SportsLine.com Report
March 16, 2000

Round 1: Awe-struck Gaels routed by Maryland

Iona had a bad mix from the opening tip. The Gaels were facing a star with something to prove and were admittedly in awe of the entire Maryland team.

The Terrapins opened a 23-4 lead, got 22 points and 12 rebounds from junior forward Terence Morris and No. 3 seed Maryland defeated the Gaels, 74-59 in Minneapolis.

"We were in awe of them a little bit in the first half," Iona's Tariq Kirksay said. "They did a great job of stopping me."

Kirksay, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the year, scored only four of his 24 points in the first half. The Gaels made a late run to close within 12 points at the two-minute mark, but ran out of gas trying to come all the way back from a 38-25 halftime deficit.

By the half, Morris, the preseason favorite for ACC player of the year who didn't quite live up to the hype, had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

"Instead of coming out like Cinderella, we came out like Tinkerbell," said Iona coach Jeff Ruland.

How They Got There

Iona earned its second trip to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons by upsetting Siena 84-80 in the MAAC Tournament final.

With league Player of the Year Tariq Kirksay limited to just four free throws after hurting his hip on a nasty fall midway through the first half -- and despite playing on Siena's home court -- the Gaels persevered behind a career-high 27 points from sophomore Dyree Wilson.

"I was really worried about Tariq," Wilson said, "… but Coach said if you want to do something for Tariq, then win this game."

The Gaels, who started the season 6-9, trailed in each of their three conference tournament wins, a much different scenario than the 1998 tournament, when they led for all but 40 seconds.

Starting Lineup

• PG Jason Young (6-2, 195, Sr.): Young was instrumental down the stretch; the Gaels are 12-3 since he took over for freshman Maceo Wofford.
• SG Phil Grant (6-7, 210, Jr.): Grant provides another active body for Ruland, and has developed his 3-point stroke lately, adding another dimension to Iona's attack.
• C Ivo Kresta (6-9, 230, Sr.): Kresta shook off ankle problems to help his Gaels get through the MAAC Tournament, and was one of the keys to the team's resurgent play.
• SF Dyree Wilson (6-5, 205, Soph.): The MVP of the conference tournament, Wilson is rapidly developing as a weapon, averaging 20 points in the three tournament victories.
• PF Tariq Kirksay (6-6, 215, Sr.): Kirksay has been a constant throughout his career, earning the MAAC's Player of the Year honor this season.

Keys to Success

The Gaels can play numerous styles, and that versatility should prove to be helpful in the NCAAs. Iona excels in transition, has low-post threats in Nakiea Miller and Ivo Kresta, can hit from the outside, and is athletic enough to pose problems defensively.

Jason Young must run the team competently, and even though they were able to win the MAAC title game largely without Tariq Kirksay, their big gun must be healthy and be a strong force if the Gaels are to pull off a first-round upset. It would serve them well if Dyree Wilson continues his emergence postseason.

The Coach

Jeff Ruland will make his first trip to the NCAA Tournament as a head coach. Two years ago, he was an assistant on Tim Welsh's staff when the Gaels fell on a buzzer-beater by Syracuse's Marius Janulis. Ruland, a former NBA standout, is saying that he is committed to the university he helped put on the map as an All-American under coach Jim Valvano in the late 1970s. "I have no aspirations to coach anywhere else," Ruland said.

The Bench

Ruland played 10 or 11 players on a consistent basis earlier in the season, but settled on a smaller rotation down the stretch and through the postseason.

Miller (6-9, 240) was the MAAC's top weapon off the bench, and is nearly unstoppable down low. In the MAAC semis against Fairfield, he showed his defensive prowess, blocking 11 shots. Backup point Maceo Wofford can change a game's tempo. Forwards Leland Mathews and Jermaine Small supply depth up front.

Offense

The Gaels have a diversified offense that poses problems. Miller will be a key in the post, and must stay out of foul trouble. Kirksay and Wilson must create and finish on the break ... Kirksay became only the third player in Iona history to record more than 1,700 points and 800 rebounds in a career. ... The Gaels made a noticeable improvement in their free-throw shooting this season, finishing the regular season at 72.5 percent, third in the MAAC. The Gaels made 65.4 percent from the line last season, and 68.7 percent in the 1997-98 season.

Defense

Iona's second-half surge can be traced to the increased intensity on the defensive end of the court. The Gaels' defense has been outstanding over the past 12 games, holding opponents to just .398 shooting, including .294 from three-point range. For the season, the Gaels allow teams to shoot 41.7 percent.