Iona 2024-25 roster

[gaelsiona]

Mar 19, 2024 8:52:31 GMT -5 Joebird said:

Mar 19, 2024 8:42:39 GMT -5 broguy99 said:

Definitely not how I feel. But c'mon. How are you supposed to have any attachment to a team if it starts over each year. Maybe it's easy for the blue bloods when you got NBA prospects on your team.

But if something doesn't change we are simply a practice squad for bigger schools ready to be poached.

Have to agree with Broguy and Gaelhoops and probably many others who didn't voice this yet, really miss having players you see develop. I think that is why we all felt so fondly about Oz. The same will happen with Aranguren and Adawale if they stay, but we need more of this. 1 year players just don't do it, need a few to be here at least a couple of years. It really hurts how passionate you can get behind a team. This is going to hurt everything; attendance, season tickets, contributions. It's not Iona's fault, but 2 years of this and we are definitely on the bottom end of returning players since NIL became a factor.

Yup. And I in particular have no interest in “waiting until March” this year for this team to mesh. NIL sucks

[Joebird]

Would love to know how Tobin is feeling. Was this expected or a total surprise. He had said he couldn’t wait until this recruiting season because it will be much easier, and now it’s not. He also said he believed if you recruited the right people you can get them to stay. Wonder about his thoughts now? Does he still have the optimism? Can’t see how a coach can take this every year. If this year doesn’t work out he may rethink his future, if we don’t get rid of him first. Who the hell would want to be a mid major coach for long? Other than it being a pay upgrade and a grooming spot for a better job, a long run may be mentally impossible.

[sharkey]

Mar 19, 2024 9:54:19 GMT -5 Joebird said:

Would love to know how Tobin is feeling. Was this expected or a total surprise. He had said he couldn’t wait until this recruiting season because it will be much easier, and now it’s not. He also said he believed if you recruited the right people you can get them to stay. Wonder about his thoughts now? Does he still have the optimism? Can’t see how a coach can take this every year. If this year doesn’t work out he may rethink his future, if we don’t get rid of him first. Who the hell would want to be a mid major coach for long? Other than it being a pay upgrade and a grooming spot for a better job, a long run may be mentally impossible.

Can't speak for Tobin specifically, but I can say despite yesterday, the staff and lead recruiters are actually very energized. They feel like the program will be just fine and have great opportunities ahead. Without question no hanging of heads and self pity, all-in on Tobin and staff. Kinda got the feeling that they knew this was a possibility.

Truth is the program was infected by the GG virus. Look at the "burner" accounts on Twitter. Probably a blessing in disguise, and blow it all up now after year 1. TBD if Aranguren and Adewale stay, but not surprised the 2 most humble kids on the roster have not transferred yet.

[ichoops2018]

We can’t use the same excuse as this past year when judging next year with the “whole new team/need to mesh” thing. I think Tobin and staff will feel the same. A bunch of programs are dealing with this now. You just need to recruit the right players and things should work out fine. This is how it is now, whether we like it or not. Tobins proven he’s a great coach and I think this past season was a huge learning experience for him and his staff. I have confidence that they’ll figure it out and be a consistent top MAAC team again.

[bigrich]

As a fan for 47 years, I have never been this discouraged about the future of Iona basketball. If it happens under your watch, it is your responsibility. This is on Tobin. His two best players, who he recruited, bailed on him after one year. Why? Quigley had a bright future, only a freshman. Is it the coaching staff? The facilities? The schedule? The MAAC? Tobin doesn't get a pass on this.
Other programs don't have this turnover. We need answers. I don't have the energy to go thru this every year.

[Gael15CV]

Mar 18, 2024 16:26:54 GMT -5 Cjb said:

No more feeling we could ever get a top player or two and ride them into the Big Dance with a chance to win a game. Any decent players we get will be gone after a year. It’s awful and I already feel disconnected that we are no longer a part of something greater.

I don’t blame Tobin, it’s the new NCAA!

Agree emphatically. Few others with similar posts and I wish I could link all. Very discouraging. I understand this is how college basketball is now but the product sucks. It just creates a disconnect from a team. Someone from the outside would probably say oh just support another team. But Iona is my alma mater and I can’t feel this way about another school. If we continue down this path I will always support Iona but I think I will start to loose interest in college basketball.

[St. Louis Gael]

Mar 19, 2024 8:39:42 GMT -5 GuyF said:

So it's only worth being a fan when the team is winning?

