Iona Gaels
MAAC (22-10, 17-3)
Iona tallied 17 conference wins en route to a MAAC title. The Gaels boast an extremely high scoring offense and can drop 90 or more points on just about anybody. Unfortunately, they can also allow 90 points against an otherwise not so spectacular offense. If you like quality three-point shooting and fast paced offense, this is your team.
Big Wins: 1/24 Quinnipiac (95-73), 1/31 Manhattan (85-73), 2/9 at Canisius (101-91)
Bad Losses: 12/14 St. Bonaventure (89-102), 12/22 at Nevada (72-80), 1/17 Canisius (83-85)
Coach: Tim Cluess (4 seasons at Iona)
Why They Can Surprise:
The most impressive thing about Iona’s offense is the fact that they commit only 11 turnovers per game. That is a great number for a squad that gets up and down the floor like the Gaels. Much of the credit goes to guards A.J. English and Sean Armand. Both English and Armand dish out over 4.0 assists per game and are the team’s top two scorers. Armand has been a bit more consistent on his outside shooting, but English can knock down plenty of long balls as well. Tre Bowman and Isaiah Williams will join in on the outside shooting and have helped the Gaels make more three-pointers per game than any other team in the nation.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Iona has a huge backcourt and that has helped cover for the lack of depth in the frontcourt. David Laury will likely come in off the bench in the postseason, but he will play starter minutes and put up starter numbers. Laury is the interior scorer on a team that shoots long balls all around him. Mike Poole, a 6-6 wing, starts in his place, but usually plays fewer minutes. Unlike Laury, Poole is not a huge scoring threat, but he can step outside on occasion. More importantly, Poole is a solid rebounder and a capable shot blocker. Williams is listed as a guard, and plays like a guard, but he is 6-7 and can mix it up with opposing forwards. However, if foul trouble rears its ugly head, Iona could be in trouble with just six regulars. And this is a team that cannot afford to play lax defense to avoid fouls since they allow about 77 points per game.
Probable Starters:
A.J. English, Sophomore, Guard, 17.1 ppg, 4.3 apg
Sean Armand, Senior, Guard, 17.8 ppg, 4.0 apg
Tre Bowman, Senior, Guard, 13.9 ppg, 1.3 apg, 4.5 rpg
Isaiah Williams, Sophomore, Guard, 11.1 ppg, 1.6 apg, 4.0 rpg
Mike Poole, Senior, Forward, 5.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
David Laury, Junior, Forward, 13.8 ppg, 2.3 apg, 8.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 84.0 (4th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 77.4 (323, 10)
Field-Goal Percentage: 48.8 (15, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 45.4 (259, 9)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 10.5 (1, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 39.9 (6, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.3 (129, 6)
Rebound Margin: -4.8 (322, 11)
Assists Per Game: 17.6 (4, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 10.6 (38, 1)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2013 NCAA Second Round loss to Ohio State
2012 NCAA First Round loss to BYU
2011 CIT First Round win over Valparaiso
2011 CIT Quarterfinal win over Buffalo
2011 CIT Semifinal win over East Tennessee State
2011 CIT Final loss to Santa Clara
2006 NCAA Round of 64 loss to LSU
2001 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Mississippi
2000 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Maryland
1998 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Syracuse
*all team stats through 3/9
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
