Amanda Knapp
The Iona Gaels are part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), which was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan University, and Saint Peter's College. The conference began with men's cross-country and men's soccer, and men's and women's basketball competitions commenced in the 1981-1982 season. The MAAC has since expanded to include other sports such as field hockey and men's lacrosse, and its teams have achieved national acclaim in various disciplines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Conference | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) |
| Founding Year | 1980 |
| Founding Members | U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan University, Saint Peter's College |
| Sports Offered | Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's Cross-Country, Men's Soccer, Women's Rowing, Men's Lacrosse |
| Notable Achievements | In 2012, Iona received an NCAA at-large tournament bid. In 2013, MAAC added Quinnipiac University and Monmouth University. In 2022, Saint Peter's became the first 15-seed to reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. |
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What You'll Learn
Iona College: Founding member of the MAAC
The Iona College men's basketball team is a founding member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The conference was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan University, and Saint Peter's College.
Competition in men's basketball began in the 1981-1982 season. Iona was the first team to represent the MAAC in the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 1984. The Gaels have had a successful history in the MAAC, consistently performing well and advancing to the NCAA tournament on multiple occasions.
In 2012, Iona was inspired by one of their best players, Sean Armand, who led them to the semifinals of the MAAC tournament that year. They received an NCAA at-large tournament bid, marking the second time the MAAC was awarded multiple men's NCAA bids. In 2012, Iona also garnered an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, advancing to the tournament alongside fellow MAAC member Loyola.
The Iona men's basketball team has continued to achieve notable success in the MAAC. During the 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the Saint Peter's Peacocks, also representing the MAAC, became the first 15th seed to reach the Elite Eight. This achievement further highlights the competitiveness and talent within the conference.
Iona College's men's basketball team has played a significant role in the MAAC since its founding. Their participation and accomplishments have contributed to the conference's growth and reputation in college basketball.
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MAAC's success in men's basketball
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division I. The conference was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan University, and Saint Peter's College. Competition in men's basketball began in the 1981–1982 season.
Iona College was the first MAAC team to represent the conference in men's basketball at the NCAA tournament in 1984. In 2012, Iona garnered an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, becoming one of two MAAC teams to advance to the tournament that year. However, they suffered a disappointing loss to the BYU Cougars, relinquishing a 25-point, first-half lead.
The MAAC has had notable successes in men's basketball over the years. In 1995, St. Peter's won the MAAC tournament, and Manhattan University, who received an at-large bid, went on to defeat Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In 2002, the Marist men's varsity eight boat advanced to the semifinals of the Temple Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta, demonstrating the conference's versatility in different sports.
More recently, during the 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the Saint Peter's Peacocks made history as the first 15th seed to reach the Elite Eight, achieving the best NCAA postseason run in the conference's 41-year history. The MAAC currently possesses 15 automatic bids to NCAA championships, showcasing its prominence in collegiate athletics.
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NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness or The Big Dance, is a single-elimination tournament played annually in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The tournament consists of 68 teams and was first held in 1939, with Oregon emerging as the inaugural winner.
The NCAA tournament has become an integral part of American popular culture, with bracket contests awarding prizes for correctly predicting game outcomes. Sports Illustrated estimated that 60 to 100 million brackets are filled out each year. The tournament has also attracted significant broadcasting interest, with Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery securing the rights through 2032 for $891 million annually.
The format of the NCAA tournament has evolved over the years. Initially, from 1939 to 1950, it featured eight teams selected from geographical districts. In 1950, the City College of New York achieved a unique double by winning both the NCAA tournament and the rival National Invitation Tournament (NIT). In response, the NCAA banned teams from participating in both tournaments. The expansion to 64 teams occurred in 1985, and the current 68-team format was adopted in 2011.
The NCAA tournament has faced competition from other tournaments, such as the NIT, which was held in New York City at Madison Square Garden and often received more media coverage in the early years due to New York's press prominence. The NCAA tournament has since become the premier post-season tournament for college basketball, with the NIT being relegated to a secondary position. The NCAA tournament's popularity is also reflected in the significant revenue it generates, which is distributed to participating teams based on their performance and provides substantial funding for college athletics programs.
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MAAC's first broadband network
The Iona Gaels are a college basketball team that plays in the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). The MAAC's first broadband network, MassBroadband 123, is a project by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI). It is committed to bringing affordable, reliable high-speed internet to all residents and businesses in Massachusetts.
The network consists of approximately 1,200 miles of fibre, connecting over 120 communities in western and north-central Massachusetts. It covers more than one-third of the state's geographic area, serving over 400,000 households and businesses and more than one million residents.
MassBroadband 123 provides direct connectivity to hundreds of public facilities in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester Counties. Local Linx offers wholesale services on the network to local retail Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who then offer broadband services to public safety entities, schools, and libraries.
The MBI has also opened the Launchpad Program and expanded the Municipal Digital Equity Planning and Implementation Programs with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021. These programs are currently suspended, and the MBI is reviewing and will share more information soon.
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MAAC: Automatic bids to NCAA championships
The Iona Gaels are part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The conference was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan University, and Saint Peter's College. Competition in men's and women's basketball began in the 1981–1982 season.
The MAAC currently possesses 15 automatic bids to NCAA championships. In 1984, the MAAC received its first automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament, with Iona the first team to represent the conference. In 2012, Iona received an at-large NCAA tournament bid, the second time the MAAC was awarded multiple men's NCAA bids. In 2012-13, the MAAC became eligible for its 15th NCAA championship automatic bid when women's rowing fulfilled the qualifying requirements.
In 2012, Loyola earned the MAAC's automatic bid, with Iona also qualifying as an at-large bid. This was the first time in 16 years that two teams from the MAAC had advanced to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
In 2022, the MAAC achieved its greatest success in men's basketball when Saint Peter's became the first 15th seed to reach an NCAA regional final. The Saint Peter's Peacocks reached the Elite Eight, achieving the best NCAA postseason run in the conference's 41-year history.
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Frequently asked questions
The Iona Gaels are part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
The conference was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona College, Manhattan University, and Saint Peter's College.
The MAAC includes several other sports such as men's cross-country, men's and women's soccer, women's rowing, and men's lacrosse.
MAAC teams have achieved national acclaim in various sports. Some notable achievements include the Marist men's varsity eight boat advancing to the semifinals of the Temple Challenge Cup in 2002, the Marist women's basketball team reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division I tournament in 2007, and the Saint Peter's Peacocks becoming the first 15-seed to reach the Elite Eight during the 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
