Iup basketball

[Penguins87]

Re: Iup basketball

Here we go... Bonifant put up incredible offensive numbers in a wide open offensive conference where games are routinely played in the triple digits. I'm not knocking the conference for not playing defense, but that's just not the M.O. down there. Bonifant fit very well into the conference he played in and the scheme West Liberty played against the competition they faced.

Sleva is bigger than Bonifant, is twice the defender, can rebound better, and can make all of the same shots that Bonifant could. That's the reality. In the conference that he plays in, Sleva is forced to play underneath and get mauled by bangers in the paint on a nightly basis. At the same time, he's the guy bringing them up the floor, spotting up hitting 3's in transition, and running the offense. 1 on 1 with nobody else on the court, Sleva's game is better than Bonifant's. That's no disrespect, but Bonifant wouldn't last banging with Sleva underneath for a full 40 minutes while still trying to guard him on the three point line.

Sleva's game is tremendous. Absolutely tremendous.

And I'm sorry, how many national titles games he played in has nothing to do with player comparisons.



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The idea that defense is not played in the MEC is laughable. You obviously didn't watch yesterday's title game.

Also, don't take my word for it. Take the coach from Lincoln Memorial's.

http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/24/bo...iller-103-102/

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

These two fan bases got along so well this year. Real strides.

Regional weekend has officially arrived now when this topic surfaces.

[ctrabs74]

Re: Iup basketball

Mansfield isn't really d2 is it?

Yes, they are. They may have their struggles on the basketball court, but they've got a decent baseball team.

Also, worth noting, it's the same Mansfield who beat Duquesne in a preseason exhibition to start the season, so...

[IUP24]

Re: Iup basketball

The idea that defense is not played in the MEC is laughable. You obviously didn't watch yesterday's title game.

Also, don't take my word for it. Take the coach from Lincoln Memorial's.

http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/24/bo...iller-103-102/

You know what else is laughable? All of the jabroni's from down on the hilltop that run to the tool shed to grab the torches and pitchforks whenever there's a post on this board that doesn't suggest that Segar Bonifant was the next Magic Johnson. The kid was a great player, but he's not the second coming.

You know what's even funnier? You insinuating that I said that they don't play defense in the MEC, because that's not what I said. Saying "that's just not the M.O. down there" doesn't mean they don't play defense. They play a different type of game. As a big man for a PSAC school, Bonifant wouldn't have poured in over 2,000 points. That's not a knock on him or the MEC. I'm not saying one conference is superior to the other. The styles of play are just different. That's it. The style of play in the PSAC would have never allowed him the opportunity to score that much.

You know what the difference between Bonifant and Sleva is? Body type. Aside from that, exact same player. Bonifant was a lanky 6'7" that weighed 200lbs with a sweaty jersey. Sleva is 6'8" 230, is thick, and built. Both are tremendous athletes and have great speed. Both of those guys stretch the floor and can shoot over top of somebody. Sleva can go inside with his size, bang with the best of the big men in D2, can body up and play D underneath, and is a tremendous rebounder. His rare mixture of offensive skill, size, and athleticism isn't seen at this level. And again, I can't stress this enough. Segar Bonifant was a great player at West Liberty. Seeing both play, if I'm starting a team, I'm picking Sleva.

Both act like total jerk-offs on the court too, so there's another similarity.

[ctrabs74]

Re: Iup basketball

The idea that defense is not played in the MEC is laughable. You obviously didn't watch yesterday's title game.

Also, don't take my word for it. Take the coach from Lincoln Memorial's.

http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/24/bo...iller-103-102/

I don't think a 103-102 shootout is the best example of basketball defense, but okay...

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

I was wondering that as the defense reference myself.

[Penguins87]

Re: Iup basketball

My reference to defense was from yesterday's title game. My point of don't take my word for it, was Lincoln Memorial's coach saying in that story that he told his team before the game Bonifant was the best player he had ever seen at this level.

But since you mentioned it, anyone that was at that 103-102 game will attest the defense was incredible and guys made one tough shot after the next.

Bonifant would score in whatever league he played in. Which is why he is playing pro ball.

Bonifant weighs 220, by the way. And he bullied people in the post. So not sure what you watched.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Seger also had 14 combined points over two games and 66 minutes against IUP so maybe that's why we don't all drool over him and put him alongside LeBron James. Granted he was a sophomore and junior in those games but he was shutdown in both meetings. WL won the first one in double OT and IUP won the second one.

