1979–80 Iona Gaels men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1979–80 Iona Gaels Basketball 175 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference ECAC Metro 19 29–5 Jim Valvano 5th Hynes Athletic Center ECAC Metro tournament champions NCAA tournament Second Round The 1979–80 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by fifth-year head coach Jim Valvano, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center. The Gaels won the ECAC Metro Basketball tournament to receive a bid to the 1980 NCAA tournament. As the No. 6 seed in the East region, the Gaels defeated No. 11 seed Holy Cross in the opening roundIona Beats Holy Cross, Meets GU https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/03/08/iona-beats-holy-cross-meets-gu/2cae534d-9ae6-4e86-a9ba-d78e8bff82aa/ The Washington Post March 8, 1980 January 30, 2022 – the first and only NCAA Tournament victory in school history.Iona Wins, 84-78, In East Regional; First N.C.A.A. Victory https://www.nytimes.com/1980/03/08/archives/iona-wins-8478-in-east-regional-first-ncaa-victory-ruland-sluggish.html The New York Times March 8, 1980 January 30, 2022 Iona was narrowly defeated by No. 3 seed Georgetown in the round of 32.Georgetown Nips Iona to Gain East Semifinals https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/03/10/georgetown-nips-iona-to-gain-east-semifinals/c730852c-d20c-4238-a686-ea90fc89bc4a/ The Washington Post March 10, 1980 January 30, 2022 As of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, this is the furthest any Iona men's team has ever advanced in the NCAA Tournament. On February 21, Iona halted No. 2 Louisville’s 18-game winning streak by dominating the Cardinals, 77–60, at Madison Square Garden.Iona Upsets Louisville; De Paul (24-0) Wins; Conqueror of St. John's https://www.nytimes.com/1980/02/22/archives/iona-upsets-louisville-de-paul-240-wins-conqueror-of-st-johns.html The New York Times February 22, 1980 January 30, 2022 It was the last game Louisville would lose during the season en route to winning the 1980 NCAA Championship. It was the 12th straight of what would end up being a 17-game win streak for the Gaels. Roster 1979 Iona Gaels y Kevin Hamilton 14 G 6 3 Sr Glenn Vickers G 6 1 Sr Jeff Ruland 43 C 6 10 230 Jr Sachem HS Lake Ronkonkoma, New York y Jim Valvano https://icgaels.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1979-80 https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iona/1980.html 1979–80 Iona Gaels Roster and Stats Sports Reference January 30, 2022 Schedule and results 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings 1979 yes yes |- !colspan=9 style=Iona Gaels| Regular season Nov 30, 1979 yes yes Texas A&M 14 Buckner Fieldhouse Anchorage, Alaska Great Alaska Shootout 78–52 1–0 Dec 1, 1979 yes yes 1979 men Long Beach State 49ers Long Beach State Buckner Fieldhouse Anchorage, Alaska Great Alaska Shootout 86–75 2–0 Dec 2, 1979 yes yes Kentucky 2 Buckner Fieldhouse Anchorage, Alaska Great Alaska Shootout 50–57 2–1 Dec 8, 1979 yes yes 1979 men Saint Mary's Gaels Saint Mary's McKeon Pavilion Moraga, California 79–73 3–1 Dec 11, 1979 yes yes 1979 men San Francisco Dons San Francisco War Memorial Gymnasium San Francisco, California 66–76 3–2 Dec 15, 1979 yes 1979 men Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Fairleigh Dickinson Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 75–58 4–2 Dec 23, 1979 yes 1979 men Belmont Abbey Crusaders Belmont Abbey Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 54–48 5–2 Dec 28, 1979 yes 1979 men Air Force Falcons Air Force Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York Iona Classic 64–51 6–2 Dec 29, 1979 yes 1979 men St. Bonaventure Bonnies St. Bonaventure Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York Iona Classic 75–67 7–2 Jan 3, 1980 yes 1979 men Wichita State Shockers Wichita State Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 