Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP has signed 6'11" PF/C Ama Sow from UT-Martin.

He is from Dakar but played high school basketball in the WPIAL (Montour).

This team got real big underneath in the past week.

Sow has an incredible backstory.

[EyeoftheHawk]

That looks promising. Not having an inside presence really hurt IUP the last couple years so I’m glad to see it’s being addressed. Before we get too excited though, he only saw action in six games last season at UT Martin and for few minutes. Of course, D2 might be just where he belongs and maybe he’ll make an immediate impact. Looks like he has some ball handling and outside shooting skills for a man his size. I’m optimistic.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That looks promising. Not having an inside presence really hurt IUP the last couple years so I’m glad to see it’s being addressed. Before we get too excited though, he only saw action in six games last season at UT Martin and for few minutes. Of course, D2 might be just where he belongs and maybe he’ll make an immediate impact. Looks like he has some ball handling and outside shooting skills for a man his size. I’m optimistic.

The low games played was due to him taking a redshirt. So, at least Joe can't redshirt him. LOL.

He could transition very nicely to the PSAC.

I saw him in high school several times. He can move for that size.

I'd agree on the roster makeup ... I think Joe was losing his mind the past two years not having a legit, big-body post player. He's got two big boys on the way and also has 6'9" Harry Keighley coming off redshirt. Keighley has good reviews but they really needed him to bulk up this off-season (like 30 pounds). We'll see.

Looking back at last season, I don't think we can fairly judge Bautista yet. Joe's offense is purely designed for 2 (at most 3) players to ever score the basketball. When you aren't one of those players, you become one of his 'garbagemen' and you're only real stats have to be self-created on put-backs, etc.

He's going to have quite a different role this upcoming season.

Now ... we just need a guard (or two) from the transfer portal. I do like the three Joe has returning (Kymani, Herring and Sfanos). Sfanos could have easily been in the rotation last season.

I'm not ruling out, by the way, that Christian Moore could come back. He did the faux Senior Day show last year and entered the Portal as a grad transfer. Needless to say Joe would welcome him back in a heartbeat.

I fully realize in this day and age high school recruits no longer excite anybody (myself included) ... but Joe has a loaded class signed (with hopefully one more 'big' one coming). Now, will any of them see their Junior seasons at IUP? That's unfortunately the major elephant in the college basketball room.

[IUPalum]

The low games played was due to him taking a redshirt. So, at least Joe can't redshirt him. LOL.

He could transition very nicely to the PSAC.

I saw him in high school several times. He can move for that size.

I'd agree on the roster makeup ... I think Joe was losing his mind the past two years not having a legit, big-body post player. He's got two big boys on the way and also has 6'9" Harry Keighley coming off redshirt. Keighley has good reviews but they really needed him to bulk up this off-season (like 30 pounds). We'll see.

Looking back at last season, I don't think we can fairly judge Bautista yet. Joe's offense is purely designed for 2 (at most 3) players to ever score the basketball. When you aren't one of those players, you become one of his 'garbagemen' and you're only real stats have to be self-created on put-backs, etc.

He's going to have quite a different role this upcoming season.

Now ... we just need a guard (or two) from the transfer portal. I do like the three Joe has returning (Kymani, Herring and Sfanos). Sfanos could have easily been in the rotation last season.

I'm not ruling out, by the way, that Christian Moore could come back. He did the faux Senior Day show last year and entered the Portal as a grad transfer. Needless to say Joe would welcome him back in a heartbeat.

I fully realize in this day and age high school recruits no longer excite anybody (myself included) ... but Joe has a loaded class signed (with hopefully one more 'big' one coming). Now, will any of them see their Junior seasons at IUP? That's unfortunately the major elephant in the college basketball room.

Christian coming back would be very similar (off court) to KJ coming back. Graduate then do grad school immediately at IUP. I'm not sure what offers Christian has but I'm sure would bring him back for one more.