Iup basketball

[EyeoftheHawk]

I hope you are correct. IUP played really well up at Morrow. I just hope we don't see their street ball alter ego tomorrow.

They surely don't want to be the team that snaps the streak.

I expect we’ll see a focused group for these last two games. They have to assume if they win them both they’ll be hosting the regional. Plus, it’s Slippery Rock at home on a Saturday afternoon and the place will be packed. They’ll feel threatened going down to Cal for the season finale, which is a big motivator. Joe will have them thinking they’re 10 point dogs going down there.

IUP has three paths to hosting the regional as I see it. The first is simply win the next two and whatever happens in the PSAC tournament is a bonus. The second is lose one of the next two but turn around and win the PSAC tournament. Obviously if they run the table it’s a moot point. All that said, there’s no reason for IUP to not want to win everything in front of them. In a sense, the playoffs start now.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP is going to stomp Slippery Rock, and I expect WLU to win as well, but their task is taller. IUP’s trip to Cal is the one to be more concerned about in my opinion.

I hope you are correct. IUP played really well up at Morrow. I just hope we don't see their street ball alter ego tomorrow.

They surely don't want to be the team that snaps the streak.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP's average gate is up to 1,774 (4th best in D2).

Tomorrow, for whatever reason, is typically the biggest draw of the year. They should be in the 3,330-3,700 range tomorrow.

The Wednesday night 2nd round of the conference tournament is also traditionally a huge game. Unfortunately after that, Spring Break wrecks havoc on PSAC Final Four weekend and Regional weekend.

[EyeoftheHawk]

IUP and WL best worry about tomorrow first lol.

IUP is going to stomp Slippery Rock, and I expect WLU to win as well, but their task is taller. IUP’s trip to Cal is the one to be more concerned about in my opinion.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think IUP will host if they get through the rest of the regular season without a loss. I don’t think a loss in the conference tournament puts them on the road. It would make for interesting discussion should WLU win it’s conference tournament and IUP doesn’t.

IUP and WL best worry about tomorrow first lol.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I don't think the Lubbock game counts for you guys as it's not a 'bordering' region. The D2 loss counts, obviously, but I don't think it hits you in the 'record vs regionally ranked' category.

There's a long way to go. IUP has a tough game tomorrow and then a trip to face a suddenly-hot California. I wouldn't book any rooms just yet.

I think IUP will host if they get through the rest of the regular season without a loss. I don’t think a loss in the conference tournament puts them on the road. It would make for interesting discussion should WLU win it’s conference tournament and IUP doesn’t.

[IUPalum]

I don't think the Lubbock game counts for you guys as it's not a 'bordering' region. The D2 loss counts, obviously, but I don't think it hits you in the 'record vs regionally ranked' category.

There's a long way to go. IUP has a tough game tomorrow and then a trip to face a suddenly-hot California. I wouldn't book any rooms just yet.

I booked my room but I can cancel up to 24 hours before at no charge. lol

[IUPbigINDIANS]

For the sake of comparison, WLU is only 3-2 against regionally ranked opponents. They're 3-1 in the Atlantic with 2 wins vs. Charleston and one vs. UPJ. The stinker against Fairmont is the in-region loss, and falling asleep for the final 5 minutes of the Lubbock Christian game accounts for the second regionally ranked loss. WLU can likely only grab 1-3 more regionally ranked wins (they play Fairmont this weekend and they'll likely run into one or two of those teams in the MEC tourney).

I think it's safe to say that the Hilton Garden-Indiana should start blocking rooms. I'm just not sure anyone can catch IUP for hosting honors at this point.

I don't think the Lubbock game counts for you guys as it's not a 'bordering' region. The D2 loss counts, obviously, but I don't think it hits you in the 'record vs regionally ranked' category.

There's a long way to go. IUP has a tough game tomorrow and then a trip to face a suddenly-hot California. I wouldn't book any rooms just yet.

[Scrub]

Joe has an impressive 5-1 record vs (officially) regionally ranked teams within the Atlantic.

He also has two more wins against teams officially ranked in other regions (New Haven and Walsh). Those are 'bordering' regions so I'm not sure how they factor. I think they do count, so that would make IUP 7-1 vs regionally ranked teams. That's good resume stuff.

For the sake of comparison, WLU is only 3-2 against regionally ranked opponents. They're 3-1 in the Atlantic with 2 wins vs. Charleston and one vs. UPJ. The stinker against Fairmont is the in-region loss, and falling asleep for the final 5 minutes of the Lubbock Christian game accounts for the second regionally ranked loss. WLU can likely only grab 1-3 more regionally ranked wins (they play Fairmont this weekend and they'll likely run into one or two of those teams in the MEC tourney).

