Iup basketball

[IUP24]

Been quiet here. Giving this a plug.

[IUP24]

Mathis scored the layup with I think 3 seconds left. That game was a war. IUP won, 66-64. I don't think there was ever more than 4 points separation.

Too to bottom, that was one of my favorite games ever in the KCAC. Regular season-wise, I think it was the best atmosphere in building history.

You're right. It was Mathis. I completely forgot that he was on that team. That was one of those "near miss" type teams. 3OT loss to WL in which they blew the lead down the stretch (before Marcel hit that miraculous corner three).

I think that team was actually better than the team the next year that went to the championship game. The dynamic that was added in 2015 was Shawn Dyer shooting from deep, but I felt like there was more balance and depth in 2015. Marcel caused such a matchup problem for many teams. He was a thick 6'7" or 6'8" and caused a problem inside for many teams. But he could also stretch the floor and shoot the lights out when he had to. We talk a lot about some of the best teams of the Joe-era. Marcel seems to always get left off. I think he is one of my favorite players I've seen at IUP.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Was this the game that Devante Chance hit a layup in the waning seconds of a tie game? May have been like 2-3 seconds left. SRU threw up a heave at the buzzer that was off the mark. I remember that one. That was a fun game with a great crowd.

Mathis scored the layup with I think 3 seconds left. That game was a war. IUP won, 66-64. I don't think there was ever more than 4 points separation.

Too to bottom, that was one of my favorite games ever in the KCAC. Regular season-wise, I think it was the best atmosphere in building history.

[IUP24]

LOL

I'd have to look it up but I'd guess without question.

His most famous technical cost them their shot to finally win in Indiana back in '13-'14. That night was the toughest I've ever heard an IUP crowd go after a coach. It started in warm-ups. He finally just lost it with about 90 seconds to play.

He did an incredible job at Point Park last year. It won't be long until he's back in the West.

As for this upcoming game, his team won't be a pushover. They are dramatically better than the PSU-Altoona types. I suspect they will stay within 20 or so. They played Walsh tough last year for about 30 minutes or so.

I do find it somewhat odd Joe took the game. Him and KR weren't exactly close friends. Time heals, I suppose.

Was this the game that Devante Chance hit a layup in the waning seconds of a tie game? May have been like 2-3 seconds left. SRU threw up a heave at the buzzer that was off the mark. I remember that one. That was a fun game with a great crowd.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Depth is what I worry about. Are they deep? We'll never know because Joe always ends up playing 7 guys then KJ as 8. WHY???

Joe loves some KJ


KJ and his five positions aside, Joe does have five solid guards. I'd have to think Dillard, Stewart and Clarke start, with the SG and Denzel off the bench.

Underneath he'll play Ethan 32 mpg. Waldo and Brooks will both play. Brooks can't go more than 15 mpg. He'd foul out. We'll see in Romero-Sans plays right away in some capacity.

I think Joe could go (9) deep although we know that won't happen. KJ would be the 10th man in that scenario.

[IUPalum]

Depth is what I worry about. Are they deep? We'll never know because Joe always ends up playing 7 guys then KJ as 8. WHY???

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Roster is posted.

No surprises other than Joe signed a PG from Turkey that none of us knew about. He played a post-grad year in the States last year so he's a year older than the typical freshman.


With a little over a month to opening night there's next to no buzz about this team. Perhaps that's a good thing.

Talking to some in the know, most seem to think this is a 20-8 type bubble team.

A few think this will be a pretty strong team.

I have no opinion yet.

Positives:

* Way less hype
* They got bigger, faster and more athletic overall
* He's deeper (not that it matters as he'll only play 7 guys).
* Joe addressed the PG issue. Word is this guy from Akron is legit.
* Ethan Porterfield is fully healthy.
* Joe added a big, pure SG that they desperately needed.
* Dallas Dillard and Jaylen Stewart should both emerge as go-to players

Negatives:

* Lot of new faces
* Tough early schedule. Expect growing pains.

[hawks16]

LOL

I'd have to look it up but I'd guess without question.

His most famous technical cost them their shot to finally win in Indiana back in '13-'14. That night was the toughest I've ever heard an IUP crowd go after a coach. It started in warm-ups. He finally just lost it with about 90 seconds to play.

He did an incredible job at Point Park last year. It won't be long until he's back in the West.

As for this upcoming game, his team won't be a pushover. They are dramatically better than the PSU-Altoona types. I suspect they will stay within 20 or so. They played Walsh tough last year for about 30 minutes or so.

I do find it somewhat odd Joe took the game. Him and KR weren't exactly close friends. Time heals, I suppose.

Maybe Kevin asked to be an assistant coach and they mended fences over Levity brews and Subs n Suds

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Does he still hold the record for KCAC technical fouls?

LOL

I'd have to look it up but I'd guess without question.

His most famous technical cost them their shot to finally win in Indiana back in '13-'14. That night was the toughest I've ever heard an IUP crowd go after a coach. It started in warm-ups. He finally just lost it with about 90 seconds to play.

He did an incredible job at Point Park last year. It won't be long until he's back in the West.

As for this upcoming game, his team won't be a pushover. They are dramatically better than the PSU-Altoona types. I suspect they will stay within 20 or so. They played Walsh tough last year for about 30 minutes or so.

I do find it somewhat odd Joe took the game. Him and KR weren't exactly close friends. Time heals, I suppose.

[hawks16]

Point Park at IUP

Kevin Reynolds returns.

Does he still hold the record for KCAC technical fouls?

[IUPalum]

Point Park at IUP

Kevin Reynolds returns.

Bring the house down heckling him.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Point Park at IUP

Kevin Reynolds returns.

[IUP1423]

Game of the year: January 29th

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Walsh at IUP

Nov. 16

[IUP24]

I’m more with IUP24 on this one. There has been essentially little to no parity in the West the last 4 seasons.

IUP: 80-7
Mercyhurst: 67-20

Those are the conference records over the last four full seasons, which excludes 2020-21. 2021-22 was an exception with Cal, and then there’s been some solid UPJ and Slippery Rock squads, but even in that 2021-22 season, the standings don’t really bare out any type of parity.

Like you mentioned, Cal made the Sweet 16 after coming in 4th, but Mercyhurst made the Elite Eight in 2018-19 after coming in 3rd, and that year had three or four poor teams in the division, so I’m not sure that’s a good indication of a competitive, balanced league. I actually thought the PSAC this past year was solid- West Liberty was just on a different level in the tournament. I don’t think Mercyhurst or IUP played particularly well against them, but they were also superior to both teams.

Unless Joe’s got some late August magic, I think this year ends up much different due to the reasons outlined above. Both perennial powers have had a lot of turnover, so I think they have a much better chance of losing games to UPJ, Slippery Rock, Seton Hill, Gannon. But that might have as much to do with IUP and Mercyhurst not being Top 5/20 teams as much as it has to do with the other teams getting substantially better.

I guess it's just hard for me to buy into the idea of a division being a gauntlet when there's been two teams who have been so clearly head and shoulders above everyone else for so long. I think the league will be more competitive, but I think that's mainly because IUP and Mercyhurst aren't the elite teams they've been. I'm sure Clarion and Gannon will be better, but there improvement, and the emergence of Cal and SRU as being "hyped teams," isn't enough for me to say on August 17, that the PSAC West will be a gauntlet.

Edit: IUP could still be really good, maybe even great. But I guess I'm not there yet on 8/17.