Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Cody works at CBS.

But we did both have Randy Jesick's Sports Journalism class together and Matt Burglund (does he post on this board, or just the football one) was one of our weekly guest speakers. Tony C was too. But I remember Matt talking about having to straddle the line of being critical with a coach, but not too much to the point where they might just never talk to you again for stories. That's obviously a concern for every journalist. The better relationship you have with people, the better quotes you'll get. If a coach doesn't want to talk to you, they're not going to talk to you. With the IUP football beat under Cignetti, assistant coaches weren't allowed to speak to the media. That's a Nick Saban rule.

And, Matt's right. But, that's also the charm of being the only media covering a team in a podunk town like Indiana. That would never fly in D1 where the coaches are contractually required to speak to the media once during the week and after the games.

Here, they get to feel way more important and powerful. This board is the only place they ever get called out on anything (and, basically, like 9 people read this board).

Imagine if some big D1 team had the summer that IUP football had last year with all the academic casualties, etc. Tort would have been under heavy heat and would have had to answer for it. Same with Joe and the infamous DeVante Chance fiasco in January of 2014. To this day Joe has never said a word about it publicly. It went down on a Friday night. Both players not only played the rest of the season but played the next night. Talk about protected ...

[hawks16]

Re: Iup basketball

I wonder if the kid who did the hatchet job on Cignetti and the football program a few years ago needs a side gig? Lol

Cody works at CBS.

But we did both have Randy Jesick's Sports Journalism class together and Matt Burglund (does he post on this board, or just the football one) was one of our weekly guest speakers. Tony C was too. But I remember Matt talking about having to straddle the line of being critical with a coach, but not too much to the point where they might just never talk to you again for stories. That's obviously a concern for every journalist. The better relationship you have with people, the better quotes you'll get. If a coach doesn't want to talk to you, they're not going to talk to you. With the IUP football beat under Cignetti, assistant coaches weren't allowed to speak to the media. That's a Nick Saban rule.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Re: Iup basketball

The one opposing coach that always seems to get quoted is Gary Manchel, oddly enough. Perhaps he and Tony have developed somewhat of a relationship over the years. I thing Rackavina (sp?) from UPJ usually has a quote or two as well.

Gary Edwards wrote his column every Saturday during the season. A lot of his articles were really outstanding. They were always the first thing that I would flip to on Saturday's. He was really an original type of guy. Really loved his thinking and writing. I would list him as a huge influence on how I got into posting about IUP sports back in late 2002/early 2003. I always tried to be a little zany and outside the box with what I wrote. But I guess in the end---you are who you are. It's fun to be little offbeat. LOL.

-

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball



No doubt. I'm not talking Ron Cook or Bob Smizik level attack columns.


For instance, IUP played Mercyhurst (4) times this past season. The first meeting, in Erie, IUP scored 77 points (47 of which came after halftime).

From there, IUP was only able to score 63, 56 and 65 points against the Lakers. On the season, IUP averaged 79.6 ppg.

Why was that? What changed, etc. Slippery Rock played the Lakers (3) times and averaged 81 ppg against them. Why? I think those would be interesting stories.

Granted, within the readership of the IG ... probably like 7 of us would be interested to actually read it.

[Chuck Norris]

Re: Iup basketball

I think overall the Gazette does a very good job with IUP football and basketball coverage.

I'd like to see more columns, per say, about the teams. Perhaps not by Tony or Matt since they cover the 'beat' per say.

It would be interesting to get columns on the fan experience, rivalries, 'remember when', opinion pieces, etc.

Tony said they wanted to provide D1 coverage. The only part missing is the commentarty. D1 coverage isn't all unicorns and roses. Sometimes teams get called out in opinion pieces.

For example, many of the things we yap about on here are real topics .. redshirts, inability to bust a zone, etc.

I realize the Gazette needs IUP much more than IUP needs the Gazette, so obviously there is a fine line there.

I'm not saying 'bash' columns but educated ones. Readership and fans have interest in those angles and storylines.

My main critique is the basketball stories rarely, if ever, get quotes from the opposing coach. It is interesting to hear both points of view.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

I think overall the Gazette does a very good job with IUP football and basketball coverage.

I'd like to see more columns, per say, about the teams. Perhaps not by Tony or Matt since they cover the 'beat' per say.

It would be interesting to get columns on the fan experience, rivalries, 'remember when', opinion pieces, etc.

Tony said they wanted to provide D1 coverage. The only part missing is the commentarty. D1 coverage isn't all unicorns and roses. Sometimes teams get called out in opinion pieces.

For example, many of the things we yap about on here are real topics .. redshirts, inability to bust a zone, etc.

I realize the Gazette needs IUP much more than IUP needs the Gazette, so obviously there is a fine line there.

I'm not saying 'bash' columns but educated ones. Readership and fans have interest in those angles and storylines.

My main critique is the basketball stories rarely, if ever, get quotes from the opposing coach. It is interesting to hear both points of view.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Re: Iup basketball

I laughed at the line about it being easier to work with Joe than for Joe.

