I was at the MSG game, and talent wise we had great talent, Springer, Burtt, Grimes, Hargraves, etc. However, their talent was a little better, Jordan, Worthy, Daugherty, etc. The game was competitive, and it was before the BE was formed. UNC might have been the best team an Iona team has ever played.
No that game was the 1983 Holiday Festival and the big East was three years old. Kenny Smith's freshman year and probably Dean Smith's most talented team. They wound up losing to Indiana in the Sweet Sixteen.
Last time we played UNC was during Willard’ first season. We lost 107-72. UNC was the #1 team in the country.
The time before that we beat them at MSG with Ruland as head coach in the ‘02-03 season.
We also played them in the early 80s with Kennedy as head coach. Believe the game was at MSG, perhaps others on the board remember that game.
1983 ECAC Holiday Festival 61-74 then beat Fordham in consolation game--the first of 4 victories against the Rams that season. Revenge from the ugly loss in the prior year's MAAC championship game.
1-3 all-time vs. UNC
The game was played at Chapel Hill. Richie Simmonds, Jeff Wilder days like 1985-87.
Gaels also played Kentucky in 77-78. That team went on to win a national championship. Probably the best team the Gaels ever played in the regular season judging by the stats.
Gaels also played Kentucky in 77-78. That team went on to win a national championship. Probably the best team the Gaels ever played in the regular season judging by the stats.
Ruland's freshman year. Valvano wanted to show him off to Kentucky--one of Jeff's final options.
There are some people who respect IONA basketball......We have dropped to plus 24 1/2 and in some late lines to plus 24...IMO it will go even lower...Perhaps 23 1/2....
Much will depend on Agees ability to control his emotions and stay in the game...He has been a hell of a addition and has shown what lacking height has meant to the Gaels in the past...
Visitors have asked me for a score guess on the game...Urged...I answererd 87---71 North Car......WHAT IS YOURS...
Keys to staying in the game: 1. Defend as well as can be expected given the difference in talent. I'll put a number on it: keep them under 45%. 2. Make 3s. I agree with whoever said we would end up trying more 3s in this game than most. Let's assume we try 35. We can't make only 8 of them, that number has to be more like 13+. 3. Agee and McGill have to stay out of foul trouble. I suspect we'll play mostly zone in this one, but perhaps more straight zone rather than matchup zone if the fouls begin mounting. 4. I know it's easy to say so-and-so has to have a big game. I think our three stars have to have at least average games. This isn't a game for McGill to have 6 points, 4 assists and 8 turnovers, or Agee to end with 8 points and 4 boards, or Crawford to finish with 9 points on 3 of 14 shooting. They have to have typical games for them. For the other guys, they all need to do something well. Gist needs to help run the show and get to the basket a couple times. Perez needs to make at least 2 3s, if not more. Risto has to rebound probably more than anything else. Maxwell and Hudson, if they get run, simply can't hurt us. So, to summarize, our key players have to give us what they normally do, and the others have to give us something--anything. 5. Control the tempo. Everywhere online I'm seeing "Iona's game is to run, if they run against UNC they'll get killed"--and they are right, if that's how it goes. So, I'll tweak it: run when the opportunity to present itself is there, and get back on transition defense so they're not running wild on us. It's going to be tough enough to keep them from scoring in the halfcourt, let's not give them 20 points on runout dunks. But for OUR offense, I do think whenever we can push pace, we have to do it, it's who we are.
If we do some of these, we shouldn't get smoked. If we do them all, we could make it interesting.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
gsr415............When you have been around a while you will learn to get all the excitment you can possibilty get out of being a sport fan...What harm does guessing the score bring...I wish I had only a small percentage of score picker pools....Speaking of mentality.....I have learned long ago the ''fRAME OF MIND'' Is one of the most important factor a team can have, but it is often lost when the game appears beyond victory causing run-away victories...I am counting on IONA pride to make it a tussel...
Keys to staying in the game: 1. Defend as well as can be expected given the difference in talent. I'll put a number on it: keep them under 45%. 2. Make 3s. I agree with whoever said we would end up trying more 3s in this game than most. Let's assume we try 35. We can't make only 8 of them, that number has to be more like 13+. 3. Agee and McGill have to stay out of foul trouble. I suspect we'll play mostly zone in this one, but perhaps more straight zone rather than matchup zone if the fouls begin mounting. 4. I know it's easy to say so-and-so has to have a big game. I think our three stars have to have at least average games. This isn't a game for McGill to have 6 points, 4 assists and 8 turnovers, or Agee to end with 8 points and 4 boards, or Crawford to finish with 9 points on 3 of 14 shooting. They have to have typical games for them. For the other guys, they all need to do something well. Gist needs to help run the show and get to the basket a couple times. Perez needs to make at least 2 3s, if not more. Risto has to rebound probably more than anything else. Maxwell and Hudson, if they get run, simply can't hurt us. So, to summarize, our key players have to give us what they normally do, and the others have to give us something--anything. 5. Control the tempo. Everywhere online I'm seeing "Iona's game is to run, if they run against UNC they'll get killed"--and they are right, if that's how it goes. So, I'll tweak it: run when the opportunity to present itself is there, and get back on transition defense so they're not running wild on us. It's going to be tough enough to keep them from scoring in the halfcourt, let's not give them 20 points on runout dunks. But for OUR offense, I do think whenever we can push pace, we have to do it, it's who we are.
If we do some of these, we shouldn't get smoked. If we do them all, we could make it interesting.
Good post Guy.
I'll add that I believe either Gist, Risto, or Perez will need to have their best 3-point shooting game of the season.
Keys to staying in the game: 1. Defend as well as can be expected given the difference in talent. I'll put a number on it: keep them under 45%. 2. Make 3s. I agree with whoever said we would end up trying more 3s in this game than most. Let's assume we try 35. We can't make only 8 of them, that number has to be more like 13+. 3. Agee and McGill have to stay out of foul trouble. I suspect we'll play mostly zone in this one, but perhaps more straight zone rather than matchup zone if the fouls begin mounting. 4. I know it's easy to say so-and-so has to have a big game. I think our three stars have to have at least average games. This isn't a game for McGill to have 6 points, 4 assists and 8 turnovers, or Agee to end with 8 points and 4 boards, or Crawford to finish with 9 points on 3 of 14 shooting. They have to have typical games for them. For the other guys, they all need to do something well. Gist needs to help run the show and get to the basket a couple times. Perez needs to make at least 2 3s, if not more. Risto has to rebound probably more than anything else. Maxwell and Hudson, if they get run, simply can't hurt us. So, to summarize, our key players have to give us what they normally do, and the others have to give us something--anything. 5. Control the tempo. Everywhere online I'm seeing "Iona's game is to run, if they run against UNC they'll get killed"--and they are right, if that's how it goes. So, I'll tweak it: run when the opportunity to present itself is there, and get back on transition defense so they're not running wild on us. It's going to be tough enough to keep them from scoring in the halfcourt, let's not give them 20 points on runout dunks. But for OUR offense, I do think whenever we can push pace, we have to do it, it's who we are.
If we do some of these, we shouldn't get smoked. If we do them all, we could make it interesting.
Good post Guy.
I'll add that I believe either Gist, Risto, or Perez will need to have their best 3-point shooting game of the season.
Hey, I'm just stunned you didn't mention rebounding!
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.