Iup basketball

[Chuck Norris]

Re: Iup basketball

Anyone who's followed the Atlantic Regional for any length of time already knew this, but it's official on IUP's website. The game with Kutztown will be the nightcap on Saturday, tipping around 8:30 or 30 minutes after the Fairmont/Bowie game ends

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Getting back to the subject thread here ...


The biggest item in this Kutztown game is how Joe defends Ethan Ridgeway -- the Golden Bears' dynamic (ultra fast and elusive) 5'10" point guard.

In the first meeting (77-76 IUP win), Dante only played 16 minutes and sat almost the entire second half. Spain is best-suited to defend Ridgeway but I wonder if that's the plan? In simplified terms, the Kutztown offense is largely Ridgeway creating havoc driving to the hoop and then kicking it out or (if it's there) taking the shot/layup. His height keeps him very low to the ground and with his speed, he's very difficult and hard to guard. Spain did a very good job on him in the first game but that largely takes Dante (and his offense) off the floor.

That matchup, whomever covers Ridgeway, will determine who wins this game. Ridgeway would be an extremely difficult matchup for Dante. My 'coaching plan' would be Spain starts over Hutton in this case and keep Dante on the floor but Spain gets the defensive assignment.

[Penguins87]

Re: Iup basketball

I watched him from Game 1 of his career to the final one. I am not a fan. I am a writer. Been doing this a long time. He is the best I have seen. Not saying someone can't surpass him, but let's slow down a bit.

As far as another poster saying "careful what you wish for," if WLU and Ship play, the Toppers will be ready. It's not like they haven't played dominant big men before.

[ctrabs74]

Re: Iup basketball

My reference to defense was from yesterday's title game. My point of don't take my word for it, was Lincoln Memorial's coach saying in that story that he told his team before the game Bonifant was the best player he had ever seen at this level.

But since you mentioned it, anyone that was at that 103-102 game will attest the defense was incredible and guys made one tough shot after the next.

Bonifant would score in whatever league he played in. Which is why he is playing pro ball.

Bonifant weighs 220, by the way. And he bullied people in the post. So not sure what you watched.

I watched West Liberty from the Regional Quarterfinals all the way through the National Semifinals, so I'm certainly aware of Bonifant's incredible talents.

[IUP24]

My reference to defense was from yesterday's title game. My point of don't take my word for it, was Lincoln Memorial's coach saying in that story that he told his team before the game Bonifant was the best player he had ever seen at this level.

But since you mentioned it, anyone that was at that 103-102 game will attest the defense was incredible and guys made one tough shot after the next.

Bonifant would score in whatever league he played in. Which is why he is playing pro ball.

Bonifant weighs 220, by the way. And he bullied people in the post. So not sure what you watched.

Not sure what I watched? Apparently not the same skinny kid that you did..

Doesn't look like he gained any weight between college and pro ball...

http://www.hilltoppersports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2214

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/.../Summary/70755



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[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

Seger also had 14 combined points over two games and 66 minutes against IUP so maybe that's why we don't all drool over him and put him alongside LeBron James. Granted he was a sophomore and junior in those games but he was shutdown in both meetings. WL won the first one in double OT and IUP won the second one.

So it's not implausible that Sleva is at his level if not above it. Sleva will be highly sought after in the pro ranks. He really should be playing high-level D1 right now. You guys at WL are going to get to experience him soon enough. Be careful what you wish for ... Sleva on Gross won't be pretty.

[Penguins87]

Re: Iup basketball

My reference to defense was from yesterday's title game. My point of don't take my word for it, was Lincoln Memorial's coach saying in that story that he told his team before the game Bonifant was the best player he had ever seen at this level.

But since you mentioned it, anyone that was at that 103-102 game will attest the defense was incredible and guys made one tough shot after the next.

Bonifant would score in whatever league he played in. Which is why he is playing pro ball.

Bonifant weighs 220, by the way. And he bullied people in the post. So not sure what you watched.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

I was wondering that as the defense reference myself.

[ctrabs74]

Re: Iup basketball

The idea that defense is not played in the MEC is laughable. You obviously didn't watch yesterday's title game.

Also, don't take my word for it. Take the coach from Lincoln Memorial's.

http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/24/bo...iller-103-102/

I don't think a 103-102 shootout is the best example of basketball defense, but okay...

[IUP24]

Re: Iup basketball

The idea that defense is not played in the MEC is laughable. You obviously didn't watch yesterday's title game.

Also, don't take my word for it. Take the coach from Lincoln Memorial's.

http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/24/bo...iller-103-102/

You know what else is laughable? All of the jabroni's from down on the hilltop that run to the tool shed to grab the torches and pitchforks whenever there's a post on this board that doesn't suggest that Segar Bonifant was the next Magic Johnson. The kid was a great player, but he's not the second coming.

You know what's even funnier? You insinuating that I said that they don't play defense in the MEC, because that's not what I said. Saying "that's just not the M.O. down there" doesn't mean they don't play defense. They play a different type of game. As a big man for a PSAC school, Bonifant wouldn't have poured in over 2,000 points. That's not a knock on him or the MEC. I'm not saying one conference is superior to the other. The styles of play are just different. That's it. The style of play in the PSAC would have never allowed him the opportunity to score that much.

