Iup basketball

[Chuck Norris]

Brooks replaces Petteno in the starting lineup. IUP off to a 10-0 lead

[IUPalum]

Joe has to be looking at a sweep this weekend. They are in a hole. It won't be easy.

Fite scouted IUP in-person last weekend and obviously knows everything Joe does (he was Joe's top assistant for years if anybody didn't know).

IUP has had postseason success at Ship but has struggled there in the regular season at times.

This is also IUP's first time away from home. But, I think that may actually do them well.

Ship's played pretty good since that opening night shell-shock. That was not a good game to schedule with a new team, obviously.

Playing at Ship could help the shooting since Joe practices in a similar setting.

[Ship69]

Joe has to be looking at a sweep this weekend. They are in a hole. It won't be easy.

Fite scouted IUP in-person last weekend and obviously knows everything Joe does (he was Joe's top assistant for years if anybody didn't know).

IUP has had postseason success at Ship but has struggled there in the regular season at times.

This is also IUP's first time away from home. But, I think that may actually do them well.

Ship's played pretty good since that opening night shell-shock. That was not a good game to schedule with a new team, obviously.

Most of the veteran coaches in this league have known what Lombardi does for years. Hasn't stopped him from winning a whole lot of games. Most nights, it basically amounts to who has the best players. The wild card at all levels of college basketball now is whether you run into some team that is hitting 3s out of its mind (or if your team doesn't hit any).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe has to be looking at a sweep this weekend. They are in a hole. It won't be easy.

Fite scouted IUP in-person last weekend and obviously knows everything Joe does (he was Joe's top assistant for years if anybody didn't know).

IUP has had postseason success at Ship but has struggled there in the regular season at times.

This is also IUP's first time away from home. But, I think that may actually do them well.

Ship's played pretty good since that opening night shell-shock. That was not a good game to schedule with a new team, obviously.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

On the other side of the coin, Ship needs to get more consistent scoring from players not named Ty Crespo and Markus Frank. Three-point shooting and foul shooting have not been where they should be given the makeup of this roster. Kyle Whippen has been a pleasant surprise and a force on the boards the past couple of games.

I'm sure it will be a close game.

I wouldn't bet on this IUP team even with your money.

They can look real good for 10 minutes and then real bad the next 10 minutes.

[Ship69]

Porterfield will get his 18-22 points. Dillard will get his 16-18.

It gets dicey after that, which IUP really needs to fix.

Jaylen Stewart should be scoring more. He really gets to the rim well but has struggled finishing. He could be a 15 PPG player this year.

Garvin Clarke is scoring OK but misses so many foul shots. His scoring average should be higher. He's a really dynamic slasher and draws a lot of fouls. He has to cash in at the line. It cost them the Concord game (among other things).

Josh Petteno was brought in to be a sniper but he's really had four bad games and one good one. They really need him to step it up.

On the other side of the coin, Ship needs to get more consistent scoring from players not named Ty Crespo and Markus Frank. Three-point shooting and foul shooting have not been where they should be given the makeup of this roster. Kyle Whippen has been a pleasant surprise and a force on the boards the past couple of games.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

LOL. Don't have the height for forward or the speed for guard. Even when I was younger, small and slow didn't cut it for basketball. I actually could shoot well, but you have to be able to get your shot off before that does you much good. Ship's teams from the last 2-3 seasons would have given this year's IUP team a ton of trouble, but the Raiders as presently constituted don't have the height to take advantage of IUP's small lineup, and I think the more extensive game experience of guys such as Porterfield and Dillard will give IUP the edge on Friday.

Porterfield will get his 18-22 points. Dillard will get his 16-18.

It gets dicey after that, which IUP really needs to fix.

Jaylen Stewart should be scoring more. He really gets to the rim well but has struggled finishing. He could be a 15 PPG player this year.

Garvin Clarke is scoring OK but misses so many foul shots. His scoring average should be higher. He's a really dynamic slasher and draws a lot of fouls. He has to cash in at the line. It cost them the Concord game (among other things).

Josh Petteno was brought in to be a sniper but he's really had four bad games and one good one. They really need him to step it up.

[Ship69]

Well, Joe is playing two (true) freshmen. The one he just activated is a preferred walk-on (Jordan Lambert). The other, Sarp Furton, was a very late signee.

However, he's redshirting three others who are all on scholarship. Anthony Watson was the PG for a very strong BCCC team last year. Denzel Kabasele is a junior transfer and was thought by many to be a big, shutdown defender at the guard position. Gabriel Rombero-Sanz is a really big power forward who played a year post-grad. All three were thought to play this year in some capacity.

If you're going to the game Friday, stop down and see Joe. He may put you in the small forward rotation, too. You know the old saying ... if you're playing 6 small forwards that means you don't have one. Or, of course, they are in the tracksuit brigade.

On a serious note, the issue I see is even when he goes with four guards and Ethan, he is still playing the 4 spot as if a forward was on the floor. They are running their normal, slow offense. Most teams that play four guards and one big really stretch things and speed up the tempo (to offset the smaller lineup and take advantage of forcing an opposing big to cover a faster guard). Granted, Ethan isn't geared for a fast-tempo game. So, that could be the issue.

