Iona Gaels Mens Basketball Players to Watch This Season
Contents
- Iona Gaels: A Quick Primer
- The Iona Gaels’ 2017-18 Schedule
- The Iona Gaels’ Roster
- 5 Iona Gaels Players to Watch This Season
- The Iona Gaels’ Coaching Staff
- The Iona Gaels’ 2017-18 Season Outlook
- 3 Key Matchups for the Iona Gaels This Season
- The Iona Gaels’ 2017-18 Season Predictions
- Iona Gaels Fans: Get to Know Your Team
- Where to Watch the Iona Gaels This Season
The Iona Gaels have a lot of talent on their roster this season. Here are four players that you should keep an eye on during the season.
Iona Gaels: A Quick Primer
Iona College is a private institution of higher education located in New Rochelle, New York. Founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers Iona Gaels Men’s basketball team competes in the NCAA Division I and is currently coached by Tim Cluess.
As of the 2017 season, the Gaels have appeared in 11 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournaments and have a record of 0-11. They most recently appeared in the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament where they lost in the First Four to Oregon.
The Gaels have produced several notable NBA players including Jeff Ruland, Kevin Laing, Terence Stansbury, and Steve Burtt Sr.
This season, keep an eye out for these three Iona Gaels Mens basketball players
* Senior Guard Rickey McGill – McGill was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year last season and is widely considered one of the best defensive guards in all of college basketball He is expected to be one of the leaders on this year’s team and should put up big numbers on both ends of the court.
* Junior Guard E.J. Crawford – Crawford was named Second Team All-MAAC last season and will be counted on to provide scoring and leadership this season. He is a dangerous outside shooter and has the ability to take over games when he gets hot.
* Sophomore Forward Roland Griffin – Griffin was named MAAC Rookie of the Year last season after averaging 9.1 points and 5 rebounds per game as a freshman. He has a high motor and endless energy on both ends of the court and should be one of the Gaels’ most important players this season.
The Iona Gaels’ 2017-18 Schedule
The Iona Gaels are set to begin their 2017-18 Season on November 10th against the University of Albany. The Gaels will then go on to play Providence on November 12th, before facing off against St. John’s on November 15th. With a new season comes new expectations, and this year’s team will be looking to improve upon last year’s disappointing 14-17 record.
Leading the way for the Gaels this season will be junior guard Rickey McGill, who was named the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. McGill is coming off of a 2016-17 campaign in which he averaged 15.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game Joining McGill in the backcourt will be fellow junior Jordan Washington, who is fresh off of a breakout sophomore season in which he averaged 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 54% from the field.
In the frontcourt, the Gaels will be led by senior forward Tyler Sagalyn who averaged 10.3 points and 5 rebounds per game last season while shooting 46% from three-point range Rounding out the projected starting lineup is junior forward TK Edogi who is coming off of a 2016-17 season in which he averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 62% from the field.
This Iona squad has the potential to be one of the best in recent memory and they should not be taken lightly by any opponent they face this season.
The Iona Gaels’ Roster
The Iona Gaels men’s Basketball team is set to have an exciting season and there are a few players that fans should keep an eye on.
Headlining the team is senior guard A.J. English, who was recently named the preseason MAAC Player of the Year. English averaged 21.1 points per game last season and will be looked upon to lead the Gaels offensively once again this year.
Another player to watch is junior forward Jordan Washington, who was named to the preseason All-MAAC first team. Washington was second on the team in scoring last season, averaging 14.4 points per game and will look to build on that success this year.
Rounding out the roster are a number of talented younger players who will be looking to make an impact on the court this season. Freshman guard Rickey McGill is one player to keep an eye on, as he was rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN coming out of High School Sophomore guard EJ Crawford and freshman forward Roland Griffin are also two players who will be looking to make an impact this season for the Gaels.
With a roster full of talent the Iona Gaels are poised for a successful season and fans should be excited to see what this team can do on the court.
5 Iona Gaels Players to Watch This Season
The Iona Gaels are primed and ready for another Successful Season of Mens Basketball Head Coach Tim Cluess has led the team to six straight NCAA tournament appearances, and with a strong core of returning players, the Gaels are looking to make some noise this year. Here are five Iona Gaels players to Watch This Season
1. E.J. Crawford: The 6-foot-5 guard is the reigning MAAC Player of the Year and was recently named to the preseason All-MAAC first team. Crawford averaged 19.7 points per game last season and is one of the best scorers in the conference.
2. Rickey McGill: The senior guard is a two-time All-MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and was also named to the preseason All-MAAC first team. McGill is one of the best perimeter defenders in the conference and averaged 10 points per game last season.
3. Asante Gist: The junior guard was named to the preseason All-MAAC second team after averaging 11 Points per game last season. Gist is a talented scorer and shooter who will be counted on to provide a spark off the bench this season.
