Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

FYI ... the game at Cal on Wednesday will now tip at 5:30 p.m.

It was moved up two hours since there is no longer a women's game.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The unfortunate part of the UPG game was Radford was in a boot and Dallis Dillard also left injured. That was the perfect game for both of them to play heavy minutes. No timetable was given on Radford but it doesn't sound season-ending serious. Dillard's injury wasn't a new one but a lingering one. He was iced up most of the second half.

Ethan Porterfield also left early with a tweaked ankle. He was sick entering the game. Jack and Tony said after they felt he'd have played on had it been a bigger game, so, it doesn't sound very serious.

That was a stat-stuffer game but Kyle Polce did have an excellent outing. His confidence is visibly growing with each game. He's starting to 'play' now and not so much react/play. Whatever they have left in them this year ... he's a huge piece of it. They need 7-8 ppg out of him and for him to stay on the floor as a top defender.

Ousmane Diop put on quite a show with 4-5 big dunks. He's making it harder for Joe not to play him. I think he's ready for an upgraded role. He's far from a finished product, but with his size/speed, he just has a way of being involved in everything.

[IUPalum]

[EyeoftheHawk]

[Ship69]

He had to be drunk

Doesn't make much sense against an opponent that obviously has zero comeback potential. Also surprised to see they hiked up 34 three-point attempts against an opponent that obviously was physically overmatched as IUP had a 61-26 rebound advantage.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

He had to be drunk

[IUPalum]

Armoni played 39 minutes. IUP won by 50+

No comment needed.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Armoni played 39 minutes. IUP won by 50+

No comment needed.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'll try and pull it up. Last time there was no link on the schedule I couldn't pull it up because I was out of area. We'll soon see...

They've marketed this game more than any in the past decade.

The more humans in the seats ... the more $8 hot dogs and $10 Miller Lites.

Big day for the SRP. Somebody in that foursome needs to take over that role.

[IUPalum]

There is radio (Jack on 92.5).

You can get it through the WCCS app.

I'll try and pull it up. Last time there was no link on the schedule I couldn't pull it up because I was out of area. We'll soon see...

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Seriously, no tv or radio broadcast today. Absolutely horrid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is radio (Jack on 92.5).

You can get it through the WCCS app.

[IUPalum]

Seriously, no tv or radio broadcast today. Absolutely horrid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ship69]

IUP returns to the court tomorrow. Pitt-Greensburg visits the KCAC in a very rare New Year's Eve affair. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. There doesn't appear to be a video feed.

UPG agreed to the game on late notice after IUP had a schedule vacancy due to Salem aborting the Thanksgiving Weekend game. They had no luck finding a D2 opponent as by now most have a max (28 game) schedule.

IUP has been hyping this game up like Duke is coming to town. Free tickets were issued to all students/employees of Indiana School District as well as students/employees of IUP. There's also a local connection. Former Indiana High star Tommy Arbuckle plays for the Bobcats. His Dad, Mark Arbuckle (of Mark Arbuckle Nissan) is big financial supporter of IUP Basketball.

While it's not an appealing game, it did get the team back to campus earlier than usual. With the current mess in the new rotation ... that's a good thing.

I suspect it will be the typical D3 game. Pitt-Greensburg will come out in Super Bowl mode. IUP will look disinterested. Joe will blow a gasket at halftime. IUP will win by 40 or so. Side note: If Joe is up by 45 in the second half and Armoni Foster is still in the game ... I'm turning in my fan card. Unfortunately, I only say that half jokingly.

UPG typically does play up once or twice a year, but, oddly, rarely against PSAC teams. The Bobcats lost to Malone earlier this year, 101-71. It's strange they don't have a yearly game with Seton Hill. The schools are about 2-3 miles apart. UPG does have an assortment of big guards, but they have very little size on the roster. In fact, their guards and forwards are about the same size.

IUP enters the game at 9-1, but this 'new' team is 2-1. Scoring, post-Shawndale, has been decimated. IUP scored 95 points per game in its first 7 outings -- and just 65 per game since.

It was a tough three-game stretch to get acclimated. Millersville and Shepherd are both tough teams. IUP won both by what turned out to be large margins, but both games were close with 6-7 minutes to play. Shippensburg then beat them both mentally and physically.

A brutal start to the new year awaits. IUP will play 6 games in 12 days starting with a Jan. 5 trip to California. After that, Slippery Rock and Gannon visit the KCAC and a trip to Mercyhurst is mixed in.

The biggest questions entering West play:

* What is the best option, rotation-wise?
- Should Joe consider putting his five best on the floor -- moving Tommy Demogerontas to guard and promoting Tomiwa Sulaiman in to the starting lineup? This would give IUP a physically-imposing lineup, but would also leave the bench very thin.

* Who will emerge from the SRP (Shawndale Replacement Project)?
- Kyle Polce got the first crack but learned a very valuable lesson against Shippensburg: you can't help the team by sitting on the bench with 4 fouls in 5 minutes of court action.
- Dallis Dillard shows the most promise on both ends, but he's played (3) college games -- and is learning a new position. He should continue to acclimate with each game.
- K.J. Rhodes played his first meaningful minutes of the year against Shippensburg. He's a big guard at 6'4" and a pretty good defender. We haven't seen much on offense.
- Bryce Radford seems to be a whole different discussion. Joe's been extremely hesitant to play him against teams with strong guard play. His defensive struggles are well known by now. The fact he got just 5 minutes against Shippensburg -- with Polce in major foul trouble -- may have been a telling sign.

