Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm trying to process the horrendous basketball I watched tonight. One positive, BROOKS!!! He wasn't good enough to play last year.

Not sure that was basketball lol. That was a street fight.

[IUPalum]

I'm trying to process the horrendous basketball I watched tonight. One positive, BROOKS!!! He wasn't good enough to play last year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

When IUP beat Ship early last season, I thought Brooks might have been the best player on the floor that game. Ship actually played what turned out to be one of its better games in that one, but they had no answer for Brook's physicality on the boards. I was shocked with how little playing time he got the rest of the season. Although Ship did better on the boards this year, Brooks again was a factor in IUP holding its own.

It was so bad last year. I honestly think, in fact, it got so bad people quit attending the games. IUP's attendance started to tank down the stretch last year -- and February is when it usually explodes.

The whole arena and fan base knew Brooks should have been playing 32 mpg (or until he fouled out). Add to it they redshirted Romero-Sanz when they desperately needed a big body.

That whole situation stunk so bad it literally turned fans away. It also crippled Porterfield because teams were totally ignoring the SF position and doubling him all year.

Brooks isn't Cobo. He's never going to be. But, he brings an awful lot to the table. He's a beefed up (and taller) version of Tevin Hanner.

It even further trickled down when they had to move their prized SG down to play SF.

That was just a season to put in the vault and forget about it. It was the least enjoyable season of IUP basketball I've ever watched.

[IUPalum]

Video link finally posted.

[Ship69]

He wasn't ready last year.

So we've been told.


LOL. He must have had one heck of a summer.

That whole mess cost IUP at least 3-4 wins last year. Maybe more.

When IUP beat Ship early last season, I thought Brooks might have been the best player on the floor that game. Ship actually played what turned out to be one of its better games in that one, but they had no answer for Brook's physicality on the boards. I was shocked with how little playing time he got the rest of the season. Although Ship did better on the boards this year, Brooks again was a factor in IUP holding its own.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great news:

Alphonso Pickens could make his season debut tonight.

Good news:

Dallis Dillard has his final knee examination early next week. If all goes well he'll be given the green light to return.


Bad news:

The hammer dropped on Bautista Rodriguez. He will not be eligible to play this season.

What's it all mean?

If anything, they have some closure on the Rodriguez topic. That said, they could desperately use another depth player under the basket. I realize these guys don't grow on trees. That said, there's always some player out there - for whatever reason - looking for a home. I have a hunch they may add a mid-year post player. They don't need a 'starter' level player. Joe is well-connected. Perhaps they lure one of the Covid era players out of retirement who may have a semester of eligibility remaining (i.e. what they did with Bryce last year). Karst Hunter would fill that role immediately -- but that's probably wishful thinking.

Pickens was signed to be the starting PG. Issue there is Joe all the sudden has a budding star in true freshman PG Kymani Merraro. Pickens is much bigger at 6'2" and is a shutdown defender. So, there's some give and take between the two players. Regardless, Joe can figure out the minutes. It's a good problem to suddenly have.

The rotation will bump from 7 to 8 players, and up to 9 when Dallis returns. Dare I say 10 players when Denzel Kabasele soon returns? Joe's comfort zone seems to be about 6.5 players, so we'll see how that all works out. I assume Dallis will be worked back in very slowly -- perhaps as little as 10-12 mpg initially. Even that will be a huge boost.

[IUPalum]

I would surely hope they are just late putting the link up on the site. Even if they don't have announcers, somebody can run the camera.

Kutztown had cheerleaders, announcers and a video last night. No excuse not to at least have a video feed. Most would prefer to just listen to the crowd noise anyway.

If you're going to schedule games on Thanksgiving Eve (at 7:30 p.m.) ... the show goes on. Business as usual.

Agreed, Jack and Tony can announce just like last weekend. This is insanity!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

WTF!!! Why is there no video for tonight or Monday's games??? This is horrendous!!!

I would surely hope they are just late putting the link up on the site. Even if they don't have announcers, somebody can run the camera.

Kutztown had cheerleaders, announcers and a video last night. No excuse not to at least have a video feed. Most would prefer to just listen to the crowd noise anyway.

If you're going to schedule games on Thanksgiving Eve (at 7:30 p.m.) ... the show goes on. Business as usual.

[IUPalum]

WTF!!! Why is there no video for tonight or Monday's games??? This is horrendous!!!

[EyeoftheHawk]

This actually does happen rather frequently at the KCAC. Historically, I'd venture to guess about 70-75% of spectators actually sit on the side opposite the benches. If you're sitting low, the view is much better (you don't have the press table or benches in your way). Sitting higher it makes no difference but for whatever reason most sit on that side.

Unlike during the Regional, there is no 'press row' on the opposite side during the regular season. So, Row 1 is literally about 36" from the court.

It used to be the alcohol was only sold on the side away from the benches. Now it is sold on both sides. That said, the vast majority still hangs out on the other side.

It's funny. Some nights the benches side looks completely dead on video and the side across is jam-packed. I don't know what it is but it's a thing. The video obviously shoots from the crowded side and shows the empty side.

