NOBODY took Iona coach Jeff Ruland seriously when he proclaimed his fellow MAAC coaches were foolish for picking the Gaels as the preseason No. 1 choice.
“I don’t understand that,” he said Nov. 8 at the Garden.
Ruland was playing to the crowd, of course. A little signature dry humor from a coach who can compete with Bill Murray along those lines.
But he also was being motivational. He knew his Gaels had an arduous non-conference schedule to tackle even before MAAC play began in earnest. He knew that if they were going to keep up with the Iowa States, Kentuckys, Seton Halls and Fresno States of the world, he needed their full attention right away.
It worked.
“I was trying to downplay everything just a little. I wanted to see how we’d respond with the bull’s-eye on our back,” said Ruland, who watched Iona improve to 8-2 with a 70-69 victory at Fresno State Tuesday. “So far, we’ve played well. But our goal is to get to the [NCAA] Tournament. We’ve done well in non-conference. But, for us, the league is what it’s all about.”
Although they’ve already played two MAAC games – both wins – the conference slate truly becomes the focus tonight, when the Gaels play host to rival Manhattan (6-4, 2-0) at 7.
“We still haven’t really done anything in conference,” senior guard Ricky Soliver said. “It’s really going to pick up against Manhattan and, hopefully, we can build off the momentum of the non-conference wins.”
There were six of those, including an 89-72 decision over then-No. 22 Iowa State Nov. 26. There also was a quality loss – 73-67 to No. 19 Kentucky Dec. 23.
“I’ll put our non-conference schedule up against anybody in our league, any year,” Ruland said. “We play the better teams to get us better prepared for the league.”
The strategy may just result in a title – not to mention an interest in Selection Sunday’s festivities – two months from now.
“We haven’t faltered in our belief. We still believe we’re the team to beat in the MAAC,” said senior guard Steve Burtt, who sank the winning 3-pointer against Fresno State with 19 seconds left. “We play with that belief and we’re going to continue to play with it.”
Even if Ruland doesn’t “understand” it.
SEAHAWK STRATEGY
In keeping with the tough-schedule theme, give credit to Wagner coach Mike Deane for stepping up. The Seahawks have just three losses this season, two to 2005 NCAA tourney teams.
“When you go up a level from where we are, it’s always a big challenge,” Deane said. “That’s always good, because just in case you’re fortunate enough to get to the NCAA Tournament yourselves, you’ll know what to expect.”
On Nov. 26, Wagner (8-3, 1-1 NEC) dropped a 71-67 decision to Vermont, a second-round team last year. On Dec. 21, it fell, 74-72, to No. 11 UCLA, a first-round team.
A PRIDE TRADITION
Perhaps there’s something in the water in Hempstead, because Hofstra is sprouting successful coaches.
Jay Wright, who left the Pride for Villanova five years ago, has the No. 3 Wildcats at 10-0 and 34-8 over the last two seasons. Tom Pecora, who replaced Wright at Hofstra, is 9-2 and 30-11.
But the Pride figure to be tested this month, as the Colonial Athletic Conference schedule picks up momentum. The league is centered around teams in Virginia, which means some long flights and sleepless nights.
“We rack up the mileage, baby,” Pecora said. “That’s part of the equation. You play the hand you’re dealt. And it’s a tough league. You just can’t circle any one game and say you’re going to get this one or that one.”
Seems he’s well on his way to getting plenty.