So it's not implausible that Sleva is at his level if not above it. Sleva will be highly sought after in the pro ranks. He really should be playing high-level D1 right now. You guys at WL are going to get to experience him soon enough. Be careful what you wish for ... Sleva on Gross won't be pretty.

[IUP24]

My reference to defense was from yesterday's title game. My point of don't take my word for it, was Lincoln Memorial's coach saying in that story that he told his team before the game Bonifant was the best player he had ever seen at this level.

But since you mentioned it, anyone that was at that 103-102 game will attest the defense was incredible and guys made one tough shot after the next.

Bonifant would score in whatever league he played in. Which is why he is playing pro ball.

Bonifant weighs 220, by the way. And he bullied people in the post. So not sure what you watched.

Not sure what I watched? Apparently not the same skinny kid that you did..

Doesn't look like he gained any weight between college and pro ball...

http://www.hilltoppersports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2214

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/.../Summary/70755



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[ctrabs74]

Re: Iup basketball

My reference to defense was from yesterday's title game. My point of don't take my word for it, was Lincoln Memorial's coach saying in that story that he told his team before the game Bonifant was the best player he had ever seen at this level.

But since you mentioned it, anyone that was at that 103-102 game will attest the defense was incredible and guys made one tough shot after the next.

Bonifant would score in whatever league he played in. Which is why he is playing pro ball.

Bonifant weighs 220, by the way. And he bullied people in the post. So not sure what you watched.

I watched West Liberty from the Regional Quarterfinals all the way through the National Semifinals, so I'm certainly aware of Bonifant's incredible talents.

[Penguins87]

Re: Iup basketball

I watched him from Game 1 of his career to the final one. I am not a fan. I am a writer. Been doing this a long time. He is the best I have seen. Not saying someone can't surpass him, but let's slow down a bit.

As far as another poster saying "careful what you wish for," if WLU and Ship play, the Toppers will be ready. It's not like they haven't played dominant big men before.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Getting back to the subject thread here ...


The biggest item in this Kutztown game is how Joe defends Ethan Ridgeway -- the Golden Bears' dynamic (ultra fast and elusive) 5'10" point guard.

In the first meeting (77-76 IUP win), Dante only played 16 minutes and sat almost the entire second half. Spain is best-suited to defend Ridgeway but I wonder if that's the plan? In simplified terms, the Kutztown offense is largely Ridgeway creating havoc driving to the hoop and then kicking it out or (if it's there) taking the shot/layup. His height keeps him very low to the ground and with his speed, he's very difficult and hard to guard. Spain did a very good job on him in the first game but that largely takes Dante (and his offense) off the floor.

That matchup, whomever covers Ridgeway, will determine who wins this game. Ridgeway would be an extremely difficult matchup for Dante. My 'coaching plan' would be Spain starts over Hutton in this case and keep Dante on the floor but Spain gets the defensive assignment.

[Chuck Norris]

Re: Iup basketball

Anyone who's followed the Atlantic Regional for any length of time already knew this, but it's official on IUP's website. The game with Kutztown will be the nightcap on Saturday, tipping around 8:30 or 30 minutes after the Fairmont/Bowie game ends

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

So, in order:

WJ/WL (12pm)
Ship/VUU
break
FSU/BS (6pm-ish)
IUP/Kutz

Anybody ever attended and did the full day?

[IUP Extra Mile]

Re: Iup basketball

To add a little sabermetrics to the Seger vs Sleva Holy War: Comparison of Seger's Senior Year Stats vs Sleva's Junior Year Stats.

				MINUTES		TOTAL			3-PTS			F-THROWS			REBOUNDS										SCORING
##	Player	GP	GS	Tot	Avg	FG	FGA	Pct	3FG	FGA	Pct	FT	FTA	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Avg	PF	FO	A	TO	Blk	Stl	Pts	Avg
12	SLEVA, Dustin	28	28	910	32.5	219	405	.541	51	126	.405	132	164	.805	78	235	313	11.2	78	2	90	65	22	27	621	22.2
				MINUTES		TOTAL			3-PTS			F-THROWS			REBOUNDS										SCORING
##	Player	GP	GS	Tot	Avg	FG	FGA	Pct	3FG	FGA	Pct	FT	FTA	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Avg	PF	FO	A	TO	Blk	Stl	Pts	Avg
	Seger Bonifant	35	35	1155	33	312	535	.583	114	231	.494	152	182	.835	34	150	184	5.3	89	2	107	70	27	22	890	25.4

I assumed incorrectly, that Sleva was a senior. He's actually a junior, so that makes the comparison a bit stickier.