Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

You better be careful with all this real talk or some on here might call you a pessimist, LOL.

No doubt these are tough first assignments for both. More than anything from the men, I’d like to see them put up a fight like their season is on the line as opposed to looking like they hope it will end.

The ladies really need to beat Cal. It’s doesn’t matter how or by how many, they just need to find a way before it truly becomes a “thing” with that matchup if it’s not already. Cal will be playing for their season. I think they have to win at lest one if not two games to get a tournament bid.

That's been an issue all season. IUP looks intrigued some games -- and disinterested in others. The second SRU game -- at the freaking KCAC -- was terrible. I remember posting IUP had lost that game before the ball even tipped off.

Make no mistake, SRU is a better team this year. They are vastly bigger, (much) deeper, older and more experienced.

Man for man, IUP isn't going to win. Joe needs to have something cooked up tonight.

One thing he needs to toss in the dumpster prior to 7 p.m. is his press. The Rock has destroyed it twice already. If Herring doesn't play 30 minutes tonight, IUP has zero chance. None. SRU's guards are too big and too fast for Joe's normal lineup.

Inside is another problem. Grove has to get after it. They need some aggression out of him. If I was Joe, I'd actually consider stints with Triggs and Brooks in the game together (for the first time all season). Play zone.

They need a curveball tonight. If it's the same approach as the first two games, Joe's season will be over by 8:30 p.m.

It's possible. This IUP team can play pretty good on the right night. The Rock may be overlooking them a bit, too, at this point. I'd bet SRU would beat IUP 9 of 10 this year. Maybe tonight will be the one.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

You better be careful with all this real talk or some on here might call you a pessimist, LOL.

No doubt these are tough first assignments for both. More than anything from the men, I’d like to see them put up a fight like their season is on the line as opposed to looking like they hope it will end.

The ladies really need to beat Cal. It’s doesn’t matter how or by how many, they just need to find a way before it truly becomes a “thing” with that matchup if it’s not already. Cal will be playing for their season. I think they have to win at lest one if not two games to get a tournament bid.

The conference tournaments are (sometimes) tricky.

On the men's side, the West has won (5) straight. IUP won four years in a row and Gannon won last year.

In each of those five years, arguably the favorite won.

Keep in mind Spring Break is usually a factor (Final Four weekend can be pretty dead). So, the home court thing can be fairly irrelevant.

If ever there was a year some team could catch fire and steal a bid, this is it.

Slippery Rock is hot right now. Lock Haven is dangerous. Cal can be tricky. Edinboro was playing really well but may now be minus its star. If he's out they won't do much. Shepherd is sporadic but has its moments. Same with IUP.

I think the three best teams are Gannon, ESU and WCU. But, will they be the three best teams this week? One-and-done changes everything. Some teams buckle under the pressure.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Joe and Craig got the worst draws they could have tomorrow night.

Joe's team turns in to a pumpkin away from the KCAC. Morrow will be a hornets' nest. Nothing will stir that place up like an IUP visit.

The women get their Kryptonite for a third time. The venue will make very little difference. I'd have rather seen them play any of the three teams above them tomorrow than this Cal team again.

Strange things happen in these conference tournaments. But, both these IUP teams are going to have to overcome some demons.

Joe's easily a 9-10 point road dog. SRU causes this IUP team way too many problems.

The women are probably a 5-6 point home dog.

Both coaches need to make some lineup changes tomorrow to have a shot. I doubt either will, of course.

You better be careful with all this real talk or some on here might call you a pessimist, LOL.

No doubt these are tough first assignments for both. More than anything from the men, I’d like to see them put up a fight like their season is on the line as opposed to looking like they hope it will end.

The ladies really need to beat Cal. It’s doesn’t matter how or by how many, they just need to find a way before it truly becomes a “thing” with that matchup if it’s not already. Cal will be playing for their season. I think they have to win at lest one if not two games to get a tournament bid.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe and Craig got the worst draws they could have tomorrow night.

