Iup basketball

[IUPNation]

Re: Iup basketball

I think the 'iconic' Indiana Mall is walking The Green Mile.

Two of its anchor stores are now closed and it's rumored the next one (The Bon Ton) isn't far behind. There are numerous other empty units inside.

I'd be shocked if it's open in a year or two. It's a nice (big) piece of land so it won't stay vacant long. I'd guess it gets torn down and something new goes up.

The movie theater there is still kind of neat (to me, anyway). I saw The Goonies there in the mid-80s. It still looks exactly the same in the lobby. They did some interior renovations inside the theater (seats, etc). Capri Pizza is still booming. I'd assume they relocate in town somewhere. Good stuff. And, yes, Capri Pizza still has the 25-cent TVs on the tables from the 1970s.

The first movie I ever saw at the Indiana Mall theaters was "Revenge Of The Nerds" in the Summer of 1984...my first "semester" on campus (I was a Summer-January freshman)

The Exton Mall saw the JC Penny's close and now part that is now this bowling entertainment kind of a place. The Sears has to be on the target list soon. The Macy's is so run down inside the store. It's nowhere near as nice as the Macy's at King of Prussia which is only 15 minutes away. The Boscov's is okay but like most Boscov's it's so packed with merchandise that is all looks ticky tacky. The mall stores are half empty. Main Line Health took over a portion of the mall store area for medical office space. They renovated the mall 15-16 years ago and now it's all kinda sad. I only go in there if I absolutely have too.....and usually only to go to the food court which is the only part that draws crowds on most days.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Your point is very valid. The era today ... with the High Def age with everybody owning a 60" TV ... I think people just prefer to stay home. I, too, love watching the 'big time' college games.

That said, I'd still take a 'live' IUP basketball game any day over anything on TV. That's just me. I like the sounds, speed, crowd (or lack of) and general excitement of seeing it live that I just personally don't get at home. I've been in the KCAC when it's packed to the walls. I've been in there with 500 people. Doesn't make a huge difference to me. I think what I've grown to like most about seeing the games live is watching the slow transformation of the teams over the course of the season. It's only Christmas and IUP is a completely different team now than it was in November. Night and Day. They were very frustrating to watch a month ago. I'll say the Dec 26 edition of Bravado's team would beat the Nov. 26 version by 20 points.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Re: Iup basketball

I wonder how many people really like D-II men's basketball? Just speaking for myself I know that I really don't care much for it or at least until they get into the NCAAs in March. I like to follow it then. But I would much prefer to watch the D-I heavies on the tube than to sit and watch PSAC men's hoops at an overpriced arena. The women's game at least seemed to be it's own thing. D-II men just seemed to be a too watered down version of what you watch on television with the likes of North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, et al.

I guess I'm not really into D-II football that much either but really do like to follow IUP. But I suppose in the last analysis, to each his own.

I still say that if the KCAC would set some more realistic prices in regards to tickets and concessions then they would no doubt draw much better.

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[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Many theories, I suppose.

Here are the actual numbers for men's basketball attendance (avg home gate):

2017-18 - 739 (Ironically, the one game played over winter break actually brought up the average)

2016-17 - 1,367

2015-16 - 1,363

2014-15 - 1,330

2013-14 - 2,090

2012-13 - 1,586

2011-12 - 1,275

2010-11 - 1,035


Amazingly, this year's current average of 739 still leads the entire PSAC. The vast majority of schools are under 350 per game -- some well under. The KCAC does a pretty black-and-white job with the numbers. Everybody is scanned at the entrances. So, unlike Miller Stadium, these should be pretty accurate. Or, at least, very, very close.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

I think the 'iconic' Indiana Mall is walking The Green Mile.

Two of its anchor stores are now closed and it's rumored the next one (The Bon Ton) isn't far behind. There are numerous other empty units inside.

I'd be shocked if it's open in a year or two. It's a nice (big) piece of land so it won't stay vacant long. I'd guess it gets torn down and something new goes up.

The movie theater there is still kind of neat (to me, anyway). I saw The Goonies there in the mid-80s. It still looks exactly the same in the lobby. They did some interior renovations inside the theater (seats, etc). Capri Pizza is still booming. I'd assume they relocate in town somewhere. Good stuff. And, yes, Capri Pizza still has the 25-cent TVs on the tables from the 1970s.

[IUPNation]

Re: Iup basketball

IUP basketball games at the KCAC ARE WAAAAY TOO EXPENSIVE! This issue has certainly been discussed before ad nauseam. I've talked to a ton of people who all say this. Plus, after the Rodney Ruddock tax reassessment for the county people are really struggling to have that extra disposable income dollars to attend games or shop at local stores (look at how many stores have closed in the Indiana Mall in the past year or so). But what the heck, that bloated buffoon Ruddock still gets to give his Flag Day speeches and have his ugly mug in the local edition going to the White House or meeting the Homer City Wildcats. So who the hell cares anymore anyways. If people of the area were really so stupid to vote someone like him into office and retain him then I guess at the end of the day you basically got what you deserve. But too bad everybody else has to suffer for it!

