Iup basketball

[IUP24]

There's been a little buzz around town that Joe may have a late addition to the upcoming roster. Nothing confirmed yet. As usual, they'll be the last to post the roster and schedule.

Kind of a strange feeling for August ... not quite sure what to expect this season. I think this team could be pretty good by January or so. The hype of past years isn't here. It's all shifted over to the football side. Maybe that's a good thing.

I do think Joe brought in a good class and was pretty selective on the transfers. They added some specific skill sets -- a natural PG, a proven SG, a big, defensive guard. He addressed a lot of major needs -- weaknesses from a year ago.

This team should be night and day faster than last year. But, it's still a lot of new pieces. Ethan looks like he's back to his old self. He was a warrior last year but probably played at 60% the whole season. Damir Brooks had a big off-season -- and physically looks like he should be starting at DE for Tort. Dolan Waldo is likely to be Joe's next breakout star at the SF position.

This team is entering the season with the most unknowns since the 'island of misfit toys' team back in '15-'16. While they haven't announced any exhibition games yet, I sure hope they play at least one (preferably two). These guys need some time together against opponents they don't know. It's a very deep and talented roster -- take that for whatever you may under Joe's coaching style. I suspect some growing pains could lie ahead in November. If he can get them all on the same page by the time West play starts ... never know. We'll see. The West is going to be a gauntlet (unlike last year).

IUP also isn't the favorite in the West this year for the first time in forever. That's good. I think they lost a little chip last year.

I'll believe it when I see it. I feel like people have been saying that for a long time. And every year, it's just... not. It's IUP and Mercyhurst. The west hasn't really been more than either of those two for a long time.

This isn't the first time people have hyped up Cal either. That's happened before too.

What's your definition of a gauntlet? IUP, Mercyhurst (who had turnover, but like IUP, will eventually be okay), and Cal? I guess my feeling is that those two plus Cal was what the league was two years ago.

We seem to talk about the potential for an upstart SRU team that is, "nasty," every other year. Never materializes.

I'm not saying that I don't think teams could be better, but I will believe the "gauntlet" idea when I see. I've seen this movie far too many times before.

That said... I'm extremely reserved on any expectation for Joe's flock this year. They could really be good. They could also not gel and things could go south. They had more turnover than almost every other team in the Atlantic Region. And sure, maybe some of those guys weren't asked back, but no business is going to function better the next day immediately after parting ways and replacing 70% of their staff.

[boatcapt]

ND was a nice find. They are typically a pretty strong program. It will be nice to see some fresh faces.

I haven't heard of IUP playing any exhibitions yet. That's odd for Joe. Of course, they may just not be announced yet. Even if they get beat on by some ACC school it will help come opening night. Lot of new faces in that locker room.

I wouldn't classify NDC as a "strong" team. They are roughly a .500 team which in the MEC isn't bad. I would call them a "scarry" team. Seems that at least once or twice a year they turn into giant killers and put the smack down on a really good MEC squad. BUUUTTTT...As a replacement for AB...big step up!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There's been a little buzz around town that Joe may have a late addition to the upcoming roster. Nothing confirmed yet. As usual, they'll be the last to post the roster and schedule.

Kind of a strange feeling for August ... not quite sure what to expect this season. I think this team could be pretty good by January or so. The hype of past years isn't here. It's all shifted over to the football side. Maybe that's a good thing.

I do think Joe brought in a good class and was pretty selective on the transfers. They added some specific skill sets -- a natural PG, a proven SG, a big, defensive guard. He addressed a lot of major needs -- weaknesses from a year ago.

This team should be night and day faster than last year. But, it's still a lot of new pieces. Ethan looks like he's back to his old self. He was a warrior last year but probably played at 60% the whole season. Damir Brooks had a big off-season -- and physically looks like he should be starting at DE for Tort. Dolan Waldo is likely to be Joe's next breakout star at the SF position.

This team is entering the season with the most unknowns since the 'island of misfit toys' team back in '15-'16. While they haven't announced any exhibition games yet, I sure hope they play at least one (preferably two). These guys need some time together against opponents they don't know. It's a very deep and talented roster -- take that for whatever you may under Joe's coaching style. I suspect some growing pains could lie ahead in November. If he can get them all on the same page by the time West play starts ... never know. We'll see. The West is going to be a gauntlet (unlike last year).