Wow.

I am struggling with the "new' basketball fan concept. Sort of been alluding to this in the Pitino thread.

Pitino was at Iona on a career rehab mission. In his earlier life, he was a $6 million + a year Coach. His players, with a couple of exceptions, were at Iona because of Pitino.

This season, Coach Anderson was very vocal that he only wants players who want to be at Iona - presumably because of the personal growth and educational opportunities in addition to their basketball development. Now we see how well that message has gone over. Iona has started a NIL program so that we all get to pay players who have zero interest in Iona and only want to establish their value to the lucrative power programs. I have no problem with Coaches or players wanted to better themselves. I just don't know that I want to pay for it.

Presumably, Coach Anderson is at Iona to further his career. Coming to Iona was a step in that career path. Iona can continue to sweeten that path until it no longer can. The man is pursuing his chosen profession - no hidden agenda.

What about the players? They seemingly have no interest in an education. Seemingly, they have no interest in Iona or in its long-term relationship opportunities. This lack of attachment is also true at the "power" schools. However, the "powers" can provide the glory and the money. Iona can provide a great education and the subsequent longer-term opportunities - Maggie Timoney.

I'm struggling here guys. Going forward, I wonder if it takes four years and a degree to earn "Once a Gael, always a Gael" .

[GuyF]

So, what Tobin tried to do last year is build for now and for the future by loading up on grads and frosh. It didn't work because the grads weren't good enough to win now and only half the frosh were good enough to be in the rotation. So, the grad kids leave, and the frustrated frosh leave, and the star frosh leaves.

So, right now, with 2 sophs and 3 frosh, what's the move? Answer: better class balance. Now, I've heard we're close on 2 more frosh, so that is what it is. But I say we get Jr jucos, senior transfers and grad transfers with the remaining 6 spots, for balance.

[hawaii bill]

Call me nuts (and I know most will) but I'm actually kind of enjoying this. Cluess re-loaded every year. This is Cluess on steroids. I don't expect anyone to agree with me and I respect everyone's feelings on the situation. At least it's not boring.

[newchapteric24]

Iona is definitely worse off than most given the Shitino shenanigans but Iona is not alone in this new landscape. I think Tobin will work it out and we will be okay by the beginning of the season. This past season in a word sucked (C grade) and I think we will improve that in 24/25. I am being very optimistic and hopefully when the dust settles, I will decide to keep my 8 seats.

[brffdone]

Mar 19, 2024 11:13:34 GMT -5 GuyF said:

So, what Tobin tried to do last year is build for now and for the future by loading up on grads and frosh. It didn't work because the grads weren't good enough to win now and only half the frosh were good enough to be in the rotation. So, the grad kids leave, and the frustrated frosh leave, and the star frosh leaves.

So, right now, with 2 sophs and 3 frosh, what's the move? Answer: better class balance. Now, I've heard we're close on 2 more frosh, so that is what it is. But I say we get Jr jucos, senior transfers and grad transfers with the remaining 6 spots, for balance.

100%. Only I would add that we check out the foreign market too.

[hawaii bill]

Sultan out.

[gaelhoops]

Mar 19, 2024 10:26:08 GMT -5 bigrich said:

As a fan for 47 years, I have never been this discouraged about the future of Iona basketball. If it happens under your watch, it is your responsibility. This is on Tobin. His two best players, who he recruited, bailed on him after one year. Why? Quigley had a bright future, only a freshman. Is it the coaching staff? The facilities? The schedule? The MAAC? Tobin doesn't get a pass on this.
Other programs don't have this turnover. We need answers. I don't have the energy to go thru this every year.

My thoughts exactly. There is either a serious problem with Tobin as a coach or these kids are getting horrible advice (maybe a combination of both). Other than Quigley and maybe Aranguren, I’d be SHOCKED if any end up at a higher level program.

[gaelsiona]

Mar 19, 2024 12:07:09 GMT -5 hawaii bill said:

Sultan out.

Complete insanity. Really hope we can land those FDU kids so there is atleast someone that knows Tobin’s system.

[Super]

Mar 19, 2024 12:07:09 GMT -5 hawaii bill said:

Sultan out.

Optics not good here. Hard to place the blame entirely on NIL and the portal when 6 of the 7 p;ayers recruitrd by the staff leave within 24 hours. This iincludes players recruited by the staff for FDU.