by PETE IORIZZO STAFF WRITER , The Times-Union

That's been a good thing for the Saints, whose back-to-back league championships and NCAA Tournament first-round wins in large part sprung from unselfish play.

Despite being the league's most prolific offense during the 2008-09 season, Siena didn't have any player rank in the top five in the league in scoring. Ubiles was closest at No. 7.

The Saints are favored to win a third consecutive title for no bigger reason than their ability to get four all-league players to buy into a team-first approach.

Ubiles and point guard Ronald Moore both were chosen first-team All-MAAC, and Ryan Rossiter and Alex Franklin made the second team. All would benefit statistically from being the focal point in a different offense. None seem to care.

"A lot of people want to shoot and score, but we realize that to win, if we share the ball, we're more powerful," Ubiles said. "How are you going stop four guys who can win their matchup one on one at any time?"

Siena's opponents figure to be asking that all season.

The Saints, who led the MAAC during the 2008-09 season with 76.9 points per game, return four of five starters from the team that upset Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament.

They're a balanced group. The 6-foot-9 Rossiter, a junior, is the stalwart in the middle, while the more athletic Franklin, a 6-5 senior, is the perfect complement at power forward. Ubiles provides versatility from the wing, while Moore serves as the distributor.

"When you're on a good team, you know your stats aren't going to be as high as maybe another guy on another team with less talent," Franklin said. "But we're all about winning. We're not worried about the individual stats in the end."

Siena nicknames the seniors -- Moore, Ubiles and Franklin -- its Big Three, though they've succeeded by ensuring none is bigger than the other.

"The thing that's been special about the group is they've sacrificed enough to make sure that our team wins," Siena coach Fran McCaffery said. "When our team wins, ultimately, they get individual accomplishments and publicity anyway."

The Saints' most significant loss from the 2008-09 roster is Kenny Hasbrouck, a four-year starter and MAAC Player of the Year as a senior.

But there's another bonus to balance: No part becomes so big it that it can't be replaced.

In Hasbrouck's place will step Clarence Jackson, a junior shooting guard who excelled at providing scoring off the bench.

Jackson's former role now falls to sophomores Owen Wignot, a wing, and Kyle Downey, a shooting guard. Forward Steven Priestley, a junior, could be the first big man off the bench.

Siena also welcomes a four-player freshman class that's already being indoctrinated into Siena's sharing ways. O.D. Anosike, a 6-7 freshman forward, said he caught on after observing the seniors when he arrived on campus.

"Their relationship off the court translates to the way they play on the court," Anosike said. "You can see it every time they're on a two-on-one break. They're sharing the ball."

Pete Iorizzo can be reached at 454-5425 or by e-mail at piorizzo@timesunion.com

BOX:

5 story lines

1Marked men, again: The Saints, also picked to win the league the previous two seasons, have proven they play well under pressure. This year will be no different, as votes in the Top 25 polls have expectations further on the rise.

2. Captain Kenny no more: The loss of Kenny Hasbrouck to graduation could be more significant than many think. Sure, the four-year starter suffered a few shooting slumps during his senior season, but the program's all-time steals leader was a defensive dynamo.

3. Honor roll: All five Siena starters will be in the running for postseason All-MAAC honors. Edwin Ubiles could be player of the year. He and Rider's Ryan Thompson will have some NBA scouts keeping an eye on the MAAC.

4. Young guns: Siena's starting five is ultra-experienced, but that's not true of its reserves. Kyle Downey, a sophomore, could be first off the bench at guard. Steven Priestley, a junior, has played only 31 career games but could be looking at a significant role.

5. Class acts: Here's a question worth asking: By the end of this season, will Ubiles, Ronald Moore and Alex Franklin be the best senior class ever to come through the program?

BOX:

Siena schedule

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 13 at Tennessee State 8 p.m.

Nov. 17 NORTHEASTERN Noon

Nov. 21 at Temple# 7 p.m.

Nov. 24 DELAWARE# 7 p.m.

Nov. 27 St. John's#$ 6:15 p.m.

Nov. 28 Brown#$ 4 p.m.

Dec. 2 at Georgia Tech 7 p.m.

Dec. 5 UALBANY 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 at Iona* 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 at Northern Iowa 8:05 p.m.

Dec. 23 Rider* 7 p.m.

Dec. 29 SAINT JOSEPH'S 7 p.m.

Dec. 31 SAINT PETER'S* 4 p.m.

Jan. 2 MOUNT ST. MARY'S 7 p.m.

Jan. 4 at Loyola (Md.)* 7 p.m.

Jan. 9 Niagara* 1 p.m.

Jan. 11 Canisius* 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 at Fairfield* 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 18 Manhattan* 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 LOYOLA (Md.)* 7 p.m.

Jan. 24 at Manhattan* 2 p.m.

Jan. 28 at Saint Peter's* 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 at Marist* 4 p.m.

Feb. 5 Iona* 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 Fairfield* 7 p.m.

Feb. 12 at Niagara* 7 p.m.

Feb. 14 at Canisius* 2 p.m.

Feb. 20 ESPNU BracketBusters TBA

Feb. 26 at Rider* 7 p.m.

Feb. 28 Marist* 4 p.m.

March 4-8 MAAC Tournament at Times Union Center

#: Philly Classic

$: At the Palestra in Philadelphia

*: MAAC game

BOX:

Siena roster

No Name Cl Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown Comment

0 Conner Fenlon So. G 6-0 157 Tampa, Fla. Walk-on is mostly an extra guard for practice

1 O.D. Anosike Fr. F 6-7 217 Staten Island Will vie for playing time in thin frontcourt

2 Denzel Yard Fr. G 5-11 166 Philadelphia Explosive scorer in high school

3 Kyle Downey So. G 6-2 203 Fairport Could be the first guard off the bench

4 Just-in'love Smith Sr. G 5-11 190 East Greenbush Walk-on spent a year in Iraq in the military

5 Kyle Griffin# So. G 6-3 198 Allentown, Pa. Will have to fight for playing time when eligible

13 Clarence Jackson Jr. G 6-3 185 Marlton, N.J. Prolific scorer needs to play D, too

21 Davis Martens$ Fr. F 6-9 220 Cologne, Germany Late addition has potential to match size

22 Ryan Rossiter Jr. F 6-9 234 Staten Island Seems to be getting bigger and better each year

23 Edwin Ubiles Sr. G/F 6-6 204 Poughkeepsie Will be next to take a crack at the NBA

25 Ronald Moore Sr. G 6-0 156 Conshohocken, Pa. MAAC's best point guard is team's leader

31 Owen Wignot So. F 6-5.5 210 Dallas, Pa. Bench player needs more confidence than anything

32 Jonathan Breeden Fr. G 5-11 163 Harrisburg, Pa. Moore's heir apparent gets a year to develop

42 Alex Franklin Sr. F 6-5 226 Reading, Pa. Dependable forward does everything

43 Steven Priestley Jr. F 6-5 241 Baldwin Might be his first crack at an expanded role

Brandon Walters* RS Jr. C 6-9 245 Brooklyn Valuable practice player while sitting out

*:Red-shirting due to transfer; #:Eligible after first semester; $:Eligible after 12 games

Coaching staff: Fran McCaffery, head coach; Mitch Buonaguro, Andrew Francis, Adam Chaskin, assistant coaches; Cory Magee, student assistant coach; David Matturro, director of operations

TIP:

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