Iona’s NCAA showing proves how far Gaels have come, with more ground to cover

Rick Pitino’s latest run through March left lasting impression on Iona’s long-term prospects while highlighting immediate progress. (Photo by Iona College Athletics)

In the wake of Iona’s latest postseason success and conference-record 13th Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament championship, it seems as though the Gaels’ renaissance under Tim Cluess has been forgotten, by some, due to the national headlines garnered by Rick Pitino in taking over in New Rochelle, turning over approximately three-quarters of the roster and guiding it to the NCAA Tournament amid four separate pauses related to COVID-19.

But let’s be clear: Cluess deserves all the credit in the world for leaving the program in such great hands, something Pitino alluded to after Iona’s MAAC championship moment one week ago today, profusely thanking and congratulating his predecessor for the legacy he had forged and standards he upheld in cultivating and establishing the status quo of a winning culture.

That said, Pitino should not be short-changed either for winning with three of Cluess’ holdovers in Asante Gist, Isaiah Ross and Dylan van Eyck. The Hall of Famer added to his already proven pieces with a promising young contingent the likes of Nelly Junior Joseph, Berrick JeanLouis, Ryan Myers and Osborn Shema — among others — and has indicated one thing despite the ever-present rumors of him wanting one last shot at the big-money landscape of the high-major level, that he is just getting started sewing his own patch on the maroon and gold-colored quilt, content to operate at his own pace to the beat of his own drummer.

“I don’t have to look over my shoulder to see who I’m going to trust and who I’m not going to trust,” Pitino said moments after Iona’s loss to Alabama Saturday when the oft-discussed subject of his future was broached for what felt like a millionth time. “I’m in heaven right now, and (I’m) where I need to be. It’s what I call a ball, a boy, and a dream.”

And who is anyone to deny Pitino — even more so after his body of work over the past four decades, which includes a pair of national championships and two separate stints in the NBA — the right to dream on such a grand scale? Through the adversity on and off the court, a seemingly endless struggle to remain in shape as the program endured shutdown after shutdown, and a glimpse of what could be under the lights of March, Iona saw the early stages of Pitino’s dream come to fruition. And the encouraging part, unless you happen to be a fan or coach one of the ten other MAAC institutions, is that this journey is far from over.

“We were offensively challenged this year,” Pitino conceded. “I think they’re going to be terrific basketball players. We have some guys coming in from Australia, from other places, that are really going to help us offensively.”

“Coming back with 12 new players (and) two seniors giving me everything they have is a good first step to building a culture that can play against the Alabamas of the world and hold their own. They did it for a period of time. We’ve just got to improve the program and take the next step. We will take the next step. There’s no doubt in my mind that Iona is going to be a force to be reckoned with down the road.”