Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe's Postgame:

1) Alfonso Pickens should be ready for the South Carolina Beaufort game.
2) Dallis has his doctor appointment December 4/5 and could be cleared for games before Christmas.
3) Bautista has no end in sight with his "international eligibility" issues. (Joe's words)
4) No mention of Denzel or Watson today.

Assuming they add Pickens here shortly and then get Dallis back ... it will greatly reduce their lapses. I think they are just getting wore out in stretches and then get a little sloppy. It's also adding two veterans and will reduce some minutes elsewhere. Dallis has been in wars. He's not going to make freshmen mistakes.

Adding two starter-quality, big guards will be a huge boost.

They are playing pretty well right now for I'd say 65-ish percent of games.

That was the poster child worst officiating crew in the Atlantic Region today. Those guys are so old they can't keep up. Fite and Lombardi were both furious all day.

Ship was better than I was anticipating. They are much faster than a year ago and have a much bigger overall lineup.

It is hilarious to hear Fite call out every set and defense Joe runs. They know what's coming the whole game. Obviously they still have to stop it.

[IUPalum]

Joe's Postgame:

1) Alfonso Pickens should be ready for the South Carolina Beaufort game.
2) Dallis has his doctor appointment December 4/5 and could be cleared for games before Christmas.
3) Bautista has no end in sight with his "international eligibility" issues. (Joe's words)
4) No mention of Denzel or Watson today.

[Ship69]

This could get out of hand very quickly this afternoon. Ship does not look cohesive, and this looks like the bad version of Markus Frank.

EDIT: After 16-2, I sure didn't see a 33-33 halftime tie coming.

They're lucky to be in the game. They moved the ball so well yesterday, and today they just seem to want to heave up three-pointers that they're not hitting.

[jrshooter]

This could get out of hand very quickly this afternoon. Ship does not look cohesive, and this looks like the bad version of Markus Frank.

EDIT: After 16-2, I sure didn't see a 33-33 halftime tie coming.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yeah, I wasn't particularly surprised UPJ won at home, but I was surprised by the margin as I think Lock Haven will have a decent team this season. Guess we'll find out more today.

Should be an interesting meeting. Two young teams. Good one day and not the next.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think the Grove situation has a lot to do with what his basketball aspirations are. I'm pretty sure he had low D1 offers already and turned them down for IUP.

If they can get a few of these players back then they get some much needed depth. They go through some major lapses when Merrero is off the floor offensively even with how raw he is. Pickens would be a huge addition on both ends of the floor.

Bautista would add more depth and versatility inside. Every team knows Brooks can only score on dunks and lay ups.

Interesting thing with Grove he's grown 2" (legitimately) since Joe signed him. He's also not the typical D2 6'8" freshman - he's built and very athletic.

He's obviously a matchup nightmare for guards with his very strong outside shot.

I agree about Pickens. Recall he was signed to be the starting PG. We'll see how that plays out upon his return. He will be a massive piece to add back on both ends.


Dallis Dillard is also inching back as well as Denzel. Bautista could be cleared soon.

Joe could go from his current 7 healthy guys to a whole lot of depth.

The football player who joined the team was apparently injured in the final game of the season. He was on the bench yesterday but his leg is heavily wrapped and he's limping badly. So, we won't be seeing him anytime soon.


I'll say this ... this is Joe's most challenging team (for him). They are essentially all new, very young, etc. But, it's by far his fastest team in probably 10 years. It's also much more balanced than a typical Lombardi team.

I thought yesterday they played pretty good for about 26-27 out of 40 minutes. That number is increasing each game.

If they get Pickens, Denzel, Bautista and Dallis back here soon, this could be a pretty good team by mid-January.

[IUPalum]

I'm not sure he will be here more than one season. I hope.

It's unfortunate for IUP.


Rumor is Bautista Rodriguez is on par with Grove. If he gets cleared, Joe could be in business.

Denzel is also close to returning. No update on Dallis.

The radio show also mentioned Alphonso Pickens is recovering much faster than they thought and could also return soon.

I think the Grove situation has a lot to do with what his basketball aspirations are. I'm pretty sure he had low D1 offers already and turned them down for IUP.

If they can get a few of these players back then they get some much needed depth. They go through some major lapses when Merrero is off the floor offensively even with how raw he is. Pickens would be a huge addition on both ends of the floor.

Bautista would add more depth and versatility inside. Every team knows Brooks can only score on dunks and lay ups.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

First time seeing Grove in person. He does freshman things as you’d expect but wow, the ceiling is high for that kid. I’m not so sure he doesn’t belong in D1, although he may end up there anyway. Reminds me a bit of Bryce Butler but bigger.

I'm not sure he will be here more than one season. I hope.

It's unfortunate for IUP.


Rumor is Bautista Rodriguez is on par with Grove. If he gets cleared, Joe could be in business.

Denzel is also close to returning. No update on Dallis.

The radio show also mentioned Alphonso Pickens is recovering much faster than they thought and could also return soon.

[EyeoftheHawk]

First time seeing Grove in person. He does freshman things as you’d expect but wow, the ceiling is high for that kid. I’m not so sure he doesn’t belong in D1, although he may end up there anyway. Reminds me a bit of Bryce Butler but bigger.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yeah, I wasn't particularly surprised UPJ won at home, but I was surprised by the margin as I think Lock Haven will have a decent team this season. Guess we'll find out more today.

Well, UPJ followed it up by escaping Mansfield (a dreadful team this year).

I'd chalk last night up to one of those magic UPJ nights. They have 1-2 a year up there when that happens.

Lock Haven is scrappy. Decent size. They don't quit.

IUP went up 19 with 6 minutes to go and then it was down to 4. Joe learned today you can't call the dogs off with a team this young. That is what can happen.

[Ship69]

IUP's opponent tomorrow, Lock Haven, got walloped in Johnstown tonight (by 33).

It will be interesting how they come back tomorrow.

I've seen teams come back the next day all gangbusters, and others sulk. UPJ is famous for a couple games like tonight every year (when they shoot the lights out in that gym).

I suspect Joe will have a big crowd tomorrow. His teams are infamous for duds in the home opener. This should be interesting.

Yeah, I wasn't particularly surprised UPJ won at home, but I was surprised by the margin as I think Lock Haven will have a decent team this season. Guess we'll find out more today.

[Bart]

The route Ship would take here can obviously get real nasty.

I've been caught in some terrifying trips up in the Altoona area. That mountain can go from calm to all heck breaking loose real fast.

Reminds me of my commutes from Altoona to IUP over the Cresson Mtn. in the winter. White knuckled.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP's opponent tomorrow, Lock Haven, got walloped in Johnstown tonight (by 33).

It will be interesting how they come back tomorrow.

I've seen teams come back the next day all gangbusters, and others sulk. UPJ is famous for a couple games like tonight every year (when they shoot the lights out in that gym).

I suspect Joe will have a big crowd tomorrow. His teams are infamous for duds in the home opener. This should be interesting.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Indiana was definitely nasty today. And at my house 35 minutes away in Armstrong county, not a flake of snow on the ground. We got rain all day.

The route Ship would take here can obviously get real nasty.

I've been caught in some terrifying trips up in the Altoona area. That mountain can go from calm to all heck breaking loose real fast.

[Chuck Norris]

Due to poor weather in Indiana, the Ship vs IUP doubleheader has been moved to Sunday (1pm and 3pm). Tomorrow (LH) is still on.

Indiana was definitely nasty today. And at my house 35 minutes away in Armstrong county, not a flake of snow on the ground. We got rain all day.