IUP also isn't the favorite in the West this year for the first time in forever. That's good. I think they lost a little chip last year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Those are 4 teams with very good coaches. Should be good basketball, but imho IUP has too much firepower.

Concord hasn't posted its roster yet but I recall they took some major losses (same with UPJ).

Regardless, Concord typically has a good showing up here. They've come to this tip-off several years in a row now.

May is entertaining. He'd fit in well in the West.

[Columbuseer]

Notre Dame (OH) has replaced Alderson Broaddus in IUP's tip-off weekend.


ND will play UPJ the first night and IUP the second night. Concord is the other participant.

Those are 4 teams with very good coaches. Should be good basketball, but imho IUP has too much firepower.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Nice that they were able to find another D2 opponent at such a late date.

ND was a nice find. They are typically a pretty strong program. It will be nice to see some fresh faces.

I haven't heard of IUP playing any exhibitions yet. That's odd for Joe. Of course, they may just not be announced yet. Even if they get beat on by some ACC school it will help come opening night. Lot of new faces in that locker room.

[Ship69]

Notre Dame (OH) has replaced Alderson Broaddus in IUP's tip-off weekend.


ND will play UPJ the first night and IUP the second night. Concord is the other participant.

Nice that they were able to find another D2 opponent at such a late date.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Notre Dame (OH) has replaced Alderson Broaddus in IUP's tip-off weekend.


ND will play UPJ the first night and IUP the second night. Concord is the other participant.

[Ship69]

Is that equally as bad as Edinboro asking its former basketball coach to fundraise half his salary?

Well, that certainly isn't a great situation, but it sounded as if they were trying to basically fundraise for the whole school at AB.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Two items:

* Steve P. was officially announced as the assistant this morning

* K.J. was shown in the Twitter video working out so that ends that mystery. He's returning.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Looking at the Cathedral Prep HS Twitter feed, it looks like their head coach Steve Piotrowicz is coming back to IUP to be Joe’s assistant again.

Im not sure I like this hire.

If I was Joe, the 'no-brainer' hire to be my top assistant would be Chuckie Humphries. He lives in Indiana. He can still practice (a trait Joe loves in assistants). He's great with people and would be an excellent recruiter. He knows the system and program.

Perhaps Chuckie isn't interested but it seems like a no-brainer.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

When you're apparently soliciting donations from alumni to meet payroll that certainly isn't a good sign.

Is that equally as bad as Edinboro asking its former basketball coach to fundraise half his salary?

[Ship69]

There has been serious concern for some time. AB gave rosy fund raising and enrollment projections in May/June to buy time. HEPC required monthly financial reports and benchmarks to be met. Once it was clear that these goals would not be met, HEPC took action to shut down before start of school. Some stories implied that AB was less than transparent on finances to HEPC, as evidenced by threat of utility shutoff triggering emergency meeting by HEPC last Friday.

When you're apparently soliciting donations from alumni to meet payroll that certainly isn't a good sign.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There has been serious concern for some time. AB gave rosy fund raising and enrollment projections in May/June to buy time. HEPC required monthly financial reports and benchmarks to be met. Once it was clear that these goals would not be met, HEPC took action to shut down before start of school. Some stories implied that AB was less than transparent on finances to HEPC, as evidenced by threat of utility shutoff triggering emergency meeting by HEPC last Friday.

AB was actually projecting to be fairly decent in men's basketball this year. Hopefully at least some of those guys can still find a home. It's tricky in August -- especially in basketball with the small roster sizes.

[Columbuseer]

Yeah. What a fiasco to shut everything down at the end of July. West Virginia authorities certainly had to see this problem coming some months ago.

There has been serious concern for some time. AB gave rosy fund raising and enrollment projections in May/June to buy time. HEPC required monthly financial reports and benchmarks to be met. Once it was clear that these goals would not be met, HEPC took action to shut down before start of school. Some stories implied that AB was less than transparent on finances to HEPC, as evidenced by threat of utility shutoff triggering emergency meeting by HEPC last Friday.