Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Three names I helped stay academically eligible!

LOL ... yeah, Gary's teams weren't quite the 'student-athletes' that Joe targets.

[IUPalum]

I beleive that is the 1998 team.

I'll pull the numerical roster.

Geoff Evans, Brian Brennan, Sly McIntosh, Rodney Horton ...

Three names I helped stay academically eligible!

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

I beleive that is the 1998 team.

I'll pull the numerical roster.

Geoff Evans, Brian Brennan, Sly McIntosh, Rodney Horton ...

Okay, 1998. I'm not sure if I was following IUP sports real close around that time. They look like a TOUGH bunch of dudes. What number is Horton?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Nice post! Yeah, I really loved the Memorial Field House and really miss it. The KCAC is no doubt a beautiful place but it just lacks something that MFH had about it. There is just no comparison to me. I remember being at a few of those packed IUP-Cal games. Those were just plain nuts. Yup, they sat on the steps even.

I just looked up the picture of Gary and the team. What year would this be? I can't say that I can name any of the players on first sight. Who were they?

I beleive that is the 1998 team.

I'll pull the numerical roster.

Geoff Evans, Brian Brennan, Sly McIntosh, Rodney Horton ...

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

There's a picture of one of Gary Edwards' teams on IUP Twitter today. That photo tells a lot of stories. That was a good team and a great era (that happened to end bad ... minor details). But, looking back, it was inevitable it was going to end bad. You can only play with fire so long ...

Gary's teams -- say what you will -- were pretty tough (on the court and off). Gary was also a really good guy -- despite how he's remembered here by most.

Very different cultures between the Edwards and Lombardi regimes. I'll say this, though, ... some of Gary's teams would have clocked some of Joe's teams - and vice versa, of course. And, prior to Edwards, Kurt Kanaski's 1995 team would have clobbered them all. My opinion, the '95 team is the best in school history.

What I'd call the peak of Gary's era was 2000 to 2002. He had some good teams in the late 90s but they really got loaded up from '00 to '02. They made the Elite 8 in 2000 and 2002, and the Final Four in '02.

It was a different program back then. Edwards was a big believer in hired guns. Most players were here 1-2 years. He had teams with his whole 8-9 man rotation being D1 transfers.

Games were different inside the Memorial Field House compared to today. Some things better and some things not. For all its bells and whistles, the KCAC has never roared like the Field House did on some nights. The KCAC reminds more of a 'corporate crowd' ... the MFH was more blue collar.

No home games today compare to the IUP/Cal games of that era. Trust me, I've been to them all. Two powerhouses that didn't like one another. Two flamboyant coaches (Edwards was like Kevin Reynolds on a six-pack of Red Bull, and the then-younger Bill Brown was a master at working the bench/officials). Both teams were built similarly. The games and atmospheres inside MFH were nuts. Same down at Hamer Hall.

My two favorite games in the series ...

1998 at IUP Cal won in OT. Rodney Horton went nuts, but Cal pulled it out in the final moments of overtime. The Vulcans' Ru-Shun Roberts got a break-away dunk in the final 10 seconds that just about pulled the basket down. Then he gave the 'Shhhh' to the IUP student section. The entire game was always within a basket. That was the largest crowd I ever saw at MFH. The aisles on both sides of the bleachers were even full. The fire marshal had the night off.

1999 at IUP - It was payback time in MFH. Edwards not only blew Cal out ... but ran it up. He still had his starters launching treys in the final minutes of a 30-some point massacre.

There was also the year Cal swept IUP in the regular season ... and Edwards went down to Hamer and knocked them out of the PSAC Tournament in front of a sold out crowd.

One picture can bring back a lot of memories.

Nice post! Yeah, I really loved the Memorial Field House and really miss it. The KCAC is no doubt a beautiful place but it just lacks something that MFH had about it. There is just no comparison to me. I remember being at a few of those packed IUP-Cal games. Those were just plain nuts. Yup, they sat on the steps even.

I just looked up the picture of Gary and the team. What year would this be? I can't say that I can name any of the players on first sight. Who were they?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm bracing myself for the inevitable announcement regarding basketball season. Are you guys hearing anything?

No chance

[IUP24]

I'm bracing myself for the inevitable announcement regarding basketball season. Are you guys hearing anything?

[CALUPA69]

There's a picture of one of Gary Edwards' teams on IUP Twitter today. That photo tells a lot of stories. That was a good team and a great era (that happened to end bad ... minor details). But, looking back, it was inevitable it was going to end bad. You can only play with fire so long ...

Gary's teams -- say what you will -- were pretty tough (on the court and off). Gary was also a really good guy -- despite how he's remembered here by most.