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Malls are dying everywhere. It's not just an Indiana thing although they could have at least nenovated the Indiana Mall once over the last 38 years. It's still 1979 in there.

The Exton Mall here in affluent Chester County is getting sadder by the day. There is only one mall that is decline proof in the entire state...King of Prussia.

I do agree that The Home office is probably more at fault with their genius scheduling to cause attendance declines than anything else......

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Re: Iup basketball

IUP basketball games at the KCAC ARE WAAAAY TOO EXPENSIVE! This issue has certainly been discussed before ad nauseam. I've talked to a ton of people who all say this. Plus, after the Rodney Ruddock tax reassessment for the county people are really struggling to have that extra disposable income dollars to attend games or shop at local stores (look at how many stores have closed in the Indiana Mall in the past year or so). But what the heck, that bloated buffoon Ruddock still gets to give his Flag Day speeches and have his ugly mug in the local edition going to the White House or meeting the Homer City Wildcats. So who the hell cares anymore anyways. If people of the area were really so stupid to vote someone like him into office and retain him then I guess at the end of the day you basically got what you deserve. But too bad everybody else has to suffer for it!

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[IUPalum]

Re: Iup basketball

I wish I could be a season ticket holder but with me living in Erie and my schedule, that's just not possible. I don't understand why the locals come out to these games other than the prices. It's a great product and let's face it, there is nothing else to do in Indiana!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

I was checking out some PSAC stats this morning. One glaring one: attendance.

It's always bad but it's REAL bad this year.

IUP men's attendance is WAY down ... as in approaching half of last season's gate average.

Even the Fairmont game ... played almost to the day of last years Fairmont game ... drew 700 less this year. IHS was home during both games. Last year the game got over 1,500. This year it was announced at 801. This year the tickets were even free at various locations all over town.

If you look at the yearly numbers, IUP men's attendance has dropped consistently over the past 5 years.

The conference does it no favors. Rivalry games are played over break. The break is 7 weeks long. Marketing is terrible. Slippery Rock at IUP on a Monday night over break? Are you kidding? Put that game in late January on a Saturday night and you get 3,000. Now ... they'll be lucky for 700. The league cries about revenue and then does this stupid stuff.

Nonetheless, the numbers are the numbers. It wasn't long ago the season average was near 2,500 per game. Right now, for this season, it's in the 700s. That's a drastic decline.

It's too expensive for starters. Tickets are double and triple every other conference school. Consession prices are major league level. Not all see the value in a $7 can of Miller Light.

But, prices were high four years ago, too. So ... why is nobody coming out to see Bravado Joe anymore?

We aren't talking about a few-percentage-point dip. This is extreme.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

I always wonder what that big IHS team would have been like with Dante on it ... had he not gone to Kiski Prep.

Carter is pretty legit. He's definitely a scholarahip-level player. If Joe doesn't offer him many others will. He reminds me a lot of what Malik Miller looked like at Farrell.

They lose Blake, Hutton and Glover after this season. Armoni and Keyes will come off redshirt status.

You're right ... there have been a lot of walk-ons over the years but not many scholarship players. That jump from Fifth Street to Wayne Ave is a pretty big one.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Re: Iup basketball

I have no opinion on Carter either way since I have never seen him play nor do I know much about him.

I was just curious how many local area high school hoops stars have ever really made much of an impact for the IUP men? I think the last one I can think of at the moment is Mike Bertness whom I believed played at IUP from circa 1983-87. To the best of my recall he did start for them for several years.

Anybody else? Chad Curran of Saltsburg. Never really made it into the rotation IIRC. The current kid from MC. The Rocco boys from NC. I don't think they really played much. Dom Lombardi of Indiana. Same.

This isn't much of hotbed for recruiting hoops at this level. Again, no opinion being levied against Carter at all.

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[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

He's a 6'4" guard at Indiana High. He's good and will get a lot of D2 offers.

Very athletic, fast and he shoots well. Indiana won last night when he blocked a layup off the backboard.

I'd be shocked if IUP doesn't offer him. Rumor is they started scouting him last year.

[IUPalum]

Re: Iup basketball

Is Joe going to let IHS's Carlos Carter leave town?

No clue about the kid.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Is Joe going to let IHS's Carlos Carter leave town?

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Re: Iup basketball

Believe it or not this is his 12th year down there.

He's about 150-150, give or take, at Francis Marion. I've loosely followed his teams over the years. This is a pretty talented one.

As for the ladies ... didn't they obtain a No. 1 ranking back in ... guessing here ... 1998 or 1999 under Sandy Thomas? She had that one senior-loaded team that started like 18-0. The Woodall girl was on it and Melissa McGill was its big star underneath.

Tom's scoring margin is about +30 for the season. Incredible. That said he didn't take on a real daring schedule. That changes real soon.

IUP, Cal and Boro are going to be quite a ladies race ... and all three may be in the Top 10. The East is way behind the West on the women's side. The men's side seems the opposite.

Okay, yeah I think that was about the time that IUP WBB made the Elite Eight. That was a little before my time following the program. Yup, Sandy Thomas was the coach then.

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