Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP came out of the recent four-game stretch pretty good. The Crimson Hawks went 3-1 and were certainly in the California loss much longer than most anticipated. Take that technical away and who knows what may have happened.

IUP currently sits as a likely bubble team for the NCAA Tournament. But, that's a long way from now.

The next four games:

at Mercyhurst

Gannon

UPJ

at Edinboro


Don't overlook Wednesday night. Mercyhurst, I promise, will not look like they did at the KCAC last month. IUP has had (like most) many issues in the MAC over the years.

Gannon Part 2 will probably be similar to the first game (although I'd guess a little closer). IUP has nowhere near the depth to keep up -- at home, on the road or on the moon.

UPJ is in shambles but recall IUP barely escaped Johnstown. Rukavina knows everything Joe does. I don't expect this to be as close as the first one, but they'll put up a fight.

The trip to McComb should be interesting. Round 1 was a pretty entertaining game. IUP controlled it for the most part but things could be different up there.



They really need to come out of this next stretch at 3-1. Anything else and the NCAA dreams likely evaporate. The CIAA gets a guaranteed spot and there are too many other teams ahead of them. I will fully admit I'm shocked we're even loosely discussing this team being on the bubble into February given all the issues they've had to overcome.

[WarriorVoice]

That's called questioning the coach. Every fan does that. Just because his moves have been questioned, doesn't mean the fan base has turned on him. You are a complete jackass! Go jack up up some more player names.

You wish you had my job!!

[EyeoftheHawk]

That's called questioning the coach. Every fan does that. Just because his moves have been questioned, doesn't mean the fan base has turned on him. You are a complete jackass! Go jack up up some more player names.

I don’t even bother engaging with this moron. When I see a post from him I just scroll over it like it’s not there. It’s not worth trying to explain the nuance of a conversation to a knucklehead.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe's 1-6 this year vs the 7 best teams on his schedule. That isn't an opinion.

Obviously season-ending injuries have really hurt them.

The entire town is questioning one in particular personel decision (not just those on this board).

[IUPalum]

"What is Joe seeing that we aren't seeing?" Who asked that? "The last 4 years have been a disappointment."...The rotation he's playing now isn't going to take down a heavyweight."...With all of the wins you all have earned, why aren't any of you the coach? You see the injuries, but ignore them at the same time. All of you combined have the same amount of basketball knowledge as are in Joe Lombardi's suits.

That's called questioning the coach. Every fan does that. Just because his moves have been questioned, doesn't mean the fan base has turned on him. You are a complete jackass! Go jack up up some more player names.

[WarriorVoice]

"What is Joe seeing that we aren't seeing?" Who asked that? "The last 4 years have been a disappointment."...The rotation he's playing now isn't going to take down a heavyweight."...With all of the wins you all have earned, why aren't any of you the coach? You see the injuries, but ignore them at the same time. All of you combined have the same amount of basketball knowledge as are in Joe Lombardi's suits.

[IUPalum]

You guys are unbelievable. Now you're turning on your coach. You don't deserve a guy like Joe Lombardi...IUP Privelege is alive and well amongst it's fanbase...

Nobody has turned on Lombardi you jackass!!! The fan base is questioning the PT of one player and said player's dad just happens to be good friends with Lombardi.

[WarriorVoice]

Keep in mind Joe is 14-6, BUT he's 1-6 against top teams. The one win came with Dallis Dillard.

I think he has the best 'average' team in the league.

Now, if he'd play his roster correctly, I think they could be very dangerous to a top team on a given night.

He has two legit stars in Garvin and EP. Those two went for like 55 last night The supporting cast is what it is. Radford has lit up some teams but vanished against Cal and Gannon.


My point is Joe can beat (has beat) all the second and third tier teams he's played - even with the SF debacle. The rotation he is playing now, however, isn't going to take down a heavyweight.

You guys are unbelievable. Now you're turning on your coach. You don't deserve a guy like Joe Lombardi...IUP Privelege is alive and well amongst it's fanbase...

[Cobra Hawks]

As a new IUP fan. Firstly any real substance in Tomiwa coming back. Looking at what happened with Bryce certainly seems feasible. What are the ramifications if he does?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The last 4 years have been high hopes and disappointment. The 2019-2020 team before Demo got hurt - maybe one of the best teams ever at IUP, the lost season, losing shawndale but making final 4 without him, then last year. THis year was set up to be good too, but Tomiwa left to play 10 minutes a game at Towson, So yeah, bad luck happens to everyone, but it makes a bigger difference when you're expectations are high.

