Iup basketball

[Cobra Hawks]

Romero -Sanz committed to Shippensburg

[Ship69]

I agree with this overall. Ethan isn't a 1 for 1 replacement. You can replace players in a committee approach, but I'm not really sure they have the committee that exists to even begin to take a bite out of those minutes, points, etc. That said, to your point, the guards will them games. The backcourt is good, and guys will be in the fold who weren't last year due to injury. But I'm not necessarily convinced things will be... better

I'm not asking for them to be a legitimate Regional Title contender. But given the year they had, I think simply getting back to the NCAA Tournament will be a success.

Given that there is no more Mercyhurt and that apparently Gannon and Cal are losing a ton of good players, I would think IUP's prospects in the West certainly look about as good as anyone else's.

[IUP24]

I know it’s only mid-May but I don’t like how things are shaping up. You can’t replace Ethan exactly but you also can’t go from Ethan to what amounts to unproven or inconsistent players at forward. With the guards they have they’ll win a lot of games but the lack of an inside presence won’t fly when they play someone that has good bigs, and the better teams will have them. I don’t expect we’ll see a completely different style of play next year but then again, what do I know? I’m just saying six months away from next season I’m a little nervous.

I agree with this overall. Ethan isn't a 1 for 1 replacement. You can replace players in a committee approach, but I'm not really sure they have the committee that exists to even begin to take a bite out of those minutes, points, etc. That said, to your point, the guards will them games. The backcourt is good, and guys will be in the fold who weren't last year due to injury. But I'm not necessarily convinced things will be... better

I'm not asking for them to be a legitimate Regional Title contender. But given the year they had, I think simply getting back to the NCAA Tournament will be a success.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I agree the Tomiwa ship sailed. That said, I HIGHLY doubt McNamara is really in the plans. He may play some (in a role similar to what Shawn Ulrich did).

I still think Joe is shopping for a starter. He'll play Damir but limited.

Triggs will start alongside whomever the next signee (transfer) is.

Just my two cents but I don't see any way possible Joe starts Brooks.

Remember, the thing we don't know is if either KJ or Petteno is staying to use their final year. I'd love to see Petteno stay (and actually be used correctly). If KJ stays, well, we know dang sure he'll be starting. Joe loves him some KJ.

I know it’s only mid-May but I don’t like how things are shaping up. You can’t replace Ethan exactly but you also can’t go from Ethan to what amounts to unproven or inconsistent players at forward. With the guards they have they’ll win a lot of games but the lack of an inside presence won’t fly when they play someone that has good bigs, and the better teams will have them. I don’t expect we’ll see a completely different style of play next year but then again, what do I know? I’m just saying six months away from next season I’m a little nervous.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Can't see Tomiwa coming back. Everyone seems to be forgetting the other forward in MacNamara.

I agree the Tomiwa ship sailed. That said, I HIGHLY doubt McNamara is really in the plans. He may play some (in a role similar to what Shawn Ulrich did).

I still think Joe is shopping for a starter. He'll play Damir but limited.

Triggs will start alongside whomever the next signee (transfer) is.

Just my two cents but I don't see any way possible Joe starts Brooks.

Remember, the thing we don't know is if either KJ or Petteno is staying to use their final year. I'd love to see Petteno stay (and actually be used correctly). If KJ stays, well, we know dang sure he'll be starting. Joe loves him some KJ.

[Cobra Hawks]

Biggest secret in town.

Perhaps there is a reason Romero-Sanz left on the day the portal closed.

Can't see Tomiwa coming back. Everyone seems to be forgetting the other forward in MacNamara.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

With Waldo, there’s a lot we don’t see that may have come into play. Maybe he didn’t put in the effort to gain size and strength last off season and it led to him not being competitive in the rough style of the PSAC. Or, maybe he tried and couldn’t and on top of that lost his shooting touch and a lot of confidence. It may just be he’s a D3 player and that’s the right place for him. The list of dominant high school players that didn’t make it at the next level is long because it’s such a different game with wide variations in competition.

Romero-Sanz may go down as one of the most talked about IUP players that never actually put on a uniform.

I’m pretty surprised to hear that Stewart hasn’t signed yet. He was inconsistent here, but overall a very good player in my opinion that could handle the ball well and was a streaky shooter.

