Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's probably safe to assume we're through the 'outgoing' phase of the transfer season.

The three who left -- Stewart, Waldo and Lambert -- were all expected to leave (one way or another).


So, as of now, here is the '24-'25 roster:

Guard

Garvin Clarke
Denzel Kabasele
Dallis Dillard
Ian Herring (incoming)
Sarp Furtun
Anthony Watson

Forward

Damir Brooks
Gabriel Romero-Sanz
Callum MacNamara


Looking at the 'salary cap', it's safe to assume Clarke, Dillard and Herring are on full rides. Denzel may be, too, as there was a lot of competition to sign him last year. I'm assuming it took a full ride to get Herring, as he had offers from just about every program around. The rest are likely at some level of partial scholarship. So, Joe has a good bit of money available.

By my guess, he should have (at least) three full equivalencies available. If Josh Petteno does return (not confirmed) he would be a 4.0 gpa grad student and they can get him funds from other places. So, he'd be no hit to the scholarship piggy bank.


Here's where things get fun.

IF Joe can land McClurg, he obviously signs him without hesitation and he plays 38 mpg. That likely makes Sarp a redshirt (Watson redshirted this past season). That would give Joe (6) scholarship guards on the active roster. If Sarp agrees to it, of course. He could not want to sit and leave.

So, assuming he uses one 'ride' on the guard position, that leaves two available underneath. Obviously my choices are Jayson Harris (Clarion) and Saraj Ali (Mansfield). My opinion doesn't mean a thing, however.

There's still the elephant in the room down at Towson. Remember, Tomiwa can only come back as a grad student (meaning he has to graduate this Spring).


Joe has a pretty solid group right now. These next three signings will determine if IUP gets back to being IUP.

[Ship69]

Joe best cash in on the events of this week and get the ship back on track.

He got rid of (all this week):

* Fee
* Omajafo
* McClurg
* Manchel

Yeah, it certainly looks as if the path has gotten easier for IUP basketball in the West. The overall strength of the PSAC will take a hit for a while, though.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe best cash in on the events of this week and get the ship back on track.

He got rid of (all this week):

* Fee
* Omajafo
* McClurg
* Manchel

[Ship69]

The West this year had two top teams, and several clumped together decent teams. Then the couple on the bottom.

It was a fairly normal year -- it just had Gannon and Cal on top instead of the usual IUP and Mercyhurst.

It seemed kind of a blah year for the region as a whole, which was kind of confirmed when Gannon took a pounding in the Elite Eight (although it's possible they just had an off night). Gannon was able to make a miraculous turnaround with the new system and good recruiting, but there also wasn't the usual amount of resistance you'd expect in the West this year. I certainly didn't see anything in our region that resembled the Nova and Minnesota State teams I saw in the D2 final. The CIAA didn't seem up to its usual standard at all.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I seem to recall all year hearing about what a "down year" it was in the West.

The West this year had two top teams, and several clumped together decent teams. Then the couple on the bottom.

It was a fairly normal year -- it just had Gannon and Cal on top instead of the usual IUP and Mercyhurst.

[boatcapt]

Down year? The West won the Region again and was a missed Cal box-out from having an all-west Regional Final? Not sure that is a down year.

I seem to recall all year hearing about what a "down year" it was in the West.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Sooooo...2024-25 is a down year in the West from the down year just passed??

Down year? The West won the Region again and was a missed Cal box-out from having an all-west Regional Final? Not sure that is a down year.

[boatcapt]

Joe has an opportunity to quickly re-take the West -- but, he has to act quickly.

Current state:


Cal lost a lot to graduation -- and, now just lost its star (McClurg).

Gannon graduated some studs and now just lost its HC. Portal losses typically follow.

Mercyhurst lost just about its whole team to the Portal, and Gary can't seem to hang on to young players more than a year anymore.

SRU lost a lot to graduation.

Clarion, SH and Edinboro also lost some key guys via transfer.

UPJ is UPJ.

Sooooo...2024-25 is a down year in the West from the down year just passed??

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Two years of eligibility for McClurg and Harris is attractive to go along with their skillsets. That was one of the things that was attractive about Garvin too. It will be nice having him back next season.

Joe has an opportunity to quickly re-take the West -- but, he has to act quickly.

Current state:


Cal lost a lot to graduation -- and, now just lost its star (McClurg).

Gannon graduated some studs and now just lost its HC. Portal losses typically follow.

Mercyhurst lost just about its whole team to the Portal, and Gary can't seem to hang on to young players more than a year anymore.

SRU lost a lot to graduation.

Clarion, SH and Edinboro also lost some key guys via transfer.

UPJ is UPJ.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Joe never actually recruits any available transfers that many of us want him to, but, here's to hoping.

1) K.J. McClurg (SG / Cal) - Checks every Joe box on both ends of floor. Reigning West POY. Two years' eligibility. Prolific scorer and very strong defender. Intelligent player.

2) Jayson Harris (PF / Clarion) - Day 1 starter. Physical player 6'8", 220 lbs) who can score and defend. Fast. Prototype power forward. Two years' eligibility.

3) Saraj Ali (SF / Mansfield) - He would be the perfect wingman to go alongside Harris.

Two years of eligibility for McClurg and Harris is attractive to go along with their skillsets. That was one of the things that was attractive about Garvin too. It will be nice having him back next season.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe never actually recruits any available transfers that many of us want him to, but, here's to hoping.

1) K.J. McClurg (SG / Cal) - Checks every Joe box on both ends of floor. Reigning West POY. Two years' eligibility. Prolific scorer and very strong defender. Intelligent player.

2) Jayson Harris (PF / Clarion) - Day 1 starter. Physical player 6'8", 220 lbs) who can score and defend. Fast. Prototype power forward. Two years' eligibility.

3) Saraj Ali (SF / Mansfield) - He would be the perfect wingman to go alongside Harris.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There’s a reason they didn’t hire Danny the first time and while he’s had some nice seasons at Cal, he hasn’t put a single trophy in the case. I can’t imagine he’d be a strong candidate this time around if he were interested. Saying that, how attractive is the YSU job?

It's attractive to a D2 HC as it's the next step up the ladder.

Danny is 5-6 years older now.

Calhoun got the low-major checked off. Now he's at a legit mid-major. Next step is the bright lights ($$).

[EyeoftheHawk]

When Jerrod got the YSU job, Lombardi was their first choice. He turned the job down.

Guess who Calhoun ultimately beat out for the job?

Danny Sancomb.

I wonder if he'll try for it again.

There’s a reason they didn’t hire Danny the first time and while he’s had some nice seasons at Cal, he hasn’t put a single trophy in the case. I can’t imagine he’d be a strong candidate this time around if he were interested. Saying that, how attractive is the YSU job?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

When you see Jerrod Calhoun going from Youngstown State to Utah State, how much do you think Joe wishes he had kicked the tires (or had his tires kicked) for a DI head coaching gig?

When Jerrod got the YSU job, Lombardi was their first choice. He turned the job down.

Guess who Calhoun ultimately beat out for the job?

Danny Sancomb.

I wonder if he'll try for it again.

[hawks16]

When you see Jerrod Calhoun going from Youngstown State to Utah State, how much do you think Joe wishes he had kicked the tires (or had his tires kicked) for a DI head coaching gig?