Iona is aware of what UConn brings and must play ‘virtually easiest’

school basketball

Through zach brazil

March 17, 2023 | 12:13 am

ALBANY – Iona is strolling into the MVP Area together with his eyes vast open.

It understands the problem.

It is aware of how exhausting it should be to be disillusioned.

It hasn’t regarded anything else like Connecticut, Friday afternoon’s West Regional opening spherical rival.

“We all know there’s a small margin of error for us on this recreation,” stated guard Dennis Jenkins, MAAC Event Maximum Remarkable Participant. “We need to play virtually easiest.”

Corridor of Reputation trainer Rick Pitino stated Thursday, Connecticut isn’t a normal four-seed.

It has national-championship attainable.

It owns victories over the entire No. 1 seed, Alabama, and Giant East regular-season and match champion Marquette.

It’s considered one of most effective 4 groups within the nation to be ranked within the most sensible 20 in each offensive and defensive potency.

Pitino stated, “We need to play nice to overcome them.”

Added Jenkins: “We adore this problem. In lifestyles, they throw a wide variety of demanding situations at you, so that you simply must be in a position. You want that problem.”

The Huskies (25-8) would possibly in reality be under-seeded.

However, Pitino additionally stated that his crew could also be superb.

Seeded Thirteenth, Gayle enters the match profitable 14 instantly video games, profitable 11 through double digits.

They gained their 3 MAAC match video games through a blended 53 issues and performed the Sixtieth-ranked non-conference program within the nation – dealing with CAA regular-season champion Hofstra, The united states East champion Vermont, and high quality Atlantic 10 techniques St. Bonaventure and St. Louis. Did. ,

Pitino’s crew survived important accidents to beginning energy ahead Quinn Slazinski (out for the season), main scorer Walter Clayton Jr. and beginning guard Beric Jean-Louis.

This didn’t prevent Gayle.

They were given higher because the season advanced and had their maximum wins (27) because the 1997–98 season.

“Those guys did not let it prevent them. They only stored profitable, and that next-man-up mentality helped us,” Pitino stated. “Thru all that adversity, they simply grew more potent as a basketball crew.”

Loopy upsets are a staple this month.

It was once a MAAC program, St. Peter’s, the favourite of closing yr’s match, pulling off 3 main stunners to develop into the primary fifteenth seed to achieve the Elite 8.

For Iona (27-7) to practice in Peacock’s footsteps, it’s going to wish to cling its personal within the paint towards the larger, deeper and extra athletic UConn.

Led through bodily large males Adama Sanogo and Donovan Klingon, the Huskies are the country’s No. 1 crew in offensive rebounding proportion (38.0).

They slam their warring parties at the glass, rating moment nationally in rebounding margin at plus-nine.

“I’ve the arrogance to play towards any pageant,” stated junior ahead Neely Jr. Joseph — the anchor of Iona’s frontcourt who’s averaging 15.1 issues, 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks consistent with recreation.

“We simply need to paintings exhausting and get them off the backboard up to conceivable.”

When the season began, Iona had a number of first crew objectives.

One was once profitable the MAAC steady season identify.

Every other was once profitable the post-season match.

Nevertheless it did not finish there.

Gayle additionally sought after to win the varsity’s first NCAA match recreation.

This may be Iona’s sixteenth NCAA match look, and the one win (in 1980) was once vacated because of NCAA violations.

Friday afternoon can be some other likelihood to get on board.

“The thrill stage is throughout the roof,” stated Jean-Louis. “We are in a position to play and display everybody what we will be able to do. It is March.

3 keys to victory

Here is a have a look at what Thirteenth-seeded Iona must do to disillusioned fourth-seeded Connecticut on Friday.

give protection to protecting glass

Iona’s focal point remained on gang rebounding all week, looking to restrict Connecticut’s second-chance alternatives.

Indisputably more uncomplicated stated than accomplished.

The bodily Huskies lead the country in offensive rebounding proportion at 38.0.

In the meantime, Gayle ranks 260th nationally in defensive rebounding proportion at 71.7 p.c.

This space of ​​the matchup turns out like a mismatch.

keep shut

UConn has misplaced within the closing two NCAA tournaments as a better seed.

Beneath trainer Dan Hurley, the Huskies haven’t begun to seek out luck in March.

If Iona can rotate deep into the second one part, Connecticut would possibly tighten up, and glance previous March’s disasters.

put nelly at the flooring

Iona ahead Nelly Jr. Joseph must keep out of the foul.

Trainer Rick Pitino actually has no different selection however to handle a 6-foot-9, 240-pound junior of Connecticut’s dimension.

Fellow starter Osborne Shema is 7-foot tall, however lacks the energy had to care for Huskies duo Adama Sanogo and Donovan Klingon, who’re averaging a blended 23.9 issues and 13.0 rebounds consistent with recreation.