Iup basketball

[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.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Dallis said he's at best about 60 percent right now.

By February he could maybe be 80 percent.

This team won't be playing in March.

It was the logical decision. Now he can come back full strength next season. This would have been a waste to rush him back.

The entire rotation returns next year plus Dallis and Bautista.

They'll take their growing pains and lumps this year and start over next season. Freshmen become sophomores.

I don't forsee any portal departures come April.

I hope you’re right but I don’t think anything is certain these days. None of us saw Clarke moving on and that was killer. A lot can happen between now and the end of the season that would impact a kid’s decision process heading into next season. Just a few years ago you could look at a roster and feel confident that the talented underclassmen would grow and eventually get recognized on senior day in your gym. Now…

[IUPbigINDIANS]

A reminder for those still watching or planning to attend Tuesday's home game versus Kutztown ... men's game tips at 5 p.m.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yeah, probably a good choice for the young man, although the rest of us in the PSAC will likely not be happy to see him around for another year.

Dallis said he's at best about 60 percent right now.

By February he could maybe be 80 percent.

This team won't be playing in March.

It was the logical decision. Now he can come back full strength next season. This would have been a waste to rush him back.

The entire rotation returns next year plus Dallis and Bautista.

They'll take their growing pains and lumps this year and start over next season. Freshmen become sophomores.

I don't forsee any portal departures come April.

[IUPalum]

Yeah, probably a good choice for the young man, although the rest of us in the PSAC will likely not be happy to see him around for another year.

Possibly 2 if he petitions to the NCAA for that extra year.

[Ship69]

Excellent decision. This year is shot anyway.

Yeah, probably a good choice for the young man, although the rest of us in the PSAC will likely not be happy to see him around for another year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Big decision came from Dallis Dillard. He decided to redshirt and get 100% healthy. So IUP will have to tough it out this year with the youth!

Excellent decision. This year is shot anyway.

[IUPalum]

Big decision came from Dallis Dillard. He decided to redshirt and get 100% healthy. So IUP will have to tough it out this year with the youth!

[Ship69]

Well, my final prediction before the season started had IUP at 6-6 when Santa showed up.

They are 5-5 right now. They 'should' beat Kutztown in the KCAC next Tuesday. However, they also 'should' get clobbered at Millersville.

So, the 6-6 may be right on.


In more positive news, Dallis was cleared to return to 'full contact' practice and should officially re-join the team today. The timing is good as they have a long break for Finals. By next week they'll have a very good idea how is knee is cooperating and to what level they can push things. This is a quick turnaround from ACL surgery. I'd fully expect his first month is limited to 10-13 mpg. That's a real big mental hurdle.

Wishing Dallis the best. I hate to see any young D2 athlete hampered by injuries. At small schools, most of the kids truly play just to get help in attending school and because they enjoy the game. There usually aren't any great financial rewards at this level.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, my final prediction before the season started had IUP at 6-6 when Santa showed up.

They are 5-5 right now. They 'should' beat Kutztown in the KCAC next Tuesday. However, they also 'should' get clobbered at Millersville.

So, the 6-6 may be right on.


In more positive news, Dallis was cleared to return to 'full contact' practice and should officially re-join the team today. The timing is good as they have a long break for Finals. By next week they'll have a very good idea how is knee is cooperating and to what level they can push things. This is a quick turnaround from ACL surgery. I'd fully expect his first month is limited to 10-13 mpg. That's a real big mental hurdle.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Ohhhhhhh ok. Probably a home court advantage lol

No like I said Shepherd was actually red hot when it kept happening. Both coaches were blowing gaskets.

Even as a fan it was very annoying. I'd guess it added 20 minutes of dead time to the first half.

[bballfan03]

The shot clock went down at least 6-7 times (maybe more) in the first half. Some of the delays were several minutes each.

Ohhhhhhh ok. Probably a home court advantage lol

[IUPbigINDIANS]

In some ways it seems like he’s been here forever, and in others it feels like he got here five minutes ago. A lot has happened during his career, good and bad! The reality is he’s probably close to graduating with his undergraduate degree. Maybe he’s interested in grad school. I’m with you though. If he’s not in a hurry to leave school a redshirt would make some sense.

Last year was tragic in that he got hurt ... but really tragic 'when' he got hurt (10th game). He played just enough to miss out on a medical redshirt last year. So, he had to burn a whole season on 9.5 games.