Iona

2008-09 Iona Basketball Preview

Gaels looking to take next step in the MAAC

Schedule (key games in bold)

November 14^th Hampton 

2008 USVI Paradise Jam (tough opener with Badgers will test interior strength)

21^st Wisconsin 

23^rd Valparaiso / San Diego 

24^th TBA 

29^th Robert Morris 

December 5^th @ Marist (conference opener at rebuilding Marist)

Raphielle Johnson's Metro preview & weekly Metro rankings & updates are a staple of fans in NYC's tri-state region. To get things going, here is Raphielle's 23 team NYC Metro preseason ranking and all-Metro teams. Individual team previews will up shortly!

Preseason Metro Ranking

Teams ranked in the 12-17 area of the final rankings are clearly in a position to either move up or down next season. The team with the best chance to make a significant move up the standings in their league would have to be Manhattan (12-19), who return all key contributors next season. Guard Antoine Pearson was a Third Team All-MAAC selection this season, and swingman Devon Austin went a long way in establishing himself as this team’s leader in the MAAC Tournament.

Here’s a quick preview of the ESPNU O’Reilly Bracket Busters games this weekend that will not be shown on television involving northeast teams. In most cases, the organizers of this event have done a better job of limiting the travel for non-television games, with the exception of UC Davis visiting Loyola (MD) among games involving northeast leagues. Bracket Busters, originally put together to provide schools in non-BCS leagues one last opportunity to add to their resume, now involves some 100 schools from sixteen conferences.

Niagara @ Appalachian State (Saturday, 1 PM)

Team of the Week: Rhode Island
Results: Providence (W: 77-60), @ Syracuse (W: 91-89)

13. Iona (2006-07 Record: 2-28, 1-17 MAAC)

Head coach: Kevin Willard

Returning Starters: 3- G De’Shaune Griffin (sophomore): 6-0, 160; G Milan Prodanovic (sophomore): 6-2, 180; F Devon Clarke (junior): 6-6, 205.