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NCAA Basketball: 10 teams with upset potential in 2023 NCAA Tournament

By Joey Loose

The Peacocks gather before the first half in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA tournament at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, March 25, 2022.Ncaa Basketball Ncaa Tournament Saint Peter S Vs Purdue In Sweet 16 Saint Peter S At Purdue
The Peacocks gather before the first half in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA tournament at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, March 25, 2022.Ncaa Basketball Ncaa Tournament Saint Peter S Vs Purdue In Sweet 16 Saint Peter S At Purdue /
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Iona beat Manhattan 71-60 at Iona University Feb. 17, 2023. Basketball Iona Vs Manhattan
Iona beat Manhattan 71-60 at Iona University Feb. 17, 2023. Basketball Iona Vs Manhattan /

Iona

Regular season play is not complete in the MAAC, but Iona has already clinched another regular season title. Rick Pitino has done great work to maintain this program’s dominance of this conference. Last year, the Gaels got upset early in the MAAC Tournament and sat at home as conference rival Saint Peter’s shocked the world; could this be the year that Pitino’s squad makes serious noise in the Big Dance?

If they’re going to do it, it’s going to be their threesome of talented starters leading the charge. Nelly Junior Joseph, Daniss Jenkins, and Walter Clayton all average at or around 15 points a game and none of them are seniors. Junior Joseph is a great rebounder and shot blocker, Clayton is over 41% from 3, and Jenkins is a reliable point guard that can score after spending two years on the bench at Pacific. While this team lost Quinn Slazinski to injury, senior forwards Berrick JeanLouis and Osborn Shema (who stands at 7’1) are very solid contributors as well.

The Gaels are 2nd in the nation in blocks and among the league leaders defensively in field goal percentage. The bottom line is that they have the talent and experience far superior than what you’d expect in the MAAC, not to mention a championship-pedigree head coach. If they can avoid upset this year, they’re going to be a headache for a 3 or 4 seed in a couple of weeks with their shot-making ability. Iona seems almost destined to make a run with how many times they’ve been in the Big Dance; is this that year for Pitino and company?

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