Iona Gaels men's basketball
The Iona Gaels men's basketball team represents Iona College in New Rochelle, New York in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and plays home games in Hynes Athletic Center. On March 14, 2020, the Gaels hired Rick Pitino as their head coach.
History
Iona College has been competing in Division I basketball since the school's inception in 1940. Iona is also one of the founding members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which began play in men's basketball with the 1981–82 season. The Gaels have compiled the most victories of any MAAC team since the founding of the conference and have won a league record twelve MAAC titles. They appeared in the NCAA tournament in 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019; with the first two of those appearances coming as a member of the Metropolitan Conference and in 2012 as an at-large selection out of the MAAC. The Gaels have also been to 4 NITs, in 1982, 1983, 1996, and 1997. In 2011, the Gaels made it to the final game of the CIT post-season tournament, losing at home to Santa Clara.Postseason
NCAA Tournament results
The Gaels have appeared in 14 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–13.| 1979 | First Round | Penn | L 69–73 |
| 1980* | First Round Second Round | Holy Cross Georgetown | W 84–78 L 71–74 |
| 1984 | First Round | Virginia | L 57–58 |
| 1985 | First Round | Loyola Chicago | L 58–59 |
| 1998 | First Round | Syracuse | L 61–63 |
| 2000 | First Round | Maryland | L 59–74 |
| 2001 | First Round | Mississippi | L 70–72 |
| 2006 | First Round | LSU | L 64–80 |
| 2012 | First Four | BYU | L 72–78 |
| 2013 | First Round | Ohio State | L 70–95 |
| 2016 | First Round | Iowa State | L 81–94 |
| 2017 | First Round | Oregon | L 77–93 |
| 2018 | First Round | Duke | L 67–89 |
| 2019 | First Round | North Carolina | L 73–88 |
NIT results
The Gaels have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament six times. Their combined record is 1–6.| 1982 | First Round | Rutgers | L 51–55 |
| 1983 | First Round Second Round | St. Bonaventure Nebraska | W 90–76 L 73–85 |
| 1996 | First Round | St. Joseph's | L 78–82 |
| 1997 | First Round | Connecticut | L 66–71 |
| 2014 | First Round | Louisiana Tech | L 88–89 |
| 2015 | First Round | Rhode Island | L 75–88 |
CIT results
The Gaels have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament one time. Their record is 3–1| 2011 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Valpariso Buffalo East Tennessee State Santa Clara | W 85–77 W 78–63 W 83–80 L 69–76 |
Victories over ranked opponents
- Feb. 21, 1980: Iona 77, Louisville 60
- Dec. 27, 2002: Iona 65, North Carolina 56
- Nov. 26, 2005: Iona 89, Iowa State 72
Gaels in the NBA
- Richie Guerin
- Jeff Ruland
- Steve Burtt, Sr.
- Sean Green
- Scott Machado