Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe's 1-6 this year vs the 7 best teams on his schedule. That isn't an opinion.

Obviously season-ending injuries have really hurt them.

The entire town is questioning one in particular personel decision (not just those on this board).

[EyeoftheHawk]

That's called questioning the coach. Every fan does that. Just because his moves have been questioned, doesn't mean the fan base has turned on him. You are a complete jackass! Go jack up up some more player names.

I don’t even bother engaging with this moron. When I see a post from him I just scroll over it like it’s not there. It’s not worth trying to explain the nuance of a conversation to a knucklehead.

[WarriorVoice]

That's called questioning the coach. Every fan does that. Just because his moves have been questioned, doesn't mean the fan base has turned on him. You are a complete jackass! Go jack up up some more player names.

You wish you had my job!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP came out of the recent four-game stretch pretty good. The Crimson Hawks went 3-1 and were certainly in the California loss much longer than most anticipated. Take that technical away and who knows what may have happened.

IUP currently sits as a likely bubble team for the NCAA Tournament. But, that's a long way from now.

The next four games:

at Mercyhurst

Gannon

UPJ

at Edinboro


Don't overlook Wednesday night. Mercyhurst, I promise, will not look like they did at the KCAC last month. IUP has had (like most) many issues in the MAC over the years.

Gannon Part 2 will probably be similar to the first game (although I'd guess a little closer). IUP has nowhere near the depth to keep up -- at home, on the road or on the moon.

UPJ is in shambles but recall IUP barely escaped Johnstown. Rukavina knows everything Joe does. I don't expect this to be as close as the first one, but they'll put up a fight.

The trip to McComb should be interesting. Round 1 was a pretty entertaining game. IUP controlled it for the most part but things could be different up there.



They really need to come out of this next stretch at 3-1. Anything else and the NCAA dreams likely evaporate. The CIAA gets a guaranteed spot and there are too many other teams ahead of them. I will fully admit I'm shocked we're even loosely discussing this team being on the bubble into February given all the issues they've had to overcome.

[IUPalum]

You wish you had my job!!

No I don’t! I love my job and everything that comes with it. Your minimum wage announcer job isn’t worth **** to me!

[Cobra Hawks]

You've fallen into his trap. Trick is not to engage. It's the joy of being a fan to have a little moan now and again when losing and revel in the glory when winning.
Anyway, moving on. What's this about Tomiwa??

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The other thread got me thinking a bit.

The teams Joe has lost to this year have a combined 101-18 record -- all are either NCAA locks or highly in contention.

-

Opponent	Opponents' Record
Concord	14-4
St. Thomas Aquinas	17-3
Walsh	14-4
East Stroudsburg	19-2
Gannon	19-2
California	18-3

Of those, they shouldn't have lost the Concord game. They blew that one. The Walsh and California games they were in until the final minutes. ESU was the fisrt game after Dallis got hurt and Garvin Clarke didn't play. That scenario had trainwreck written all over it. They may have lost regardless but it would have been much more competitive. St. Thomas Aquinas and Gannon beat the hell out of them. As of now, IUP's best win came on the road against a pretty solid Lock Haven team.

Every year we hear people say those early games don't matter. LOL. They sure as heck do. Joe took three early losses -- that will almost asuredly come back to haunt this team on Selection Sunday.

Believe me, I have no delusions of grandeur with this years' team. It has way too many flaws and not enough able bodies. Well, it still might have enough able bodies, but they don't count if they never take off their warm-up jackets (and, that's a different discussion). It would have been much better with a healthy Dallis Dillard and Denzel Kabasele - the latter we never got to see as he was lost for the season in camp.

To make the NCAA field, I think they'll need to upset either Cal or Gannon (along with not having any slip-ups). Along with the two big ones, two very difficult road trips are looming. The first comes tomorrow at Mercyhurst. The second is in a couple weeks at Morrow Field House. Not only has IUP struggled at Morrow in the past, but after the beating IUP dropped on them two weeks ago, they will be seeking blood.

To be honest, it's quite amazing IUP is 14-6 right now. Joe barely lost to Cal without playing Brooks a second (mind-boggling) and Petteno missing the game. For the crowd who thinks we harp on the KJ issue too much, last week at Clarion, Joe finally played Brooks (for 11 minutes). His 11 minutes worth of stats crushed KJ's 29 minutes worth of stats. No math genius here, but, well, it's obvious to all but apparently one person. Clarion's offense was completely altered with Brooks in the game.

The big guy has to go Brooks/Petteno at the 4 the rest of the way. It's their only shot. He can still get KJ his minutes here and there, but to elevate this group from a good team to a, well, much better team, the move needs to be made.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great start. Lol.

Holy cow. Team looks dead.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP's defense is sooooo bad.

Planutis may go for 45

[IUPbigINDIANS]

KJ gone Larry Bird

[IUPbigINDIANS]

How in the world IUP is down just one at the half is literally amazing. Lol. Unreal.

[Cobra Hawks]

Amazed they brought it back to a 1 point game. KJ going for Bryce's record in the second half

[IUPalum]

Same play to Planutis... think IUP would adjust? The KJ fluke is over, Joe better figure this **** out.

[IUPalum]

Amazed they brought it back to a 1 point game. KJ going for Bryce's record in the second half

Just stop!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Same play to Planutis... think IUP would adjust? The KJ fluke is over, Joe better figure this **** out.

(4) treys by KJ and (1) by Sarp.

I doubt this is sustainable. But, it may need to be. Lol.