Iup basketball

[IUPalum]

This will all be over very soon for the IUP men, maybe sooner than expected. This team has blown chunks against the three biggest and most physical teams. This team is beyond soft!

This team needs to get bigger, stronger and more physical in a hurry. It won't happen this year but Joe has to change how he recruits. What size Joe does have just doesn't want to get into the mix. I just don't get it!

Some poor shooting last night contributed to the awful game but Cal being bigger and stronger also contributed. IUP couldn't dribble penetrate like normal so Cal kept pushing them further and further from the rim. Hence, lower percentage shots. IUP also didn't take some shots last night because they were scared of the size.

This isn't an awful IUP team but this roster isn't built to win championships either. You need a good blend of skill and beef. This team lacks the beef.

Maybe the light switch will turn on for a few but I highly doubt it. IUP will now have a tough run to make NCAA's starting with Gannon on Saturday. Yikes!

[crimsonhawkmom]

welp.

[IUPalum]

Time to see what IUP has learned since Round 1 with Cal.

Joe and his Redshirts haven't lost since blowing the big 16-point, second half lead.

Ian Herring played very little in the first game. In fact, his missed dunk arguably swung the momentum of the whole game.

Herring has played a lot lately, and he's going to really be needed against Cal's big and physical guards.

Another key item, Joe's (finally) called off his (largely worthless) 1-2-2 press. Cal shredded it in the first meeting. In fact, this Cal team is custom made to shred a 1-2-2. Too big and too fast. IUP needs to slow the pace of this game.

Sarp played a lot in the first game and it wasn't pretty. This isn't the game for Sarp. He played well Saturday in his first appearance in weeks -- but it was against a Clarion team that tapped out about 7 minutes in to the game.

When IUP was blasting Cal in the first game, the Hawks had their best ball movement of the season. Then the lights went out and AAU ball showed up.

Bautista Rodriguez is now coming off the bench, and he's been tremendously better since the change. He's IUP's most physical player, and they really need him to be a little rough Wednesday.

Cal had a dud up in Edinboro. It happens. They won't have another one in 48 hours. I can guarantee that much.

Finally, I wonder if anybody will actually guard Bryson Lucas at the top of the key this game? FYI, he can make it rain from there (as IUP somehow learned the hard way).

Bautista has improved since the press has been shut down. I'm assuming that was part of his problem. Lack of legs, to much thinking, IDK...

Herring got benched again Saturday, hopefully the light switch turns on because he's needed.

Bautista should be on Lucas when he's on the court. No clue who gets that assignment when Bautista sits. Grove is to slow, you don't want Dallis in foul trouble, Ky to small, Brooks needs to be around the rim. Tough call...

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Time to see what IUP has learned since Round 1 with Cal.

Joe and his Redshirts haven't lost since blowing the big 16-point, second half lead.

Ian Herring played very little in the first game. In fact, his missed dunk arguably swung the momentum of the whole game.

Herring has played a lot lately, and he's going to really be needed against Cal's big and physical guards.

Another key item, Joe's (finally) called off his (largely worthless) 1-2-2 press. Cal shredded it in the first meeting. In fact, this Cal team is custom made to shred a 1-2-2. Too big and too fast. IUP needs to slow the pace of this game.

Sarp played a lot in the first game and it wasn't pretty. This isn't the game for Sarp. He played well Saturday in his first appearance in weeks -- but it was against a Clarion team that tapped out about 7 minutes in to the game.

When IUP was blasting Cal in the first game, the Hawks had their best ball movement of the season. Then the lights went out and AAU ball showed up.

Bautista Rodriguez is now coming off the bench, and he's been tremendously better since the change. He's IUP's most physical player, and they really need him to be a little rough Wednesday.

Cal had a dud up in Edinboro. It happens. They won't have another one in 48 hours. I can guarantee that much.

Finally, I wonder if anybody will actually guard Bryson Lucas at the top of the key this game? FYI, he can make it rain from there (as IUP somehow learned the hard way).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Did Clarion's coach know he was at a game today?

Goodness


Talk about throwing in the towel.


Three of their players would be welcomed with open arms in Indiana next year.

When they hit the Portal in about two weeks I sure hope Joe calls them.

[Ship69]

Another point... you do realize the majority of HS teams put up a shot long before 30 seconds right? The point of the shot clock is to keep teams from stalling and holding the ball.

If that is the case, then I'm not sure that bolsters your argument for the 30-second clock. I covered high school sports, including basketball, for about 10 years at one time, and I can count on one hand the number of times a team went into anything approaching a deep stall. Most of the mediocre teams at the high school level don't have the skill set to run a good stall and will likely as not turn the ball over. The good teams generally have no reason to run a stall. Actually, I watched a girls' HS game with a 30-second clock in Maryland last night, and I saw nothing that changed my mind. What I do know is that if I had the superior personnel with a clock running I would always be pressing to make the other team work to bring it up court. That turns the 30-second clock into more like a 22-23 second clock, assuming there is no turnover. That's about all I have to say on the subject — no use in continually going back and forth on it. Although I don't think so, you could be right. I claim no God-like powers of observation.

