Iup basketball

[IUPalum]

Thoughts:

The defense on all levels was atrocious. They won't win games unless that is cleaned up.

Offensively, they got some secondary scoring from Grove/Herring/Brooks but that won't be enough when you're giving up easy buckets and Moore is still jacking up ill advised shots. Moore knows he needs to score but what he isn't understanding is that if he gets others involved, it'll start to create easier opportunities for him.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, 'rock bottom' arrives when even your die-hard fans don't comment (at all) in the 24 hours after a loss.

Joe's normal mess was even worse yesterday as Luke Triggs was ill and didn't make the trip.

IUP is now 6-6. It's going to be a struggle to finish above .500

[Ship69]

Well, IUP's performance certainly wouldn't be considered a work of art.

The theme all year has been good stretches mixed with awful stretches. Last night had more bad than good, but they (amazingly) somehow found a way to win.


THE GOOD

* Damir Brooks nearly had a triple double. He had a career night with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks. Kutztown had no answer for him. Make no mistake, IUP won because of him.

* Tyler Grove hit three big treys -- seemingly ending a games-long slump.

* Kymani Merraro is going to be a superstar. He's doing things at the PG position we've never seen at IUP (from a freshman). He's fearless.


THE BAD

* IUP is getting physically mauled every game. Somebody aside from Brooks has to rebound. Teams drive the hoop with ease.

* Joe's system. He has to adapt to his roster. He built it. He needs to adjust. This isn't 2019 (or any other year). He doesn't have shooters all over the floor. He has two 6'5" (maybe) post players. This team can't play his traditional half-court game. What this team does have is speed and athletes. Players like Alphonso Pickens and Ian Herring aren't meant to play half-court offense.

* It's only been 11 games, but this group far too often looks lost. They are routinely a split second late on passes, shots, screens, defensive switches, etc. The expectation was they'd look better after the Finals break. They actually looked worse.

* Christian Moore isn't a surprise anymore. He was swarmed last night for 40 minutes. Hopefully Grove busting out of his slump will alleviate some of the pressure Moore is facing.


The 'so-so'

* Ian Herring is the wildcard on this team. Without question, he gets hammered by Joe the most every game. He's routinely out of position, etc. HOWEVER, good things happen when he's on the floor. Herring is incredibly quick for his 6'5" frame. He's becoming a good defender. He can also really drive the hoop. IUP's offense performs better when he's in the game.

* Luke Triggs has a tough job. He's not a Center by any means. At best, he's about 6'5". He's up against giants nightly. His offense can be pretty good. I think Joe could run more through him. He's also going through the annual 'short leash' syndrome Joe gives most new players.

* Grove has to get more physical on the defensive end.

Your season sounds very much like Ship's to this point, although your guys have managed to close the deal on more occasions. Ship has lost all four games at home so far, and all of them outside of Gannon have been extremely winnable.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm still trying to digest what I saw. I'm trying to find some positives. Both coaches sucked. Kutztown had the ball last, how the heck does Bernie not call a time out to set something up? Instead he allowed the chuck fest. Unreal... I'll keep digesting for now.

Well, IUP's performance certainly wouldn't be considered a work of art.

The theme all year has been good stretches mixed with awful stretches. Last night had more bad than good, but they (amazingly) somehow found a way to win.


THE GOOD

* Damir Brooks nearly had a triple double. He had a career night with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks. Kutztown had no answer for him. Make no mistake, IUP won because of him.

* Tyler Grove hit three big treys -- seemingly ending a games-long slump.

* Kymani Merraro is going to be a superstar. He's doing things at the PG position we've never seen at IUP (from a freshman). He's fearless.


THE BAD

* IUP is getting physically mauled every game. Somebody aside from Brooks has to rebound. Teams drive the hoop with ease.

* Joe's system. He has to adapt to his roster. He built it. He needs to adjust. This isn't 2019 (or any other year). He doesn't have shooters all over the floor. He has two 6'5" (maybe) post players. This team can't play his traditional half-court game. What this team does have is speed and athletes. Players like Alphonso Pickens and Ian Herring aren't meant to play half-court offense.

* It's only been 11 games, but this group far too often looks lost. They are routinely a split second late on passes, shots, screens, defensive switches, etc. The expectation was they'd look better after the Finals break. They actually looked worse.

* Christian Moore isn't a surprise anymore. He was swarmed last night for 40 minutes. Hopefully Grove busting out of his slump will alleviate some of the pressure Moore is facing.


