rider (1196): 43rd
 * George Papas, Monmouth (1194): 46th

Double Doubles
 * Kevin Marfo, Quinnipiac (12): 26th
 * Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (11): 36th
 * Supreme Cook, Fairfield (7): 95th

Field Goal Percentage (minimum avg 5 made per game)
 * Jao Ituka, Marist (151–287 .5261): 59th

Total Field Goals Attempted
 * Jose Perez, Manhattan (446): 67th

Free-throw percentage (minimum avg 2.5 made per game)
 * Doug Edert, Saint Peter's (86–97 .8866): 18th
 * George Papas, Monmouth (108–125 .8640): 45th
 * Shavar Reynolds, Monmouth (110–128 .8593): 51st
 * Daryl Banks III, Saint Peter's (85–99 .8586): 52nd
 * Taj Benning, Fairfield (85–101 .8416): 73rd
 * Marcus Hammond, Niagara (103–124 .8308): 94th

Free Throws Made
 * Jose Perez, Manhattan (182): 4th

Free Throw Attempts
 * Jose Perez, Manhattan (227): 4th
 * Nelly Junior Joseph, Iona (166): 74th
 * KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's (162): 83rd

Three-point percentage (minimum 1.5 made per game)
 * Colby Rogers, Siena (73–170 .4294): 8th
 * George Papas, Monmouth (103–292 .3532): 85th

Three-point field goals made per game
 * George Papas, Monmouth (3.03/game): 20th
 * Colby Rogers, Siena (2.61/game): 66th

Three-point field goals made
 * George Papas, Monmouth (103): 15th

Three-point field goals attempted
 * George Papas, Monmouth (292): 7th

Team statistic rankings
(Thru games of March 15, 2022)

Team statistic NCAA Top 100 leaders
*Final 2021–22*

Scoring
 * Iona (75.2/game): 65th

Defense
 * Saint Peter's (61.8/game): 19th
 * Niagara (65.5/game): 65th
 * Fairfield (66.0/game): 81st

Rebounding
 * Rider (37.06/game): 79th
 * Iona (36.97/game): 83rd
 * Monmouth (36.50/game): 100th

Total Rebounds
 * Monmouth (1241): 62nd
 * Rider (1223): 83rd
 * Iona (1220): 85th
 * Saint Peter's (1218): 89th

Offensive Rebounds
 * Iona (11.42/game): 70th
 * Canisius (11.12/game): 88th

Assists
 * Iona (16.2/game): 17th
 * Quinnipiac (14.4/game): 79th

Total Assists
 * Iona (533): 24th

Assist-Turnover ratio
 * Iona (1.28): 47th

Blocked Shots
 * Iona (6.0/game): 3rd
 * Saint Peter's (5.0/game): 21st
 * Siena (4.0/game): 79th

Total Blocks
 * Iona (199): 5th
 * Saint Peter's (170): 17th

Field Goal Percentage Defense
 * Saint Peter's (.3859): 9th
 * Monmouth (.4074): 41st
 * Marist (.4150): 80th
 * Niagara (.4155): 84th
 * Rider (.4156): 85th
 * Iona (.4157): 87th

Three-Point Attempts
 * Quinnipiac (801): 70th

Three-Point Percentage
 * Siena (.3557): 72nd

Free-throw percentage
 * Quinnipiac (.7654): 22nd

Scoring Margin
 * Iona (6.6): 72nd

Rebound Margin
 * Saint Peter's (3.1): 92nd