[IUPalum]

You're not lacking in points, but I don't see how just speeding up incompetent players is going to improve anything. It's just as likely to bring more awkward three-pointers and air balls. A clock is not going to make bad coaching better. I could be completely wrong, but I don't think I am. Probably best we agree to disagree.

Another point... you do realize the majority of HS teams put up a shot long before 30 seconds right? The point of the shot clock is to keep teams from stalling and holding the ball.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That's one game in your region, and if McKeesport was indeed a big, athletic team then it's a shame their coach felt he had to resort to stalling against a quality opponent. That reflects little confidence in his players. Did Gateway try to force the tempo or not? If not, the score is on them as well as McKeesport. Coaches have attempted to stall high school games for at least 80 years or more. It's up to a coach to decide whether to settle for it or not. You certainly make some creditable points, but we're not going to entirely see eye to eye on this one.

One way or another, the shot clock is coming.

[Ship69]

You're missing the point! Shot clock or no shot clock these players still will have no fundamentals because they aren't taught. The shot clock or lack there of is the reason they have no fundamentals. The lack of quality coaching is the reason. By adding a shot clock, it may force players to try and develop more fundamentals to be more ready for the next level (college). Either way, it's not working as is. Change is needed and this could be the start.

You're not lacking in points, but I don't see how just speeding up incompetent players is going to improve anything. It's just as likely to bring more awkward three-pointers and air balls. A clock is not going to make bad coaching better. I could be completely wrong, but I don't think I am. Probably best we agree to disagree.

[Ship69]

During a big boys game in the WPIAL season, McKeesport went total clock mode the entire game and defeated Gateway, 25-24. It was horrendous to watch.

Two big, athletic teams. And ... nothing happend.

It was like watching grass grow.

I also watched this year (about 20 times) a team go in to clock mode for like the final 2-3 minutes of the first half. And, of course, at the end of nearly every game I saw in person.

I get the concept. It's just boring as hell.

To me, the high school shot clock can't get here soon enough. If I recall, I think it becomes a thing in PA in 2027-2028.

That's one game in your region, and if McKeesport was indeed a big, athletic team then it's a shame their coach felt he had to resort to stalling against a quality opponent. That reflects little confidence in his players. Did Gateway try to force the tempo or not? If not, the score is on them as well as McKeesport. Coaches have attempted to stall high school games for at least 80 years or more. It's up to a coach to decide whether to settle for it or not. You certainly make some creditable points, but we're not going to entirely see eye to eye on this one.

[IUPalum]

I'm not entirely going along with that. Of course they don't play defense. They run down the court and chuck up three-pointers. And how is speeding up players whom, as you say, can't play fundamental basketball going to make them any better?

You're missing the point! Shot clock or no shot clock these players still will have no fundamentals because they aren't taught. The shot clock or lack there of is the reason they have no fundamentals. The lack of quality coaching is the reason. By adding a shot clock, it may force players to try and develop more fundamentals to be more ready for the next level (college). Either way, it's not working as is. Change is needed and this could be the start.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Who is playing 23-21 boys basketball games? Haven't seen anything like that in our area. We'll agree to disagree on that one. If you have good players, get out and push tempo.

During a big boys game in the WPIAL season, McKeesport went total clock mode the entire game and defeated Gateway, 25-24. It was horrendous to watch.

Two big, athletic teams. And ... nothing happend.

It was like watching grass grow.

I also watched this year (about 20 times) a team go in to clock mode for like the final 2-3 minutes of the first half. And, of course, at the end of nearly every game I saw in person.

I get the concept. It's just boring as hell.

To me, the high school shot clock can't get here soon enough. If I recall, I think it becomes a thing in PA in 2027-2028.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I like the idea of a shot clock, but I think it might help girls games even more than boys assuming they get 35 seconds. I’ve seen several girls games where a team has a small lead going into the 4th quarter and they try to take the air out of the ball the rest of the way. We recently saw it in the Heritage Conference championship game here, but it backfired on Penns Manor. If a small school has a couple decent ball handlers, they can more or less play catch for long stretches resulting in 27-24 type games that resemble keep away more than basketball.

[Ship69]

I totally disagree. I shot clock is beyond needed. No shot clock slows the game down and players don't need to read and react ner as much.

If you want to blame lack of fundamentals, you can blame the AAU/travel circuit that doesn't coach the players up. Defense, running offensive sets is literally a thing of the past. These coaches roll the ball out and let the players run up and down the court with next to no structure. If you haven't noticed, it has translated to D2. These kids literally have no idea how to play man D, they can't remember offensive plays because they never had to, etc.

Don't blame a shot clock for lack of fundamentals. Blame the coaching and work ethic.

I'm not entirely going along with that. Of course they don't play defense. They run down the court and chuck up three-pointers. And how is speeding up players whom, as you say, can't play fundamental basketball going to make them any better?

[Ship69]

In my opinion, the shot clock is so desperately needed in high school.

If I had to choose between watching a 23-21 boys basketball game or looking at a blank wall for 60 minutes ... I'm not sure which I'd choose.

As for the last play of the college half ... it has become horrendously awful.

Who is playing 23-21 boys basketball games? Haven't seen anything like that in our area. We'll agree to disagree on that one. If you have good players, get out and push tempo.