Iona

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:

Fairfield

Results:

W 66-61 @ Manhattan, W 68-59 vs. Iona

 

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.

According to Dick "Hoops" Weiss of the New York Daily News, Iona has hired former Seton Hall point guard Shaheen Holloway as an assistant coach. Holloway spent last season at his alma mater, helping out first year head coach Bobby Gonzalez in South Orange as a graduate assistant. With the amount of youth in the Gaels' backcourt, this is a very good hire. Iona had trouble in the backcourt last season due to injuries and inexperience. Returnees such as Milan Prodanovic, Mike Harris and De'Shaune Griffin should benefit from Holloway's presence on the staff.

This morning, Iona College announced that Louisville assistant Kevin Willard will be the new basketball coach. Go to www.iona.edu/gaels for more details as the day progresses.

In a joint written statement released today, Iona College and former head basketball coach Jeff Ruland have come to a mutual agreement on the terms of a contract settlement for the last two years of his contract. In his nine years in New Rochelle, Ruland led his alma mater to three MAAC titles and three NCAA Tournaments.

According to the New York Post, Iona will relieve mens basketball coach Jeff Ruland of his head coaching duties. Ruland, 139-134 in nine seasons at his alma mater, is currently on vacation in Caribbean and any announcement regarding the direction of the program will be delayed until he returns. One year after the Gaels went 23-8 and represented the MAAC in the NCAA Tournament, injuries hit the team hard to the tune of a 2-28 record.

If the report is indeed true, Iona will pay Ruland $1.2 million to buy out the remaining two years of his contract.

NJIT, St Peter's, and Iona have settled in the final three places of Raphielle's 18 team Metro ranking.