Iup basketball

[Scrub]

IUP fans are getting the pace you were hoping for so far.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think Joe was caught with his pants down this season and he knows it. A lot of knee jerk reactions. Not sure if not having an assistant until a little short of the start of the season helped him meaning he had to do all the recruitment himself. He brought back Coach P who had a lot of work to do before the season started. The loss of key starters and the portal clearly put Joe on the back foot. Sorry to say that he has been short sighted and is really only focused on this season. It makes it look like he is only concerned about his own reputation. A trait he hates to see in his own players! Radford was a knee jerk reaction due to guards not making shots. Bryce has clearly been a good and important player but he is only here for the short term and has had minutes at the expense of other players. Jordan taking off his red shirt due to poor performances, primarily by Josh, was another knee jerk reaction. Jordan played pretty well when asked but now is not to be seen. Dolan was a starter who clearly needs confidence to grow and Damir is ready to go but is now a bit part player. To be balanced Sarp and Josh have had a fair share of minutes but overall Josh isn't the shoot maker that he was expected to be. Overall though and In short Joe is not developing players. Damaging their confidence by taking them off for any minor infringement must put fear into the rest of the roster who can see what he is doing. I think Joe just wants to scrap through this season and worry about next season later.

My opinion (after having seen this same movie many times before under Joe):

* They knew the SF position was a trainwreck coming in to the season. This is a vital position in Joe's scheme. He's always had a stud in that spot. How it was so bare is baffling They had to know what was there in Waldo and certainly in Brooks. That said, it was very poor roster management.

* Joe initially thought Waldo and Brooks could tag team the spot. Damir being the muscle and Waldo being the finesse. Neither plays now. Remember KJ was to be Ethan's backup (and EP doesn't sit much). Once Waldo and Burks got sent to Siberia, KJ shifted over and they moved Petteno down there. Joe's man crush on KJ is a different topic.

* They can get away with KJ and Petteno down there most nights. Tonight will not be one of those nights.

* Lambert was activated instead of Romero-Sanz. That's still odd as they've been dying for more size down there all year. Word on Romero-Sanz is he's raw but very powerful and a nasty rebounder. Keep in mind Lambert only played a handful of games. He may still qualify as a redshirt. With Bryce's unexpected arrival, they could be keeping Lambert on the bench intentionally.

* Joe is (somehow) 13-5. Their signature win is probably against a pretty solid Lock Haven team. The other five good teams they've played they lost all of them.

* Keep in mind, too, this team lost Denzel for the season in camp. He was going to be in the rotation. That was a huge loss. Losing Dillard was seeing a likely first team all-league player out of the equation.


I think Joe's still playing to win and they are working hard. At times, they are actually a fun team to watch. If Dallis was here they'd be pretty good. But, the ceiling is only so high for this team. I think Cal will sweep them and Gannon will hammer them again. They can win the others.

He's going to have a lot of work to do this off-season. He does have a strong group of guards back next year -- Garvin, Dallis, Stewart, Lambert and Sarp. He'll add a shooter (perhaps Shull from UPJ). Underneath, however, is a total rebuild. Waldo and Brooks will be gone. He'll likely sign several transfer post players.

As a whole, I agree. The yearly roster drama is getting old. Fast. I've said for years Joe's dream is to play 5 guys. Iron man. Nobody else even needs to dress.

For comparison, Joe's going to play 2-3 players tonight who wouldn't be in Cal's Top 11 or 12. Think about that.

The success of the Erie pipeline, my opinion, got Joe a little lazy in the recruiting world. And, he's in the twilight. This could be his last year.

[Cobra Hawks]

I think Joe was caught with his pants down this season and he knows it. A lot of knee jerk reactions. Not sure if not having an assistant until a little short of the start of the season helped him meaning he had to do all the recruitment himself. He brought back Coach P who had a lot of work to do before the season started. The loss of key starters and the portal clearly put Joe on the back foot. Sorry to say that he has been short sighted and is really only focused on this season. It makes it look like he is only concerned about his own reputation. A trait he hates to see in his own players! Radford was a knee jerk reaction due to guards not making shots. Bryce has clearly been a good and important player but he is only here for the short term and has had minutes at the expense of other players. Jordan taking off his red shirt due to poor performances, primarily by Josh, was another knee jerk reaction. Jordan played pretty well when asked but now is not to be seen. Dolan was a starter who clearly needs confidence to grow and Damir is ready to go but is now a bit part player. To be balanced Sarp and Josh have had a fair share of minutes but overall Josh isn't the shoot maker that he was expected to be. Overall though and In short Joe is not developing players. Damaging their confidence by taking them off for any minor infringement must put fear into the rest of the roster who can see what he is doing. I think Joe just wants to scrap through this season and worry about next season later.

[IUP24]

I was hesitant to post this to the board, but decided to do so against my better judgement. I'm looking forward to tonight's game against Cal, but I'm also left thinking a lot about what we've witnessed with Radford of late. What's Joe doing? Why is he so quick to give up on guys? Radford's performance on Saturday infuriated a part of me. And I think it's emblematic of what we've all discussed here of late.

They could have used Radford last year. Heck, they could have used Polce last year too!