In terms of overall signings for IUP, this won’t be a popular opinion but if the group that’s here now ends up being THE group, 2024-25 may look a lot like 2023-24. It’s great to have a stable full of good guards but you can’t win without good forwards and you certainly can’t make a playoff run without at least one dominant one. Add to that the loss of Ethan and everything he brought to the table and the IUP faithful should be a little bit nervous right now. Realistically, what impact forward is IUP going to sign at this point? I know there’s still time but…

Romero-Sanz didn't wait until Deadline Day to enter the Portal on his own accord. That's my guess, anyway. Something is brewing and Joe needed money and roster space.


I have a lot of sympathy for Romero-Sanz. He without question should have not only played last year but played a decent amount. What Joe did at the SF position was inexcusable and ruined their whole season.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I agree with all of that. But it gets back to my original thought/comment on Harris and the roster. You finished your post by saying "this next big to sign best be a dawg." Does Harris 'have that dawg in him' as they like to say? The injuries set off a chain reaction. I get that. I think with those guys, but also with an extremely weak front court, they are still at best a 20-21 win team next year. That's just my opinion, and I'll be happy to be wrong this time next year.

Would Harris be transformative enough of a signing to entirely change the conversation going into next year? That's the answer I'm asking for.

You have to remember how many close games IUP lost last year even with no Dillard and Kasabele -- and, playing 5 on 4

[IUP24]

You have to remember also this isn't 6 years ago. Transformative bigs ... all leave to play small D1.

Perhaps my wording was too hyperbolic in nature. But I think you get what I'm saying and where I'm coming from. My concern is the collection of characters they have will just not give them enough production in the front court. Perhaps Joe isn't expecting to get production - at all - from a scoring standpoint with the front court.

Again, I get that Ethan is not a one for one replacement. They just need something resembling somebody who can score in the front court in my opinion.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Is our guy graduating? Lol

Biggest secret in town.

Perhaps there is a reason Romero-Sanz left on the day the portal closed.

[IUP24]

You have to remember also this isn't 6 years ago. Transformative bigs ... all leave to play small D1.

Is our guy graduating? Lol

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I agree with all of that. But it gets back to my original thought/comment on Harris and the roster. You finished your post by saying "this next big to sign best be a dawg." Does Harris 'have that dawg in him' as they like to say? The injuries set off a chain reaction. I get that. I think with those guys, but also with an extremely weak front court, they are still at best a 20-21 win team next year. That's just my opinion, and I'll be happy to be wrong this time next year.

Would Harris be transformative enough of a signing to entirely change the conversation going into next year? That's the answer I'm asking for.

You have to remember also this isn't 6 years ago. Transformative bigs ... all leave to play small D1.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I agree with all of that. But it gets back to my original thought/comment on Harris and the roster. You finished your post by saying "this next big to sign best be a dawg." Does Harris 'have that dawg in him' as they like to say? The injuries set off a chain reaction. I get that. I think with those guys, but also with an extremely weak front court, they are still at best a 20-21 win team next year. That's just my opinion, and I'll be happy to be wrong this time next year.

Would Harris be transformative enough of a signing to entirely change the conversation going into next year? That's the answer I'm asking for.

Tell Joe to sign him and find out.

I like him.

My opinion also doesn't mean a thing.

[IUP24]

I don't look at just the record last year. Even with the mess at SF that team would have been tremendously better with Denzel Kasabele and Dallis Dillard. Dillard missed the final 22 games (ACL) and Kasabele missed the entire season (ACL in camp). Dillard is a star and Kasabele was going to play heavy minutes. When you think of the cause and effect those injuries caused ... Goodness. With those two Sarp never plays. Lambert never plays. KJ plays way, way less.

You can't replace that regardless of how many retired players you sign in December or any other coach speak bull crap.

They had a disaster at SF and knew it before the season. That's on Joe.

Jayson Harris, for example, is a totally different player than Ethan. He's much faster. Ethan's main (only) limitation was they had to play pretty slow with him. He also wasn't a great defender. Harris is a more traditional power forward (who smoked IUP several times). He can shoot a little from outside but can be a terror inside. He did tend to vanish at times. Joe is a much better coach than he had in Clarion and I think that would really elevate his game.

