New-look Iona men’s basketball hopeful for upcoming season after roster reset

NEW ROCHELLE – For the second straight year, the Iona men’s basketball program and coach Tobin Anderson were forced to hit the reset button.

Unlike last summer, though, the Gaels are fielding a completely new roster. Last year, they had forward Osborn Shema as the lone holdover from the Rick Pitino era, but this year, there are no returning players from its 16-17 season.

Iona gave a public introduction to its 15 new players with an open practice on campus on Tuesday night.

“I think we’ve done a really good job and time will tell, obviously,” Anderson said of the roster rebuild entering his second year with the Gaels. “We can talk all you want in August, but what happens in the winter will make the difference. We had to get to that point and build this culture. I was demoralized that night (when Iona lost 77-60 to rival Manhattan). I was not demoralized when guys were leaving.

“If you don’t want to be here and do what we have to do to be successful, we’re better off going someplace else, and we’ll find guys who want to be here. These guys all want to be here and they all want to compete. They’re all here for the right reasons and I feel really good about that.”

Iona basketball head coach Tobin Anderson introduces player Clarence Rupert meet and greet and open practice at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle Aug. 3, 2024.

Iona bid farewell to its last remaining player of the 2023-24 season on March 22, when then-freshman guard Jean Aranguren opted to transfer out, leaving the Gaels’ roster completely empty.

Anderson and his staff worked hard to replenish the ranks since then. The new-look squad completed its 38th summer workout on Tuesday night.

“It’s just reality, it’s kind of where we’re at right now, you have to manage it, accept it, you can’t complain and you have to find a way to be successful in this era,” said Anderson, referring to the changing recruiting landscape which also impacted other schools in the MAAC and similar-level conferences. “It’s not as easy. You used…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/look-iona-mens-basketball-hopeful-070112390.html

Author : Lohud | The Journal News

Publish date : 2024-08-07 07:01:12

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