Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

No chance they play any D2's. If they beat any D2's, they're supposed to. If they lose, it looks bad. Same reason why Robert Morris and St Francis would never play IUP. Mercyhurst will probably play some low level D3's to balance out however many guarantee games they have to play.

I'll be curious what their team looks like. They've lost way too many players to the portal the last couple of years. Surprised they let Triggs walk, thought he could've been an all conference guy for them in the PSAC next year.

Any reports from the summer? Is the team on campus?

The week they were to play IUP in football ... they replaced IUP with D3 Buffalo State. Their first ever D1 football game -- is on the road at freaking Wheeling. LOL.

I was curious if they'd play Gannon in basketball. The schedule isn't out yet. I certainly understand your theory as to why they (probably) will not. That said, it would be a cool yearly 'city game' for the two schools.

The timing for Gary is so bad, too. That was his first sub .500 team in forever a year ago. Some of his best teams could have made the transition much easier. He pretty much cleaned house and is starting from scratch. It's going to be a very, very long year in the MAC.

Football-wise, they always stunk in D2 so logic would say they'll stink in low-D1, too.

To chime in on IUP24's post, I think at the very core of this is Mercyhurst wanted to separate itself from its neighbor on Peach Street.

They are leaving a very easy travel lifestyle behind -- with so many 'road' games 3 miles (GU) and 15 miles (Edinboro) away (all sports). That said, playing the role of 1980s WWF jobber will bring in some coin.

[IUP24]

No chance they play any D2's. If they beat any D2's, they're supposed to. If they lose, it looks bad. Same reason why Robert Morris and St Francis would never play IUP. Mercyhurst will probably play some low level D3's to balance out however many guarantee games they have to play.

I'll be curious what their team looks like. They've lost way too many players to the portal the last couple of years. Surprised they let Triggs walk, thought he could've been an all conference guy for them in the PSAC next year.

Any reports from the summer? Is the team on campus?

I still can't fully come to terms with how quick the exodus was for them out of the PSAC. I know there has been a ton of beating of the proverbial dead horse on the football side of the board regarding the move and the supposed reasons why. Still.. running all of the scenarios, it just doesn't make sense to me. And it never will. I understand there's a bigger picture for why some of these universities make decisions the way they do directly or indirectly related to athletics.

Purely from a basketball perspective, I would love a crystal ball to see 2, 3, 5, years into the future. What does their roster look like? Is Gary still coaching? How are they performing in their own conference? Are they getting paid handsomely by Duke to go to Cameron Indoor and get obliterated? What D1s have taken a home and home to play Hurst? Do they regret the decision overall?

[EyeoftheHawk]

No chance they play any D2's. If they beat any D2's, they're supposed to. If they lose, it looks bad. Same reason why Robert Morris and St Francis would never play IUP. Mercyhurst will probably play some low level D3's to balance out however many guarantee games they have to play.

I'll be curious what their team looks like. They've lost way too many players to the portal the last couple of years. Surprised they let Triggs walk, thought he could've been an all conference guy for them in the PSAC next year.

Any reports from the summer? Is the team on campus?

I have seen a player here and there, but not a group of guys. I’m not there every day though.

[IUPHawks24]

Being that Joe and Gary are pretty close, I was fully expecting to see IUP play Mercyhurst.

Rumor is IUP offered a home and home and Mercyhurst turned it down. That's a shame. They easily could have kept the series going - even with Mercyhurst in (pretend) D1.

Based on the Lakers' initial football schedule, it's no surprise. I do suspect we'll see their upcoming basketball schedule with several D2 and D3 cupcakes on it.

No chance they play any D2's. If they beat any D2's, they're supposed to. If they lose, it looks bad. Same reason why Robert Morris and St Francis would never play IUP. Mercyhurst will probably play some low level D3's to balance out however many guarantee games they have to play.

I'll be curious what their team looks like. They've lost way too many players to the portal the last couple of years. Surprised they let Triggs walk, thought he could've been an all conference guy for them in the PSAC next year.

Any reports from the summer? Is the team on campus?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

They finally schedule some road games in Ohio and I am unable to go that weekend!

It's a good non-conference schedule. You figure the two D3's were late replacements for Mercyhurst.

Glenville State is an odd program. They are good one night and bad the next. They typically have a new roster yearly so getting them early is helpful. Joe's teams historically look lost on opening night for the first 30 minutes so who knows. These two haven't played in about 10 years.

Charleston played in the Regional Final last year but now has a new coach and several of its stars graduated or transferred. We'll see. Their new HC played for Huggins at WVU so we could see a similar style.

Tiffin on a neutral court (in an empty gym) ... pretty decent program. They had a good team last year but lost a lot of grad students and seniors.

Ashland is coming off a strong season and returns a lot. Tough game.

Lincoln beat Cal two years ago and nearly beat Gannon last year. This isn't an easy one. They play physical and are very big and athletic. Lincoln is the reigning CIAA champion.

South Carolina Beaufort ... obviously a lot of plot twists -- Kyle Polce and Ron Fudala return, etc. They started fast last year but faded. I suspect they will be much better in Year 2.