Joe's team turns in to a pumpkin away from the KCAC. Morrow will be a hornets' nest. Nothing will stir that place up like an IUP visit.

The women get their Kryptonite for a third time. The venue will make very little difference. I'd have rather seen them play any of the three teams above them tomorrow than this Cal team again.

Strange things happen in these conference tournaments. But, both these IUP teams are going to have to overcome some demons.

Joe's easily a 9-10 point road dog. SRU causes this IUP team way too many problems.

The women are probably a 5-6 point home dog.

Both coaches need to make some lineup changes tomorrow to have a shot. I doubt either will, of course.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Last year it was KJ. Now this year it's Sarp! How and why does Joe continue to play a kid heavy minutes that hasn't improved one ounce. Heck, I'm not even sure Sarp starts on the PSU-Dubois team. Last night Clarion repeatedly attacked Sarp with huge success. Heck, Joe had Sarp guarding Kearney and Thomas most of the night. Fringe D1 players against a borderline D2/D3 player with a huge size difference. Sarp was bullied all night. It's maddening!!!!

I'd rather lose watching guys like Herring, Grove and Merraro develop than watching Sarp getting destroyed night in and night out. Sickening!!!

The last two games, if you really pay attention, it's simple.

Wherever Sarp is on defense, the balls goes right at him. It's happened most of the year but Cal and Clarion were specifically attacking him over and over the past two games.

This isn't a personal attack on Sarp. Watch the film. Teams have a huge mismatch against him - and these coaches aren't stupid. They are exploiting it. It's very clear to see.

Joe's older now, but he isn't stupid. He can see what is happening. Yet, minute after minute Sarp stays in the game. It's KJ the Sequel. He should be at 5-6 mpg max. Herring is vastly better on both ends.

Last night, Joe also stayed in that God Awful zone press for nearly 40 minutes. The only thing it accomplished was A) tiring his own team out and B) giving Clarion easy transition buckets.

Losing last night may turn out to be a good thing in the big picture of Monday. Getting humiliated, however, was, well, embarrassing.

IUP couldn't hit the side of a barn. They shot something like 10 for 40 from deep. Maybe realize they aren't falling and try something else? It was clear Clarion didn't give two cents if they shot outside. They were focused on not letting Merraro get inside and create. IUP had more open deep looks last night than all season combined. They just couldn't hit anything.

On top of it, it was clear - no matter what Joe babbles about - IUP wasn't real interested last night. At best, the effort was sub par. That was treated as a get-it-over-with game. The team looked slow. The defensive effort was God Awful.

They did accomplish one thing. They got it over with.

[IUPalum]

Last year it was KJ. Now this year it's Sarp! How and why does Joe continue to play a kid heavy minutes that hasn't improved one ounce. Heck, I'm not even sure Sarp starts on the PSU-Dubois team. Last night Clarion repeatedly attacked Sarp with huge success. Heck, Joe had Sarp guarding Kearney and Thomas most of the night. Fringe D1 players against a borderline D2/D3 player with a huge size difference. Sarp was bullied all night. It's maddening!!!!

I'd rather lose watching guys like Herring, Grove and Merraro develop than watching Sarp getting destroyed night in and night out. Sickening!!!

[IUPalum]

Ouch -- IUP-Clarion game story: https://open.substack.com/pub/tonyco...meOnShare=true

Yes, thank you for the continued coverage!

[EyeoftheHawk]

IUP has most certainly clinched a losing season and I don’t see any conceivable way they’re winning a playoff game, on the road nonetheless. Clarion wanted to play last night. IUP didn’t. It’s really as simple as that. Even if you’re a great team you can’t just turn your level of competitiveness on when you feel like it and I find it hard to believe IUP is suddenly going to come prepared to play next week. As mature as they looked down the stretch against Cal, they looked equally immature yesterday.

An IUP loss up there is acceptable if they played hard and focused but just came up short. What I think we saw instead was a team that packed it in.

