Post by GuyF on Nov 2, 2015 11:41:15 GMT -5
Better late than never! At least I got it in 2 weeks before our first game. Been packing and moving for a good month now, so there's your explanation for my low number of posts or season prediction duties. So, without further ado, here we go!
11/15 at Valpo. Crusaders are a top 50 team. L, 0-1
11/17 at Oregon St. Nice Beaver! L, 0-2
11/20 vs Delaware. First of many Ws. W, 1-2
12/1 vs Fairfield. Offensively challenged Stags have little hope here. W, 2-2, 1-0
12/4 at Marist. This isn’t women’s hoops. W, 3-2, 2-0
12/8 at Tulsa. Another team that looks like top 50. L, 3-3
12/16 vs Texas Southern. Easiest game on the OOC schedule? W, 4-3
12/19 at URI. A surprise here, avenging the NIT loss—against yet another top 50 team. W, 5-3
12/22 vs UCSB in Vegas. Feeling a letdown after URI. L, 5-4
12/23 vs Akron in Vegas. Won’t leave Vegas winless. W, 6-4
12/28 vs Drexel. No post-holiday funk. W, 7-4
1/2 at Quinnipiac. Bobcats seem to be getting weaker each season. W, 8-4, 3-0
1/4 vs Niagara. First visit for Purps in 2 years (last year was at MSG). W, 9-4, 4-0
1/7 vs Rider. Broncs are good but don’t defend. W, 10-4, 5-0
1/9 vs Marist. Get the reserves some PT in this one. W, 11-4, 6-0
1/15 vs Monmouth. Likely a battle for first. W, 12-4, 7-0
1/17 at Rider. Broncs due to get one from the Gaels. L, 12-5, 7-1
1/22 vs St Peter’s. Like Quinny, Cocks seem to be slipping. W, 13-5, 8-1
1/24 at Fairfield. Nice arena, no fans, little talent. W, 14-5, 9-1
1/29 vs Manhattan. Craziest home crowd of the season. W, 15-5, 10-1
2/1 at St. Peter’s. Can feel this one being tighter, but Gaels should survive. W, 16-5, 11-1
2/5 at Canisius. Griffs should challenge for top 4 this year. L, 16-6, 11-2
2/7 at Niagara. Purps just don’t have the horses. W, 17-6, 12-2
2/13 vs Siena. Delusions of grandeur silenced. W, 18-6, 13-2
2/15 vs Quinnipiac. Keep ‘em off the glass! W, 19-6, 14-2
2/19 at Monmouth. Hawks make a statement. L, 19-7, 14-3
2/22 at Siena. Will Patsos survive the season? W, 20-7, 15-3
2/26 at Manhattan. Second straight W in Riverdale. W, 21-7, 16-3
2/28 vs Canisius. Seniors go out in style. W, 22-7, 17-3
With a 17-3 mark, Iona should win the league by at least 2 games. And then, it’s the moment of truth. Words cannot express the importance of MAAC Tourney weekend, as Cluess and Grasso need to show they can take home the trophy when the target is on their back. With the different format, there is one less “excuse”. Pump the kids with vitamins so there are no illnesses, and of course keep everyone healthy on the whole, and this team has the size inside and the experience on the perimeter to get it done and cut down the nets for the first time in 3 years. Should the Gaels win, they would project to be a 13 seed most likely, with a chance at a 12. And in that spot, and with more size and an experienced lot, Iona would certainly have a realistic chance of FINALLY getting that elusive NCAA win. But let’s get there first, and worry about all that later.
Should Iona fall short again in tourney play, Iona should be relatively in the same position they were in a year ago—a few spots away from any hope of an at-large. There will not be enough quality wins to push our RPI to the 40s or so, which is where we’d need to be to have a realistic chance.
In terms of a range for expectations, barring injuries of course, hitting that 20-win mark seems to be the low end. The MAAC has enough poor teams to not expect any worse than 15-5 in the league, but the OOC is unforgiving—so really even 20 is no complete lock. On the flip side, if these paint players really perform well enough to complement the core 4 guys, this team could give us that “special season” we’ve been dying for. Iona can really roll to an 18-2 or 19-1 type of MAAC season, and if they can find a way to win a couple of those top 50 games, we could be looking at 25-26 wins ENTERING the MAAC Tournament. Win the tourney then and then we could be talking about more like an 11 seed! Dare to dream, baby.
