Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Coming it at #4 in a Preseason Top 25 Poll released today- posted on the team's Twitter account.

I wouldn't run to the sports book and make any bets.

[hawks16]

Any word on if IUP is playing D1 schools this preseason?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Any word on if IUP is playing D1 schools this preseason?

Nothing announced yet. Given the date, probably not. I'd assume a couple joint practices with different teams.

Joe has an element of surprise this year for the first time in forever. Seems he doesn't want to show his hand until opening weekend.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Redshirt Joe's first interview of the season will air on Saturday (WCCS).

They played some snippets of it today. He's pretty much confirming this is a work in progress, as expected, and there will be growing pains.

So, let's take a glance at the 'growing pains' part of the schedule (November):

Concord - Joe's 4-0 career vs Todd May. Recall a year ago IUP was lit up in the first half (game played at Clarion) before pulling away in the final 20 minutes (winning by 17). Like IUP, Concord also has a lot of new faces. Ethan Heller and Lual Daniel Rahama are gone. May is a good leader and does a very good job down there in a very remote place to be a coach. Concord plays more of a PSAC style than MEC but can turn it up in stretches. The Mountain Lions are known for a couple big upsets a year but also some odd losses. May has one of the more memorable technical fouls in the KCAC in a long time. He's a hot head and the Friday night KCAC crowd can get to him pretty easily. Preseason No. 6 (of 11) in MEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Notre Dame - The Falcons were 17-13 a year ago. Hard to grasp at this point as they only have (9) players listed on their roster. So, there could be some surprises. Notre Dame is somewhat infamous for pulling some major upsets in the MEC, and isn't too far removed from playing in the NCAAs. Preseason No. 7 (of 11) in MEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Walsh - IUP lit up Walsh a year ago but it certainly had an asterisk as two of their best players didn't play. This is traditionally a very strong program. Most of last years team is back. They get after it for 40 minutes and play well on both ends.

St. Thomas Aquinas - East Region champions a year ago while finishing 26-5. This is a very big and athletic team full of upperclassmen. Major test.

Frostburg State - The went 8-20 a year ago but now have a new coach and many, many new faces (heavy portal team). Hard to say at this point what they'll have.



Big picture, I think it's real important they get out of November at 4-1. They are going to lose more games this year than the faithful is used to seeing as there are numerous capable teams in the West. They must take advantage of this all-home November schedule.

[Chuck Norris]

So we’re just about two weeks away and I’m very excited to see what’s new but I share the tempered expectations that everyone else seems to have. If I had to guess what sort of team this is going to be, I’d call it a faster and more athletic version of the 2013 team led by Scooter Renkin that had Josh Weigand in the post. Unless one of the new faces is a revelation on the offensive end, I don’t think this team is going to score a lot. They’ll play a slower tempo, defend hard and probably score in the 60s, or less, more often than not.

If Ethan is truly healthy and remains so, I expect a big year, probably 15 or 16 ppg. Dallis and Jaylen should take another step and see more of a green light, but I don’t think it’s realistic to expect them to go from what their roles were last year to being big time scorers. I expect 10-12 ppg from each. So if those 3 hit the upper end of my projection that’s 40 ppg. Given how they should be able to defend, another 20-25 points should put them in position to win much of the time. I don’t expect an aesthetically pleasing season, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be successful. If they don’t fall in too big a hole while they’re figuring it out early, they could be dangerous come March.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

From Joe's comments, it sounds like Romero-Sans and Denzel will both redshirt. That's shocking. They were the only two not mentioned, which generally means they aren't playing this year.

I guess I understand Denzel because he'd be the 5th guard, and, well, Joe's 5th guard doesn't play.

Romero-Sanz is 6'8" and jacked up physically. But, apparently Brooks will start alongside Ethan and KJ and Waldo will be the backups.

Brooks is a great athlete but has been extremely prone to foul trouble. Waldo will be his backup, and, while not starting, will probably play more minutes than Brooks. KJ (at a listed 6'4" will spell Ethan). Figure Ethan to play 34 mpg.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Starting lineup:

PG - Garvin Clarke
G - Jaylen Stewart
G - Dallas Dillard
F - Ethan Porterfield
F - Damir Brooks

Rotation:

G - Josh Petteno
F - Dolan Waldo

Utility - KJ



Others will dress. Some will look good in tracksuits. But, that will be your team this year.

Knowing how Joe plays his rotation, I'd clearly expect Clarke, Dillard and Stewart to play 30+ mpg. Same with Ethan. Petteno will spell both Dallas and Stewart.

I'd be curious to see Joe play some four-guard lineups with Ethan.

[Chuck Norris]

Starting lineup:

PG - Garvin Clarke
G - Jaylen Stewart
G - Dallas Dillard
F - Ethan Porterfield
F - Damir Brooks

Rotation:

G - Josh Petteno
F - Dolan Waldo

Utility - KJ



Others will dress. Some will look good in tracksuits. But, that will be your team this year.

Knowing how Joe plays his rotation, I'd clearly expect Clarke, Dillard and Stewart to play 30+ mpg. Same with Ethan. Petteno will spell both Dallas and Stewart.

I'd be curious to see Joe play some four-guard lineups with Ethan.

