re: Monmouth and Iona scuffle

I am not sure that Tim Cluess ever made any comments about the Monmouth bench. The quote that has been attributed to him about Monmouth is a retweet from a guy named Dan Koob, a stinger for Fios 1 sports. Cluess is a pretty quiet guy and is all business. I have never heard him say a derogatory word about an opposing player(s). He lets his coaching do the talking. Since coming to Iona (his first D-1 job) he has 20+ wins in each of his five seasons and has gone to the post season in each. It was under his leadership that Iona received its first at large bid. If he did make a derogatory comment about Monmouth players (or bench) I believe that the administration will take whatever steps are appropriate.

I believe that the poor sportsmanship that took place at the end of the game had nothing to do with any alleged comments, it had to do with bad feelings between the two teams. Last season, Monmouth’s first good season in the MAAC, the teams split the regular season. Iona smacked Monmouth in the MAAC semis. There were words exchanged between King Rice and Tim Cluess.

Last night’s game was physical with a lot of trash talk. In the first half, Iona’s point guard, Ibn Muhammad, was “T”ed up at the same time as Monmouth’s coach, King Rice for exchanging words. In the second half Monmouth’s Chris Brady (the guy who Jordan Washington slapped after the game) was called for a flagrant technical.

While it's a shame that Iona's 26 home game win streak has been snapped, I am embarrassed that a fight broke out after the game. The antics of the Monmouth bench, the taunting of the crowd by King Rice during and after the game, and even the spitting on the court by the Monmouth players before they left the floor do not justify throwing a punch or a slap. Tim Cluess has not waited for the MAAC or the NCAA to impose sanctions, he has already suspended Jordan Washington for the next two games. We will miss his inside presence. I wonder how King Rice will handle his players. Then, again, that's not my concern.

Go Gaels!!!