[tonyc]

Ouch -- IUP-Clarion game story: https://open.substack.com/pub/tonyco...meOnShare=true

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Silver lining is if the pattern continues they should play good Monday.


Good. Bad. Good. Bad. Etc.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

This may be the worst half of IUP basketball in 35 years.

I get Monday is the game that matters but Good Lord.

Unwatchable

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP notebook: https://open.substack.com/pub/tonyco...meOnShare=true

Thank you for continuing to cover the team. Those of us who have stuck around last year and this year appreciate it.

I have a hunch things in the program will get back to normal - in a hurry - next year.

This season certainly had its moments -- good and bad. It was oddly one of the more entertaining ones. We got to watch a star develop (Merraro). I think in a couple years we'll look back fondly at this season. Last year was unfortunately kind of a meaningless circus. There's bright light at the end of this tunnel. It's not over just yet.

[EyeoftheHawk]

The West right now - more than ever - is all about matchups.

I'll give you an example.

I said earlier IUP matches up really well against California. The two split. You could easily make a case IUP should have swept them. Regardless, they are very even.

Slippery Rock has pounded IUP twice.

California has pounded SRU twice (highlighted by a 31-burger)

IUP swept Seton Hill ... which naturally has wins against SRU, Gannon and Edinboro (three teams that swept IUP).

The matchup is the key item come Monday night. Slippery Rock has looked incredible in both IUP games. Not so much in other games.


Figure all that out.

LOL. I think we’ll let them figure it all out on the court. It’s worth noting that none of the teams are elite so who the heck knows.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I agree IUP could be a tough out in the first round, but I do believe they’ll come up short. The Cal win the other night was a nice confidence booster and it was nice to see them be the ones to seize control down the stretch when they faltered in that scenario many times previously. Saying that, Keith Palek didn’t play in that game and that’s a gigantic blow to that lineup. I’m happy to give credit where it’s due and you have to beat the team that’s on the floor in front of you. IUP showed maturity on Wednesday night.

The other reason I think IUP is a one-and-done is their awful record on the road. It just hasn’t gone well when a bus ride was involved. Saying that, even if they do bow out it’s not the end of the world. I think the Cal win gives them something to build on as is simply making the tournament and keeping the 17 year streak alive. I’d love for them to prove me wrong and make a run, but I just don’t see it.

The West right now - more than ever - is all about matchups.

I'll give you an example.

I said earlier IUP matches up really well against California. The two split. You could easily make a case IUP should have swept them. Regardless, they are very even.

Slippery Rock has pounded IUP twice.

California has pounded SRU twice (highlighted by a 31-burger)

IUP swept Seton Hill ... which naturally has wins against SRU, Gannon and Edinboro (three teams that swept IUP).

The matchup is the key item come Monday night. Slippery Rock has looked incredible in both IUP games. Not so much in other games.


Figure all that out.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I agree IUP could be a tough out in the first round, but I do believe they’ll come up short. The Cal win the other night was a nice confidence booster and it was nice to see them be the ones to seize control down the stretch when they faltered in that scenario many times previously. Saying that, Keith Palek didn’t play in that game and that’s a gigantic blow to that lineup. I’m happy to give credit where it’s due and you have to beat the team that’s on the floor in front of you. IUP showed maturity on Wednesday night.

The other reason I think IUP is a one-and-done is their awful record on the road. It just hasn’t gone well when a bus ride was involved. Saying that, even if they do bow out it’s not the end of the world. I think the Cal win gives them something to build on as is simply making the tournament and keeping the 17 year streak alive. I’d love for them to prove me wrong and make a run, but I just don’t see it.

Cal lost both Palek and Bryson Lucas -- two elite post players -- back in November. They then also lost their top reserve forward for the season (Arnette).

If they had them, the Vulcans would probably be the best team in the Region.

Same token, IUP was without its two best players all season. We can only go by the team dressed on a given night.

It is what it is. Cal was still red hot coming in to that game (had won 6 straight and were on the NCAA bubble). Big win for IUP.

Danny has done a great job keeping them afloat.