The 'so-so'

* Ian Herring is the wildcard on this team. Without question, he gets hammered by Joe the most every game. He's routinely out of position, etc. HOWEVER, good things happen when he's on the floor. Herring is incredibly quick for his 6'5" frame. He's becoming a good defender. He can also really drive the hoop. IUP's offense performs better when he's in the game.

* Luke Triggs has a tough job. He's not a Center by any means. At best, he's about 6'5". He's up against giants nightly. His offense can be pretty good. I think Joe could run more through him. He's also going through the annual 'short leash' syndrome Joe gives most new players.

* Grove has to get more physical on the defensive end.

[tonyc]

Tonight's Kutztown-IUP game story: https://open.substack.com/pub/tonyco...meOnShare=true

[IUPalum]

Damir Brooks

18 points

12 rebounds

7 blocks



He could have probably went for 30 if they would have just kept feeding him.

Not a bad night

I'm still trying to digest what I saw. I'm trying to find some positives. Both coaches sucked. Kutztown had the ball last, how the heck does Bernie not call a time out to set something up? Instead he allowed the chuck fest. Unreal... I'll keep digesting for now.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Damir Brooks

18 points

12 rebounds

7 blocks



He could have probably went for 30 if they would have just kept feeding him.

Not a bad night

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Good Lord

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I would say that the region is much better when IUP has a strong basketball team and is fighting to host NCAA games, as a WL supporter I never thought I'd say that lol.

Maybe next year. But, it sure as hell isn't going to be this season.

[TopperNation]

I would say that the region is much better when IUP has a strong basketball team and is fighting to host NCAA games, as a WL supporter I never thought I'd say that lol.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Through 10 games, the only thing predictable about this IUP team from game to game (heck, timeout to timeout) is ... there is nothing predictable from game to game (or from timeout to timeout).

The Crimson Hawks (2-2, 5-5) enter tonight on a three-game skid.

IUP can look very good in stretches. IUP can look very bad in stretches. That usually equates to several close wins and several close(ish) losses.

Their opponent, Kutztown, arrives with a 3-6 record (0-3 in PSAC play).

Like IUP, the Golden Bears have a very young lineup. Most recently, Kutztown lost to Seton Hill, 85-80.

Both teams are coming off a long lay-off.

There's no sure things with this IUP team, but ... they need this one tonight. IUP will be a sizeable road dog Saturday at Millersville.

Hopefully the break gave IUP time to fix some defensive issues. The Crimson Hawks have looked lost the past three games -- often morphing in to some AAU concoction. The young players have (hopefully) realized quickly 'AAU defense' will get you embarrassed at this level.

I have a suspicion IUP will look much better tonight. Alphonso Pickens has had time to catch his breath and actually practice for a 10-day stretch. His familiarity with his teammates should be better. The freshmen should have learned a lot from the first 10-game stretch.

I do agree with Joe that this 'could' be a pretty decent team by February. But, I'm also a realist. Every single PSAC game is going to count for this bunch. Making the PSAC Tournament (unlike the past 20 years) is no gimme. Right now, the West (minus Gannon) is a sea of average teams that will all beat each other up. This is one IUP must win.

[Ship69]

In all honesty, most of the 'non revenue' sports needed a house-cleaning.

I will rely on you here to update on the status of the cross country and T&F programs.

Todd has hit home runs with the baseball and women's volleyball hiring's. Women's soccer has also really improved.

Keep in mind, Todd is the first AD at IUP to care about any sport outside of Football and Basketball in a very, very long time.

Football went a very disappointing 7-3 this year. But, they still went 7-3. Tort's overall resume is also very strong - he's won a Region and (2) PSAC titles since 2017. Believe me, you can find a lot of issues in Tort's coaching. But, unless he does something really dumb, he's not getting fired. That said, he'll probably retire in 2-3 years.

Joe, on the other hand, his overall popularity has taken a hit the past two years. Last year was really, really messy with the whole KJ situation. It turned a lot of people off. That's not heresy. The attendance tanked as the season went along. Season ticket sales dropped. This year it has been awful. In context, through the first (4) home games last year, IUP was averaging 1,275 per game. Through the first four home games this year? IUP is averaging a woeful 490 per game -- far and away the lowest at IUP in 30+ years.

