2019–20 Iona Gaels men's basketball team explained

Mode:Basketball
Year:2019–20
Team:Iona Gaels
Conference:Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Short Conf:MAAC
Record:12–17
Conf Record:9–11
Head Coach:Tra Arnold
Hc Year:1st
Asst Coach2:Jeff Mailhot
Asst Coach3:Ricky Johns

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.[1] 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.

Following the season, Cluess stepped down as head coach of the Gaels due to health concerns.[2] A day later, the school named former Louisville coach Rick Pitino the Gaels' new head coach.[3]

Previous season

The Gaels finished the 2018–19 season 17–16 overall, 12–6 in MAAC play to win the regular season championship. They defeated Saint Peter's,[4] Siena,[5] and Monmouth[6] to win the MAAC tournament for a record fourth consecutive time.[7] As a result, they received the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 16 seed in the Midwest region. There they lost to No. 1 seeded North Carolina in the first round 73–88, despite leading by 5 at halftime.[8]

Schedule and results

|-!colspan=12 style=| Exhibition|-!colspan=12 style=| Non-conference regular season|-!colspan=12 style=| MAAC regular season|-!colspan=12 style=| MAAC tournament|-|-Source[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Iona College basketball coach Tim Cluess resigns due to health. 2020-03-13. lohud.com. en. 2021-03-09.
  2. Web site: Iona's Cluess steps down to focus on health. 2020-03-13. ESPN.com. en. 2020-03-25.
  3. Web site: Rick Pitino returns to college hoops as Iona coach. 2020-03-14. ESPN.com. en. 2020-03-25.
  4. News: Iona MBB Survives To MAAC Championship Semifinals, 73-71. Iona College Athletics. November 20, 2019. en.
  5. News: Iona Men's Basketball Downs Siena In MAAC Championship Semifinals. Iona College Athletics. November 20, 2019. en.
  6. News:
    1. MAACChamps!!! Iona Wins Fourth Straight MAAC Championship
    . Iona College Athletics. November 20, 2019. en.
  7. News: Iona Becomes First Team to Win Four Straight Men's Basketball Championships. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. November 20, 2019. en.
  8. News: No. 16 Iona MBB Leads No. 1 UNC at Half, Falls In NCAA First Round. Iona College Athletics. November 20, 2019. en.
  9. News: 2019-20 Men's Basketball Schedule. Iona College Athletics. November 20, 2019. en.