Iup basketball

[ironmaniup]

I think this year is a bit of an anomaly, since players have that 5th year of eligibility, and most are graduating. Armoni would have been 4 years and out at IUP, but he has that fifth year. Why not see what its like in the upper divisions ? there are a couple more years with that extra fifth year, and then it goes away, so it won't last long. Also, it won't take too long for players to get embarrassed by not getting any offers. The portal will be very different in a couple years.

[IUPHawks24]

Luckily for IUP, Joe is a very patient shopper -- and, an excellent recruiter.

They will likely continue to lose some here and there but he will replace them. Thankfully, he has the cash flow to do so.

I do have extreme fears about Ethan and Tomiwa beyond next year. Also, David Morris and Shawndale will be gone after next season. So, this better be an 'all-in' year. He needs to add a Day 1 ready piece to the puzzle.

When you say cash flow- you're referring to scholarship money right? I know IUP has more than most, but aren't all these good players on full scholarships? How else would the schools keep them?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Luckily for IUP, Joe is a very patient shopper -- and, an excellent recruiter.

They will likely continue to lose some here and there but he will replace them. Thankfully, he has the cash flow to do so.

I do have extreme fears about Ethan and Tomiwa beyond next year. Also, David Morris and Shawndale will be gone after next season. So, this better be an 'all-in' year. He needs to add a Day 1 ready piece to the puzzle.

[IUP24]

The fact Pitt people are hoping they poach D2 players ... says all you need to know about that dumpster fire program.

Pitt literally just let a D2 kid in their own back yard leave Pennsylvania -- one they went after very hard. Granted, Loyola Chicago is currently a far superior program than Pitt.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

College basketball is strange. I just hate what this has turned into. Armoni is great D2 point guard, I'm not sure he's "good" playing in the SEC. Aside from the NCAA Tournament this year, I haven't otherwise watched a D1 game in 2 years. It's so transient. And the steady product that once was D2 hoops is just JUCO basketball now. A feeder system, if you will. It's unfortunate. Joe's built a tremendous culture to withstand this stuff for a long time to this point. It was going to take one domino to fall for Joe to ultimately change everyone always staying at IUP, and this is that first domino. I guess it's different here because Foster has been in the program for 5 years. It's not like he's bolted at the first opportunity. But this changes the future of Joe's "Hawk Family," "Cut Stone," and "g2G" culture.

You mention Tomiwa and Ethan. Had Foster not left, I wouldn't have felt worried. Now I see no scenario where they finish at IUP. Jabronis on the Pitt message boards are saying that they need to find a way to get Porterfield to leave IUP to come to Pitt. Never in my life did I think that you would hear D1 fans saying, "Hey, let's do some tampering and get a kid at IUP to transfer." But that's what it is now. This stuff is just absurd at this point.

The fact Pitt people are hoping they poach D2 players ... says all you need to know about that dumpster fire program.

Pitt literally just let a D2 kid in their own back yard leave Pennsylvania -- one they went after very hard. Granted, Loyola Chicago is currently a far superior program than Pitt.

[IUP24]

Based on the first 48 hours in the portal ... would probably say the hope of Armoni returning is toast

He's been contacted by 25+ D1 programs -- highlighted by Missouri, Alabama and South Carolina.

St. Bonaventure and several other mid-majors are also in the picture.

College basketball is strange. I just hate what this has turned into. Armoni is great D2 point guard, I'm not sure he's "good" playing in the SEC. Aside from the NCAA Tournament this year, I haven't otherwise watched a D1 game in 2 years. It's so transient. And the steady product that once was D2 hoops is just JUCO basketball now. A feeder system, if you will. It's unfortunate. Joe's built a tremendous culture to withstand this stuff for a long time to this point. It was going to take one domino to fall for Joe to ultimately change everyone always staying at IUP, and this is that first domino. I guess it's different here because Foster has been in the program for 5 years. It's not like he's bolted at the first opportunity. But this changes the future of Joe's "Hawk Family," "Cut Stone," and "g2G" culture.