Consider:

Lock Haven - 412
Shippensburg - 279
Lincoln - 278
USCB - 992


The Lock Haven game was probably the lowest-attended home opener at IUP since the early 90s. Shippensburg - once the game of the year on the schedule - drawing less than 300 on a Sunday was dumbfounding. I'll give the Lincoln game a pass. Thanksgiving Eve isn't going to draw well -- anywhere. USCB had a bigger gate. For a visiting team, they travelled tremendously (multiple players from Western PA). They had friends, parents, grandparents, etc.

Tomorrow's game -- and its ridiculous 5 p.m. tip-off on a business day -- will be lucky to break 250 people.

I used to say Joe could draw 1,250 fans if he'd tip at 7 a.m. Those days appear to be long gone.

Personally, I've never heard any rumblings of anything between Joe and Todd.

I think Joe rides this group out. This current season is a mess -- and, he built it. But, the future is very bright (pending he can keep them together). I'd guess he coaches another 2 years - possibly 3 years. They are paying him enough that he's not going to be in any hurry to leave. Plus, I'd surely think he wants to go out on top (not in his current trajectory).

I don't know how Ship is doing its counting, but 279 seems low from what I've seen of the three home games I've attended so far. That isn't to say it's been great, and I'm sure Heiges will be largely empty when the students are on holiday break.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Slightly off-topic -- there's a petition circulating to save the job(s) of IUP's Joey Zins, the head men's and women's cross country coach and the men's track coach. Assuming this holds, since AD Todd Garzarelli took over in 2019, the only sports that haven't had coaching turnover would be men's basketball, football, swimming/diving and softball. Four out of 17, plus two SIDs. One more five-win football season and that might be three out of 17 soon. I don't think it's a secret Todd and Joe also are not besties.

In all honesty, most of the 'non revenue' sports needed a house-cleaning.

I will rely on you here to update on the status of the cross country and T&F programs.

Todd has hit home runs with the baseball and women's volleyball hiring's. Women's soccer has also really improved.

Keep in mind, Todd is the first AD at IUP to care about any sport outside of Football and Basketball in a very, very long time.

Football went a very disappointing 7-3 this year. But, they still went 7-3. Tort's overall resume is also very strong - he's won a Region and (2) PSAC titles since 2017. Believe me, you can find a lot of issues in Tort's coaching. But, unless he does something really dumb, he's not getting fired. That said, he'll probably retire in 2-3 years.

Joe, on the other hand, his overall popularity has taken a hit the past two years. Last year was really, really messy with the whole KJ situation. It turned a lot of people off. That's not heresy. The attendance tanked as the season went along. Season ticket sales dropped. This year it has been awful. In context, through the first (4) home games last year, IUP was averaging 1,275 per game. Through the first four home games this year? IUP is averaging a woeful 490 per game -- far and away the lowest at IUP in 30+ years.

Consider:

Lock Haven - 412
Shippensburg - 279
Lincoln - 278
USCB - 992


The Lock Haven game was probably the lowest-attended home opener at IUP since the early 90s. Shippensburg - once the game of the year on the schedule - drawing less than 300 on a Sunday was dumbfounding. I'll give the Lincoln game a pass. Thanksgiving Eve isn't going to draw well -- anywhere. USCB had a bigger gate. For a visiting team, they travelled tremendously (multiple players from Western PA). They had friends, parents, grandparents, etc.

Tomorrow's game -- and its ridiculous 5 p.m. tip-off on a business day -- will be lucky to break 250 people.

I used to say Joe could draw 1,250 fans if he'd tip at 7 a.m. Those days appear to be long gone.

Personally, I've never heard any rumblings of anything between Joe and Todd.

I think Joe rides this group out. This current season is a mess -- and, he built it. But, the future is very bright (pending he can keep them together). I'd guess he coaches another 2 years - possibly 3 years. They are paying him enough that he's not going to be in any hurry to leave. Plus, I'd surely think he wants to go out on top (not in his current trajectory).

[hawks16]

Slightly off-topic -- there's a petition circulating to save the job(s) of IUP's Joey Zins, the head men's and women's cross country coach and the men's track coach. Assuming this holds, since AD Todd Garzarelli took over in 2019, the only sports that haven't had coaching turnover would be men's basketball, football, swimming/diving and softball. Four out of 17, plus two SIDs. One more five-win football season and that might be three out of 17 soon. I don't think it's a secret Todd and Joe also are not besties.

[IUPalum]

I would like to think for at least one more year, this core group will stay together. For a lot of reasons, I don't see anyone of them trying to move up. Maybe a couple of bench guys leaving but other than that, I can't see anyone leaving unless Joe pisses them off.