NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — While Mike Poole was helping his new team win in a rout on Saturday afternoon, his old team was getting beaten by an unlikely opponent.
Yes, Poole appears to have escaped Rutgers in the nick of time and now he’s looking for a positive ending to his college career at Iona.
“It’s great,” the 6-foot-5 Rosedale, N.Y., native told SNY.tv after putting up 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists as Iona crushed George Mason, 89-73.
“Just coming back home, closer to home, getting the opportunity to play on a team that went to the [NCAA] Tournament back-to-back years, something I haven’t been to. So playing with these guys who have been to the tournament, been places I want to be, is great. They’re teaching me how to be a winner.”
Poole, who is averaging 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds, made these comments after Rutgers was stunned by William & Mary, 72-62.
With just one year of eligibility remaining, Poole opted to transfer to Iona and try to get to the Big Dance. He was one of four former Rutgers players who transferred following the Mike Rice scandal. All four received NCAA waivers to play immediately.
“When I first went there, with all the hype Rutgers was getting and all the new things they were building around there, I thought it was an opportunity,” Poole said. “I don’t regret nothing, I’m just happy I’m at a different place now.”
Poole remains close with Kadeem Jack and Myles Mack, his old Rutgers teammates who were approached by other schools about transferring, but opted to stay put and try to rebuild under new coach Eddie Jordan.
“They didn’t want to give up on the school,” Poole said of Jack and Mack. “Those guys are younger than me so I felt they did what’s best for them and I did what’s best for me and we all understood that. So at the end of the day, I just wish those guys the best.”
He added: “I talk to all those guys. I visited a couple times during the year. It’s family still.”
Iona (2-2) has been two back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and should have a shot for a third straight appearance, depending on how they navigate the MAAC conference tournament and their arch-rival Manhattan.
“[I have a] second chance to live a dream, go to the NCAA Tournament and compete at the highest level,” Poole said.
Poole competed against perennial NCAA Tournament teams like Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame while at Rutgers, and feels like maybe now, after all these years, it could be his turn.
“It would mean the world to me,” he said. “I played against tournament teams every day in the Big East and I just want to have that experience.
“It would mean the world to me. ”