End of the day, if Damir Brooks doesn't emerge as the answer (and Joe quits playing this ridiculus platoon of SFs), this team isn't going anywhere. The issue with Dolan Waldo has become a major problem as he must have been expected to contribute heavy minutes this year (and is now somewhere on the North Pole).

They are playing 5 on 4 every minute KJ is on the floor - and every team they play knows it. It's not a knock on him. He's not a forward. At best he's 6'3". He was recruited as a guard.

LOL. Don't have the height for forward or the speed for guard. Even when I was younger, small and slow didn't cut it for basketball. I actually could shoot well, but you have to be able to get your shot off before that does you much good. Ship's teams from the last 2-3 seasons would have given this year's IUP team a ton of trouble, but the Raiders as presently constituted don't have the height to take advantage of IUP's small lineup, and I think the more extensive game experience of guys such as Porterfield and Dillard will give IUP the edge on Friday.

[Ship69]

Did we ever get an answer last year or the year before as to why IUP suddenly changed every weekend home game to an afternoon tip off? Was that mandated by the PSAC, or was that IUP's decision?

They were the only team in the league playing 7:30 games on Saturdays.

Doesn't appear to be league mandated as both the games Ship is playing on its Dec. trip to Cal and Slippery Rock are scheduled for 7:30.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Did we ever get an answer last year or the year before as to why IUP suddenly changed every weekend home game to an afternoon tip off? Was that mandated by the PSAC, or was that IUP's decision?

They were the only team in the league playing 7:30 games on Saturdays.

It was largely done for the Erie contingent (parents) so they could drive home at a normal hour.

Nice gesture, however, it really dampened the atmosphere.

Saturday night in the KCAC always had a great vibe to it.

[IUP24]

Perfect example how poorly run this league is.

But, when you apparently don't care about attendance or revenue ... so be it.

Did we ever get an answer last year or the year before as to why IUP suddenly changed every weekend home game to an afternoon tip off? Was that mandated by the PSAC, or was that IUP's decision?

They were the only team in the league playing 7:30 games on Saturdays.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, because of the way the roster lines up Chris Fite has redshirted all three of his freshmen (one for medical reasons) at Ship this season, so I guess you include us in your tracksuit brigade. He doesn't usually make a policy of it.

Well, Joe is playing two (true) freshmen. The one he just activated is a preferred walk-on (Jordan Lambert). The other, Sarp Furton, was a very late signee.

However, he's redshirting three others who are all on scholarship. Anthony Watson was the PG for a very strong BCCC team last year. Denzel Kabasele is a junior transfer and was thought by many to be a big, shutdown defender at the guard position. Gabriel Rombero-Sanz is a really big power forward who played a year post-grad. All three were thought to play this year in some capacity.

If you're going to the game Friday, stop down and see Joe. He may put you in the small forward rotation, too. You know the old saying ... if you're playing 6 small forwards that means you don't have one. Or, of course, they are in the tracksuit brigade.

On a serious note, the issue I see is even when he goes with four guards and Ethan, he is still playing the 4 spot as if a forward was on the floor. They are running their normal, slow offense. Most teams that play four guards and one big really stretch things and speed up the tempo (to offset the smaller lineup and take advantage of forcing an opposing big to cover a faster guard). Granted, Ethan isn't geared for a fast-tempo game. So, that could be the issue.

End of the day, if Damir Brooks doesn't emerge as the answer (and Joe quits playing this ridiculus platoon of SFs), this team isn't going anywhere. The issue with Dolan Waldo has become a major problem as he must have been expected to contribute heavy minutes this year (and is now somewhere on the North Pole).

They are playing 5 on 4 every minute KJ is on the floor - and every team they play knows it. It's not a knock on him. He's not a forward. At best he's 6'3". He was recruited as a guard.

[Ship69]

Huh? Who doesn't play their walk-ons and keep their scholarship recruits in tracksuits? I've seen it for so long now I thought it was normal practice. Not to mention your opening night starter at small forward is now a last 30-seconds guy by the fifth game.

What could go wrong?

As for KJ, it's obviously clear he's not allowed to shoot the ball other than the occasional put-back. I'm sure no other coaches scouting IUP have noticed. That doesn't put any extra pressure on the other four guys. Lol

Well, because of the way the roster lines up Chris Fite has redshirted all three of his freshmen (one for medical reasons) at Ship this season, so I guess you include us in your tracksuit brigade. He doesn't usually make a policy of it.

[EyeoftheHawk]

As for KJ, it's obviously clear he's not allowed to shoot the ball other than the occasional put-back. I'm sure no other coaches scouting IUP have noticed. That doesn't put any extra pressure on the other four guys. Lol

Why do you keep giving up IUP’s secrets? You do realize some coaches read this board, right? :)

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I saw the writing on the wall. As long as KJ plays, they’ll lose!

Huh? Who doesn't play their walk-ons and keep their scholarship recruits in tracksuits? I've seen it for so long now I thought it was normal practice. Not to mention your opening night starter at small forward is now a last 30-seconds guy by the fifth game.

What could go wrong?

As for KJ, it's obviously clear he's not allowed to shoot the ball other than the occasional put-back. I'm sure no other coaches scouting IUP have noticed. That doesn't put any extra pressure on the other four guys. Lol