Iup basketball

[IUPalum]

The IUP game story is on the cover of the Sports page in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The last time that happened was ... never.

WOW!!! There was some media there finally! It only took... forever!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The IUP game story is on the cover of the Sports page in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The last time that happened was ... never.

[IUPalum]

Morning after thoughts:

* IUP won an ugly game. That's very hard to do in mid-March. Many teams who play ugly start banquet prep. Mercyhurst had all the momentum in the world the final 7-9 minutes and IUP withstood it. Amazingly.

* Alarming sign is IUP wasn't putting teams away this weekend. Big double digit leads in both games in the second half and they allowed both opponents to make big comebacks. That's been an M.O. as of late. They could have dropped the hammer on both of these teams and instead of stretching the leads out to 20+ ... found themselves in way too hot water.

-- A trend I've noticed when they get up 15-16 points is instead of going for the kill, IUP likes to make mass substitutions. I get it. Rest some starters. But, what keeps happening is as soon as those guys go out that 16 point lead becomes 8 points. And, you are giving the other team of a big shot of momentum rather than knocking them to the mat.

* IUP's press break is a train wreck. They are too slow to react getting the ball back out -- letting the opposing team get set. They need to bring another body up Something. The trap is killing them. That changed the whole game last night.

* The shooting slump is bound to end. They are fortunate to have the stellar defense they have because you can't keep winning games shooting in the 30s.

* Joe made a good point about scoring in a game like last night -- it's very difficult. They know everything you're doing. There's no surprises when you play a rival on Regional Sunday night.

-- That said, IUP missed a ton of open looks. That game never should have got as close as it was.

* At least -- at least -- 5 times Armoni was blasted driving the hoop with not a single call. Regular season he's shooting each time. That's a huge swing.

* The Lakers were in serious trouble had that game gone to OT. They had two post players already fouled out.

* But, let's not get too picky. They beat the 'boogeyman' in mid-March. No style points in win or go home games. They also got out healthy. Tomorrow is a new day. That was a really big win last night. Gary Manchel knows everything IUP does ... he's basically calling out the plays. Credit to him ... they are incredibly prepared.

Putting a different spin on it:

1) Armoni was continuously getting hammered and no calls... did you notice which official it was every time there was a no call on that? Did you notice that every time that same official was under the hoop the other direction that IUP got called for far less? Yes, that was that bald S.O.B. Mr. Clean!!! Not a doubt in my mind that guy had it out for IUP. He would've never made it out of Indiana alive if he didn't make that charge call at the end of the game.

2) So... with that official being awful, it killed IUP's momentum every time! Three times he made a no call and Hurst drained a 3 ball the other direction. 4/5 points swings each time! That the difference between close and IUP blasting them!

3) IUP needs to start making some shots. The slump must end!

4) Thank god the D is still alive and well. Defense travels!!!

5) Ethan was as clutch from the line as I've seen a D2 player be in 20 years. He was the reason IUP ended up winning. His back must be sore today!

6) Tuesday will be another meat grinder. Cal is playing much better D the back half the season. All three of IUP's trees must show up! Alston can't guard all three!

7) Get the legs rested up today.

8) It doesn't matter how you win at this point, every win is a good one from here on in!

[Chuck Norris]

Morning after thoughts:

* IUP won an ugly game. That's very hard to do in mid-March. Many teams who play ugly start banquet prep. Mercyhurst had all the momentum in the world the final 7-9 minutes and IUP withstood it. Amazingly.

* Alarming sign is IUP wasn't putting teams away this weekend. Big double digit leads in both games in the second half and they allowed both opponents to make big comebacks. That's been an M.O. as of late. They could have dropped the hammer on both of these teams and instead of stretching the leads out to 20+ ... found themselves in way too hot water.

-- A trend I've noticed when they get up 15-16 points is instead of going for the kill, IUP likes to make mass substitutions. I get it. Rest some starters. But, what keeps happening is as soon as those guys go out that 16 point lead becomes 8 points. And, you are giving the other team of a big shot of momentum rather than knocking them to the mat.

* IUP's press break is a train wreck. They are too slow to react getting the ball back out -- letting the opposing team get set. They need to bring another body up Something. The trap is killing them. That changed the whole game last night.

* The shooting slump is bound to end. They are fortunate to have the stellar defense they have because you can't keep winning games shooting in the 30s.

* Joe made a good point about scoring in a game like last night -- it's very difficult. They know everything you're doing. There's no surprises when you play a rival on Regional Sunday night.

-- That said, IUP missed a ton of open looks. That game never should have got as close as it was.

* At least -- at least -- 5 times Armoni was blasted driving the hoop with not a single call. Regular season he's shooting each time. That's a huge swing.

* The Lakers were in serious trouble had that game gone to OT. They had two post players already fouled out.

* But, let's not get too picky. They beat the 'boogeyman' in mid-March. No style points in win or go home games. They also got out healthy. Tomorrow is a new day. That was a really big win last night. Gary Manchel knows everything IUP does ... he's basically calling out the plays. Credit to him ... they are incredibly prepared.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Morning after thoughts:

* IUP won an ugly game. That's very hard to do in mid-March. Many teams who play ugly start banquet prep. Mercyhurst had all the momentum in the world the final 7-9 minutes and IUP withstood it. Amazingly.

