Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I am intrigued by Bethea. I hope he gets a serious opportunity next year and has a real role. I think he has a lot of upside and can grow into a really nice player. I think it was dumb of Joe to have burned the year, but it doesn’t really matter at this stage of college sports anyways.

Well, we never got an answer why Jaylen Stewart was going to redshirt right up until he wasn't going to redshirt (10 games in to the season). That whole situation didn't make sense then (and still doesn't). Bethea has upside. He's very smooth with the ball and is physically strong for his age. He has potential to be a great defender. Offensively, Joe kept him in diapers all year (well, up until he vanished) so we'll have to wait and see.

It's going to be an interesting summer and upcoming season. There isn't a Malik Miller, Armoni Foster, David Morris, Shawndale Jones, etc., returning.

What is returning is a solid core. But, these next 4 players to join the program are going to tell the tale for '23-'24.

Lombardi didn't have a great year -- actual 'coaching' wise. Yes, I know he went 32-2 this year. I also know just about every coach in the PSAC could have won 25 games with that roster. I don't think Joe personally had a great season. The players were the reason that team didn't have 6-7 losses. They kept finding ways and won several games down the stretch they probably shouldn't have. Joe's once finely-tuned, half-court offense was in shambles starting in early January. They couldn't hit the side of a barn from outside yet he kept having them fire up 30-some treys a night -- often hitting just 5 or 6 of them. The whole league knew they were in a deep shooting funk. The offense then (mid-January) evolved in to some form of hybrid AAU meets playground bastard child. It was chuck a trey or drive the hole out of control and see what happened. What bailed them out, game after game, was Ethan and Tomiwa cleaning up all the garbage. Joe also refused to use his bench (nothing new) even though for once he actually had a quality bench. Some of us on here kept eluding there were serious problems, but the winning masked those things almost the whole season.

The challenge for Joe (and I'm not sure he's had many challenges in the past five years) is going to be blending this new team together. This is the first off-season in forever that IUP isn't heading in to the upcoming season as the West favorite. But, it shouldn't be a rebuild year. Re-tool, for sure, but not rebuild. With the right transfer imports, he can be in the mix next year.

But, this isn't a sit back and wait off-season. They aren't just looking for the right (1) piece to add. They need several and need to be real aggressive. October gets here fast.

I'd say Joe's starting lineup in early November is as follows:

PG - transfer OTW
G - Dallis Dillard
G - Jaylen Stewart
F - Ethan Porterfield
F - transfer OTW

Bench rotation:

F - Damir Brooks
F - Dolan Waldo
G - Jaheim Bethea
G - transfer OTW
Utility - KJ Rhodes


My personal wish-list of (PSAC) targets (hint: some of these guys may have visited already):

F - Tim Smith Jr. (formerly of Cal and Walsh ... big, physical post player with a nice outside shot ... had a big game against IUP last year ... one year left ... Day 1 starter who would be a terror paired with a healthy Porterfield)

F - Fray Nguimbi (formerly of Clarion ... very physical defensive forward and great rebounder ... three years' eligibility ... pest to play against ... dirty work)

F - Pipeloluwa Ajayi (formerly of Mercyhurst ... OK, this is the wishful thinking hope)

F - Kyle Whippen (formerly of the Atlantic Region ... solid player but IUP doesn't have room for the duo ... he'd have to come alone)

G - Kyle McGee (guard from West Chester ... perhaps Target No. 1 ... so I hear)

G - Michael Bradley (PG from Mercyhurst ... if he stays in D2, IUP has a shot)

G - Chris Clancey (SG formerly of Gannon ... would fit perfectly in the Pratapas role and be a sniper off the bench)

G - Gerald Jarmon (formerly of Clarion ... explosive scorer who was stuck on a bad team most of his career ... could be a big asset surrounded by more talent)


Joe's going to have to sell some of these guys on coming off the bench. That may not be easy. The players above, while IUP is recruiting some of them, are just names familiar from the PSAC. They are likely looking at players from other conferences and levels, too.

[Scrub]

I think it was dumb of Joe to have burned the year, but it doesn’t really matter at this stage of college sports anyways.

So true. Saving a year these days often means saving it so it can be used by some other coach at some other institution later. So may as well use 'em while you got 'em.

[IUP24]

Now that some have graduated, others have been asked to leave and the rest transferred:


Returning (active roster as of April 5):

Jaylen Stewart (G)
Dallis Dillard (G)
KJ Rhodes (Utility)
Jaheim Bethea (G)
Ethan Porterfield (F)
Damir Brooks (F)
Dolan Waldo (F)
Eric Branch (high school recruit)


Some very interesting (and very familiar, high-profile PSAC D2) names have visited the past two weeks. Word in town is Joe is going to sign 4-5 transfers. It should be an entertaining next couple of weeks.

I am intrigued by Bethea. I hope he gets a serious opportunity next year and has a real role. I think he has a lot of upside and can grow into a really nice player. I think it was dumb of Joe to have burned the year, but it doesn’t really matter at this stage of college sports anyways.