Very different cultures between the Edwards and Lombardi regimes. I'll say this, though, ... some of Gary's teams would have clocked some of Joe's teams - and vice versa, of course. And, prior to Edwards, Kurt Kanaski's 1995 team would have clobbered them all. My opinion, the '95 team is the best in school history.

What I'd call the peak of Gary's era was 2000 to 2002. He had some good teams in the late 90s but they really got loaded up from '00 to '02. They made the Elite 8 in 2000 and 2002, and the Final Four in '02.

It was a different program back then. Edwards was a big believer in hired guns. Most players were here 1-2 years. He had teams with his whole 8-9 man rotation being D1 transfers.

Games were different inside the Memorial Field House compared to today. Some things better and some things not. For all its bells and whistles, the KCAC has never roared like the Field House did on some nights. The KCAC reminds more of a 'corporate crowd' ... the MFH was more blue collar.

No home games today compare to the IUP/Cal games of that era. Trust me, I've been to them all. Two powerhouses that didn't like one another. Two flamboyant coaches (Edwards was like Kevin Reynolds on a six-pack of Red Bull, and the then-younger Bill Brown was a master at working the bench/officials). Both teams were built similarly. The games and atmospheres inside MFH were nuts. Same down at Hamer Hall.

My two favorite games in the series ...

1998 at IUP Cal won in OT. Rodney Horton went nuts, but Cal pulled it out in the final moments of overtime. The Vulcans' Ru-Shun Roberts got a break-away dunk in the final 10 seconds that just about pulled the basket down. Then he gave the 'Shhhh' to the IUP student section. The entire game was always within a basket. That was the largest crowd I ever saw at MFH. The aisles on both sides of the bleachers were even full. The fire marshal had the night off.

1999 at IUP - It was payback time in MFH. Edwards not only blew Cal out ... but ran it up. He still had his starters launching treys in the final minutes of a 30-some point massacre.

There was also the year Cal swept IUP in the regular season ... and Edwards went down to Hamer and knocked them out of the PSAC Tournament in front of a sold out crowd.

One picture can bring back a lot of memories.

When all this @#$&%\# COVID crap is gone, I hope DS can get the VULCANS back to that competitive level. Unfortunately aside from an odd game here or there due to circumstances, the days of crazy loud and crowded nights at MFH and HAMER are gone. More's the pity. Looking forward to anything close to normal.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There's a picture of one of Gary Edwards' teams on IUP Twitter today. That photo tells a lot of stories. That was a good team and a great era (that happened to end bad ... minor details). But, looking back, it was inevitable it was going to end bad. You can only play with fire so long ...

Gary's teams -- say what you will -- were pretty tough (on the court and off). Gary was also a really good guy -- despite how he's remembered here by most.

Very different cultures between the Edwards and Lombardi regimes. I'll say this, though, ... some of Gary's teams would have clocked some of Joe's teams - and vice versa, of course. And, prior to Edwards, Kurt Kanaski's 1995 team would have clobbered them all. My opinion, the '95 team is the best in school history.

What I'd call the peak of Gary's era was 2000 to 2002. He had some good teams in the late 90s but they really got loaded up from '00 to '02. They made the Elite 8 in 2000 and 2002, and the Final Four in '02.

It was a different program back then. Edwards was a big believer in hired guns. Most players were here 1-2 years. He had teams with his whole 8-9 man rotation being D1 transfers.

Games were different inside the Memorial Field House compared to today. Some things better and some things not. For all its bells and whistles, the KCAC has never roared like the Field House did on some nights. The KCAC reminds more of a 'corporate crowd' ... the MFH was more blue collar.

No home games today compare to the IUP/Cal games of that era. Trust me, I've been to them all. Two powerhouses that didn't like one another. Two flamboyant coaches (Edwards was like Kevin Reynolds on a six-pack of Red Bull, and the then-younger Bill Brown was a master at working the bench/officials). Both teams were built similarly. The games and atmospheres inside MFH were nuts. Same down at Hamer Hall.

My two favorite games in the series ...

1998 at IUP Cal won in OT. Rodney Horton went nuts, but Cal pulled it out in the final moments of overtime. The Vulcans' Ru-Shun Roberts got a break-away dunk in the final 10 seconds that just about pulled the basket down. Then he gave the 'Shhhh' to the IUP student section. The entire game was always within a basket. That was the largest crowd I ever saw at MFH. The aisles on both sides of the bleachers were even full. The fire marshal had the night off.

1999 at IUP - It was payback time in MFH. Edwards not only blew Cal out ... but ran it up. He still had his starters launching treys in the final minutes of a 30-some point massacre.

There was also the year Cal swept IUP in the regular season ... and Edwards went down to Hamer and knocked them out of the PSAC Tournament in front of a sold out crowd.

