Iona vs Fordham prediction: Fordham's defensive glass greets a rebuilt Iona at Rose Hill

A rivalry returns to the Bronx

Fordham hasn't hosted Iona since 2006. That changes Tuesday night at Rose Hill Gym, and the Gaels walk in as a nearly new team: players on their current roster accounted for just 27.4% of last season's minutes. Fordham brings back about half of its minutes and two imported scorers.

Iona won last season's meeting 76-71 at home. Both coaches are in their second seasons: Dan Geriot at Iona, now playing a 20-game Metro Conference schedule, and Mike Magpayo at Fordham. The Rams were picked dead last in the Atlantic 10 a year ago and finished 17-15. This year's A-10 poll slots them seventh.

Fordham owns the backboard

Fordham's identity last season was defense, and the numbers held up. The Rams allowed 99.1 points per 100 possessions, 21st in the country. Much of that came from ending possessions: they grabbed 74.8% of opponents' misses, 13th nationally.

Iona went the other way. Its offensive rebound rate, the share of its own misses it recovered, was 27.8%, which ranked 292nd. The Gaels also ranked 247th on the defensive glass. Their top rebounder, Lamin Sabally, is gone. Fordham still has Rikus Schulte, who pulled down 9.1 rebounds a game last season. If Iona can't keep him off the offensive glass, Fordham gets the extra possessions that its offense badly needs.

Iona shoots, Fordham struggles to

Iona built its offense on the three last season, taking 45.8% of its shots from deep, the 54th-highest rate in the country. The catch is who took them. Toby Harris made 90 threes and has left, and CJ Anthony, the team's top returner by usage, is also gone. Kevon Vanderhorst arrives from Drexel but shot 26.3% from deep there.

Fordham has the opposite problem. The Rams made 29.6% of their threes last season, which ranked 355th of 365. Their defense did let opponents shoot often from outside, so Iona's volume should be there. Whether this Iona roster can convert it is the open question.

The new faces carrying the load

Fordham's rebuild runs through two transfer guards. Amir Lindsey averaged 17.9 points at UAlbany while playing nearly the whole game. Lateef Patrick scored 15.2 a night at Stephen F. Austin and carried a 28.6% usage rate, the share of possessions he finished. Neither shot better than 35% from three, so their ability to get downhill matters more than their range.

Iona's best-known option is Kosy Akametu, who averaged 11.0 points last season. Aiden Disu, who started every game he played at Holy Cross, adds a forward who can score. By last season's final adjusted ratings, Fordham ranked 166th and Iona 243rd, but this Iona roster bears little resemblance to the one that earned that number.

What to watch

• Fordham's second chances. Schulte against an Iona frontcourt with almost no returning minutes.
• Iona's shot selection. Whether the Gaels keep firing threes without last season's best shooters.
• Lindsey's workload. Whether one guard tilts a low-scoring game for Fordham.