Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Denzel and Watson red shirted. Unclear whether Romero-Sanz will be however he is definitely one for the future. Garvin and Josh are the ones to watch. Probably more rotation than Joe would like. Very unpredictable season

I figured Watson was but was surprised when Tony mentioned him in his article.

Denzel seemed pegged as the fifth guard, which under Joe means you don't actually play.

He needs to play Romero-Sanz this year. No questions asked. Raw or not. They need some bulk.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. No guarantee he'll be here in a year or two.

[Cobra Hawks]

Denzel and Watson red shirted. Unclear whether Romero-Sanz will be however he is definitely one for the future. Garvin and Josh are the ones to watch. Probably more rotation than Joe would like. Very unpredictable season

[Chuck Norris]

I guess the issue I have here is that some of this is exactly what we were discussing last year in regards to Joe's approach and his unwillingness to adapt. His ace in the hole was never having a "down" season because he would bring in 3 or so guys with the intent that one wouldn't dress for their first year. You can't do that anymore. These guys can transfer the first time they sneeze now. I'm not sure what he's saving him for. Load up and go for it. I see no reason to keep Romero-Sanz in street clothes. You're essentially playing 7 guys at this point given the limitations of KJ.

If Romero-Sanz is indeed redshirting, I think there could be some real validity to Eyeofthehawks’s point that maybe Joe has some buyer’s remorse. I’m trying to think if he’s ever brought in a foreign born player directly from their home (not a transfer from another school in the states) redshirted them, and then they’ve stuck around to contribute. Dating back to Marcel, I think those guys pretty much always contribute right away or we never see much, if any, of them on the court. Maybe I’m forgetting someone.

[IUP24]

The Gazette article didn't specifically say Romero-Sanz or Denzel were redshirting. However, it named the starters and then the 'rotation' ... and neither were mentioned.

Given Joe's history, that sounds like redshirt to me.

Being Brooks has Daddy Syndrome with fouling, and Waldo is 6'7" but looks about 165 lbs, well, that leaves the 6'4" KJ underneath. Christ, they'll need Ethan to play 38 mpg.

Romero-Sanz is a big dude. He's as tall as EP and ripped. It's hard to believe they can't use him this year at least in a reserve roll.

Joe's KJ fandom is well documented but, well, ...

If that's the case, they'd be more effective with four guards and EP. Joe's guards are all big.

Although, Damir was just a redshirt freshman last year. Hopefully he's improved his hacking.

I guess the issue I have here is that some of this is exactly what we were discussing last year in regards to Joe's approach and his unwillingness to adapt. His ace in the hole was never having a "down" season because he would bring in 3 or so guys with the intent that one wouldn't dress for their first year. You can't do that anymore. These guys can transfer the first time they sneeze now. I'm not sure what he's saving him for. Load up and go for it. I see no reason to keep Romero-Sanz in street clothes. You're essentially playing 7 guys at this point given the limitations of KJ.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm not beyond 4 guards and getting up and down the floor attacking the rim/other teams bigs BUT Ethan is a touch slow to be doing that with 4 guards.

Who knows. Soon enough. Joe's kind of famous for not revealing much in these mini previews in the Gazette.

Seems this year, more than most, he's keeping his cards close to the vest.

[IUPalum]

Obviously the nightmare situation is if EP gets in foul trouble (which, granted, doesn't happen often).

I think the Brooks/Waldo combination will work. Brooks is more the banger and high-flyer/rebounder, and Waldo is more your finesses SF. Swapping them in an out should work well and force defenses to adjust. Waldo has a very nice outside shot and is very quick for his 6'7" size. Obviously Brooks is a ground/pound forward. I do think Brooks projects to be a bigger/stronger version of Tevin Hanner -- although, he has a long way to go on the defensive end.

So, as long as EP stays clean (and healthy), I fully expect he goes 33-35 mpg. Granted, I think he'd be more effective at 28-29 mpg. But, the drop-off when he goes out to KJ coming in is pretty substantial on both ends, obviously.

I still wouldn't rule out this four guards and EP in stretches. There's some rumors. I'll leave it at that. This Perreno kid is legit ... too legit to be sitting for very long.