So, there you have it! Add your picks to this thread and let’s see how we do!
11/15 at Valpo. Crusaders are a top 50 team. L, 0-1
11/17 at Oregon St. Nice Beaver! L, 0-2
11/20 vs Delaware. First of many Ws. W, 1-2
12/1 vs Fairfield. Offensively challenged Stags have little hope here. W, 2-2, 1-0
12/4 at Marist. This isn’t women’s hoops. W, 3-2, 2-0
12/8 at Tulsa. Another team that looks like top 50. L, 3-3
12/16 vs Texas Southern. Easiest game on the OOC schedule? W, 4-3
12/19 at URI. A surprise here, avenging the NIT loss—against yet another top 50 team. W, 5-3
12/22 vs UCSB in Vegas. Feeling a letdown after URI. L, 5-4
12/23 vs Akron in Vegas. Won’t leave Vegas winless. W, 6-4
12/28 vs Drexel. No post-holiday funk. W, 7-4
1/2 at Quinnipiac. Bobcats seem to be getting weaker each season. W, 8-4, 3-0
1/4 vs Niagara. First visit for Purps in 2 years (last year was at MSG). W, 9-4, 4-0
1/7 vs Rider. Broncs are good but don’t defend. W, 10-4, 5-0
1/9 vs Marist. Get the reserves some PT in this one. W, 11-4, 6-0
1/15 vs Monmouth. Likely a battle for first. W, 12-4, 7-0
1/17 at Rider. Broncs due to get one from the Gaels. L, 12-5, 7-1
1/22 vs St Peter’s. Like Quinny, Cocks seem to be slipping. W, 13-5, 8-1
1/24 at Fairfield. Nice arena, no fans, little talent. W, 14-5, 9-1
1/29 vs Manhattan. Craziest home crowd of the season. W, 15-5, 10-1
2/1 at St. Peter’s. Can feel this one being tighter, but Gaels should survive. W, 16-5, 11-1
2/5 at Canisius. Griffs should challenge for top 4 this year. L, 16-6, 11-2
2/7 at Niagara. Purps just don’t have the horses. W, 17-6, 12-2
2/13 vs Siena. Delusions of grandeur silenced. W, 18-6, 13-2
2/15 vs Quinnipiac. Keep ‘em off the glass! W, 19-6, 14-2
2/19 at Monmouth. Hawks make a statement. L, 19-7, 14-3
2/22 at Siena. Will Patsos survive the season? W, 20-7, 15-3
2/26 at Manhattan. Second straight W in Riverdale. W, 21-7, 16-3
2/28 vs Canisius. Seniors go out in style. W, 22-7, 17-3
With a 17-3 mark, Iona should win the league by at least 2 games. And then, it’s the moment of truth. Words cannot express the importance of MAAC Tourney weekend, as Cluess and Grasso need to show they can take home the trophy when the target is on their back. With the different format, there is one less “excuse”. Pump the kids with vitamins so there are no illnesses, and of course keep everyone healthy on the whole, and this team has the size inside and the experience on the perimeter to get it done and cut down the nets for the first time in 3 years. Should the Gaels win, they would project to be a 13 seed most likely, with a chance at a 12. And in that spot, and with more size and an experienced lot, Iona would certainly have a realistic chance of FINALLY getting that elusive NCAA win. But let’s get there first, and worry about all that later.
Should Iona fall short again in tourney play, Iona should be relatively in the same position they were in a year ago—a few spots away from any hope of an at-large. There will not be enough quality wins to push our RPI to the 40s or so, which is where we’d need to be to have a realistic chance.
In terms of a range for expectations, barring injuries of course, hitting that 20-win mark seems to be the low end. The MAAC has enough poor teams to not expect any worse than 15-5 in the league, but the OOC is unforgiving—so really even 20 is no complete lock. On the flip side, if these paint players really perform well enough to complement the core 4 guys, this team could give us that “special season” we’ve been dying for. Iona can really roll to an 18-2 or 19-1 type of MAAC season, and if they can find a way to win a couple of those top 50 games, we could be looking at 25-26 wins ENTERING the MAAC Tournament. Win the tourney then and then we could be talking about more like an 11 seed! Dare to dream, baby.
So, there you have it! Add your picks to this thread and let’s see how we do!
