Iup basketball

[Ship69]

So, now ... turning to the elephant in the room.

Garvin Clarke isn't on the IUP roster -- and, he's not in the transfer portal.

So, where are you, Mr. Clarke?

Yeah, it is very weird for a player of that prominence to disappear from the roster and sight. It would almost as if Jake Biss hadn't returned for his final year at Ship a couple of years back.

[IUPalum]

So, now ... turning to the elephant in the room.

Garvin Clarke isn't on the IUP roster -- and, he's not in the transfer portal.

So, where are you, Mr. Clarke?

I second that.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

So, now ... turning to the elephant in the room.

Garvin Clarke isn't on the IUP roster -- and, he's not in the transfer portal.

So, where are you, Mr. Clarke?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The roster is posted. The big news, obviously, is Garvin Clarke isn't listed. The other big news, however, is Alfonso Pickens Jr. is now listed.


Guard

Dallis Dillard
Christian Moore
Denzel Kabasele
Alfonso Pickens Jr.
Kymani Merraro
Ian Herring
Anthony Watson
Sarp Furtun


Forward

Damir Brooks
Bautista Rodriguez
Tyler Grove
Luke Triggs
Callum MacNamara


Initial thoughts:

Garvin is obviously a major loss. But, Moore and Pickens will more than make up for him. Dallis returning and the long-awaited debut of Kabasele will give Joe a very deep guard pool.

I still suspect (reading between Joe's always-cryptic comments) that Ian Herring will play all over the place this year (G/F).


Rotation projections (my opinion)

Starting lineup:

PG - Pickens Jr.
G - Dillard
G - Moore
F - Rodriguez
F - Triggs

Bench

G - Kabasele
G - Watson
F - Brooks
G/F - Herring
F - MacNamara


Redshirts

Merraro ----------> pending emergency Joe isn't playing a true freshman PG
Grove -----------> some don't agree here and think he'll play
Sarp -------------> I know Joe likes him but he should have redshirted last year. His minutes would be very low this year. I suspect Joe stashes him rather than wasting a year.



Overall, I like this rotation much better than a year ago. After Dallis went down last year it was essentially a two-man team. This roster is tremendously deeper and more balanced. We'll see ... but, I think it looks pretty solid.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'd be willing to bet the court assembly is the reason why the IUP basketball teams practice at the Field House. It's unfortunate that they don't practice at the KCAC because it such a different back ground and would help their shooting to be there more often.

I can't tell you how many games I've seen in the KCAC - way too damn many. IUP shoots in to the horseshoe in the first half of every game. Their shooting percentage typically increases at least 20% in the second half at the other end (if not more). It's night and day.

I've also seen tons of visiting teams light it up on the video board end in the first half -- and then can't hit anything on the horseshoe end in the second half.

I don't have much of a life, but when I get to having no life I will actually pull those numbers. It would take some time but I 100% guarantee my theory.

[IUPalum]

No disagreement here. For years and years UPJ had some sort of 'floor' in their gym. The visiting teams all hated it.

I was surprised IUP was replacing the floor so fast (15 years or so) but they take it apart and put it back together so many times a year I could see how the joints probably started to go. I've gotten to know many of the staff there over the years ... court removal/assembly is not one of their favorite jobs. That whole floor just comes apart (and back together) in like 4' x 4' squares.

I'd be willing to bet the court assembly is the reason why the IUP basketball teams practice at the Field House. It's unfortunate that they don't practice at the KCAC because it such a different back ground and would help their shooting to be there more often.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

As I tend toward the old-school, I generally flavor the wood-plank floorings. Smooth surfaces make me think of a community all-purpose rec center rather than a dedicated basketball arena or gym.

No disagreement here. For years and years UPJ had some sort of 'floor' in their gym. The visiting teams all hated it.

I was surprised IUP was replacing the floor so fast (15 years or so) but they take it apart and put it back together so many times a year I could see how the joints probably started to go. I've gotten to know many of the staff there over the years ... court removal/assembly is not one of their favorite jobs. That whole floor just comes apart (and back together) in like 4' x 4' squares.

[Ship69]

It's a wood-plank. They got rid of the 'crimson' coloring. The Hawk logo at mid-court is now all dark gray. The other big change is the court perimeter is also no longer crimson in color. It is all black with white lettering.