I think it's safe to say that the Hilton Garden-Indiana should start blocking rooms. I'm just not sure anyone can catch IUP for hosting honors at this point.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe has an impressive 5-1 record vs (officially) regionally ranked teams within the Atlantic.

He also has two more wins against teams officially ranked in other regions (New Haven and Walsh). Those are 'bordering' regions so I'm not sure how they factor. I think they do count, so that would make IUP 7-1 vs regionally ranked teams. That's good resume stuff.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Not sure what's up with the Gazette lately but it again didn't run a game story (at least not in the online edition).

The Penn did have a good article on the game. They usually have player quotes (IG rarely does). Ethan's comments on coming out of the bullpen were interesting.

I can say one thing, if Ethan wasn't available last night, they weren't going to win that game. Joe didn't come out and say it ... but said he wasn't sure.

They ran a story and it contained quotes. I’m a subscriber but only get the .pdf version of the actual paper. They may not have posted it on the website.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That's the thing, when Ethan got on the floor they starting running the offense through him. Guess what, IT WORKED!!! Running sets makes your offense more efficient. Now when teams adjust then you run plays to the next guy. Since early January, most teams have worked to take Shawndale out of the game and when it worked, IUP didn't adjust well. I haven't understood why they haven't run the offense through Ethan more often other than he hasn't practiced. He's efficient and tough to guard inside out. All teams know Shawndale isn't a great outside shooter and they give him that which is why why he drives there is always 2/3 guys waiting.

RUN PLAYS!!! This team has to many weapons to not use them.

They have so many capable scorers. Trying to run the whole offense through two guys is very frustrating to watch.

This is a much different (i.e. deeper) roster than Joe's ever had here. I don't think he's fully embraced or figured out how to use it. They are still playing, night after night, as if everything has to run through 1-2 guys.

I'd build the whole offense around Tomiwa -- and they don't run a single play for him. He's not being guarded in D2. He's too big, strong and fast. He's either scoring or getting fouled just about every time he touches the ball.

You nailed it. The more set stuff they run, the more it will open up Shawndale's lanes for the occasional drive. Lately, as you said, teams are just waiting for him.

They've become extremely predictable -- and with so many capable scorers, they should be anything but predictable.

They aren't getting another Clarion, Edinboro or some other dreg in 48 hours. SRU, on occasion, can be very good. I suspect IUP will be 'up' for this game.

[IUPalum]

Not sure what's up with the Gazette lately but it again didn't run a game story (at least not in the online edition).

The Penn did have a good article on the game. They usually have player quotes (IG rarely does). Ethan's comments on coming out of the bullpen were interesting.

I can say one thing, if Ethan wasn't available last night, they weren't going to win that game. Joe didn't come out and say it ... but said he wasn't sure.

That's the thing, when Ethan got on the floor they starting running the offense through him. Guess what, IT WORKED!!! Running sets makes your offense more efficient. Now when teams adjust then you run plays to the next guy. Since early January, most teams have worked to take Shawndale out of the game and when it worked, IUP didn't adjust well. I haven't understood why they haven't run the offense through Ethan more often other than he hasn't practiced. He's efficient and tough to guard inside out. All teams know Shawndale isn't a great outside shooter and they give him that which is why why he drives there is always 2/3 guys waiting.

RUN PLAYS!!! This team has to many weapons to not use them.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Not sure what's up with the Gazette lately but it again didn't run a game story (at least not in the online edition).

The Penn did have a good article on the game. They usually have player quotes (IG rarely does). Ethan's comments on coming out of the bullpen were interesting.

I can say one thing, if Ethan wasn't available last night, they weren't going to win that game. Joe didn't come out and say it ... but said he wasn't sure.

[IUPalum]

IUP fans should enjoy what they have. They usually have a good team out there, but 24-1 doesn't come along that often, especially following a season like they had last year. Ship has lost at least seven winnable games this season and has had me reaching for a strong drink more than once. Chris Fite will be lucky not to have an ulcer after this season, and if he doesn't have a very good offseason recruiting, next year could be the longest for the Raiders in a while. And if you follow any team in the PSAC East this season you've certainly had reason to wonder WTH is going on some of these nights.

Oh we're enjoying what we have. We just know that there is unexpected holes in this offense if this team is going to make the promise land again this year. It's getting pretty darn close to being too late to fix. That's the concern. IUP will already be the #1 seed in the PSAC Tourney but that's not what we're talking here. This team was to host and win the regional. That is the goal! In order to accomplish that goal, the offense must be more efficient and will take some pressure off that defense.