The Iceman is headed to Iona.

Ice Asortse,  a 6-foot-7, 238-pound forward from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, has pledged to play for head coach Tim Cluess and associate head coach Jared Grasso.

“I have verbally committed to Iona a minute ago,” Asortse told SNY.tv. (more…)

Iona and Manhattan may both be capable of winning a few games in the NCAA Tournament this year, but it’s likely that only one of them will get to Dance.

The MAAC has historically been a one-bid league, and first-year Manhattan coach Steve Masiello doesn’t see that changing this March.

“Don’t get me wrong, the regular season matters and the seeding matters and you want to win the conference,” Masiello, whose team hosts Iona Saturday night, told SNY.tv Friday by phone. “But it all comes down to what you do on March 2-5.” (more…)

The Iceman could be coming to Iona.

Ice Asortse, a 6-foot-7, 238-pound forward from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, said Iona is among his favorites at this point in his recruitment.

“I haven’t taken a visit yet but I like Iona,” the Iceman, a 22-year-old Nigerian native, told SNY.tv by text.

Niagara, Stephen F. Austin and LIU are also involved for Asortse, who will have two years of Division 1 eligibility beginning next season. (more…)

Scott Machado is getting contact lenses, which could spell really bad news for Iona’s opponents going forward.

You see, Machado already leads the nation with 10.33 assists per game, yet he’s been having trouble seeing.

“I went to the doctor because I was having these mild headaches and people were telling me it was because of my vision,” the former St. Benedict’s star told SNY.tv Friday before putting up a near-triple-double of 11 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds in an 91-71 home win over Rider.

“I went to go check it out and the lady was like, ‘You need glasses.’ And she was like, ‘That could be the cause of your headaches.” (more…)

By JOSH NEWMAN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – If all the key figures declare for this June’s NBA Draft, there is going to be a whole lot of exceptional talent at the top waiting for David Stern to call their name.

The Draft lottery could be a smorgasbord of talent at the top with the likes of Kentucky freshman forward Anthony Davis, UConn freshman center Andre Drummond, North Carolina sophomore swingman Harrison Barnes and Ohio State sophomore forward Jared Sullinger at the top.

What you won’t find is a pure point guard. The first point guard listed among the “Top 100 Prospects” on DraftExpress.com is Carolina sophomore Kendall Marshall at No. 20.

Iona senior Scott Machado?  (more…)

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The best thing that happened to Iona point guard Scott Machado was spending this summer in Brazil and China.

Machado, whose parents were both born in Brazil, trained with the Brazilian team for the World University Games and then competed with the team in Shenzhen, China from Aug. 13-17.

He now leads Division 1 with 12.2 assists per game while averaging 18.6 points through five games for the 4-1 Gaels.

“I think it helped him grow up a lot,” Iona coach Tim Cluess said after his team pasted LIU, 100-84, Monday night. “He probably got to see some people who played professionally or work at the game professionally and realize where his work ethic is compared to theirs. (more…)

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Iona’s dynamic offense rolled through Long Island University for 100 points Monday night, and LIU coach Jim Ferry said afterward the Gaels could keep on rolling into an NCAA Tournament run.

“That is one of the most dynamic offensive teams I’ve seen in maybe 10 years,” Ferry said after Iona destroyed LIU, 100-84, for their second straight 100-plus point game. “All their pieces just really fit.

“That’s a five seed. I mean, I don’t want to put any pressure on them, but come on.” (more…)

Prior to this year, the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament record for assists was 22 in three games.

Iona’s Scott Machado shattered that mark by dishing 41 dimes in three contests– against just six turnovers — to lead the Gaels to a 2-1 record in the event.

“It’s amazing,” Machado told SNY.tv by phone after going for 15 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers in Iona’s 89-63 rout of Maryland. (more…)

Iona is so loaded with guards that if they played in the Big East, they would have one of the top five backcourts in the league, one Big East coach told SNY.tv.

Picked to win the MAAC, Tim Cluess’ squad will start the 6-foot-1 Scott Machado and 6-foot Arizona transfer Lamont “Momo” Jones in the backcourt.

“I think our backcourt is what really puts us up in the elite area of our league,” Cluess said on a conference call promoting the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, where the Gaels will open Nov. 17 against Purdue (1 p.m. ESPNU). (more…)

David Laury will never play on the same Iona team as Mike Glover, but he’s looking forward to practicing against him.

“To get a chance to play against a Mike Glover for a year will just elevate my game, especially defensively where I need the most work,” Laury said by text.

As reported last week, the 6-foot-8, 245-pound Laury committed to Iona but won’t be eligible until Jan. 2013. He chose the Gaels over Baylor, UMass, Southern Miss and Utah State.

For the upcoming season he will practice with a team that includes Glover, Lamont “Momo” Jones and Scott Machado and was picked to win the MAAC.

“I chose Iona because for the first time I found genuine coaches in my opinion who are going to help me reach my potential and get the most out of me,” said Laury, who was recruited by Iona associate head coach Jared Grasso. “Every coach on the staff is a good genuine guy. I just couldn’t be happier.” (more…)