Iup basketball

[IUPalum]

Thoughts:

1) Clarke is starting to settle into his roll. Great vision, great passer and attacks when he's suppose too.
2) Only way KJ's minutes get limited is if Waldo can stay out of foul trouble.
3) Petteno might have turned a corner second half yesterday offensively. I think previous, his shots were rushed and off balance. Second half he looked more like a SG.
4) Ethan looks off shooting right now from all areas. FTs, 3's and around the rim. Is he pressing knowing he's the man?
5) Dallis is THEE go to guard.
6) Either Brooks is in that doghouse or Joe has zero confidence in him. Which is it?
7) I think it's safe to say we can't talk Romero-Sanz unless an injury happens.
8) I won't get into all the rubbish of KJ's game but with 38 seconds left up 9, you let him have the lay up instead of fouling and giving him 2 with the clock stopped.

[Cobra Hawks]

Only issue with starting 5 is Waldo. Unless he improves over next 3 games then Damir should probably get a look in.

[IUPalum]

Only issue with starting 5 is Waldo. Unless he improves over next 3 games then Damir should probably get a look in.

Waldo has to get minutes for experience. He’s really good!

[Chuck Norris]

Only issue with starting 5 is Waldo. Unless he improves over next 3 games then Damir should probably get a look in.

If the rumor about Brooks is true, I wonder if the doghouse is padlocked shut or if he’ll be allowed out soon?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

If the rumor about Brooks is true, I wonder if the doghouse is padlocked shut or if he’ll be allowed out soon?

Now that the delusions of grandeur of a comical preseason ranking are long gone, we can have a better sense of reality moving forward.

The good news is most things simply looked better Saturday night. I'm not talking stats ... Friday looked like a chicken with no head running around. It may have been the ugliest game ever played by IUP in the KCAC -- and also the worst coached.

One thing is absoulutely clear: Brooks needs credit for time served. He can just simply do things on the court Waldo cannot and certainly KJ cannot. Hopefully Joe got his point across and they can move forward. Without him, IUP gave up a freaking whooping 24 offensive rebounds Saturday night. That's just embarrassing. It's a lack of physical play and aggressiveness (Brooks' strength). Waldo and KJ are just too soft under the basket. When we eventually get to see the actual plan (Waldo/Brooks manning the four), that position will look better. As of this instant, the four spot is a total trainwreck.

That said, the signs are there this eventually could become a pretty decent team ... perhaps a 'tough out' to play against. I still think the ceiling is in the 20-8 range. They could be pretty good by January. This playing 5 on 4 crap has to end, though.

Keep in mind, neither of those teams we saw were very good. I'd peg both around .500 types. Consider Joe shot an abysmal 17% and still almost won Friday night. That's amazing in itself.

Thursday night is going to be a whole different animal. Walsh is an NCAA-type team this year with good size and three elite guards. I think if Brooks is allowed to play, IUP will have a shot. The defense is pretty good and with Brooks it would be that much better (and they could get some freaking rebounds). If he's still in the dog house, well, it's not going to end well. Two games of film are out now. I wonder what any good team would look to exploit against IUP with Brooks sitting on the bench? Not too hard to figure out.

[IUP24]

If the rumor about Brooks is true, I wonder if the doghouse is padlocked shut or if he’ll be allowed out soon?

Normally it gets padlocked shut. Manny Yarde got into some hot water at an IUPatties party in 2015. He was a solid contributor off the bench that year. He never once saw the court in the Elite Eight after that.

[Ship69]

Now that the delusions of grandeur of a comical preseason ranking are long gone, we can have a better sense of reality moving forward.

The good news is most things simply looked better Saturday night. I'm not talking stats ... Friday looked like a chicken with no head running around. It may have been the ugliest game ever played by IUP in the KCAC -- and also the worst coached.

One thing is absoulutely clear: Brooks needs credit for time served. He can just simply do things on the court Waldo cannot and certainly KJ cannot. Hopefully Joe got his point across and they can move forward. Without him, IUP gave up a freaking whooping 24 offensive rebounds Saturday night. That's just embarrassing. It's a lack of physical play and aggressiveness (Brooks' strength). Waldo and KJ are just too soft under the basket. When we eventually get to see the actual plan (Waldo/Brooks manning the four), that position will look better. As of this instant, the four spot is a total trainwreck.

That said, the signs are there this eventually could become a pretty decent team ... perhaps a 'tough out' to play against. I still think the ceiling is in the 20-8 range. They could be pretty good by January. This playing 5 on 4 crap has to end, though.

Keep in mind, neither of those teams we saw were very good. I'd peg both around .500 types. Consider Joe shot an abysmal 17% and still almost won Friday night. That's amazing in itself.

