Iona Gaels | |||
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University | Iona University | ||
Head coach | Tobin Anderson (2nd season) | ||
Conference | MAAC [1] | ||
Location | New Rochelle, New York | ||
Arena | Hynes Athletic Center [2] (capacity: 2,611) | ||
Nickname | Gaels [3] | ||
Colors | Maroon and gold [4] | ||
Uniforms | |||
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NCAA tournament round of 32 | |||
1980* | |||
NCAA tournament appearances | |||
1979, 1980*, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 * – vacated by NCAA | |||
Conference tournament champions | |||
1982, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 | |||
Conference regular season champions | |||
1983, 1984, 1985, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
The Iona Gaels men's basketball team represents Iona University in New Rochelle, New York in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and plays home games in Hynes Athletic Center. On March 21, 2023, the Gaels hired Tobin Anderson as their head coach.
Iona University has been competing in Division I basketball since the school's inception in 1940. Their first taste of success came with the ECAC men's basketball tournaments (essentially regional tournaments played by Division I schools that were essentially independent, with Iona being in the Metro) in 1979 and 1980, winning the two years for an autobid to the NCAA Tournament.
Iona is also one of the founding members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which began play in men's basketball with the 1981–82 season, having been passed over by the Big East Conference for Seton Hall in 1980. [5] The Gaels have compiled the most victories of any MAAC team since the founding of the conference and have won a league record fourteen MAAC tourney titles (1982, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023). They have appeared in the NCAA tournament in 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023, with the first two of those appearances coming as a member of the Metropolitan Conference and in 2012 as an at-large selection out of the MAAC. The Gaels have also been to 7 NITs, in 1982, 1983, 1996, 1997, 2014, 2015 and 2022. In 2011, the Gaels made it to the final game of the CIT post-season tournament, losing at home to Santa Clara. Since the 1978-79 season, the Gaels have won 20 games or more in 23 seasons.
The Gaels have appeared in 16 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–16. Iona's only NCAA Tournament victory to date, which took place in 1980, was vacated by the NCAA due to their star Center, Jeff Ruland, having signed a contract with an agent for professional representation a few months prior. Thus, NCAA record books attribute to them an 0–16 record in NCAA tournament games. The Gaels first five losses in NCAA tournament play were by a combined 11 points, including a heartbreaking buzzer-beater by Syracuse University in 1998.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
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1979 | 8 | First Round | Penn + | L 69–73 |
1980* | 6 | First Round Second Round | Holy Cross Georgetown | W 84–78 L 71–74 |
1984 | 10 | First Round | Virginia + | L 57–58 |
1985 | 13 | First Round | Loyola Chicago | L 58–59 |
1998 | 12 | First Round | Syracuse | L 61–63 |
2000 | 14 | First Round | Maryland | L 59–74 |
2001 | 14 | First Round | Mississippi | L 70–72 |
2006 | 13 | First Round | LSU + | L 64–80 |
2012 | 14 | First Four | BYU | L 72–78 |
2013 | 15 | First Round | Ohio State | L 70–95 |
2016 | 13 | First Round | Iowa State | L 81–94 |
2017 | 14 | First Round | Oregon + | L 77–93 |
2018 | 15 | First Round | Duke | L 67–89 |
2019 | 16 | First Round | North Carolina | L 73–88 |
2021 | 15 | First Round | Alabama | L 55–68 |
2023 | 13 | First Round | UConn ! | L 63–87 |
* Indicates vacated by NCAA.
+ Indicates Final Four participant.
! Indicates National Champion.
The Gaels have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) seven times. Their combined record is 1–7.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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1982 | First Round | Rutgers | L 51–55 |
1983 | First Round Second Round | St. Bonaventure Nebraska | W 90–76 L 73–85 |
1996 | First Round | St. Joseph's | L 78–82 |
1997 | First Round | Connecticut | L 66–71 |
2014 | First Round | Louisiana Tech | L 88–89 |
2015 | First Round | Rhode Island | L 75–88 |
2022 | First Round | Florida | L 74-79 |
The Gaels have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Their record is 3–1.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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2011 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Valparaiso Buffalo East Tennessee State Santa Clara | W 85–77 W 78–63 W 83–80 L 69–76 |
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The 2015–16 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by sixth year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season 22–11, 16–4 in MAAC play to finish in second place. They defeated Canisius, Siena, and Monmouth to be champions of the MAAC tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where, as a #13 seed, they lost in the first round to Iowa State.
