Iup basketball

[EyeoftheHawk]

IUP has signed USCB transfer guard Tasso Sfanos.


He had a very decorated WPIAL career (Mars) before signing with Ron Fudala.

He originally committed to UPJ but then went to USCB.

Nice signing for Joe.

Sfanos shot 35 percent from deep on 151 attempts.

He should have at least 2 years at IUP.

Statistically he’s been a solid player off the bench. He only had one start at USCB and averaged 8.2 ppg. He seemed to be a fit for the USCB system but maybe he got homesick. Having a guy that can come off the bench and be a threat to hit 2-3 3’s per game certainly won’t hurt IUP.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP has signed USCB transfer guard Tasso Sfanos.


He had a very decorated WPIAL career (Mars) before signing with Ron Fudala.

He originally committed to UPJ but then went to USCB.

Nice signing for Joe.

Sfanos shot 35 percent from deep on 151 attempts.

He should have at least 2 years at IUP.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Ralphie Blundo, the 1,000-point scoring coach's son from New Castle High School, is attending IUP in the fall. Not sure if that's for hoops or if he just intends to go pro in something other than sports.

Well, this took a twist.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Interestingly, IUP’s best team had its dreams dashed several years earlier by a team that made a similar short handed run. UC Riverside made it all the way to the 1995 NC game, knocking out IUP in the semifinals, before losing to Bruce Pearl’s Southern Indiana team. I think they dressed 8 guys and 6 played almost all the minutes or something like that.

I knew Geoff Evans a little bit, had a couple classes with him. I remember them getting hot and winning the region, but I can’t say I followed the team closely all the way through. Ironically, the least interested in IUP sports I’ve been at any point in my life was while I was attending IUP. I was too busy studying, lol.

Edwards' teams were always exciting -- and often times an internal circus. He had a real knack for finding guys in strange places. I mean, real strange places - and, real strange countries.

Different times, of course. He could sign D1 guys much easier back then. Now they just all go from one D1 to the next. Back then, a lot would come down (for one reason or another). He certainly brought in some interesting characters. Edwards gets a bad rap, but he also had some good kids in the program.

He somehow got Dennis Mims to Indiana -- and, the 'somehow' is quite the story.

Mims only had one season at IUP, but he'd probably be on the all-time Starting Five if one was having a fantasy draft.

Edwards also landed Rodney Horton, who was one of the most electrifying pure scorers to ever play at IUP. During Horton's final season, IUP had an extremely talented team. But, they had too many 'get mine' types. They had a good record, but that team could have been so much more.

There were a couple teams during Edwards' era that had all five starters being D1 transfers.

Some years, those guys didn't all function very well together. But, when they did, it was fantastic to watch. His teams would often start fairly slow, but really start to explode by January. They had to learn to play together.

Obviously, that was a much different time in the PSAC. Physically, those teams would break Joe's teams in half. Skill-wise, some of Edwards' teams were also better, but not all of them. A couple of his teams could have certainly hung with (or beat) a couple of Joe's better teams.

Looking back, Edwards wasn't in Indiana all that long. But, that was a really fun time to watch the program. He won an awful lot at IUP. He was also a really good guy, which I think too many people around the program forget.

The KCAC is nice and grand and all that. But, me personally, I'd take a stuffy, cramped game in the Field House from that time any day. I still think they should play one game a season over there. It's been 7-8 years now since the last game (excluding the no-fans Covid game or two). If the place is still standing, why not. It's pretty nostalgic for a lot of people -- and, most of Joe's core fan group is well, approaching (or well into) the nostalgia phase.

I've said it many times, but nothing at IUP in my life as a fan has ever topped the Cal vs IUP men's games of that time. They were off the charts. The teams hated one another. The coaches hated each other. IUP looked down at Cal in that era (and Cal knew it). It had all the spice -- and, both teams were really, really good. Fans also travelled back then (for that game, anyway), which really added to it.

Anyway, it's long, long overdue for all the Edwards hate to end. IUP can't pretend like that era never existed forever.

