INSIDER
Pitino back in the NCAA Tournament with MAAC champs Iona
Read full article: Pitino back in the NCAA Tournament with MAAC champs IonaAsante Gist scored 18 points and Pitino took his record-tying fifth school to the NCAA Tournament with Ionaโs 60-51 victory over Fairfield on Saturday in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament championship. Next stop, the all-Indiana NCAA Tournament. Gistโs absence was short-lived and he hit a 3 in his return to send the Gaels on their way to their fifth straight NCAA Tournament. Iona had completed a good run under Tim Cluess, who made six NCAA Tournament appearances and won five MAAC Tournament titles in nine seasons before stepping down for health reasons, when it hired Pitino. BIG PICTUREIona: Pitino joined Lon Kruger and Tubby Smith as the only coaches to take five programs to the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness? Pitino's whole 1st season at Iona maddening
Read full article: March Madness? Pitino's whole 1st season at Iona maddeningForced to pause four times this season because of the virus, once for nearly two months, the Gaels need to win their conference tournament this week to make the NCAA Tournament. When Iona hired the Hall of Fame coach last March 14, there was no celebration for the new biggest man on campus. Weโre trying to make the best of it in very difficult times,โ Pitino said. Perhaps things couldโve been different if the NCAA went with Pitinoโs May Madness concept. Basketball-wise weโll get through it and hopefully have a normal basketball season next year.โ___More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/College-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25