The 2016–17 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by seventh year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season 22–13, 12–8 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for third place. They defeated Rider, Saint Peter's and Siena to be champions of the MAAC tournament. They received the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Oregon.
The 2017–18 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by eighth-year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season 20–14, 11–7 in MAAC play, to finish in fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the 2018 MAAC tournament, they defeated Manhattan, Saint Peter's and Fairfield, to become champions of the MAAC tournament for the third consecutive time. They earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the first round to Duke, 89–67.
The 2018–19 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels were led by ninth-year head coach Tim Cluess, and played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the regular season 17–16 overall, 12–6 in MAAC play, to win the regular season championship. As the No. 1 seed in the 2019 MAAC tournament, they defeated No. 9 seed Saint Peter's, No. 5 seed Siena and No. 6 seed Monmouth 81–60, to become champions of the MAAC tournament for a record fourth consecutive time. They earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA tournament, receiving a 16 seed in the Midwest region, and facing No. 1 seed North Carolina in the first round. Iona led 38–33 at the half, while making 10-of-21 three-pointers. But North Carolina opened the second half on a 25–7 run, leading by as many as 20, en route to an 88–73 victory. Iona's 15 made three-point field goals are the most ever by a North Carolina opponent in its NCAA tournament history of 171 games.
The 2019–20 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels were to be led by 10th-year head coach Tim Cluess, but he never coached a game for health reasons. Associate head coach Tra Arnold took over the head coaching duties for this season. They played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 12–17, 9–11 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place. As the No. 7 seed in the MAAC tournament, they defeated Canisius before losing to Saint Peter's in the quarterfinals.
The 2020–21 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball season began with practices in October 2020, followed by the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 25. Conference play started in December and concluded in March 2021. This season was the 40th season of MAAC basketball.
The 2020–21 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by first-year head coach Rick Pitino, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they finished the season 12–6, 6–3 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for ninth place. As the No. 9 seed in the MAAC tournament, they defeated Quinnipiac, Siena, and Niagara to advance to the tournament championship game. They defeated Fairfield to win the tournament championship and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They received a No. 15 seed in the East region, and lost in the first round to No. 2 seed Alabama 55–68.
The 1999–2000 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 1999–2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led second-year by head coach Jeff Ruland, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Gaels finished second in the MAAC regular season standings, and would go on to win the MAAC Basketball tournament to receive an automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA tournament. As the No. 14 seed in the Midwest region, the Gaels lost to No. 3 seed Maryland in the opening round.
The 2021–22 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by second-year head coach Rick Pitino, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 25-8, 17-3 in MAAC Play to finish as regular season champions. They were upset in the quarterfinals of the MAAC tournament by Rider. As a No. 1 seed who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Florida.
The 1983–84 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led fourth-year by head coach Pat Kennedy, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Gaals finished in a three-way tie atop the MAAC regular season standings, and would go on to win the MAAC Basketball tournament to receive an automatic bid to the 1984 NCAA tournament. As the No. 10 seed in the East region, the Gaels lost to No. 7 seed and eventual Final Four participant Virginia in the opening round.
The 1984–85 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led fifth-year by head coach Pat Kennedy, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Gaals finished atop the MAAC regular season standings, and would go on to win the MAAC Basketball tournament to receive an automatic bid to the 1984 NCAA tournament. As the No. 13 seed in the East region, the Gaels lost to No. 4 seed Loyola–Chicago in the opening round.
The 2022–23 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by third-year head coach Rick Pitino, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 27–8, 17–3 in MAAC play to win the regular season championship. In the MAAC tournament, they defeated Mount St. Mary's, Niagara, and Marist to win the tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 13 seed in the West region. There they lost in the first round to eventual champion UConn.
The 2000–01 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led third-year by head coach Jeff Ruland, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Gaels finished first in the MAAC regular season standings, and would go on to win the MAAC Basketball tournament to receive an automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA tournament. As the No. 14 seed in the Midwest region, the Gaels lost to No. 3 seed Ole Miss in the opening round.
The 2005–06 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led 8th-year by head coach Jeff Ruland, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Gaels finished second in the MAAC regular season standings, and would go on to win the MAAC Basketball tournament to receive an automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA tournament. As the No. 13 seed in the South region, the Gaels lost to No. 4 seed and eventual Final Four participant LSU in the opening round.
The 2023–24 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona University during the 2023-24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by first-year head coach Tobin Anderson, played their home games at the Hynes Athletics Center located in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.