Radford was last on the IUP roster in 2021-2022. He was a sophomore. I'll allow others to debate his usage and ability at that stage of his development. And yeah, he was down the line on the bench of a great team that was very deep. But when I sit here and watch what he's doing as a guy who is a few years older and more developed, it confirmed everything I've thought about Joe just tossing guys to Siberia for the smallest trust issue on the court. Radford is a smaller guy who may not be able to hold up over time defensively, but was there not a place for him on this team previously? Polce too. Seems like having a guy who can come off the bench and hit shots is a good thing to have. I'm just not entirely sure what Joe is thinking with some of these personnel decisions.

If I was Brooks or Waldo, I'd be on the first bus out of Indiana after this season ends.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Solid win against SRU and credit to the team (including KJ). Feel Cal are going to be a whole different kettle of fish however. Joe's post match interview would indicate even he thinks IUP are going to lose, setting expectations and citing Cal as an Elite 8 NCAA team. Let's hope we don't have a repeat of the ESU or Gannon games! Would be good if it is at least a competitive match. Fingers crossed.
Looking forward I can't see who replaces Ethan at the end of the season. The other forwards are barely getting any minutes, apart from Damir when Ethan is resting. Dolan was a starter at the beginning of the season and now riding the pine. Calum will be lucky to get any minutes from now on. Romero-Sanz is red shirted and an unknown at this stage. Joe must be looking at a transfer?
Good luck to IUP tonight. Might need it!

They better be ready because Cal's been waiting for this game for years.

Cal has a better starting unit and is dramatically deeper.

It would take a perfect (slow) game for IUP to win.

IUP kept one streak alive Saturday ... not sure they can keep the Cal streak going.

This IUP team has flaws, and can beat other flawed teams. Cal doesn't have any. Joe's drastic lack of quality depth will likely be really exposed tonight. Not to mention Cal has perhaps the best SF in the league and IUP plays guards there.

[Cobra Hawks]

Solid win against SRU and credit to the team (including KJ). Feel Cal are going to be a whole different kettle of fish however. Joe's post match interview would indicate even he thinks IUP are going to lose, setting expectations and citing Cal as an Elite 8 NCAA team. Let's hope we don't have a repeat of the ESU or Gannon games! Would be good if it is at least a competitive match. Fingers crossed.
Looking forward I can't see who replaces Ethan at the end of the season. The other forwards are barely getting any minutes, apart from Damir when Ethan is resting. Dolan was a starter at the beginning of the season and now riding the pine. Calum will be lucky to get any minutes from now on. Romero-Sanz is red shirted and an unknown at this stage. Joe must be looking at a transfer?
Good luck to IUP tonight. Might need it!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

...is IUP good

Watch tomorrow and find out

[hawks16]

...is IUP good

[IUPbigINDIANS]

So if Austin came, which player wouldn’t have been here? Also, we wouldn’t be getting the Bryce show if Austin was here.
Unfortunately, we’re stuck with the KJ slop either way.

Hard to say.

I do wonder what this team would look with Dallis Dillard.

My fear is the first night somebody gets in foul trouble.

Tomorrow is a daunting task. Cal can get double digits from all five guys on the floor (and from the next several to come in).

The thought of dealing with Hall and Lucas underneath (and from outside) is going to keep Joe up all night. There's zero question IUP is out-manned tomorrow. He's going to have to whip something up. IUP isn't going to win a track meet. I think their only shot is a turtle pace.

This is also going to be a highly-motivated Cal team based on what IUP has done to them the past 8 years.

I may watch some of the SRU/Cal game today. I'm curious to see how SRU won that game so convincingly.

[IUPalum]

Agreed. They've basically taken on the mantra of playing with house money.

So if Austin came, which player wouldn’t have been here? Also, we wouldn’t be getting the Bryce show if Austin was here.
Unfortunately, we’re stuck with the KJ slop either way.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Imagine if he would have picked IUP, - - - But there is a much different vibe with the IUP team, since there are no expectations really. Any success is positive and fun, compared to the last few years when there was the "hope they don't screw this up" paranoia where any mistake was a disaster. So the Cal game is a see how well we might do rather than we have to win. Even Joe basically said he thinks Cal is the best team in the PSAC.

Agreed. They've basically taken on the mantra of playing with house money.

[ironmaniup]

They'll be extremely tough -- in half-court games


Maceo Austin picked SRU over IUP.

#dumb-a$$


What's left of this team is what it is ... But, it's fun to watch

Imagine if he would have picked IUP, - - - But there is a much different vibe with the IUP team, since there are no expectations really. Any success is positive and fun, compared to the last few years when there was the "hope they don't screw this up" paranoia where any mistake was a disaster. So the Cal game is a see how well we might do rather than we have to win. Even Joe basically said he thinks Cal is the best team in the PSAC.

[IUPNation]

Not a good day in Indiana for the gym teachers.

Evil swept away.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It was the first game I was able to make it to this season and it was certainly the one to see up to this point. Radford going off in the second half was awesome and Clarke’s quickness is something to see up close.

It appears this 7.5 man rotation (Brooks is just not gonna get many minutes) is what Joe has settled on. For all its flaws, they should continue to get better as they play more in the roles that each guy finally knows they have.

They'll be extremely tough -- in half-court games


Maceo Austin picked SRU over IUP.

#dumb-a$$


What's left of this team is what it is ... But, it's fun to watch

[Chuck Norris]

It was the first game I was able to make it to this season and it was certainly the one to see up to this point. Radford going off in the second half was awesome and Clarke’s quickness is something to see up close.

It appears this 7.5 man rotation (Brooks is just not gonna get many minutes) is what Joe has settled on. For all its flaws, they should continue to get better as they play more in the roles that each guy finally knows they have.