[IUPHawks24]

Now that some have graduated, others have been asked to leave and the rest transferred:


Returning (active roster as of April 5):

Jaylen Stewart (G)
Dallis Dillard (G)
KJ Rhodes (Utility)
Jaheim Bethea (G)
Ethan Porterfield (F)
Damir Brooks (F)
Dolan Waldo (F)
Eric Branch (high school recruit)


Some very interesting (and very familiar, high-profile PSAC D2) names have visited the past two weeks. Word in town is Joe is going to sign 4-5 transfers. It should be an entertaining next couple of weeks.

Any specifics? There’s only a couple I can think of that make any sense.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Now that some have graduated, others have been asked to leave and the rest transferred:


Returning (active roster as of April 5):

Jaylen Stewart (G)
Dallis Dillard (G)
KJ Rhodes (Utility)
Jaheim Bethea (G)
Ethan Porterfield (F)
Damir Brooks (F)
Dolan Waldo (F)
Eric Branch (high school recruit)


Some very interesting (and very familiar, high-profile PSAC D2) names have visited the past two weeks. Word in town is Joe is going to sign 4-5 transfers. It should be an entertaining next couple of weeks.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

One confirmed non-conference game for next year ... Walsh will play at the KCAC (backend of a home/home).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Mercyhurst has picked up Alexander Parks, a guard from Cincinnati.

He may be playing right away as Michael Bradley's replacement.

Nobody seems to have heard anything so far on where Bradley and Ajayi are going. I'd assume both find mid-major homes.

[Ship69]

Mercyhurst has picked up Alexander Parks, a guard from Cincinnati.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, that was the predicted (1) high school guard. I assume we see transfers the rest of the way.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Eric Branch, SG from Muhlenberg High, has committed to IUP.

Looks like Joe beat out East Stroudsburg and Slippery Rock (among others).

[hawks16]

I mean in the sense that winning the Philadelphia Catholic League title is a bigger deal (to those teams) than winning a state title. The attendance and enthusiasm speaks for itself.

[IUPNation]

Didn’t know where to post this but last nights Philadelphia Catholic League Title Game at a packed Palestra came down to the final last second basket to send it into OT. Video in the link…

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelph...dgzb36us7d2u2t

I mean this was probably the biggest crowd at a high school basketball game this year in Pennsylvania.

[IUPNation]

I think the only thing that might move the needle on how state playoffs are played (and who is "punished" by the transfer rule and who isn't) will come down to attendance. PIAA championship football attendance stinks and the title games are now played in a high school stadium in Mechanicsburg. The basketball championships are also not greatly attended in the lower divisions, for natural reasons. Now when you get up to Class 6A and its two Philadelphia Catholic League teams playing for a title neither really cares about, the attendance also stinks. Reading bailed out the PIAA this year since their fans travel anywhere. Same with New Castle last year in 5A. Those fans go anywhere.

Maybe a reprieve after this year as the Hershey contract is up and the PIAA could be going back to State College for title games.

What do you mean about the PCL schools not caring. The Catholic League title game was played at a packed Palestra.

[hawks16]

I think the only thing that might move the needle on how state playoffs are played (and who is "punished" by the transfer rule and who isn't) will come down to attendance. PIAA championship football attendance stinks and the title games are now played in a high school stadium in Mechanicsburg. The basketball championships are also not greatly attended in the lower divisions, for natural reasons. Now when you get up to Class 6A and its two Philadelphia Catholic League teams playing for a title neither really cares about, the attendance also stinks. Reading bailed out the PIAA this year since their fans travel anywhere. Same with New Castle last year in 5A. Those fans go anywhere.

Maybe a reprieve after this year as the Hershey contract is up and the PIAA could be going back to State College for title games.

[EyeoftheHawk]

It's all so freaked up now it's hard to keep track. I don't know what's next for Aliquippa football. They are a Class A school by enrollment (and a small one at that). They just went 14-1 in Class 4A and lost in the PIAA final. The WPIAL may move them to the the PSAC next.

The public/private debate in high school sports gets tiresome but it is real problem.

In girls basketball last week I had to laugh when little Homer-Center (near Indiana) drew Kennedy Catholic in the PIAA Tournament. It would be hard to find two programs more different. One is home-grown. One recruits better than most D1 programs.

The boys coach at little Union High School went on a tirade several weeks back about his team losing to a private school full of ringers. His outburst actually got a lot of air time on Yinzer sports radio stations. He wasn't wrong.

I personally think 6 classes has ruined the WPIAL ... not sure the effect out in your parts.

The Kennedy Catholic team is coached by Justin Magestro, father of UPJ’s guard Drew Magestro. I watched the game and got great amusement by how the elder Magestro acted like his team had really done something. No offense to the girls who are just out there playing basketball, but to talk about how hard the girls worked and how they earned it, yada, yada, yada, was laughable. They had a big girl that would average 10-12 points in the PSAC and they just dumped it in to her. I have never coached a high school basketball game in my life and feel confident I could have coached that team to a state championship. Homer Center, a true small school with 100% local talent versus a collection of all-stars. Sorry Mr. Magestro…not impressed.

The Heritage Conference is one of the best in the state for girls basketball (two teams in the state finals this year). Imagine if they put together an all-star team and played in AA classification. That’s essentially what’s happening. It’s going to be up to PA’s sorry excuse for a legislature to step up and deal with it because the PIAA isn’t going to. What’s most likely is we’ll still be having this same discussion next year, and the year after that, and so on. The fix really doesn’t seem that difficult.