After having a chance to have more time with the article in the re-read today---I have to agree with you guys. It actually was really great. And he really went the extra mile to name a lot of the people who influenced him along the way and those he worked with. As you say, it's a real fine line to balance on to write an article like that about yourself. Obviously you can't play the complete Mr. Humble role or hide your gifts in the basket thing or you will have folks stopping you on the street and wondering why you are in the HOF in you didn't do anything. I guess that's why I thought that it would be better to have another writer profile him. But the first person account was really cool too. He did do a rather masterful job of pulling it off. It would not be a very easy thing to do as you all noted.

He is a very talented guy and we all are lucky to have him. I was actually thinking back to some of his articles he wrote over the years covering IUP hoops and the various sports around the area. He was great at it all. 60-80 hour work week? Good God, I'm not even awake that many hours in a week. LOL.

I always love to read these HOF articles every May, especially now that I am older and actually know a lot of the folks being inducted. In this year's class I can say that I know John Bomboy and Lou Izodjtic. Both very fine gentleman and very deserving of the honor. I at one time worked with John and I used to play basketball with Lou down in Zink and the Field House on late fall and winter Saturday nights years ago.

Who are some former athletes and coaches who you think that need to be inducted into the County Hall? Some of these get my vote without thinking about it too long:

Indiana High- Mike Bertness and John Pettina. Absolutely crazy that they are not in (or at least to the best of my knowledge with these picks).

Homer Center- Greg Greczek.

Marion Center- Greg Wilden.

Purchase Line- Brandon Overdorf. Grant Syster when the time comes.

Penns Manor- Bill Packer, Marc Paulina, Jason Scott and Matt Gates. Obviously Danny Ferens when the time comes.

Saltsburg- (maybe crossing into Westmoreland County a bit but these guys all had a huge impact on the local scene) Jeff Fulton, Todd Brosko, and Rich Brown. Also the Pizer father and son combo who starred in basketball.

Probably scores of female athletes as well need to be in.

-

[Chuck Norris]

Re: Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball


That's really the terrible irony in all of this ... this past team was built to play that up-tempo game with big, athletic post players. Then, of course, they got bounced by an old-fashioned 'PSAC West' team. I still remember watching late that Saturday night when Mercyhurst rallied to beat Fairmont State in overtime. I knew it was over.

The only thing I know for sure is just about every team that wins the regional (and beyond) has elite guard play. IUP's had very good guard play the past several years but I wouldn't say elite guard play. Granted, you aren't going to have a Chance, Norfleet and Dyer combination every year. I'm a little torn on the 'big man' topic. I know in January and February it's sure nice to have some muscle in the West wars. That said, I watched Joe's 'Euro Bigs' completely destroy Fairmont State last December in their building. But, as we say, they were pretty ineffective on the boards against more powerful forwards/centers.


I see them being the favorite in the West next year, but not by a ton. UPJ is loaded. Cal will be much better. Mercyhurst is always a pain. Slippery Rock finds a way to be a thorn. He's got a ton of scorer's to play with ... but, they can't all score 20 ppg. Managing personalities may be Joe's biggest task next season. If he does it well they can be a very strong team. He doesn't put up with much crap so I don't see it being a big issue. I am curious if he's going to play that killer schedule again next season. I assume he will.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

That was best crowd ever at the KCAC from an atmosphere stand-point. Not even close.

This past year I'd rank the atmosphere as Ship being the best (Field House) and then SRU. Other than those two it was a lame year. Such a shame.

And, don't get us started on the crowds for the Regional. Awful.

I've noticed over the years IUP basketball crowds need a villain to get engaged.

KR ... Till, Sleva ... the better JR teams.

Even last year Ship taunted the crowd a bit early and it backfired. Old Sleva could back it up. Not so much his little brother.

[Chuck Norris]

Re: Iup basketball

[IUP24]

[Chuck Norris]

Re: Iup basketball

Joe got Scooter Renkin (who played 8 minutes in the national title game) to redshirt the next year so he'd be available longer. I'm not sure if this message board was around then, but how did/would that decision go over?


ALSO: Tony C is going into the Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame. If you're a fan of the written word: https://www.indianagazette.com/sport...4cd45b7e5.html

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

I think a front court player could use a year to gain muscle and get acclimated more to the college game. Guards are different in my opinion.

I would certainly, in theory, agree with the bolded comment. In high school, 'big' forwards are about 6'5" to 6'7" and most weigh about 175 pounds soaking wet. Then you show up and get told to go 'man up' to Daddy Ugbede or Patrick Smith, and realize every post you play against is now 6'8", etc.

There are obviously exceptions. The big man East Stroudsburg played last year was a star by the mid-way point of the season -- and will wreck havoc the next three years (if he stays in D2).

To Joe's credit, once a player hits the rotation, per se, they don't leave. Manny Yarde was the last 'fringe' rotation player to leave the program early, but, well, that had some 'circumstances' surrounding it.

I will say this, without question, Joe's love of redshirting transfers has cost him making at least two tournaments.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

The killer in that industry is the lack of money. Once (and if) you make it to a big paper ... you do OK. But, before that you'll spend years and years working at rink-dink locals making peanuts. The industry loses a ton of talent.