They almost beat Purdue, throttled Maryland and basically cruised to a conference title. Their easy win over Nevada in BracketBusters definitely raised an eyebrow or two, as well. Keep an eye on Mike Glover, who is averaging close to a double-double a game (18 ppg, 9 rpg).
Iona seems to have grown more in sync and more into a TEAM than just a one or two players that I thought they were in a game I watched earlier this season. Scoring was spread around, with balanced scoring from Jones (18), Michael Glover (15), Scott Machado and Sean Armand (13 apiece) and a boost from Randy Dezouvre, who came off the bench to score 17 points.
Machado is very unselfish, with 15 assists (he leads the nation in assists per game) and 8 of his 13 points were free throws (he hit 8 of 8).
Iona presses so much that their defense suffers, as they let a lot of field goals in and they do not get many defensive boards. They dont contest shots, but they score.
Machado with the dish, Glover inside and Momo from anywhere, they are 54.7% inside the arc, 6th in the nation. They also hit over 38% from 3-land and are 26th in offensive TO% in the country. Beat Maryland, St Joes, and almost took out Purdue (neutral court). Fast tempo, good experience, including Momo’s time in AZ.
I keep hearing about their PG as one of the best in the country. I think that is a little overdone, but he is good. He is actually smaller than I thought, but really quick with high point guard intelligence. He is partnered with Mo Mo Jones who got an exception to play this year after moving from Arizona last year. He is good. They even have 2 other serviceable guards on the team. Inside, they have a very good 6’7 guy who is a high motor, dunking athlete. Add in some other decent 6’7.
My thoughts.. this team can score and will. Their defense seemed poor to me at first glance, so I see a moderate + scoring game. Could they win a game.. I guess if they had the right matchup, the other team got cold and they hit some threes it is a possibility. I see them keeping a game close/slightly winning until the other team gets serious and they lose by 8.
Bilas January: The Gaels can press, change defenses and run. Tim Cluess has a hoss in Mike Glover, who can post you, face up and drive or bring the ball up against pressure. Cluess also has three different guys who have hit seven or more 3s in a game during their college careers, led by Sean Armand, who hit 10 3s in a game this season. Scott Machado is perhaps the best all-around point guard in the country, and has undergone a remarkable improvement over the past year. Iona will be no fun to play because the Gaels can shoot it, and they are not afraid.
Kirk 1/28. Watched them verse Rider. They love!!! to push the ball into the fast break. The coach wants them to get a ton of fast breaks. They have machado and momo, but they also have another guard who can hit threes and a small forward who can create a 15 fter and hit them. Add in Glover and I liked this team more this time.
as of Dec 7, leading scoring team in nation. only four teams in the nation move play faster than Iona. As a team, the Gaels have a fantastic effective shooting percentage of 55.9%, and Glover is their talisman in the paint offensively, going for 19.9 points a game on 61.8% shooting from the field.this year the Gaels are prohibitive favorites to make the NCAAs out of the league. Iona nearly beat Purdue in the first game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, but smashed Maryland by 26 later in the tourney.
as of Jan 3 Sean Armand came off the bench and dropped 32 points on the Saints and Jermel Jenkinsadded 16 more points, also in a supporting role off the bench, as the Gaels rebounded nicely from their loss at Hofstra last Thursday night by pounding Siena, 95-59,
The Gaels sank 17 three-balls in the game – – forced Siena into 17 turnovers and held Siena to just 36.5% shooting from the floor and a mere 4-of-19 (21.1%) on three-point attempts.
The driving force behind Iona’s impressive start to the season – the victory ups the Gaels record to 11-3 and an unblemished 3-0 in MAAC play – has been the trio of Scott Machado, Momo Jones and Mike Glover. But Tuesday night it was all about Armand.
Machado averages 20 points per game and great vision dishing in the lane. Nations leader in assists. . New first year coach and program. Like to push the ball and get up and down but not good shooters from perimeter. Makes the extra pass. Got the ball inside well today against small Liberty team in blowout bracket buster road win 77-57. Completely dominated. High energy up tempo after 9 hour bus ride. I see this team keeping it close in tourney if they get in. Lost to #13 Syracuse by only 6 on road in Dec. Top ranked opponent they played all year. Lost to Vermont by 5 too in next game.