You mention Tomiwa and Ethan. Had Foster not left, I wouldn't have felt worried. Now I see no scenario where they finish at IUP. Jabronis on the Pitt message boards are saying that they need to find a way to get Porterfield to leave IUP to come to Pitt. Never in my life did I think that you would hear D1 fans saying, "Hey, let's do some tampering and get a kid at IUP to transfer." But that's what it is now. This stuff is just absurd at this point.

[hawks16]

The IUP-Bonas path would be interesting. Armoni could probably step in and be the starting point guard if he went north. I guess a good note on that one is that Joe recruited JR Bremer, who had a cup of coffee with the Celtics and Cavs, to Bonaventure when he was an assistant there. Bremer was a volunteer coach at IUP a couple years back. Comparing Indiana to Allegany (not Olean) is like night and day...I think Allegany has a Dunkin and that's about it with 1/10 the student population.

It appears Alabama just signed a transfer all-MAC guard from Ohio U who is an Alabama native.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Based on the first 48 hours in the portal ... would probably say the hope of Armoni returning is toast

He's been contacted by 25+ D1 programs -- highlighted by Missouri, Alabama and South Carolina.

St. Bonaventure and several other mid-majors are also in the picture.

[hawks16]

We'll know long before November.

Who needs me???

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Guess that Hawks16 knows it all. Where was he all year? hahahaha

I do remember the days (pre-social media) when they'd keep that roster sealed in the vault under the Field House until essentially opening night.

Nowadays, though, that roster leaks quickly. The only secret heading in to the official roster reveal will be the deep bench -- and, most years, that leaks on here, too. Twitter, etc., has meant they can't even hide the local walk-on from Saltsburg signing anymore.

[IUPalum]

We'll know long before November.

Guess that Hawks16 knows it all. Where was he all year? hahahaha

[IUPbigINDIANS]

When the roster gets posted on Nov. 10, we'll see how right you are.

We'll know long before November.

[hawks16]

Question becomes how long does Joe hold out. My guess is not very long.

I think Dallis Dillard will be Joe's next star, but I'm not sure that will happen this coming winter. I think he's poised to breakout the following two years.

It's pretty safe to say right now the starting lineup come early November is:

PG - ?
G - David Morris
G - Shawndale Jones
F - Ethan Porterfield
F - Tomiwa Sulaiman

Bench: Kyle Polce, Dillard, Damir Brooks, Radford, Diop, KJ


I woudn't be shocked if he adds not only a PG but also another hybrid SF/SG.

This has to be treated as an 'all in' year. I doubt they get more than the coming season out of Tomiwa. After next year, Ethan could also decide to move along for his senior year.

We have to pray Shawndale's recovery goes smooth, too. From what I hear, he's doing exceptionally well.

When the roster gets posted on Nov. 10, we'll see how right you are.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Question becomes how long does Joe hold out. My guess is not very long.

I think Dallis Dillard will be Joe's next star, but I'm not sure that will happen this coming winter. I think he's poised to breakout the following two years.

It's pretty safe to say right now the starting lineup come early November is:

PG - ?
G - David Morris
G - Shawndale Jones
F - Ethan Porterfield
F - Tomiwa Sulaiman

Bench: Kyle Polce, Dillard, Damir Brooks, Radford, Diop, KJ


I woudn't be shocked if he adds not only a PG but also another hybrid SF/SG.

This has to be treated as an 'all in' year. I doubt they get more than the coming season out of Tomiwa. After next year, Ethan could also decide to move along for his senior year.

We have to pray Shawndale's recovery goes smooth, too. From what I hear, he's doing exceptionally well.

[ironmaniup]

Oh I agree - but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. D1 is something to brag about, not as much winning a PSAC championship. A lot of D2 stars have a chip on their shoulders about D1 so its hard to pass up similar to what you see with mid-majors.

I think that chip on the shoulder is the key here. They want to see how they would do, play against much better players. As someone said, they likely won't play in the pros, so at least they get to say they played against guys that do. I don't think less playing time, etc. is a consideration. Its that one chance to say you played against the best.