Thursday night is going to be a whole different animal. Walsh is an NCAA-type team this year with good size and three elite guards. I think if Brooks is allowed to play, IUP will have a shot. The defense is pretty good and with Brooks it would be that much better (and they could get some freaking rebounds). If he's still in the dog house, well, it's not going to end well. Two games of film are out now. I wonder what any good team would look to exploit against IUP with Brooks sitting on the bench? Not too hard to figure out.

You've often pointed out that he has a short bench, and I think he's bucking the current trend in small college basketball these days. Teams see what's going on at places such as Nova Southeastern and West Liberty, and while they might not go as all-out as that I think you'll see more teams speeding up the tempo and using 9-10 players on a regular basis. Lombardi hasn't had to face much of that in the PSAC as nobody other than East Stroud has run press much in the league in recent years. Now Gannon is going the WL way and Chris Fite, a classic half-court coach for years, has decided to adjust to this year's personnel and play faster. If Gannon has much success, I think you'll see more of it in the PSAC.

IUP continues to play strong defense, and they were successful in slowing West Liberty down in the regionals last year, but they couldn't get enough done on the offensive. Even with good defense, you're probably going to have to score at least in the 70s to be competitive with a deep, offensive-oriented squad such as WL. Just off impressions from the Notre Dame-IUP game, I think IUP will go as far as Ethan Porterfield and their three-point shooting percentages take them.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

You've often pointed out that he has a short bench, and I think he's bucking the current trend in small college basketball these days. Teams see what's going on at places such as Nova Southeastern and West Liberty, and while they might not go as all-out as that I think you'll see more teams speeding up the tempo and using 9-10 players on a regular basis. Lombardi hasn't had to face much of that in the PSAC as nobody other than East Stroud has run press much in the league in recent years. Now Gannon is going the WL way and Chris Fite, a classic half-court coach for years, has decided to adjust to this year's personnel and play faster. If Gannon has much success, I think you'll see more of it in the PSAC.

IUP continues to play strong defense, and they were successful in slowing West Liberty down in the regionals last year, but they couldn't get enough done on the offensive. Even with good defense, you're probably going to have to score at least in the 70s to be competitive with a deep, offensive-oriented squad such as WL. Just off impressions from the Notre Dame-IUP game, I think IUP will go as far as Ethan Porterfield and their three-point shooting percentages take them.

It's by his design. Even when Joe has a legit bench, he doesn't use it. He's redshirting four players this year (including one big one they could have surely used this past weekend).

The key to this season -- right now -- is getting Brooks released from Joe's prison. He played 6 minutes combined in two games. Hopefully the point was received and all can move forward. Trust me when I say they are COMPETELY different with him on the floor. His two replacements got bounced around like ping pong balls for two nights. Brooks has a physical and explosive game. KJ and Waldo gave up so many boards that Brooks would have easily had. If he screwed up, then, yes, he had to pay the fine. Let's just pray it's not a death sentence.

It's going to be an interesting year in the KCAC. It will have some highs and lows.

[Ship69]

It's by his design. Even when Joe has a legit bench, he doesn't use it. He's redshirting four players this year (including one big one they could have surely used this past weekend).

The key to this season -- right now -- is getting Brooks released from Joe's prison. He played 6 minutes combined in two games. Hopefully the point was received and all can move forward. Trust me when I say they are COMPETELY different with him on the floor. His two replacements got bounced around like ping pong balls for two nights. Brooks has a physical and explosive game. KJ and Waldo gave up so many boards that Brooks would have easily had. If he screwed up, then, yes, he had to pay the fine. Let's just pray it's not a death sentence.

It's going to be an interesting year in the KCAC. It will have some highs and lows.

I just wonder if the short bench isn't going to hurt him if more teams start going 9-10 deep. Maybe, maybe not. Ship probably doesn't have the horses to take them down this year (Porterfield will be a matchup nightmare for us), but I'm not sure that will be the case with some of the others. I'll watch their games with Gannon with interest. They probably do need more action out of someone such as Brooks as you suggest. The way they're presently constituted, I think they'd better pray Porterfield stays healthy.

[IUP24]

I just wonder if the short bench isn't going to hurt him if more teams start going 9-10 deep. Maybe, maybe not. Ship probably doesn't have the horses to take them down this year (Porterfield will be a matchup nightmare for us), but I'm not sure that will be the case with some of the others. I'll watch their games with Gannon with interest. They probably do need more action out of someone such as Brooks as you suggest. The way they're presently constituted, I think they'd better pray Porterfield stays healthy.

Joe's bench philosophy has always been structured as such, in my opinion, to never face a true "down" year. it's worked well, mostly. You can't argue with the results. In a vacuum, there's specific games and some stretches where it hurts the team on the court, and then in the W/L column. The idea is he brings in 3-4 guys with the intention of 1-2 of them getting redshirted. If he has a veteran team already, he looks at the guys he redshirts as recruits for the next year. He shortens the bench to spread his talent out over the coming seasons. That approach to having an ace in the hole was able to exist previously, but it can't anymore. Not when these guys will transfer at the first opportunity when they don't like something they are served in the dining hall.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe's going to have his older crowd all fired up about this 8 p.m. tip-off on Thursday.