84–70 8–2 Jan 5, 1980 yes yes Georgetown 18 McDonough Gymnasium Washington, D.C. 84–95 3,805 8–3 Jan 7, 1980 yes 1979 men Baltimore Bees Baltimore Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 68–51 9–3 Jan 12, 1980 yes yes Alabama-Birmingham Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Birmingham, Alabama 70–65 10–3 Jan 17, 1980 yes 1979 men McNeese State Cowboys McNeese State Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 76–66 11–3 Jan 19, 1980 yes yes 1979 men Niagara Purple Eagles Niagara Niagara Falls Convention Center Lewiston, New York 88–74 12–3 Jan 21, 1980 yes yes 1979 men Pittsburgh Panthers Pittsburgh Fitzgerald Field House Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 63–75 12–4 Jan 23, 1980 yes 1979 men Colgate Raiders Colgate Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 54–49 13–4 Jan 26, 1980 yes yes Holy Cross Hart Center Worcester, Massachusetts 82–67 14–4 Jan 30, 1980 yes yes 1979 men Wagner Seahawks Wagner Sutter Gymnasium Staten Island, New York 77–73 15–4 Feb 2, 1980 yes yes Fordham Rose Hill Gym Bronx, New York 65–59 16–4 Feb 4, 1980 yes 1979 men Saint Peter's Peacocks Saint Peter's Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 65–62 17–4 Feb 7, 1980 yes Kansas Madison Square Garden New York, New York 81–77 18–4 Feb 9, 1980 yes 1979 men Army Cadets Army Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 67–54 19–4 Feb 11, 1980 yes 1979 men Saint Francis Red Flash Saint Francis (PA) Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 72–62 20–4 Feb 14, 1980 yes yes 1979 men Manhattan Jaspers Manhattan Draddy Gymnasium New York, New York 70–57 21–4 Feb 16, 1980 yes yes 1979 men LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds Long Island University Schwartz Athletic Center 85–72 22–4 Feb 18, 1980 yes 1979 men Siena Saints Siena Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York 84–72 23–4 Feb 21, 1980 yes Louisville 2 Madison Square Garden New York, New York 77–60Iona MBB To Honor 40 Year Anniversary of Historic 1980 Victory Over Louisville https://icgaels.com/news/2020/1/27/iona-mbb-to-honor-40-year-anniversary-of-historic-1980-victory-over-louisville.aspx Iona College Athletics January 27, 2020 January 30, 2022 24–4 Feb 23, 1980 yes yes 1979 men Fairfield Stags Fairfield Alumni Hall Fairfield, Connecticut 74–53 25–4 |- !colspan=9 style=Iona Gaels| ECAC Metro tournament Feb 28, 1980 yes Fairleigh Dickinson Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, New York Quarterfinals 69–53 26–4 Feb 29, 1980 yes yes Siena Alumni Hall Queens, New York Semifinals 76–70 27–4 Mar 1, 1980 yes yes Saint Peter's Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, New York Championship game 64–46 28–4 |- !colspan=9 style=Iona Gaels| NCAA tournament Mar 7, 1980 yes yes 19 6 E Holy Cross 11 E Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island First round 84–78 29–4 Mar 9, 1980 yes yes 19 6 E Georgetown 11 3 E Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island Second Round 71–74 29–5 AP poll Eastern Time E East 1979-80 Men's Basketball Schedule https://icgaels.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1979-80 Iona College Athletics January 30, 20222019-20 Iona Men's Basketball Record Book https://ionacollege_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/stats/mbasketball/2019-20/gamenotes/1920-RecordBook.pdf Iona College Athletics 52 January 30, 2022 Rankings 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings Awards and honors Jeff Ruland – All-American, Haggerty Award, Great Alaska Shootout Tournament MVP NBA draft 1980 NBA draft Iona Gaels Round Pick Player NBA club 2 25 Jeff Ruland Golden State Warriors https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1980.html 1980 NBA Draft Basketball-reference.com January 30, 2022 References Category:Iona Gaels men's basketball seasons Iona Iona Iona Gaels men's basketball Iona Gaels men's basketball