[Chuck Norris]

Tony's page has a new story about the 25-year anniversary of the 2000 season.

For those unaware, that was one of the wildest seasons - and locker rooms - in IUP basketball history.

So, wild, in fact, it would make a good movie. It had it everything -- and a lot more than Tony could say on a public board. LOL.

Long story short, the team was dead in the water in January -- for a wide variety of reasons.

This group -- down to just 7 players -- finally learned to play together (and get along) and went on one of the more-historic runs in program history. The 'how' and 'why' they got down to so few players is a different story.

IUP was swept by California in the regular season but upset the Vulcans in Hamer Hall in Round 1 of the PSAC Tournament. From there, they went nuts -- ultimately winning the Regional Final by 30-some points.

Who better to manage the circus, of course, than Gary Edwards.

I've said it for years on here, but it's time for some of the old guard at IUP to move off the Edwards hate. The athletic department needs to acknowledge his teams. Yes, his ending was bad. Although, it wasn't nearly as bad as some at IUP made it out to be.

His teams were, well, different. Much, much, much, much, much different than the current editions IUP puts on the floor. They'd beat you on the court -- and then beat you in a fight later that night at Culpeppers. Edwards had guys that I know even the football players of that era wouldn't mess with. They obviously weren't all angels. But, he somehow molded that group together.

That was a real special time for IUP basketball. Edwards had some really, really good teams.

I'd take the 2000 team against probably all but 2 of Joe's teams. If he had 8 guys coming down the stretch ... who knows.

Ironically, of course, is the 2000 team versus Joe's teams would be fair.

7 on 7

Interestingly, IUP’s best team had its dreams dashed several years earlier by a team that made a similar short handed run. UC Riverside made it all the way to the 1995 NC game, knocking out IUP in the semifinals, before losing to Bruce Pearl’s Southern Indiana team. I think they dressed 8 guys and 6 played almost all the minutes or something like that.

I knew Geoff Evans a little bit, had a couple classes with him. I remember them getting hot and winning the region, but I can’t say I followed the team closely all the way through. Ironically, the least interested in IUP sports I’ve been at any point in my life was while I was attending IUP. I was too busy studying, lol.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Tony's page has a new story about the 25-year anniversary of the 2000 season.

For those unaware, that was one of the wildest seasons - and locker rooms - in IUP basketball history.

So, wild, in fact, it would make a good movie. It had it everything -- and a lot more than Tony could say on a public board. LOL.

Long story short, the team was dead in the water in January -- for a wide variety of reasons.

This group -- down to just 7 players -- finally learned to play together (and get along) and went on one of the more-historic runs in program history. The 'how' and 'why' they got down to so few players is a different story.

IUP was swept by California in the regular season but upset the Vulcans in Hamer Hall in Round 1 of the PSAC Tournament. From there, they went nuts -- ultimately winning the Regional Final by 30-some points.

Who better to manage the circus, of course, than Gary Edwards.

I've said it for years on here, but it's time for some of the old guard at IUP to move off the Edwards hate. The athletic department needs to acknowledge his teams. Yes, his ending was bad. Although, it wasn't nearly as bad as some at IUP made it out to be.

His teams were, well, different. Much, much, much, much, much different than the current editions IUP puts on the floor. They'd beat you on the court -- and then beat you in a fight later that night at Culpeppers. Edwards had guys that I know even the football players of that era wouldn't mess with. They obviously weren't all angels. But, he somehow molded that group together.

That was a real special time for IUP basketball. Edwards had some really, really good teams.

I'd take the 2000 team against probably all but 2 of Joe's teams. If he had 8 guys coming down the stretch ... who knows.

Ironically, of course, is the 2000 team versus Joe's teams would be fair.

7 on 7

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Ralphie Blundo, the 1,000-point scoring coach's son from New Castle High School, is attending IUP in the fall. Not sure if that's for hoops or if he just intends to go pro in something other than sports.

He's playing. He visited in February and Joe has been chasing him for a bit.