Speaking of Tomiwa ...

Well, I'll leave it at that.

I'll just say a little birdie thinks he may be back next year.

His bad influence isn't here anymore, which should help.

[ironmaniup]

The December version of last year's team would have beat the March version by 25 points.

The how and why has been beat to death but what that team morphed into was hard to watch.

The last 4 years have been high hopes and disappointment. The 2019-2020 team before Demo got hurt - maybe one of the best teams ever at IUP, the lost season, losing shawndale but making final 4 without him, then last year. THis year was set up to be good too, but Tomiwa left to play 10 minutes a game at Towson, So yeah, bad luck happens to everyone, but it makes a bigger difference when you're expectations are high.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Interesting point about last year’s 32-2 team and I felt the same way. It was like they were flying with a blown engine and we knew that the other one was going to blow as well before reaching the ultimate destination. Then…crash.

The December version of last year's team would have beat the March version by 25 points.

The how and why has been beat to death but what that team morphed into was hard to watch.

[EyeoftheHawk]

If anything it makes for a wild ride. You don't know what to expect from game to game.

They appear to have avoided another catastrophic injury with Petteno. With a bye date Saturday he should be ready to roll next Wednesday.

This team is actually more fun to watch than last year. It sounds odd but that was the hardest 32-2 team to watch -- especially in the second half of the season.

Interesting point about last year’s 32-2 team and I felt the same way. It was like they were flying with a blown engine and we knew that the other one was going to blow as well before reaching the ultimate destination. Then…crash.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Good description. Star players can make a huge difference in basketball. If you want a great example of that, all you have to do is look at how the loss of two players, Ariel Jones and Lauren Pettis, have basically changed Ship's women's team from one of the best in the region to one occupying the nether regions of the PSAC East this year. The Ship men's team is suffering because it is largely made up of players who would be good sixth or seventh players off the bench, but struggle to be consistently outstanding over 40 minutes.

IUP has had a great run of success and a lot of places would certainly take the "down" year you're having currently as opposed to what they are contending with. There is something to be said for beating the teams you should beat, which is what IUP is doing this year. But as you point out, it usually takes a team that runs at least seven deep to run the table against the top dogs. The loss of Dillard, and the benching of other players have made the Hawks essentially a four-man team at this point. Kind of reminds me of the 19-9 Ship team of last season. Four good to great players and not much in reserve.

If anything it makes for a wild ride. You don't know what to expect from game to game.

They appear to have avoided another catastrophic injury with Petteno. With a bye date Saturday he should be ready to roll next Wednesday.

This team is actually more fun to watch than last year. It sounds odd but that was the hardest 32-2 team to watch -- especially in the second half of the season.

[Ship69]

Keep in mind Joe is 14-6, BUT he's 1-6 against top teams. The one win came with Dallis Dillard.

I think he has the best 'average' team in the league.

Now, if he'd play his roster correctly, I think they could be very dangerous to a top team on a given night.

He has two legit stars in Garvin and EP. Those two went for like 55 last night The supporting cast is what it is. Radford has lit up some teams but vanished against Cal and Gannon.


My point is Joe can beat (has beat) all the second and third tier teams he's played - even with the SF debacle. The rotation he is playing now, however, isn't going to take down a heavyweight.

Good description. Star players can make a huge difference in basketball. If you want a great example of that, all you have to do is look at how the loss of two players, Ariel Jones and Lauren Pettis, have basically changed Ship's women's team from one of the best in the region to one occupying the nether regions of the PSAC East this year. The Ship men's team is suffering because it is largely made up of players who would be good sixth or seventh players off the bench, but struggle to be consistently outstanding over 40 minutes.

IUP has had a great run of success and a lot of places would certainly take the "down" year you're having currently as opposed to what they are contending with. There is something to be said for beating the teams you should beat, which is what IUP is doing this year. But as you point out, it usually takes a team that runs at least seven deep to run the table against the top dogs. The loss of Dillard, and the benching of other players have made the Hawks essentially a four-man team at this point. Kind of reminds me of the 19-9 Ship team of last season. Four good to great players and not much in reserve.