2020-21_Iona_Gaels_men's_basketball_team

2020–21 Iona Gaels men's basketball team

2020–21 Iona Gaels men's basketball team

American college basketball season

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.[3]

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The Gaels marked the fifth team Pitino had taken to the NCAA Tournament, tying him with Lon Kruger and Tubby Smith, for the record for most teams taken to the tournament.[4]

Previous season

The Gaels finished the 2019–20 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,[5] before losing to Saint Peter's in the quarterfinals.[6]

Following the season, head coach Tim Cluess stepped down as head coach of the Gaels due to health concerns.[7] A day later, the school named Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino the Gaels' new head coach.[8]

Roster

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Schedule and results

On February 22, 2021, the Iona men's basketball team was placed on another COVID-19 pause due to a player testing positive for the virus the previous day. The school effectively canceled their remaining five conference games, but participated in the MAAC Tournament.[9]

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Source[10]

References

  1. [1]
    "2020-21 Basketball Tiebreakers" (PDF). MAAC Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  2. [2]
    "2020-21 Men's Basketball Standings". MAAC Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  3. [3]
    "Iona vs. Alabama – Game Recap – March 20, 2021 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  4. [4]
    Gleeson, Scott. "Rick Pitino is back in the NCAA Tournament – with the Iona Gaels". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  5. [5]
    "Iona MBB Defeats Canisius In MAAC Championship Opening Round". Iona College Athletics. March 10, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Estrada's basket carries Saint Peter's past Iona". ESPN. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  7. [7]
    "Iona College basketball coach Tim Cluess resigns due to health". The Journal News. March 13, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  8. [8]
    "Iona Hires Rick Pitino as Its New Coach". The New York Times. March 14, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  9. [9]
    Braziller, Zach (February 22, 2021). "Iona basketball goes on another COVID-19 pause". New York Post. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  10. [10]
    "2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". Iona College Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
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