[hawks16]

The two questionable returnees were Luke Triggs and Alphonso Pickens.

I'd say - by now - it's safe to say both are staying / being retained.

I think that's a good thing. Both will have a year in the program. Both are older players. They will give Joe quality play off the bench.

Triggs played out of position all year. He can be pretty solid (when not asked to play Center). Pickens missed most of camp and then the first month of the season. He wasn't at 100 percent all year. He's a quality backup PG.

The only two portal departures were walk-ons.

This is going to be a small class.

They are targeting one high school guard. He may sign any day now but his team is still alive.

Transfer-wise, look for Joe to sign (1) guard and (1) forward. Of note, I think they already have the forward. This is a big boy. More on that later.


That should be it (aside from a deep bench walk-on or two).

Ralphie Blundo, the 1,000-point scoring coach's son from New Castle High School, is attending IUP in the fall. Not sure if that's for hoops or if he just intends to go pro in something other than sports.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Would love to see Bernie return to Edinboro.

Bernie is getting a lot of low-D1 attention. So, I doubt we'll see him come back down.

[Fightingscot82]

Bernie Blunt is in the portal as a one-year grad transfer.

In case you don't recall, he had a big year at Edinboro two years ago, then went with Gary up to Mercyhurst (for the move to D1).

No idea if he'd want to come back down ... but I'd sure ask.

He's supposedly open to D1 and D2.

Blunt averaged 21 ppg at Edinboro and 12.5 ppg at Mercyhurst (this past year).


I don't think he'll come down. He's already getting a lot of attention. But ... wishful thinking.

I do suspect his teammate, Max Jusianiec, will come back to D2. He's a 6'7", 205 lb, SF. He wasn't a great fit in Gary's offense but has some potential. He was a good D2 scorer prior to Mercyhurst.

Would love to see Bernie return to Edinboro.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The two questionable returnees were Luke Triggs and Alphonso Pickens.

I'd say - by now - it's safe to say both are staying / being retained.

I think that's a good thing. Both will have a year in the program. Both are older players. They will give Joe quality play off the bench.

Triggs played out of position all year. He can be pretty solid (when not asked to play Center). Pickens missed most of camp and then the first month of the season. He wasn't at 100 percent all year. He's a quality backup PG.

The only two portal departures were walk-ons.

This is going to be a small class.

They are targeting one high school guard. He may sign any day now but his team is still alive.

Transfer-wise, look for Joe to sign (1) guard and (1) forward. Of note, I think they already have the forward. This is a big boy. More on that later.


That should be it (aside from a deep bench walk-on or two).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Bernie Blunt is in the portal as a one-year grad transfer.

In case you don't recall, he had a big year at Edinboro two years ago, then went with Gary up to Mercyhurst (for the move to D1).

No idea if he'd want to come back down ... but I'd sure ask.

He's supposedly open to D1 and D2.

Blunt averaged 21 ppg at Edinboro and 12.5 ppg at Mercyhurst (this past year).


I don't think he'll come down. He's already getting a lot of attention. But ... wishful thinking.

I do suspect his teammate, Max Jusianiec, will come back to D2. He's a 6'7", 205 lb, SF. He wasn't a great fit in Gary's offense but has some potential. He was a good D2 scorer prior to Mercyhurst.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

St. Francis has entered the transfer portal and will become part of the Presidents Athletic Conference! Will become a voting member on July 1 and begin PAC play beginning in Fall 2026.

Wow.

The portal is about to explode. Hopefully IUP can snag some.

[hawks16]

St. Francis has entered the transfer portal and will become part of the Presidents Athletic Conference! Will become a voting member on July 1 and begin PAC play beginning in Fall 2026.

[Ship69]

If I remember correctly, December 20-26 is now a mandated break by the NCAA.

I'd love to see small-college tournaments over the holidays like there used to be in the dark ages when I was in school, but NCAA rules apparently discourage that sort of thing now. You used to see fans at those events who wouldn't normally attend a PSAC game.