4. Jordan Hunter: The 6-foot-7 forward was named to the preseason All-MAAC third team after averaging 8 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. Hunter is a versatile player who can score inside and out, and he will be counted on to provide some much-needed size for the Gaels this season.
5 . Schadrac Casimir: The senior guard is one of the most experienced players on the team, having played in over 100 games during his career at Iona. Casimir is a solid defender and shooter who will provide leadership for this young Gael squad this season
The Iona Gaels’ Coaching Staff
He might be a newcomer to the Iona Gaels’ Coaching Staff but Assistant Coach Jared Grasso is no stranger to winning. Prior to joining head coach Kevin Willard’s staff, Grasso was an assistant coach at Hofstra University for four seasons. In that time, he helped lead the Pride to two Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Iona Gaels’ 2017-18 Season Outlook
The Iona Gaels are gearing up for another season of basketball and they have their sights set on the MAAC title. Here are a few players to keep an eye on this season:
Senior guard Jordan Washington is the team’s leading scorer and he will be looking to lead the Gaels to victory in every game.
Junior forward Kevin Huell is a versatile player who can score, rebound and play defense He will be a key player for the Gaels this season.
Sophomore guard Rickey McGill is a talented young player who has the potential to be a star in the MAAC. Keep an eye on him this season as he looks to make a big impact for the Gaels.
3 Key Matchups for the Iona Gaels This Season
For the Iona Gaels, the upcoming season will feature some key matchups. Here are three to keep an eye on:
1. The Gaels vs. The Duke Blue Devils
This will be a battle of two completely different styles of play. The Gaels like to push the tempo and score in transition, while the Blue Devils are a more methodical half-court team. It will be interesting to see how these two teams match up against each other.
2. The Gaels vs. The Kentucky Wildcats
This is a matchup between two of the best scoring teams in the country. Both teams like to get out and run in transition, so it should be an up-and-down game with plenty of points scored
3. The Gaels vs. The North Carolina Tar Heels
This is a battle of two very different styles once again. The Gaels want to score in transition and push the tempo, while the Tar Heels prefer to slow things down and play half-court basketball It will be interesting to see how these two teams match up against each other.
The Iona Gaels’ 2017-18 Season Predictions
The Iona Gaels are a NCAA Division I basketball team that compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Gaels are coming off a season in which they won the MAAC regular season and tournament championships, and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament The Gaels will look to repeat as MAAC champions this season, and here are three players to keep an eye on:
1. Junior guard Rickey McGill
Rickey McGill is the reigning MAAC Player of the Year, and he is one of the best all-around players in the conference. McGill averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game last season, and he will be the Gaels’ go-to player again this season.
2. Senior forward Jordan Washington
Jordan Washington was named the Aac Tournament MVP last season after averaging 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the tournament. Washington is one of the best frontcourt players in the conference, and he will be a key player for the Gaels this season.
3. Sophomore guard Zach Lewis
Zach Lewis is one of the best shooters in the conference, and he proved it by shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range last season. Lewis will be a key player for the Gaels off the bench this season, and he will be someone to watch when they need a big shot.
Iona Gaels Fans: Get to Know Your Team
The Iona Gaels mens Basketball team is gearing up for another season of exciting action, and there are plenty of players to keep an eye on. From Rising Stars to experienced veterans, theres something for every fan to get excited about.
Rising star Jordan Washington is one player to watch. The sophomore forward was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year last season and is poised for an even bigger year in 2017-18. Washington averaged 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season and will be a key piece for the Gaels this year.
Fellow sophomore E.J. Crawford is another player worth watching. The guard/forward averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season and will be looked to for added production in his second year with the team.
Other players to keep an eye on include junior forward Rickey McGill, who averaged 10.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, and senior guard/forward Greg Floyd Jr., who is a transfer from UMBC and will be eligible to play this season after sitting out last year per NCAA rules.
Whether youre a diehard fan or just getting to know the team, these are some of the players that will make the Iona Gaels mens basketball team worth watching this season!
Where to Watch the Iona Gaels This Season
The Iona Gaels are set to have a great season and there are a few players that you won’t want to miss. Here is a list of where you can catch the Iona Gaels in action this season.
-If you’re in the New York area, you can watch the Iona Gaels at Madison Square Garden This is one of the most iconic basketball arenas in the world and it’s always a great experience to watch a game here.
-If you’re looking for a more intimate setting, you can watch the Iona Gaels at the Hynes Athletic Center on their campus in New Rochelle, NY. This is a Great Place to catch a game and support your local team
-You can also watch the Iona Gaels on TV or online. Check your local listings for TV schedules or go to http://www.WatchESPN.com to find out how to stream games online