Oh boy. I may have to amend my thoughts from yesterday. I think there are going to be a whole lot of first to 50 wins games in our future. I hope I’m wrong, but where are the points coming from outside the top 3 returnees? Clarke didn’t score at all at Akron, the drop to a lower level might bump him up some but that just doesn’t seem to be the strength of his game. If Joe wouldn’t run any offense through Tomiwa he certainly isn’t going to run any through Brooks. Petteno can score at this level but will he play enough? Waldo I’m sure will be brought along slowly. KJ is KJ.

I’m really surprised if it does turn out the rotation is already this set. If ever there was a year to play a bunch of guys early and whittle the rotation down after the holidays, it would seem like this is it.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Oh boy. I may have to amend my thoughts from yesterday. I think there are going to be a whole lot of first to 50 wins games in our future. I hope I’m wrong, but where are the points coming from outside the top 3 returnees? Clarke didn’t score at all at Akron, the drop to a lower level might bump him up some but that just doesn’t seem to be the strength of his game. If Joe wouldn’t run any offense through Tomiwa he certainly isn’t going to run any through Brooks. Petteno can score at this level but will he play enough? Waldo I’m sure will be brought along slowly. KJ is KJ.

I’m really surprised if it does turn out the rotation is already this set. If ever there was a year to play a bunch of guys early and whittle the rotation down after the holidays, it would seem like this is it.

Agreed. However, Joe's teams don't usually have much pressure in November. If he wants to make the dance, he MUST have a good first month. I think if they take two losses in the first five games, they could be in trouble. They are going to lose games in the West this year. They also have a road game at East Stroudsburg in crossover. Normal year 8 losses or less should get you to the NCAAs. I still think they'll be right on that bubble.


That said, Anthony Watson (sophomore PG from BCCC) is not going to redshirt, nor is freshman guard Sarp Furton (post grad player from DME Academy).


As for scoring, I think you'll be surprised by Dillard and Stewart. The diapers are off now and they'll actually be allowed to shoot. The entire offense won't revolve around Shawndale this year (whether that was the plan or not). Petteno can be an elite floor-spreader and will draw a lot of attention.



Clarke is a pure PG and a great defender. I'd peg him for 5-8 ppg but will make all the others much better. I keep hearing the comparisons that's he's a bigger Fred Mulbah (who also wasn't an elaborate scorer but made UPJ a very dangerous team).

All speculation, of course. The lights get bright in 14 days.

[IUPalum]

Oh boy. I may have to amend my thoughts from yesterday. I think there are going to be a whole lot of first to 50 wins games in our future. I hope I’m wrong, but where are the points coming from outside the top 3 returnees? Clarke didn’t score at all at Akron, the drop to a lower level might bump him up some but that just doesn’t seem to be the strength of his game. If Joe wouldn’t run any offense through Tomiwa he certainly isn’t going to run any through Brooks. Petteno can score at this level but will he play enough? Waldo I’m sure will be brought along slowly. KJ is KJ.

I’m really surprised if it does turn out the rotation is already this set. If ever there was a year to play a bunch of guys early and whittle the rotation down after the holidays, it would seem like this is it.

Sounds like the Manchel, Reilly days of the PSAC are back!

[IUPalum]

If Clarke is a true PG then you'll see a lot more fluid offense this season as opposed to the one on one style of Shawndale.

[Chuck Norris]

Agreed. However, Joe's teams don't usually have much pressure in November. If he wants to make the dance, he MUST have a good first month. I think if they take two losses in the first five games, they could be in trouble. They are going to lose games in the West this year. They also have a road game at East Stroudsburg in crossover. Normal year 8 losses or less should get you to the NCAAs. I still think they'll be right on that bubble.


That said, Anthony Watson (sophomore PG from BCCC) is not going to redshirt, nor is freshman guard Sarp Furton (post grad player from DME Academy).


As for scoring, I think you'll be surprised by Dillard and Stewart. The diapers are off now and they'll actually be allowed to shoot. The entire offense won't revolve around Shawndale this year (whether that was the plan or not). Petteno can be an elite floor-spreader and will draw a lot of attention.



Clarke is a pure PG and a great defender. I'd peg him for 5-8 ppg but will make all the others much better. I keep hearing the comparisons that's he's a bigger Fred Mulbah (who also wasn't an elaborate scorer but made UPJ a very dangerous team).

All speculation, of course. The lights get bright in 14 days.

I’ve been a Dallis fan since he got here so I really hope he and Stewart can exceed the jump I think they’ll make. I’ll be all good if I’m wrong about this group. It’s not often that I’m among the more pessimistic IUP fans on this board, lol.

[Chuck Norris]

Sounds like the Manchel, Reilly days of the PSAC are back!

Pack your brass knucks, every night’s gonna be a street fight!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

If Clarke is a true PG then you'll see a lot more fluid offense this season as opposed to the one on one style of Shawndale.

Yep. It should actually look like an offense again (and not playground meets AAU).

[EyeoftheHawk]

Sadly, I think this is a 10 loss team that doesn’t make the tournament. They may make the PSAC tournament but it won’t be a long run. I know Joe expects them to be better the second half of the season, but those games are played against PSAC teams and mostly West teams. Just about all of them are pretty good. If they don’t get to January with less than four losses, it could be ugly.