Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

From Ethan Porterfield’s Instagram:

“Due to my health I am going to be stepping away from basketball. Thank you to everybody who helped me get where I am today. You guys mean more than you know.”

That’s too bad. It seemed like he was always having to deal with health issues. As great as he was, how good could he have been if it wasn’t for battling his health over the years? I hope it all gets figured out for him. He seems like a great kid.

Ethan bailed them out as a true freshman after Tommy Demo went down. They wouldn't have won the PSAC that year without him. He wasn't the star by any means but played his role very well.

His sophomore year was probably his best all-around season -- and his last healthy one. That season he hit the biggest shot in the history of the KCAC -- the corner trey to ice the Regional against California. That was also the loudest moment - by far - in the history of the building (perhaps in the history of IUP basketball). .

He was probably - at best - about 50% his junior season. At times he was probably 30%. He would routinely leave the court, go vomit in the restroom, and then come back out. He missed the entire camp that year and his first 'practice' was their first game. His effort was incredible.

Last year his health was better (ish) but the talent level around him wasn't anywhere close to what he had the first three years. Due to Joe's disaster at small forward, he was doubled every game -- sometimes tripled -- but still put up huge stats. It's not easy to play when the other team knows you have two scoring options.

Above it all, Ethan stayed at IUP all four years. He could have easily left after his sophomore season. He finished with incredible stats. I can only imagine what his numbers would have been had he been healthy those last two years.

Regardless, he's obviously a first-ballot IUP HOF inductee.

[EyeoftheHawk]

From Ethan Porterfield’s Instagram:

“Due to my health I am going to be stepping away from basketball. Thank you to everybody who helped me get where I am today. You guys mean more than you know.”

That’s too bad. It seemed like he was always having to deal with health issues. As great as he was, how good could he have been if it wasn’t for battling his health over the years? I hope it all gets figured out for him. He seems like a great kid.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Apparently in a small town the roster posting (which is mysteriously minus the teams' star player) isn't newsworthy.

Week later ... apparently this still isn't newsworthy in a small town.

Nothing from WCCS or the Gazette.

Come on.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

My concern, how good would he be at X's and O's?

I don't think it matters. In 18 years I've never seen a Joe assistant do anything with X's and O's.

That said, I think Chucky would be just fine. It's not like Joe's system has changed a lick.

[IUPalum]

Joe's no-brainer decision for an assistant (my opinion) is Chucky Humphries. Easy call.

He is a good guy. He cares about IUP and the program. He'd be a TREMENDOUS recruiter. He can even suit up for practice.

My concern, how good would he be at X's and O's?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe's no-brainer decision for an assistant (my opinion) is Chucky Humphries. Easy call.

He is a good guy. He cares about IUP and the program. He'd be a TREMENDOUS recruiter. He can even suit up for practice.

[IUPalum]

Noticed that as well.

Anyone with any information on that? Can’t be by accident.

Wonder where our Gannon friend is that defended Stevie P?

[IUPHawks24]

Missing the star player and missing the only assistant coach.

Noticed that as well.

Anyone with any information on that? Can’t be by accident.

[IUPalum]

Apparently in a small town the roster posting (which is mysteriously minus the teams' star player) isn't newsworthy.

Missing the star player and missing the only assistant coach.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Apparently in a small town the roster posting (which is mysteriously minus the teams' star player) isn't newsworthy.

[Ship69]

So, now ... turning to the elephant in the room.

Garvin Clarke isn't on the IUP roster -- and, he's not in the transfer portal.

So, where are you, Mr. Clarke?

Yeah, it is very weird for a player of that prominence to disappear from the roster and sight. It would almost as if Jake Biss hadn't returned for his final year at Ship a couple of years back.

[IUPalum]

So, now ... turning to the elephant in the room.

Garvin Clarke isn't on the IUP roster -- and, he's not in the transfer portal.

So, where are you, Mr. Clarke?

I second that.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

So, now ... turning to the elephant in the room.

Garvin Clarke isn't on the IUP roster -- and, he's not in the transfer portal.

So, where are you, Mr. Clarke?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The roster is posted. The big news, obviously, is Garvin Clarke isn't listed. The other big news, however, is Alfonso Pickens Jr. is now listed.


Guard

Dallis Dillard
Christian Moore
Denzel Kabasele
Alfonso Pickens Jr.
Kymani Merraro
Ian Herring
Anthony Watson
Sarp Furtun


Forward

Damir Brooks
Bautista Rodriguez
Tyler Grove
Luke Triggs
Callum MacNamara


Initial thoughts:

Garvin is obviously a major loss. But, Moore and Pickens will more than make up for him. Dallis returning and the long-awaited debut of Kabasele will give Joe a very deep guard pool.

I still suspect (reading between Joe's always-cryptic comments) that Ian Herring will play all over the place this year (G/F).


Rotation projections (my opinion)

Starting lineup:

PG - Pickens Jr.
G - Dillard
G - Moore
F - Rodriguez
F - Triggs

Bench

G - Kabasele
G - Watson
F - Brooks
G/F - Herring
F - MacNamara


Redshirts

Merraro ----------> pending emergency Joe isn't playing a true freshman PG
Grove -----------> some don't agree here and think he'll play
Sarp -------------> I know Joe likes him but he should have redshirted last year. His minutes would be very low this year. I suspect Joe stashes him rather than wasting a year.



Overall, I like this rotation much better than a year ago. After Dallis went down last year it was essentially a two-man team. This roster is tremendously deeper and more balanced. We'll see ... but, I think it looks pretty solid.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'd be willing to bet the court assembly is the reason why the IUP basketball teams practice at the Field House. It's unfortunate that they don't practice at the KCAC because it such a different back ground and would help their shooting to be there more often.

I can't tell you how many games I've seen in the KCAC - way too damn many. IUP shoots in to the horseshoe in the first half of every game. Their shooting percentage typically increases at least 20% in the second half at the other end (if not more). It's night and day.

I've also seen tons of visiting teams light it up on the video board end in the first half -- and then can't hit anything on the horseshoe end in the second half.

I don't have much of a life, but when I get to having no life I will actually pull those numbers. It would take some time but I 100% guarantee my theory.