2023 College Basketball Preview: Iona Gaels

The college basketball season is less than two weeks away, and here at FTN Bets we have you covered for what promises to be another thrilling year of upsets and incredible finishes. I will be taking you around the country with a betting preview of the major conferences and mid-major teams. I recap the betting trends from last season, list projected starters, preview the season, identify a key player and reveal how I’m backing or fading each team.

Let’s continue our preview with the Iona Gaels. The Gaels have been one of the most underrated mid-major programs of the past 15 seasons. Iona found success with Kevin Willard, then became a dominant force in the MAAC under Tim Cluess. In Cluess’ 10 seasons, Iona won four MAAC regular season titles and five MAAC Tournament championships. That success continued with Rick Pitino, who posted two regular season MAAC titles and two MAAC Championships. They are now led by former FDU head coach Tobin Anderson, fresh off a legendary upset of No. 1 seeded Purdue in last year’s NCAA Tournament. 

Can Anderson continue the sustained success that Iona fans now expect? 

Let’s continue our betting previews with the Iona Gaels.

Iona Gaels Betting Preview

Conference: MAAC
Head Coach: Tobin Anderson (1st season)
2022-2023 Record: 27-8 (17-3)
ATS: 20-15
O/U: 16-19
Projected Starters: G Joel Brown, G Idan Tretout, G Greg Gordon, F Terrell Williams Jr., C Osborn Shema, 

Preview: Former head coach Rick Pitino moves on to St. John’s but more than met the expectations in his three years with the Gaels. Iona produced two regular-season MAAC titles and two MAAC Tournament Championships, which translated to a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament. In comes Tobin Anderson, who was the architect of the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history, with his No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson Knights upsetting No. 1 seed Purdue. 

As expected, there was an exodus of talent, with only 7-0 center Osborn Shema the remaining Gael player of significance. Brown (California) and Tretout (Harvard) are solid transfers who bring leadership to the New Rochelle backcourt. 

Key Player: Osborn Shema

Shema has improved every season, posting career-highs in points (7.0), rebounds (4.7) and blocks (1.3) this past year. Shema is a versatile big in the mold of Toronto Raptors big man Chris Boucher. Shema shot 36% from 3P range last year on 64 attempts. He will need to play well to offset the personnel losses, especially Nelly Junior Joseph, who transferred to New Mexico to play for Pitino’s son. 

Projection: Iona will be a huge fade for me to start the season. I am always skeptical of a coaching change with a fluctuating roster. Anderson has only one year of Division I coaching experience, last year’s magic run with the Knights. Prior to that, he spent nine years at St. Thomas Aquinas. It’s a huge leap to join an Iona program that has been the class of the MAAC for years. Anderson loves to run but had a much smaller lineup at FDU. Iona has always played fast under Cluess and Pitino, but I question whether this roster has the talent to be efficient at that pace. I will not be projecting Iona anywhere near the top of the MAAC in Anderson’s inaugural season. It’s a year of adjustment. 

How I’m Betting Iona: Fairleigh Dickinson was 16-18-1 ATS last season, showing no success on the betting line. Anderson’s teams play at a fast pace, with the second-fastest tempo in the Northeast Conference last season. Iona ranked second in adjusted tempo in the MAAC last year as well (KenPom). The Knights were 19-15-1 to the over, which is where my early-season bets will be placed. Iona fans will see the same fast-paced offense that existed under Pitino, but I am very skeptical of the defense and wins this team will produce in Anderson’s first season.