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Williams, Rigoni Earn MAAC Preseason Honors
11/5/2020 7:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Men’s Basketball Tabbed No. 7 in Conference Preseason Poll
HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac men's basketball guard Tyrese Williams and forward Jacob Rigoni have both earned preseason league honors, as announced by the MAAC office on Thursday, Nov. 5 during the 2020-21 Basketball Preseason Awards Show on ESPN3.
Williams has been named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team, while Rigoni earns a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team.
The Bobcats have been tabbed No. 7 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 54 total votes. Siena – the 2019-20 MAAC Regular Season Champion – earns the top spot in the poll, while Saints' guard Jalen Pickett earns Preseason Player of the Year Honors.
For full results from the 2020-21 MAAC Preseason Awards Show, CLICK HERE.
Tyrese Williams averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last year. The Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection played in all 30 games for the Bobcats in 2019-20, knocking down 57 three-pointers. He scored a career-high 26 points at Canisius on Jan. 13, 2020, shooting 8-of-11 from three-point distance. Williams combined for 62 points over three games during the Bobcats Invitational in Hamden (Nov. 22-24, 2019), recording 17 points vs. Albany (11/22), 23 points vs. Presbyterian (11/23) and 22 points vs. Sacred Heart (11/24).
The junior guard enters his third season in Hamden with 574 total points. Williams made 59 starts over his first two years at Quinnipiac, recording 10+ points in 24 career games. He was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Team for his performance in 2018-19, tallying 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game in his first collegiate campaign.
Jacob Rigoni started all 30 games for the Bobcats last year, posting 8.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He finished his junior year shooting a team-best 40.2 percent (66-of-164) from three-point range, recording 13 games of 10+ points. The forward tallied a season-high 21 points vs. Rider on Jan. 7, 2020 in Hamden, knocking down each of his first seven attempts from distance.
The Australia-native enters his final year at Quinnipiac with 897 career points, needing just 103 more to reach 1,000. He's also just 47 made three-pointers away from the Bobcats' career record. Rigoni is a 43.8 percent (92-of-210) shooter from three-point distance during his career at the People's United Center in Hamden. He poured in a career-high 30 points in the MAAC Tournament vs. Monmouth on Feb. 24, 2019.
Quinnipiac is coming off a 15-15 (10-10 MAAC) 2019-20 campaign. The Bobcats won three consecutive games to end the regular season, earning a first round bye in the MAAC Tournament for the second straight year under Head Coach Baker Dunleavy. The 2020 MAAC Tournament was suspended due to the COVID-19 virus before Quinnipiac participated in postseason play.
Dunleavy enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Bobcats in 2020-21. He has won 43 games over his first three years at Quinnipiac. The Bobcats finished No. 5 nationally once again in made three-pointers, nailing 10.3 triples per contest. Quinnipiac finished No. 5 nationally in made triples per contest in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
The MAAC released its 2020-21 men's basketball schedule on Sept. 22, 2020. Quinnipiac men's basketball will begin conference play at the People's United Center in Hamden on Tuesday, Dec. 8 vs. Manhattan. The Bobcats first MAAC road contest is set for Friday, Dec. 11 vs. Iona at the Hynes Center – where Quinnipiac capped off the 2019-20 regular season with a 69-68 victory on March 4.
The Bobcats' full schedule follows the recently announced MAAC basketball schedule model, which is adjusted to accommodate changes and potential disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-21 season calls for a 20-game slate, with every school playing each opponent both home and away. The MAAC has also allowed four non-conference games in the first two weeks of the season, plus one additional game on the week of Dec. 22.
All scheduled contests are tentative and subject to change due to ongoing restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about the Quinnipiac men's basketball program, follow the Bobcats on Twitter/Instagram @QU_MBB or visit www.gobobcats.com.
Williams has been named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team, while Rigoni earns a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team.
The Bobcats have been tabbed No. 7 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 54 total votes. Siena – the 2019-20 MAAC Regular Season Champion – earns the top spot in the poll, while Saints' guard Jalen Pickett earns Preseason Player of the Year Honors.
For full results from the 2020-21 MAAC Preseason Awards Show, CLICK HERE.
Tyrese Williams averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last year. The Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection played in all 30 games for the Bobcats in 2019-20, knocking down 57 three-pointers. He scored a career-high 26 points at Canisius on Jan. 13, 2020, shooting 8-of-11 from three-point distance. Williams combined for 62 points over three games during the Bobcats Invitational in Hamden (Nov. 22-24, 2019), recording 17 points vs. Albany (11/22), 23 points vs. Presbyterian (11/23) and 22 points vs. Sacred Heart (11/24).
The junior guard enters his third season in Hamden with 574 total points. Williams made 59 starts over his first two years at Quinnipiac, recording 10+ points in 24 career games. He was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Team for his performance in 2018-19, tallying 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game in his first collegiate campaign.
Jacob Rigoni started all 30 games for the Bobcats last year, posting 8.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He finished his junior year shooting a team-best 40.2 percent (66-of-164) from three-point range, recording 13 games of 10+ points. The forward tallied a season-high 21 points vs. Rider on Jan. 7, 2020 in Hamden, knocking down each of his first seven attempts from distance.
The Australia-native enters his final year at Quinnipiac with 897 career points, needing just 103 more to reach 1,000. He's also just 47 made three-pointers away from the Bobcats' career record. Rigoni is a 43.8 percent (92-of-210) shooter from three-point distance during his career at the People's United Center in Hamden. He poured in a career-high 30 points in the MAAC Tournament vs. Monmouth on Feb. 24, 2019.
Quinnipiac is coming off a 15-15 (10-10 MAAC) 2019-20 campaign. The Bobcats won three consecutive games to end the regular season, earning a first round bye in the MAAC Tournament for the second straight year under Head Coach Baker Dunleavy. The 2020 MAAC Tournament was suspended due to the COVID-19 virus before Quinnipiac participated in postseason play.
Dunleavy enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Bobcats in 2020-21. He has won 43 games over his first three years at Quinnipiac. The Bobcats finished No. 5 nationally once again in made three-pointers, nailing 10.3 triples per contest. Quinnipiac finished No. 5 nationally in made triples per contest in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
The MAAC released its 2020-21 men's basketball schedule on Sept. 22, 2020. Quinnipiac men's basketball will begin conference play at the People's United Center in Hamden on Tuesday, Dec. 8 vs. Manhattan. The Bobcats first MAAC road contest is set for Friday, Dec. 11 vs. Iona at the Hynes Center – where Quinnipiac capped off the 2019-20 regular season with a 69-68 victory on March 4.
The Bobcats' full schedule follows the recently announced MAAC basketball schedule model, which is adjusted to accommodate changes and potential disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-21 season calls for a 20-game slate, with every school playing each opponent both home and away. The MAAC has also allowed four non-conference games in the first two weeks of the season, plus one additional game on the week of Dec. 22.
All scheduled contests are tentative and subject to change due to ongoing restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about the Quinnipiac men's basketball program, follow the Bobcats on Twitter/Instagram @QU_MBB or visit www.gobobcats.com.
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