Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Nothing I’ve seen so far makes me think Friday won’t be a very competitive game. Even though IUP eventually pulled away from Frostburg, yesterday was not a great performance, which is pretty much in line with every game they’ve played to date. It’ll also be interesting because it’s IUP’s first road game, not that you get many raucous environments this time of year. Being away from home might actually help IUP relax a little.

I think we've seen enough through five games to realize this isn't a good team. Right now, I'd peg this group as an average to slightly-above average PSAC team. While they won yesterday, they did not play a good game. A normal IUP team would have beat Frostburg by 30-40 points. IUP ended up winning comfortably but that should have been a total blowout. Team Joe missed half its foul shots, shot horribly from outside and also missed at least 7-8 easy layups at the rim. They were fortunate to be playing who they were.

That said, now that the totally insane preseason hoopla is obviously far removed, I think this team could become a 'tough out' in West play by January. The ceiling, my opinion, is maybe winning one round of the conference tournament. As of now, I see no path for this team to make the NCAAs (other than catching fire in the conference tournament). Keep in mind, Walsh is an NCAA team and St. Thomas Aquinas has the look of an Elite 8 team.

The question looming large is obviously the No. 4 spot -- now manned by half the bench, Jack, Tony and the popcorn salesman up in the concourse. The question being, of course, how did it get to this point? In other words, how did Joe not know this was coming and not address it in the off-season? Hate to say this whole board new this mega issue was coming all summer, but, well, this whole board new this mega issue was coming all summer.

The SF will now be manned by Petteno (a shooting guard), KJ (at best a utility player and the 10th or 11th man) and Damir Brooks. Brooks and Petteno are the answer (and not a great one). Brooks has a lot of upside. He can do things down there the others cannot. Petteno adds the 'alleged' shooting element (although that's been pretty non-existent). KJ hasn't added much of anything and has been targeted by every team they've played. This isn't a knock, but in hockey terms, if you calculate KJ's +/- ... it's not pretty.

Granted -- of all this said -- the opening night starter at SF (Dolan Waldo) seemingly has been shipped off to Joe's infamous island near Siberia. Historically, few get off the island. I think it's WAY too early to push him aside. But, I also thought that about Kyle Polce and Jaheim Bethea (and countless others over the years).

The answer yesterday was the season debut of Callum MacNamara (a walk-on) and the career debut of PG Jordan Lambert (another walk-on). Three scholarship players remain on redshirt (Denzel Kabasele, Anthony Watson and Gabriel Romero-Sanz).

There's no point in redshirting players in today's game. They likely won't be here next year. As of now, I'd be shocked if Waldo is here next year, either. So, you have to question Joe's recruiting when his walk-ons get activated and his scholarship players are track suit models?

This team DESPERATELY needs some muscle. The 'muscle' is in said track suit army (Romero-Sanz).

What I think we are seeing is the trickle-down effect of Ron Fudala leaving. He was the ace recruiter. Since he's left, the first chair has been a revolving door.

I think Joe's lost some fire, although we did see some yesterday -- mainly out of pure frustration when the team was ignoring his play calls.

What we saw yesterday -- keeping a drastically out-matched team in the game far too long -- is likely what we'll see most of the year. I fully expect them to be in two battles this weekend.

[Chuck Norris]

Ship this year is in the biggest rebuilding mode Chris Fite has had in 6-7 years and is definitely not upper echelon at this point. And Denzel Figueroa and Kamau Mitchell, both of whom figure to get a lot of minutes this year, were not playing against Chestnut Hill. The team won't have played since Nov. 20, so perhaps they'll have time to return. The Raiders will need all hands on board to have a shot at IUP. I know it's not a vintage IUP team, but handling the IUP guards and Porterfield will be a problem for the Raiders. And they lack the size to take advantage of what looks to be IUP's biggest flaw — the lack of imposing power forwards after Porterfield. Talking of crossover weekends, traveling to Cal U. and Slippery Rock later in December will certainly be no cakewalk for Ship. While the team has been playing hard and has been more competitive than I thought they'd be to this point, I'd actually be pleased if we won any of the next four games against PSAC opponents. We're supposed to get a transfer who could help considerably after semester break, but that will be of no consequence in December.

Nothing I’ve seen so far makes me think Friday won’t be a very competitive game. Even though IUP eventually pulled away from Frostburg, yesterday was not a great performance, which is pretty much in line with every game they’ve played to date. It’ll also be interesting because it’s IUP’s first road game, not that you get many raucous environments this time of year. Being away from home might actually help IUP relax a little.