* Alarming sign is IUP wasn't putting teams away this weekend. Big double digit leads in both games in the second half and they allowed both opponents to make big comebacks. That's been an M.O. as of late. They could have dropped the hammer on both of these teams and instead of stretching the leads out to 20+ ... found themselves in way too hot water.

-- A trend I've noticed when they get up 15-16 points is instead of going for the kill, IUP likes to make mass substitutions. I get it. Rest some starters. But, what keeps happening is as soon as those guys go out that 16 point lead becomes 8 points. And, you are giving the other team of a big shot of momentum rather than knocking them to the mat.

* IUP's press break is a train wreck. They are too slow to react getting the ball back out -- letting the opposing team get set. They need to bring another body up Something. The trap is killing them. That changed the whole game last night.

* The shooting slump is bound to end. They are fortunate to have the stellar defense they have because you can't keep winning games shooting in the 30s.

* Joe made a good point about scoring in a game like last night -- it's very difficult. They know everything you're doing. There's no surprises when you play a rival on Regional Sunday night.

-- That said, IUP missed a ton of open looks. That game never should have got as close as it was.

* At least -- at least -- 5 times Armoni was blasted driving the hoop with not a single call. Regular season he's shooting each time. That's a huge swing.

* The Lakers were in serious trouble had that game gone to OT. They had two post players already fouled out.

* But, let's not get too picky. They beat the 'boogeyman' in mid-March. No style points in win or go home games. They also got out healthy. Tomorrow is a new day. That was a really big win last night. Gary Manchel knows everything IUP does ... he's basically calling out the plays. Credit to him ... they are incredibly prepared.

[Ship69]

Who?

You know darn well who. Just pointing out that you don't necessarily need to score 60-plus points to beat IUP, but you do need to score more than the 44 Ship got, or the 55 Mercyhurst got last night. Good D by IUP, but they'd better start scoring more if they get into the Elite Eight.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Actually Ship could have beat IUP with 54 points last week, but couldn't get the job done. :-)

Who?

[Ship69]

Actually Ship could have beat IUP with 54 points last week, but couldn't get the job done. :-)

[EyeoftheHawk]

[CALUPA69]

IUP is solid defensive team 1 thru 5 . The offense is spread out amongst 3 maybe 4 guys . They typically protect ball , lions share of 50-50 balls & good offensive rebounding group . IUP crushes Mercyhurst .

Over the last 5 years IUP is 10-2 vs 'HURST with an average winning margin of +6 and a max of +15 in 12 games. I don't see "CRUSH' in that history. Unless you define crush as +10

[Ship76]

IUP is solid defensive team 1 thru 5 . The offense is spread out amongst 3 maybe 4 guys . They typically protect ball , lions share of 50-50 balls & good offensive rebounding group . IUP crushes Mercyhurst .

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Ethan will be needed tonight in this size mismatch!

Sulaiman also only got 2 points yesterday. Need more from him on the offensive end tonight.

[IUPalum]

IUP is playing about as good a matchup as I've seen anyone play at D2 level in quite a while. I doubt Fayetteville State had seen anything like it this season. Outside of one short spurt where they had a kid get hot and toss in three three-pointers in quick succession, they couldn't do much. I would worry as you do that if they have the offensive firepower to compete with top teams nationally if they get out of the region. That's where the loss of Jones might show. I've actually thought this is one of Lombardi's better coaching jobs. Although he still has superior talent compared to the rest of the PSAC, it's not as overwhelming (without Jones) as it has been at times in the past. It's scary to think of playing them next year if Jones comes back healthy, as they lose less than most of the other PSAC teams.

That said, they'll have a grind with Mercyhurst and its similar style of defense, and West Virginia State and Cal both have the athletes to win if IUP has an off night. Morris's excellent three-point shooting really keyed them against Fayetteville. They probably need Porterfield to hit as well. Few big guys at this level have the inside-outside game he does.

Ethan will be needed tonight in this size mismatch!

[Ship69]

IUP is playing about as good a matchup as I've seen anyone play at D2 level in quite a while. I doubt Fayetteville State had seen anything like it this season. Outside of one short spurt where they had a kid get hot and toss in three three-pointers in quick succession, they couldn't do much. I would worry as you do that if they have the offensive firepower to compete with top teams nationally if they get out of the region. That's where the loss of Jones might show. I've actually thought this is one of Lombardi's better coaching jobs. Although he still has superior talent compared to the rest of the PSAC, it's not as overwhelming (without Jones) as it has been at times in the past. It's scary to think of playing them next year if Jones comes back healthy, as they lose less than most of the other PSAC teams.

That said, they'll have a grind with Mercyhurst and its similar style of defense, and West Virginia State and Cal both have the athletes to win if IUP has an off night. Morris's excellent three-point shooting really keyed them against Fayetteville. They probably need Porterfield to hit as well. Few big guys at this level have the inside-outside game he does.

[Chuck Norris]