* Where is Ousmane Diop? He produces every time he's on the court (which, is fairly rare). Even if he's getting spot minutes, he needs to play more. He's a tremendous athlete at 6'10". He's quick. He can rebound. He can run. He blocks shots. If anything, he can give the other guys a quick breather and probably draw some fouls. Yet, he's playing under 9 mpg.

* Ethan Porterfield has emerged as just a stat machine -- points, blocks, rebounds, assists.

* David Morris is at 10.1 ppg. His role is now much larger. They will need him up around 14-15 ppg.

Winning the West will be a big task this year. IUP is no longer the favorite. There's going to be some losses along the way. If one of the SRP guys can elevate, IUP could win the West. If not, ... it's not likely.

You guys have a tough division over there, but I still think Mercyhurst is about the only team to match IUP for overall talent, and that's only because Jones is out. I should add I haven't seen Slippery Rock play, so I have no idea about them.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP returns to the court tomorrow. Pitt-Greensburg visits the KCAC in a very rare New Year's Eve affair. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. There doesn't appear to be a video feed.

UPG agreed to the game on late notice after IUP had a schedule vacancy due to Salem aborting the Thanksgiving Weekend game. They had no luck finding a D2 opponent as by now most have a max (28 game) schedule.

IUP has been hyping this game up like Duke is coming to town. Free tickets were issued to all students/employees of Indiana School District as well as students/employees of IUP. There's also a local connection. Former Indiana High star Tommy Arbuckle plays for the Bobcats. His Dad, Mark Arbuckle (of Mark Arbuckle Nissan) is big financial supporter of IUP Basketball.

While it's not an appealing game, it did get the team back to campus earlier than usual. With the current mess in the new rotation ... that's a good thing.

I suspect it will be the typical D3 game. Pitt-Greensburg will come out in Super Bowl mode. IUP will look disinterested. Joe will blow a gasket at halftime. IUP will win by 40 or so. Side note: If Joe is up by 45 in the second half and Armoni Foster is still in the game ... I'm turning in my fan card. Unfortunately, I only say that half jokingly.

UPG typically does play up once or twice a year, but, oddly, rarely against PSAC teams. The Bobcats lost to Malone earlier this year, 101-71. It's strange they don't have a yearly game with Seton Hill. The schools are about 2-3 miles apart. UPG does have an assortment of big guards, but they have very little size on the roster. In fact, their guards and forwards are about the same size.

IUP enters the game at 9-1, but this 'new' team is 2-1. Scoring, post-Shawndale, has been decimated. IUP scored 95 points per game in its first 7 outings -- and just 65 per game since.

It was a tough three-game stretch to get acclimated. Millersville and Shepherd are both tough teams. IUP won both by what turned out to be large margins, but both games were close with 6-7 minutes to play. Shippensburg then beat them both mentally and physically.

A brutal start to the new year awaits. IUP will play 6 games in 12 days starting with a Jan. 5 trip to California. After that, Slippery Rock and Gannon visit the KCAC and a trip to Mercyhurst is mixed in.

The biggest questions entering West play:

* What is the best option, rotation-wise?
- Should Joe consider putting his five best on the floor -- moving Tommy Demogerontas to guard and promoting Tomiwa Sulaiman in to the starting lineup? This would give IUP a physically-imposing lineup, but would also leave the bench very thin.

* Who will emerge from the SRP (Shawndale Replacement Project)?
- Kyle Polce got the first crack but learned a very valuable lesson against Shippensburg: you can't help the team by sitting on the bench with 4 fouls in 5 minutes of court action.
- Dallis Dillard shows the most promise on both ends, but he's played (3) college games -- and is learning a new position. He should continue to acclimate with each game.
- K.J. Rhodes played his first meaningful minutes of the year against Shippensburg. He's a big guard at 6'4" and a pretty good defender. We haven't seen much on offense.
- Bryce Radford seems to be a whole different discussion. Joe's been extremely hesitant to play him against teams with strong guard play. His defensive struggles are well known by now. The fact he got just 5 minutes against Shippensburg -- with Polce in major foul trouble -- may have been a telling sign.

* Where is Ousmane Diop? He produces every time he's on the court (which, is fairly rare). Even if he's getting spot minutes, he needs to play more. He's a tremendous athlete at 6'10". He's quick. He can rebound. He can run. He blocks shots. If anything, he can give the other guys a quick breather and probably draw some fouls. Yet, he's playing under 9 mpg.

* Ethan Porterfield has emerged as just a stat machine -- points, blocks, rebounds, assists.

* David Morris is at 10.1 ppg. His role is now much larger. They will need him up around 14-15 ppg.

Winning the West will be a big task this year. IUP is no longer the favorite. There's going to be some losses along the way. If one of the SRP guys can elevate, IUP could win the West. If not, ... it's not likely.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Shawndale has completed his surgery. He will take a medical redshirt and return next year. I wish him well during his recovery.