After leading Fairfield University Men's Basketball in scoring in both ends of a 2-0 week, Jalen Leach has been named the MAAC Player of the Week. Leach averaged 24.0 points per game as the Stags knocked off Quinnipiac and Siena to move into first place in the MAAC.
Jalen Leach averaged 24.0 points per game in wins over Quinnipiac and Siena to lead Fairfield into first place in the MAAC standings. He shot 56 percent from the field, 6-for-9 from three-point range and made all 14 of his free throw attempts. Leach also averaged 7.5 rebounds per game, dished out seven assists and had five steals on the week.
Post by nashvillestag on Feb 26, 2024 16:36:27 GMT -5
Second time this year for Leach if I am not mistaken. So congratulations to him. BTW in thinking about how valuable he has been to the Stags this season, one just has to remember back to a year ago when in his first full relatively healthy year of play with the team, Jalen was just an average MAAC guard at best. I'm sure there are a variety of reasons for his improvement this time around, not the least of which might be the difference in offensive philosophy between Chris Casey and Jay Young. Another year out from his previous health issues hasn't hurt either. But one other subtle reason for his dramatic upgrade in play, certainly not something I can prove but yet might have helped, is the fact that Taj Benning and he connected for at least one year back at Bergan County High School a few years ago. And as a first year assistant with Fairfield, maybe the connection between the two has had a positive effect on Leach while at the same time helping Taj look good in establishing himself as an important member of the staff. Anyway it's amazing how things have worked out for the better this year with this connection being a perfect example.
Post by reindeerfan on Feb 26, 2024 22:20:39 GMT -5
I remember thinking that Floyd got robbed on the MAAC player of the week award after the Yale game. Floyd had 25 points 3 steals, 4 assists and 5 rebounds, 8-13 from the floor, 3-3 from deep and 6-7 from the line. That's a darn good game. He lost the award to Siem Uijtendaal who averaged 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. His numbers were not nearly as good as Floyd's but he played two games that week and Fairfield only had one on the schedule.
At the time it was an "Oh well," but I wonder if any MAAC team has ever had 4 different guards get named player of the week. Had he gotten it, that would have happened this season as Fields, Goodine and Leach have all been named. Frankly Floyd deserved it after the Yale game, its too bad the way the schedule fell.