You know what the difference between Bonifant and Sleva is? Body type. Aside from that, exact same player. Bonifant was a lanky 6'7" that weighed 200lbs with a sweaty jersey. Sleva is 6'8" 230, is thick, and built. Both are tremendous athletes and have great speed. Both of those guys stretch the floor and can shoot over top of somebody. Sleva can go inside with his size, bang with the best of the big men in D2, can body up and play D underneath, and is a tremendous rebounder. His rare mixture of offensive skill, size, and athleticism isn't seen at this level. And again, I can't stress this enough. Segar Bonifant was a great player at West Liberty. Seeing both play, if I'm starting a team, I'm picking Sleva.

Both act like total jerk-offs on the court too, so there's another similarity.

[ctrabs74]

Re: Iup basketball

Mansfield isn't really d2 is it?

Yes, they are. They may have their struggles on the basketball court, but they've got a decent baseball team.

Also, worth noting, it's the same Mansfield who beat Duquesne in a preseason exhibition to start the season, so...

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Iup basketball

These two fan bases got along so well this year. Real strides.

Regional weekend has officially arrived now when this topic surfaces.

[Penguins87]

Re: Iup basketball

Here we go... Bonifant put up incredible offensive numbers in a wide open offensive conference where games are routinely played in the triple digits. I'm not knocking the conference for not playing defense, but that's just not the M.O. down there. Bonifant fit very well into the conference he played in and the scheme West Liberty played against the competition they faced.

Sleva is bigger than Bonifant, is twice the defender, can rebound better, and can make all of the same shots that Bonifant could. That's the reality. In the conference that he plays in, Sleva is forced to play underneath and get mauled by bangers in the paint on a nightly basis. At the same time, he's the guy bringing them up the floor, spotting up hitting 3's in transition, and running the offense. 1 on 1 with nobody else on the court, Sleva's game is better than Bonifant's. That's no disrespect, but Bonifant wouldn't last banging with Sleva underneath for a full 40 minutes while still trying to guard him on the three point line.

Sleva's game is tremendous. Absolutely tremendous.

And I'm sorry, how many national titles games he played in has nothing to do with player comparisons.



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The idea that defense is not played in the MEC is laughable. You obviously didn't watch yesterday's title game.

Also, don't take my word for it. Take the coach from Lincoln Memorial's.

http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/24/bo...iller-103-102/

[IUP24]

You must have a really short memory. Bonifant's credentials are unmatched.

More than 2,000 points. Multiple national, regional and conference player of the year awards. Conference Male Athlete of the Year twice. Played for a national title and in two Final Fours.

The display he put on in the national semifinals last year is the single most impressive performance I have seen.

Here we go... Bonifant put up incredible offensive numbers in a wide open offensive conference where games are routinely played in the triple digits. I'm not knocking the conference for not playing defense, but that's just not the M.O. down there. Bonifant fit very well into the conference he played in and the scheme West Liberty played against the competition they faced.

Sleva is bigger than Bonifant, is twice the defender, can rebound better, and can make all of the same shots that Bonifant could. That's the reality. In the conference that he plays in, Sleva is forced to play underneath and get mauled by bangers in the paint on a nightly basis. At the same time, he's the guy bringing them up the floor, spotting up hitting 3's in transition, and running the offense. 1 on 1 with nobody else on the court, Sleva's game is better than Bonifant's. That's no disrespect, but Bonifant wouldn't last banging with Sleva underneath for a full 40 minutes while still trying to guard him on the three point line.

Sleva's game is tremendous. Absolutely tremendous.

And I'm sorry, how many national titles games he played in has nothing to do with player comparisons.



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[Penguins87]

Re: Iup basketball

You must have a really short memory. Bonifant's credentials are unmatched.

More than 2,000 points. Multiple national, regional and conference player of the year awards. Conference Male Athlete of the Year twice. Played for a national title and in two Final Fours.

The display he put on in the national semifinals last year is the single most impressive performance I have seen.

On a different note, I can see why Sleva is a frustrating guy to play against. He's really good. No disrespect to Segar Bonifant or the West Liberty fans, but he's a better player than Bonifant was. There's no debate on that. He handles the ball like a guard, uses his size like a big man. Faster than Bonifant, bigger, more finesse moves, better power game, tremendous rebounder. There's really nothing you can do on him to limit his game at this level.

And he's a high energy guy that plays with a lot of emotion. That's evident. And those guys, when they aren't on your team and are torching you like he was today, they're giant pains in the asses to play against. It seemed like all of the extracurriculars really fueled him today. All of the post whistle scrums, the fact that he was public enemy number one in that building when he touched the ball. It motivated him. And boy, does it seem like he really embraces that role of the villain. He taunted the IUP crowd every trip back down the court. At times it seemed like he was more interested in wagging his tongue at the crowd after draining a 3 than he was at getting back on defense. Not everybody can play the role of the villain and create that identify for yourself and be the best player on the floor in multiple facets of the game. Tremendous player.

Ship will be a tough out next week.


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