One picture can bring back a lot of memories.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Tonight should have been the first game.

#depressing

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Any of you guys have a name of the podcast? I'd like to listen.

There's a link to it from Joe's Twitter page.

[IUP24]

What a great interview by Joe! I wouldn't even know where to start in all the great insight he gave. I'm glad he ended up at IUP and I'm excited that he loves the D2 life!!!

Any of you guys have a name of the podcast? I'd like to listen.

[IUPalum]

What a great interview by Joe! I wouldn't even know where to start in all the great insight he gave. I'm glad he ended up at IUP and I'm excited that he loves the D2 life!!!

[IUP24]

Redshirt Joe did an hour-long podcast interview over the weekend. Lot of interesting discussion. It's worth a listen.

He talks about last year, this upcoming team, his recruiting philosophy, etc.

Some highlights:

* Joe said this upcoming team is likely his most talented group since Webb's team made the national final

* Tommy Demogerontas has made an 'exceptional' recovery from his knee surgery. Said Demo may have been the POY last year if not for the injury. Basically, he'll play all 5 positions at times this year.

* Tomiwa Sulaiman is physically ready to play as a true freshman and is a very skilled post player. Joe said he typically doesn't like talking about new guys who 'haven't even made us a layup yet.' However, it sounds like Sulaiman will figure in to the rotation.

* He thinks Armoni Foster can be a back-to-back All America selection the next two seasons.

* Shawndale Jones doesn't get talked about enough ... but is the reigning PSAC Tournament MVP

* Porterfield is up another inch and had a tremendous off-season. Sky is the limit.

* Ousmane Diop will be a key guy off the bench this season. They are expecting him to give them a real spark on defense and be a legit rim-protector. Joe said he's extremely athletic and fast for his size (6'10", 225 lbs).

* Was very pleased with Dave Morris' transition to PG last year

* K.J. Rhodes is a player Joe said isn't great at any one thing but is very solid at everything. It sounded like he could take over the Anthony White role this year.

* Talked about why IUP has been such a good road team over the years ... 'competing or performing'



My interpretation -- and as we know from over the years with Joe sometimes you have to listen between the comments a bit -- he's planning on a bigger rotation this year.

They don't have to redshirt anybody this year as it doesn't count toward eligibility.

That said, it sounds like the minutes will be:

Starting 5

Demo
Porterfield
Armoni
Shawndale
Morris

Subs

Diop (PF)
Rhodes (2 or 3 guard)
Sulaiman (SF or PF)
Radford (PG)
Benton (utility)


Deep Bench

Cordon (freshman)
Polce (freshman)
Burk (freshman)

Challenge accepted.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Redshirt Joe did an hour-long podcast interview over the weekend. Lot of interesting discussion. It's worth a listen.

He talks about last year, this upcoming team, his recruiting philosophy, etc.

Some highlights:

* Joe said this upcoming team is likely his most talented group since Webb's team made the national final

* Tommy Demogerontas has made an 'exceptional' recovery from his knee surgery. Said Demo may have been the POY last year if not for the injury. Basically, he'll play all 5 positions at times this year.

* Tomiwa Sulaiman is physically ready to play as a true freshman and is a very skilled post player. Joe said he typically doesn't like talking about new guys who 'haven't even made us a layup yet.' However, it sounds like Sulaiman will figure in to the rotation.

* He thinks Armoni Foster can be a back-to-back All America selection the next two seasons.

* Shawndale Jones doesn't get talked about enough ... but is the reigning PSAC Tournament MVP

* Porterfield is up another inch and had a tremendous off-season. Sky is the limit.

* Ousmane Diop will be a key guy off the bench this season. They are expecting him to give them a real spark on defense and be a legit rim-protector. Joe said he's extremely athletic and fast for his size (6'10", 225 lbs).

* Was very pleased with Dave Morris' transition to PG last year

* K.J. Rhodes is a player Joe said isn't great at any one thing but is very solid at everything. It sounded like he could take over the Anthony White role this year.

* Talked about why IUP has been such a good road team over the years ... 'competing or performing'



My interpretation -- and as we know from over the years with Joe sometimes you have to listen between the comments a bit -- he's planning on a bigger rotation this year.

They don't have to redshirt anybody this year as it doesn't count toward eligibility.

That said, it sounds like the minutes will be:

Starting 5

Demo
Porterfield
Armoni
Shawndale
Morris

Subs

Diop (PF)
Rhodes (2 or 3 guard)
Sulaiman (SF or PF)
Radford (PG)
Benton (utility)


Deep Bench

Cordon (freshman)
Polce (freshman)
Burk (freshman)