Overall, it's a huge aesthetic change.

As I tend toward the old-school, I generally flavor the wood-plank floorings. Smooth surfaces make me think of a community all-purpose rec center rather than a dedicated basketball arena or gym.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe tips off in 86 days.

[IUP24]

Turns out the rumor was true. The new court has been installed inside the KCAC.

It's pretty nice. I'd call it 'modern' ... definitely a different look.

No idea what they are doing with the old one.

Are there any pictures out there?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Is it a traditional wood plank court or a smooth surface?

It's a wood-plank. They got rid of the 'crimson' coloring. The Hawk logo at mid-court is now all dark gray. The other big change is the court perimeter is also no longer crimson in color. It is all black with white lettering.

Overall, it's a huge aesthetic change.

[Ship69]

Turns out the rumor was true. The new court has been installed inside the KCAC.

It's pretty nice. I'd call it 'modern' ... definitely a different look.

No idea what they are doing with the old one.

Is it a traditional wood plank court or a smooth surface?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Turns out the rumor was true. The new court has been installed inside the KCAC.

It's pretty nice. I'd call it 'modern' ... definitely a different look.

No idea what they are doing with the old one.

[Ship69]

Each case is different. If the player is from a family with money to help support him ... that's a whole different story than the player making $26k a year in Mongolia on his own.

I think it's largely a status thing for most. I'd assume most D2 guys over there know the Chicago Bulls aren't calling.

As mentioned, if you can get up to the upper levels the money is pretty decent.

That said, the vast majority we see go over to play are only there a year or two (if that).

Speaking of playing in Europe:

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University men’s basketball alumni Jake Biss ’21 and Carlos Carter ’23 have signed professional contracts with Eisbaren Bremerhaven, a team that plays in the second-tier circuit (Pro A) of professional basketball in Germany.

The two Raiders are already in Germany preparing for the team’s first preseason workouts, which begin tomorrow (Saturday, August 10).

Biss returns to the Pro A league after playing 18 games last season for Paderborn after recovering from an injury that kept him out at the start. He is reunited with his head coach from Paderborn, Steven Esterkamp, who took the head job at Bremerhaven in May.

The 2024-25 campaign will be his third season in professional basketball, as Biss also spent time in 2022 with the Den Helder Suns in The Netherlands.

“I’m excited to head back to Germany to continue my basketball career,” Biss said. “When I heard that Carlos was added to the roster I couldn’t wait to head over and get started. Having a familiar face and the great friend that Carlos is around will make things that much more enjoyable this season. We’re both looking forward to getting back on the court together and we’ll be sure to make Ship proud.”

Carter also returns to the Pro A league after playing 21 games last season for Muenster while also dealing with an injury. The 2024-25 campaign will be his second in professional basketball.

“I’m super excited and thankful for another opportunity to play the game I love!” Carter said. “I’m especially looking forward to teaming back up with Jake! It’s going to be a fun and great year.”

It is the third reported Raider men’s basketball alumni signing of the summer thus far, as Dustin Sleva ’18 joined Turkish club Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in late June.

Biss, the 2019-20 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Athlete of the Year and a 2020 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District honoree, completed his SU career ranked third in school history in career three-pointers (212), sixth in career assists (391), eighth in career free-throw percentage (.802), and ninth in career points (1,484). He is a three-time All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team selection.

Carter, the 2022-23 PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year and a 2023 NABC All-District honoree, finished his collegiate career with 1,339 points, which ranks 15th in program history.

About Bremerhaven and “Pro A”

Bremerhaven is a port city in northern Germany approximately 40 miles northwest of Bremen. Hamburg is two hours to the east. Eisbaren translates to “ice bears,” or as we know them, polar bears – the team’s mascot.

The “Pro A” league is similar to most European leagues in that it has promotion and relegation. The Top 2 teams at the end of the league state are promoted to the top-flight German league – Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), while the two lowest teams in the standings are relegated to “Pro B.”

- SU -

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Other than some kind of non-basketball related incident, it's hard to believe they could lose him at this point.

I guess we'll know for sure when Joe allows them to post the roster at about 4:30 p.m. opening night.