[Ship69]

So a highly thought of recruit is benched, which in today’s college basketball probably means he’s done at IUP. There’s talk of burning red shirts. Ethan apparently still isn’t healthy. Other than that, everything is fine.

On a positive note, Furtun looks better the more he plays, outside of the occasional head scratching turnover, which will happen with a true freshman.

This will be an interesting crossover weekend. Ship and Lock Haven probably aren’t upper echelon PSAC teams but they won’t be pushovers either. It’ll be interesting to see how IUP stacks up.

Ship this year is in the biggest rebuilding mode Chris Fite has had in 6-7 years and is definitely not upper echelon at this point. And Denzel Figueroa and Kamau Mitchell, both of whom figure to get a lot of minutes this year, were not playing against Chestnut Hill. The team won't have played since Nov. 20, so perhaps they'll have time to return. The Raiders will need all hands on board to have a shot at IUP. I know it's not a vintage IUP team, but handling the IUP guards and Porterfield will be a problem for the Raiders. And they lack the size to take advantage of what looks to be IUP's biggest flaw — the lack of imposing power forwards after Porterfield. Talking of crossover weekends, traveling to Cal U. and Slippery Rock later in December will certainly be no cakewalk for Ship. While the team has been playing hard and has been more competitive than I thought they'd be to this point, I'd actually be pleased if we won any of the next four games against PSAC opponents. We're supposed to get a transfer who could help considerably after semester break, but that will be of no consequence in December.

[Chuck Norris]

Post game comments from Joe doesn't sound good for Waldo. Callum is back up number 5 with Damir Josh and KJ sharing the 4

So a highly thought of recruit is benched, which in today’s college basketball probably means he’s done at IUP. There’s talk of burning red shirts. Ethan apparently still isn’t healthy. Other than that, everything is fine.

On a positive note, Furtun looks better the more he plays, outside of the occasional head scratching turnover, which will happen with a true freshman.

This will be an interesting crossover weekend. Ship and Lock Haven probably aren’t upper echelon PSAC teams but they won’t be pushovers either. It’ll be interesting to see how IUP stacks up.

[Cobra Hawks]

Post game comments from Joe doesn't sound good for Waldo. Callum is back up number 5 with Damir Josh and KJ sharing the 4

[IUPalum]

Waldo not in rotation again tonight.

Unfortunately, he's just not strong enough yet.

[IUP1423]

Waldo not in rotation again tonight.

[Chuck Norris]

A 16 point lead gets trimmed to 2 and then IUP has a late surge to go up 10 at the half. McNamara got some minutes, that’s the only difference I see from last night, though I must admit, I’m not exactly glued to this one.

[IUPalum]

KJ enters and the double digits lead disappears.

[IUPalum]

What is going on with the live stream audio. Yet again it's atrocious

It won’t get better till after Christmas. Just be glad we have one this year.

[Cobra Hawks]

What is going on with the live stream audio. Yet again it's atrocious

[IUP24]

Listening to Joe’s pregame, he wasn’t high on Waldo. Said Ethan’s legs aren’t healthy, Brooks/Sarp would get more minutes and of course he said KJ will get his minutes

What’s the deal with Ethan’s legs? I thought he was healthy… Good grief.

[IUPalum]

Yes, that is the assumption but you never know with Joe. He keeps playing KJ for crying out loud.

[Ship69]

To be fair St Thomas have some good players. One in particular in Patterson. D1 bound no doubt. Lambert and possible Romero-Sanz will be shedding their red shirts

I was impressed with the St. Thomas team. I really didn't think IUP played too badly for the most part, but that was a good press St. Thomas put on and the biggest difference I saw was that they simply shot better than IUP. The Northwestern student section was mocked some years back for wearing T-shirts that simply said "Make shots," but after all that's the essence of basketball — making more shots than the other team.

[Cobra Hawks]

Thoughts:

1) Joe in his post game said he is probably going to take some red shirts off some guys. He basically implied some of his guys are playing soft and it's time for a competition.
2) Sarp is very raw but he is a freshman so I'll give him a pass.
3) KJ... enough said, ugh. He's obviously not allowed to shoot. What's that tell you?
4) Petteno was a swing and miss for Joe.
5) Stewey hasn't stepped up and maybe he isn't capable.
6) Dallis, Ethan and Clarke then the rest.
7) Who loses their red shirt?

To be fair St Thomas have some good players. One in particular in Patterson. D1 bound no doubt. Lambert and possible Romero-Sanz will be shedding their red shirts