Thiel will have some decent players but not nearly enough. Recall several years ago Westminster came to the KCAC and went toe-to-toe with IUP in the first half before Joe blew a gasket at halftime. IUP then hammered them in the second half. I could see a similar story here.

PSU-Dubois ... they better start pumping free tickets now.

[IUP24]

Men's non-conference schedule:


Glenville State (at Charleston)

at Charleston

Tiffin (at Ashland)

at Ashland

Lincoln

South Carolina Beaufort

Thiel

Penn State Dubois



Pretty good slate until the last two games. Two in one season? WTF? I don't think Joe's ever played (4) away/neutral games in one season in the non-conf.

They finally schedule some road games in Ohio and I am unable to go that weekend!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Being that Joe and Gary are pretty close, I was fully expecting to see IUP play Mercyhurst.

Rumor is IUP offered a home and home and Mercyhurst turned it down. That's a shame. They easily could have kept the series going - even with Mercyhurst in (pretend) D1.

Based on the Lakers' initial football schedule, it's no surprise. I do suspect we'll see their upcoming basketball schedule with several D2 and D3 cupcakes on it.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Men's non-conference schedule:


Glenville State (at Charleston)

at Charleston

Tiffin (at Ashland)

at Ashland

Lincoln

South Carolina Beaufort

Thiel

Penn State Dubois



Pretty good slate until the last two games. Two in one season? WTF? I don't think Joe's ever played (4) away/neutral games in one season in the non-conf.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP (men's) is opening the season against Glenville State (at Charleston) on Friday, Nov. 8.

IUP will play host Charleston the following day.

California is also attending.

[EyeoftheHawk]

There is an exhibition game scheduled for this Sunday in the Memorial Field House (not the KCAC).

Dante Lombardi is coaching a D2 team in The Tournament. He has Cobo Diaz and Ethan Porterfield, as well as Carlos Carter (formerly of Shippensburg) among others on his team.

They will scrimmage a team of IUP alumni (coached by Joe). This team will feature Armoni Foster, Shawndale Jones, etc.

It should be a pretty competitive game. Admission is $10. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

Chucky is lacing them up for this too. Should be a fun game to watch and nice to see some former stars returning. I’m out of town all weekend but hope to be back in time for this. What a collection of players!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There is an exhibition game scheduled for this Sunday in the Memorial Field House (not the KCAC).

Dante Lombardi is coaching a D2 team in The Tournament. He has Cobo Diaz and Ethan Porterfield, as well as Carlos Carter (formerly of Shippensburg) among others on his team.

They will scrimmage a team of IUP alumni (coached by Joe). This team will feature Armoni Foster, Shawndale Jones, etc.

It should be a pretty competitive game. Admission is $10. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

(unofficial) Roster update:



Guard

Garvin Clarke (6'1")
Dallis Dillard (6'4")
Denzel Kabasele (6'4")
Christian Moore (6'3")
Sarp Furtun (6'3")
Anthony Watson (6'2")
Kymani Merraro (5'9")
Alfonso Pickens (6'2")


G/F

Bautista Rodriguez (6'7")
Ian Herring (6'6")
Tyler Grove (6'6")



Forward

Damir Brooks (6'7")
Luke Triggs (6'7")
Callum MacNamara (6'7")

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The 'official' recruiting class:



Luke Triggs (PF / Mercyhurst / 6'7")

Tyler Grove (G/F / true freshman / 6'6")

Ian Herring (G / Quaker Valley and Kiski Prep / post-grad / 6'6")

Bautista Rodriguez (G/F / Argentina / 6'7" / not a freshman ... 20 years old but not sure class rank)

Kymani Merraro (PG / C.O.D.E. Academy / Canada / 5'9")

Christian Moore (G / New Hampshire / 6'2")


-------

Alfonso Pickens 'was' committed but was not listed by WCCS. Perhaps they missed him ... or, he's gone (can't tell from Twitter)

[EyeoftheHawk]

The Romero-Sanz departure took yet another strange twist in the Twitter world.

He praised IUP for his time here and for giving him his start - and the community.

He also left on deadline day which this now (to me) confirms it wasn't his choice.

It will be funny if he puts up 15 and 10 on Joe in the KCAC in December.

Hopefully we have some more 6'2" shooting guards we can convert to forwards.

I know the roster isn't completed yet but this seems like another mess upcoming.

Tons of guards and - at best - a very questionable post.

Saw that too. That was a head scratcher, which pretty much follows the script of the entire Romero-Sanz mystery.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The Romero-Sanz departure took yet another strange twist in the Twitter world.

He praised IUP for his time here and for giving him his start - and the community.

He also left on deadline day which this now (to me) confirms it wasn't his choice.

It will be funny if he puts up 15 and 10 on Joe in the KCAC in December.

Hopefully we have some more 6'2" shooting guards we can convert to forwards.

I know the roster isn't completed yet but this seems like another mess upcoming.

Tons of guards and - at best - a very questionable post.