Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

A packed smaller venue will always be better than a half full large venue.

The KCAC seats 4,000. A few times a year, they'll get above 3,000 but generally it's a pretty consistent 1,500 to 1,750 average. For whatever reason, Slippery Rock is by far the best atmosphere and biggest crowd of the season.

Last year was the first time in about 20 years attendance declined. The team wasn't very good. Joe turned off a lot of people with his lineups. They also switched exclusively from Saturday night to Saturday afternoon.

That said, the KCAC and the Field House are just different animals. The Field House is old school. There's nothing to do there but sit and watch the game (imagine that). So, almost by default, the crowd is more in to it.

What happens far too often at the KCAC is people stand up in the giant concourses, drink beer, socialize and 'kind of' watch the games (from up there). They've paid to get in so they can do whatever they want, but it without question takes away from the 'crowd energy'.

To your point, the average IUP crowd only fills about 40 to 45% of the seats. Because it's largely all reserved seating (aside from the horseshoe and the student section) it leads to the fans in the building being too spread out. It can get really bad, quiet and spread out during the funeral season (the never-ending PA state school XMAS break).

Personally, I don't like the section assigned to the students. It's in the far corner across from the IUP bench. They are too removed, my opinion, to make much impact. I've thought for years they should be across from the visitors' bench (and then wrapped right in to the horseshoe).

Joe also -- for the most part -- has a much younger crowd than Tort does. The KCAC could do so much more with the in-game experience. They have the giant video board that rarely gets used other than putting Cunningham Meats ads on. The in-game music is horrendous. They don't turn the lights off during introductions. It's a shame to have a modern building and use it like it's 1985.

[Fightingscot82]

A packed smaller venue will always be better than a half full large venue.

[hawks16]

That was a fun game, that last night in the field house. I'm surprised, but maybe shouldn't be, that the field house (or KCAC or Indiana High) doesn't get more PIAA basketball action. The PIAA put its basketball championship games out to bid this year and unsurprisingly they're staying in Hershey. Most big western final hoops games get funneled to SRU which is mildly infuriating, not the least bit because the parking situation there is less than ideal.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I checked today, as I do yearly, to see if IUP would play a game at the Memorial Field House this season. No dice.

IUP, my opinion, should play one game a season there so long as the building is still standing. They were for a couple years -- not out of any nostalgic reasoning but due to concerts somehow being booked at the KCAC.

It's been (6) years now since the last game played across the street. If that was the last one, the place went out with a bang.

On Saturday night, Dec. 8, 2018, IUP hosted Shippensburg. The Crimson Hawks entered the game ranked No. 3 nationally. The Raiders were No. 11.

The Field House was jammed. It felt like 1998 again. Despite trailing, 45-40, at halftime, IUP stormed back and outscored Shippensburg, 48-32, in the second half. Dante Lombardi had the best game of his career.

Willem Brandwijk had a relatively quiet game but did have the 'moment' of the night -- a 'game over' break-away dunk with about 30 seconds remaining. The place went crazy. IUP won, 88-77.

Not all games played at the Field House had that type of atmosphere. But, on those types of nights, it was as loud as any building in D2.

I've said many times I've been to more IUP basketball games than I'd ever actually tell people. None of the games today compare to the Cal vs IUP games inside the Field House in the 90s and very early 00s.

Being honest, those teams would have lit up these current editions. But, that was a much different time in the transfer portal era. Many of IUP's stars from those years, in today's world, would have never ended up in D2. Consider the '99 team had, I believe, 8 or 9 D1 transfers.

Ironically, the greatest game I ever saw in that building was an overtime IUP loss to the Vulcans. But, when Gary Edwards got his revenge the following year -- and his starters were still chucking treys with IUP up nearly 30 points in the final minute -- I guess it made up for it.

Speaking of Edwards, I think it's time IUP puts him in the Hall of Fame. Yes, the ending of his era was bad. But, the official NCAA findings weren't all that terrible. Hell, the football program certainly wasn't a model of ethics in that time.

Edwards had an incredible run at IUP -- perhaps highlighted by winning a Regional with just 7 players dressed due to injuries. It's time to acknowledge it. He's been the scapegoat of that era long enough.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

They'll be fine at guard. Pickens is legit and very similar to Garvin. Kasabele and Dallis returning is big. Moore is also going to be a very good D2 player.

We'll see about underneath.

[IUP24]

Clarke has signed a professional contract with a team in Spain.

[IUP24]

and your support means what?

Nothing. As a fan, I would support them retiring his number. I think his career could be put into that category.

[Ship69]

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.

It is too bad he struggled with health issues for much of his career, and it's amazing what he did accomplish given all that. You always knew he was going to be a thorn in your side when your team had to play IUP. A worthy opponent and a guy who played hard on the court without a lot of showboating. I actually will kind of miss seeing him, although it'll certainly be a relief for Ship to not have to defend him. I hope for the best for his future.

[IUPalum]

I think given his contributions to the program, the winning they did with him at the forefront, and what he meant to the team for a long stretch... I would be fully supportive of his number being retired.

and your support means what?

[IUP24]

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.

I think given his contributions to the program, the winning they did with him at the forefront, and what he meant to the team for a long stretch... I would be fully supportive of his number being retired.

[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?