Best Unheralded Point Guard?
He may very well be the nation's best point guard that you have likely never heard of on a team, that despite our preseason praise, that you'll probably skim right over. Scott Machado, the senior point guard for the Iona Gaels, finished tied for second in the nation in assists per game 7.5 assists per game a year ago for the MAAC's second-best team. This year, he leads a talented team with deep NCAA postseason hopes with forward (and former Seton Hall commit), Michael Glover back in uniform, along with Arizona-transfer MoMo Jones and swingman Kyle Smyth. The offense is as talented as anyone's in the country, getting out in transition or playing in the halfcourt and averaging 91 points per game against Purdue, Western Michigan and Maryland.
Machado is coming off back-to-back 15-assist games, including a zero turnover performance in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off fifth place game. He is currently averaging 15.3 points on 51.5 percent shooting and a nation-leading 13.7 assists per game.
But don't pick Iona as your upset pick when you fill out your bracket just yet. Despite their immense talent, the defense is clearly the weak link, letting up penetration almost at will and playing with an overall lack of intensity. Machado can only do so much (averaging 2.7 steals) deterring opposing guards from getting in the lane and initiating the offense. The team is still gelling and will need to really bond together to turn up the defensive effort.
By President Corey Ruff - 11 - 21- 11