Yep, I’m one of the ones almost always opposite the benches for the reasons you mention. I still haven’t won one of those darned Insomnia Cookie giveaways when they pick the row and section. They did at least call Section 112 this weekend, but it was the wrong row…again. :(

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm glad you mentioned that. I tuned in to the second half on Sunday and was shocked at all the empty seats that could be seen on the broadcast. I figured it might have been possible that everyone was sitting opposite the benches, but that seemed unlikely. It's a first-class facility and typically a first-class program, so it's hard to understand why people wouldn't come out.

(By the way, the one impression I came away with after watching a half on Sunday was: dang, Brooks is a beast! You guys have every right to be PISSED about last year's debacle at the forward position. Kid is a load to handle.)

This actually does happen rather frequently at the KCAC. Historically, I'd venture to guess about 70-75% of spectators actually sit on the side opposite the benches. If you're sitting low, the view is much better (you don't have the press table or benches in your way). Sitting higher it makes no difference but for whatever reason most sit on that side.

Unlike during the Regional, there is no 'press row' on the opposite side during the regular season. So, Row 1 is literally about 36" from the court.

It used to be the alcohol was only sold on the side away from the benches. Now it is sold on both sides. That said, the vast majority still hangs out on the other side.

It's funny. Some nights the benches side looks completely dead on video and the side across is jam-packed. I don't know what it is but it's a thing. The video obviously shoots from the crowded side and shows the empty side.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm glad you mentioned that. I tuned in to the second half on Sunday and was shocked at all the empty seats that could be seen on the broadcast. I figured it might have been possible that everyone was sitting opposite the benches, but that seemed unlikely. It's a first-class facility and typically a first-class program, so it's hard to understand why people wouldn't come out.

(By the way, the one impression I came away with after watching a half on Sunday was: dang, Brooks is a beast! You guys have every right to be PISSED about last year's debacle at the forward position. Kid is a load to handle.)

He wasn't ready last year.

So we've been told.


LOL. He must have had one heck of a summer.

That whole mess cost IUP at least 3-4 wins last year. Maybe more.

[Scrub]

IUP's home opener Saturday drew an awful gate of just 412 people. Sunday was worse, as just 279 came to watch.

I'm glad you mentioned that. I tuned in to the second half on Sunday and was shocked at all the empty seats that could be seen on the broadcast. I figured it might have been possible that everyone was sitting opposite the benches, but that seemed unlikely. It's a first-class facility and typically a first-class program, so it's hard to understand why people wouldn't come out.

(By the way, the one impression I came away with after watching a half on Sunday was: dang, Brooks is a beast! You guys have every right to be PISSED about last year's debacle at the forward position. Kid is a load to handle.)

[Chuck Norris]

IUP won two games this past weekend. That's four straight wins. That's the good news. This team is actually pretty exciting to watch. You don't know what will happen next. Literally.

The bad news? And, really strange news? The Crimson Hawks twice played in front of a near-empty KCAC.

IUP's home opener Saturday drew an awful gate of just 412 people. Sunday was worse, as just 279 came to watch.

These are normal numbers at most schools, but IUP has led the PSAC in attendance for an awfully long stretch. Consider just two years ago IUP averaged 2,126 per game (and that 'average' was brought down by the never-ending semester break).

Past opening weekends have been so-so -- typically because the football team has a playoff game, etc. That wasn't the case this year. In fact, nothing was really going on in Indiana. IUP even got a huge break when the Friday night game was postponed (and the team no longer had to compete with the very popular holiday parade).

Without question, certain things last year turned off many, many fans. But, for IUP to draw 412 and 279 on opening weekend? Holy smokes. Tomorrow night will understandably have a terrible gate. The students leave today for Thanksgiving break. Many people will be travelling or getting ready for Thursday.

I used to say Joe would draw 1,200 townies even if he tipped off at 7 a.m.

So, where has everybody gone? Maybe it was a fluke. The school does next to nothing to market the team. But, I'm not sure it was, in fact, a fluke.

They had their worst season, by far, since the KCAC opened and there probably wasn’t much optimism for this year with all the new and young faces. I wouldn’t discount the Gazette coverage dropping to non existent either, especially for older folks. If they keep improving I would imagine the numbers pick up fairly quickly.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP won two games this past weekend. That's four straight wins. That's the good news. This team is actually pretty exciting to watch. You don't know what will happen next. Literally.

The bad news? And, really strange news? The Crimson Hawks twice played in front of a near-empty KCAC.

IUP's home opener Saturday drew an awful gate of just 412 people. Sunday was worse, as just 279 came to watch.

These are normal numbers at most schools, but IUP has led the PSAC in attendance for an awfully long stretch. Consider just two years ago IUP averaged 2,126 per game (and that 'average' was brought down by the never-ending semester break).

Past opening weekends have been so-so -- typically because the football team has a playoff game, etc. That wasn't the case this year. In fact, nothing was really going on in Indiana. IUP even got a huge break when the Friday night game was postponed (and the team no longer had to compete with the very popular holiday parade).

Without question, certain things last year turned off many, many fans. But, for IUP to draw 412 and 279 on opening weekend? Holy smokes. Tomorrow night will understandably have a terrible gate. The students leave today for Thanksgiving break. Many people will be travelling or getting ready for Thursday.

I used to say Joe would draw 1,200 townies even if he tipped off at 7 a.m.

So, where has everybody gone? Maybe it was a fluke. The school does next to nothing to market the team. But, I'm not sure it was, in fact, a fluke.