I'm not beyond 4 guards and getting up and down the floor attacking the rim/other teams bigs BUT Ethan is a touch slow to be doing that with 4 guards.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Let's not forget, Cobo didn't start early his freshman year. He was extremely raw defensively. I remember at Hurst his freshman year, he got back cut on three plays in a row and Joe flipped his **** on him. Cobo panned out on defensive as he played more. Some of these younger guys need the experience. We know what KJ is and it's not high end caliber.

Obviously the nightmare situation is if EP gets in foul trouble (which, granted, doesn't happen often).

I think the Brooks/Waldo combination will work. Brooks is more the banger and high-flyer/rebounder, and Waldo is more your finesses SF. Swapping them in an out should work well and force defenses to adjust. Waldo has a very nice outside shot and is very quick for his 6'7" size. Obviously Brooks is a ground/pound forward. I do think Brooks projects to be a bigger/stronger version of Tevin Hanner -- although, he has a long way to go on the defensive end.

So, as long as EP stays clean (and healthy), I fully expect he goes 33-35 mpg. Granted, I think he'd be more effective at 28-29 mpg. But, the drop-off when he goes out to KJ coming in is pretty substantial on both ends, obviously.

I still wouldn't rule out this four guards and EP in stretches. There's some rumors. I'll leave it at that. This Perreno kid is legit ... too legit to be sitting for very long.

[IUPalum]

Let's not forget, Cobo didn't start early his freshman year. He was extremely raw defensively. I remember at Hurst his freshman year, he got back cut on three plays in a row and Joe flipped his **** on him. Cobo panned out on defensive as he played more. Some of these younger guys need the experience. We know what KJ is and it's not high end caliber.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

True. Sometimes you get Cobo or Tomiwa, other times you get Australians who never pan out. It’s the risk of recruiting foreign players at this level. I guess we’ll see how it plays out.

The Gazette article didn't specifically say Romero-Sanz or Denzel were redshirting. However, it named the starters and then the 'rotation' ... and neither were mentioned.

Given Joe's history, that sounds like redshirt to me.

Being Brooks has Daddy Syndrome with fouling, and Waldo is 6'7" but looks about 165 lbs, well, that leaves the 6'4" KJ underneath. Christ, they'll need Ethan to play 38 mpg.

Romero-Sanz is a big dude. He's as tall as EP and ripped. It's hard to believe they can't use him this year at least in a reserve roll.

Joe's KJ fandom is well documented but, well, ...

If that's the case, they'd be more effective with four guards and EP. Joe's guards are all big.

Although, Damir was just a redshirt freshman last year. Hopefully he's improved his hacking.

[Chuck Norris]

I’m guessing he wasn’t the player in person that he looked like on video? If they thought he could contribute meaningfully this year I’m guessing they would play him. Maybe there are other things he’s not adjusting to. Hard to say but still a bit surprising. They are very thin up front.

True. Sometimes you get Cobo or Tomiwa, other times you get Australians who never pan out. It’s the risk of recruiting foreign players at this level. I guess we’ll see how it plays out.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Yeah I don’t get it. From the moment he signed, just reading his measurements and experience I assumed he’d start immediately, not just play.

This is shaping up to be an…..interesting year.

I’m guessing he wasn’t the player in person that he looked like on video? If they thought he could contribute meaningfully this year I’m guessing they would play him. Maybe there are other things he’s not adjusting to. Hard to say but still a bit surprising. They are very thin up front.

[Chuck Norris]

I can already tell we'll be asking all year why Romero-Sanz is in a tracksuit on the bench.

Yeah I don’t get it. From the moment he signed, just reading his measurements and experience I assumed he’d start immediately, not just play.

This is shaping up to be an…..interesting year.

[IUPalum]

I can already tell we'll be asking all year why Romero-Sanz is in a tracksuit on the bench.

I'm already asking!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Nobody questions KJ being a nice kid. He is in fact a great kid. I question the skill set at the D2 level. He's to small to play forward and mauled down there. At guard he's to slow and flat footed and a below average shooter. It just doesn't add up to me being at an elite D2 program.

I can already tell we'll be asking all year why Romero-Sanz is in a tracksuit on the bench.

[IUPalum]

I’m not sure what he sees that we don’t. Maybe he’s an elite practice player. Seems like a nice kid. Isn’t KJ 31 with a wife and two kids now?

Nobody questions KJ being a nice kid. He is in fact a great kid. I question the skill set at the D2 level. He's to small to play forward and mauled down there. At guard he's to slow and flat footed and a below average shooter. It just doesn't add up to me being at an elite D2 program.