It is a bit odd. I don't ever recall an 8 p.m. tip.

[Ship69]

Joe's going to have his older crowd all fired up about this 8 p.m. tip-off on Thursday.

It is a bit odd. I don't ever recall an 8 p.m. tip.

I don't know if that's as weird as the 5 p.m. tip scheduled when IUP visits Ship on Dec. 1. It's pretty unusual to schedule a game that's basically right over the dinner hour. I'm wondering if they did it that way to enable IUP to hop on the bus early for their Dec. 2 game at Lock Haven.

[Ship69]

Joe's bench philosophy has always been structured as such, in my opinion, to never face a true "down" year. it's worked well, mostly. You can't argue with the results. In a vacuum, there's specific games and some stretches where it hurts the team on the court, and then in the W/L column. The idea is he brings in 3-4 guys with the intention of 1-2 of them getting redshirted. If he has a veteran team already, he looks at the guys he redshirts as recruits for the next year. He shortens the bench to spread his talent out over the coming seasons. That approach to having an ace in the hole was able to exist previously, but it can't anymore. Not when these guys will transfer at the first opportunity when they don't like something they are served in the dining hall.

The last few years have been unusual. At Ship guys such as Ty Crespo who lost a year to Covid are just starting to get some playing time. The Covid year and Ship's unbalanced roster last season combined to hold back development for several players. With the roster stacked up, Chris Fite has redshirted all his freshmen this season for the first time I can recall (one was a medical redshirt). Between Covid and the transfers it's been hard to stay with a consistent recruiting philosophy at most places. The next season or two will finally clear out the backlog of Covid-affected players.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Tonight is a rare Thursday night game at the KCAC -- and an even more rare late tip-off.

Looking at Walsh, it has a lot of playmakers and good size. Position for position, this will likely be the biggest (size-wise) starting lineup IUP faces aside from Slippery Rock.

Guard Kobe Mitchell has been a huge import. Ironically, he was teammates with IUP PG Garvin Clarke last year at Akron.

Mitchell hit a whopping (9) treys in Walsh's exhibition win against Oakland, and hit (5) more in an opening victory against Grand Valley State.

Garrison Keeslar will also cause match-up problems. At 6'7", he rotates between G and F (and will play all three guard positions). He is also a very strong, aggressive defensive player.

Another G/F, Milan Square (6'5"), had a good game against IUP a year ago (a 14-point IUP win in Ohio). Walsh had two starters out that day and IUP led by as many as 30 at one point in the second half.

Two other starters, Aiden Satterfield (6'8") and Zack Oddo (6'6") are also productive offensive players.

The Cavaliers supplement these players with some big, physical forwards off the bench.


IUP will counter with a rotation of big, athletic guards. The million dollar question tonight is how will IUP match-up under the basket (and also how will IUP's SF's handle chasing around Walsh's inside/outside post players)? Ethan Porterfield will cause them a lot of issues, but again the SF spot is THE major concern for IUP tonight.

It's real simple: Damir Brooks needs to play -- and play a lot. After watching two games, it's my opinion KJ and Waldo will get eaten alive tonight. Brooks' stay in Joe's doghouse is hopefully over and let's pray they can get a productive 22 minutes out of him tonight. Because of his issue, we haven't seen IUP at full strength yet this year. What we have seen out of that 4 position has been, to be polite, horrendous (on both ends). I do expect another step for Waldo. The jitters should be gone now. But, you can't be productive in foul trouble. He needs to be much better tonight.

I fully suspect a crowd upward of 2,800 tonight. It should be a great atmosphere.

[IUP24]

My position here is that tonight probably tells us how the season is going to go. Is this a bad team? Can this be an NCAA type team? Or maybe this is just an average team that will look good on some nights and during some stretches, but is mostly a roller coaster. I think things will be clearer tonight.

If he still keeps Brooks in his doghouse, knowing what I know about Joe and how he operates, I think he will be made the example and be riding the pine most of the year and at some point either leave the team or enter the portal at season's end. If he lets Brooks play, and the team looks how it's supposed to look (with the questionable redshirt situation in place), and wins, maybe they have a chance to be good. If he keeps Brooks out and they lose, and maybe lose convincingly, it could really be a long year.

I think IUP has to win this game to have a 'solid' chance to make the tournament. I don't see them beating St. Thomas Aquinas. And I'm not convinced they don't take a loss to ESU and/or somebody else in December. By all accounts, this Walsh team is really good and will be playing in March. This is a good opportunity for IUP to show us who they are. Or who they are not.

I think for this being the 3rd game of the year, the stakes honestly couldn't be higher. This is an important game tonight.