Triggs isn't anything like EP as a player. He's more old school small forward (not a 'stretch four'). He won't be popping many treys. But, he's a major improvement over last year.

I like Brooks but only as a spark off the bench. He's not a starter. I agree the incoming freshman big won't play next year.

So, I think it's abundantly clear he'll be signing another post player.

The million dollar question will be how Kasabele and Dillard look come October. Kasabele will be a year removed from injury. Dillard will be 10 months. If they come back full force, IUP can certainly be a tournament team. We'll see. Everybody comes back a little different from those ACL surgeries.

Joe had his disaster year. It was due. I think they bounce back quickly.

But, this next big to sign best be a dawg.

I agree with all of that. But it gets back to my original thought/comment on Harris and the roster. You finished your post by saying "this next big to sign best be a dawg." Does Harris 'have that dawg in him' as they like to say? The injuries set off a chain reaction. I get that. I think with those guys, but also with an extremely weak front court, they are still at best a 20-21 win team next year. That's just my opinion, and I'll be happy to be wrong this time next year.

Would Harris be transformative enough of a signing to entirely change the conversation going into next year? That's the answer I'm asking for.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think Harris was a good player (to be clear, I haven't looked up his PPG or other stats to do a deep dive) and played well against IUP and in other games I watched. We're talking about him bringing in another ready to play post player. If they send the car up to Clarion, how dynamic is he in the sense that he would be a transformative player to aid IUP in swinging their record from 17-13 to 24-6?

I'm coming from the sense that this is what their post looks like behind the faces on the roster:
1) Triggs is probably not going to provide them much in the way of scoring.
2) Brooks is extremely raw and athletic. But Joe has clear trust issues there and he isn't a great shooter.
3) Joe won't play a true freshman. If he does, he won't have a real tangible role. I will believe it only when I see it.

It's impossible to just replace Ethan body for body. You can't do that. But even with Harris, are you even coming close to replacing his minutes, scoring, production, etc., in a "by committee" approach?

I think the conversation needs to start entertaining discussions on the realistic expectations category for next year. A swing of 7 games, like I suggested, is sizeable. Going 21-9 and being a bubble team for the Tournament may be realistic. I am intrigued in hearing thoughts on that.

With this group right now, what are everybody's thoughts heading into next year regarding your own personal expectations - I recognize that's going to be different for all of us. Is simply making the tournament a success? Do they need to be win the PSAC West again? Do they need to contend for the Region? This is probably the most unique offseason in terms of this type of chatter that we've had in years. I personally don't think it's fair to put the expectation on being a legitimate Regional contender following the year they just had. I think they have the chance to be better, but by how much?

I don't look at just the record last year. Even with the mess at SF that team would have been tremendously better with Denzel Kasabele and Dallis Dillard. Dillard missed the final 22 games (ACL) and Kasabele missed the entire season (ACL in camp). Dillard is a star and Kasabele was going to play heavy minutes. When you think of the cause and effect those injuries caused ... Goodness. With those two Sarp never plays. Lambert never plays. KJ plays way, way less.

You can't replace that regardless of how many retired players you sign in December or any other coach speak bull crap.

They had a disaster at SF and knew it before the season. That's on Joe.

Jayson Harris, for example, is a totally different player than Ethan. He's much faster. Ethan's main (only) limitation was they had to play pretty slow with him. He also wasn't a great defender. Harris is a more traditional power forward (who smoked IUP several times). He can shoot a little from outside but can be a terror inside. He did tend to vanish at times. Joe is a much better coach than he had in Clarion and I think that would really elevate his game.

Triggs isn't anything like EP as a player. He's more old school small forward (not a 'stretch four'). He won't be popping many treys. But, he's a major improvement over last year.

I like Brooks but only as a spark off the bench. He's not a starter. I agree the incoming freshman big won't play next year.

So, I think it's abundantly clear he'll be signing another post player.

The million dollar question will be how Kasabele and Dillard look come October. Kasabele will be a year removed from injury. Dillard will be 10 months. If they come back full force, IUP can certainly be a tournament team. We'll see. Everybody comes back a little different from those ACL surgeries.

Joe had his disaster year. It was due. I think they bounce back quickly.

But, this next big to sign best be a dawg.