Iup basketball

[EyeoftheHawk]

As much as I hope otherwise, I just can’t find a realistic path to a win for IUP tonight. I know it’s tournament basketball and upsets happen so there’s always a chance, but I don’t see it with this matchup. For IUP to win it’s going to have to be similar to the game in Indiana where they hung around long enough that they ended up with a chance to win in the final minute. That game never felt close to me but the scoreboard said otherwise deep into the second half. I will say it’s very difficult to beat a team three times but the talent discrepancy from players 1-7 is significant. If IUP does fall, there will be a new PSAC champion for the first time in a long time.

[boatcapt]

It was. Mercyhurst (this year) is custom made for this version of IUP. Joe's team is still pretty tough in a half-court game.

Tomorrow, however, is a different animal. IUP has to survive the runs, and do everything possible to dictate the pace. Joe is at a major disadvantage with his short bench. So, they really need to be careful.

IUP just needs to relax. Nobody expects them to win up there. Teams playing with house money can be dangerous.

Tourney ball a team is as good as their last game. Even though Hurst was down this year they are still Hurst and I UP should be commended for their victory.

As the saying goes, you got to be in it to win it. IUP will have a punchers chance vs Gannon. Couple of your guys get hot and a couple of Gannon's have poor games and who knows. They may just pull an upset!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great game. Well played all.

It was. Mercyhurst (this year) is custom made for this version of IUP. Joe's team is still pretty tough in a half-court game.

Tomorrow, however, is a different animal. IUP has to survive the runs, and do everything possible to dictate the pace. Joe is at a major disadvantage with his short bench. So, they really need to be careful.

IUP just needs to relax. Nobody expects them to win up there. Teams playing with house money can be dangerous.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

This scenario has happened to IUP in the past. Back in 2001 IUP was swept by Cal and then went down there and hammered the Vulcans in the conference tournament.

It's not impossible. IUP is playing with house money. All the pressure is on the home team.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great game. Well played all.

Last night was fun and a great final game for many at the KCAC ... but, the celebration is over. They have to really dial in for tomorrow.

[IUPalum]

You watched the game? There weren't any puppies for you to kick or cookies to steal from girl scouts?

Coming from a fair weather fan!

[PennYork]

Best game of the year. Garvin could actually be a PG because others contributed. Offense looked good and defense wasn't bad even with the couple bad mismatches.

You watched the game? There weren't any puppies for you to kick or cookies to steal from girl scouts?

[Cobra Hawks]

Great game. Well played all.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Best game of the year. Garvin could actually be a PG because others contributed. Offense looked good and defense wasn't bad even with the couple bad mismatches.

I thought Stewart had his best game in a very long time. Petteno was solid. KJ also had maybe his best all-around game of his career. Bryce made some big shots and EP obviously stole the show.

They had Mercyhurst guessing the whole night.

[IUPalum]

Best game of the year. Garvin could actually be a PG because others contributed. Offense looked good and defense wasn't bad even with the couple bad mismatches.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great game for the guys tonight. I’m mostly happy for Ethan to leave the floor after playing a great game and with a win in his final game at the KCAC. Pretty good night for Radford too and even KJ had some moments in their last ever home game. This might have been the best all around team effort we’ve seen this year, or at least in the top three. Even if that’s as far as it goes, at least for one night it felt like what we’re used to in Indiana.

For a night anyway it felt like old times. Smallish but very energetic crowd.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great game for the guys tonight. I’m mostly happy for Ethan to leave the floor after playing a great game and with a win in his final game at the KCAC. Pretty good night for Radford too and even KJ had some moments in their last ever home game. This might have been the best all around team effort we’ve seen this year, or at least in the top three. Even if that’s as far as it goes, at least for one night it felt like what we’re used to in Indiana.

Best game this year. It was nice to see.

They smothered Mercyhurst. Ethan caught fire in the second half.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Great game for the guys tonight. I’m mostly happy for Ethan to leave the floor after playing a great game and with a win in his final game at the KCAC. Pretty good night for Radford too and even KJ had some moments in their last ever home game. This might have been the best all around team effort we’ve seen this year, or at least in the top three. Even if that’s as far as it goes, at least for one night it felt like what we’re used to in Indiana.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Some interesting comments by Joe and Ethan in the Gazette today.

Regardless, hopefully they at least get some humans in the building tonight. I have a feeling there will be plenty of good seats available. Put it that way.

I know a lot of people who are not going tonight (regulars) but are instead going Wednesday for the (likely) IUP vs Cal game (ladies).

I fall into this group, although I’m away for work until tomorrow night anyway so I couldn’t make the men’s game anyway.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Talked to one of the Mercyhurst football players (on Saturday at the WPIAL basketball championships) who was among the more boisterous fans when IUP made the trip up north last month. He said they were really giving it to No. 2.
"I've heard he's not very good." - me
"Yeah, he's awful." - him

KJ is certainly the weak link in this rotation. Joe's love fest with him is a whole different topic. Being other teams don't guard him most nights is about all that needs said.

But, he's far from the only problem.

Ask yourself this: On a 'standard' Joe Lombardi team, how many of these remaining healthy guys would actually play?

Ethan and Garvin would play. That's it. The rest would be either limited rotation/role guys off the bench or would be on Joe Island 'way' down the bench.

Remember Bryce was brought back to be a guard off the bench and maybe play 10-12 mpg. The day he arrived, Dallis went down that night. Denzel wouldn't have started this year (initially) but would have been the first guard off the bench.

Consider:

Waldo - lawn ornament
Brooks - don't get me started
KJ - really don't get me started
Bryce - boom or bust
Petteno - so-so
Stewart - vanished past 10 games
Sarp - had to play here and there ... totally lost past month
Lambert - Mayor of Joe Island
McNammara - out for season
Dallis - out for season
Denzel - out for season
Watson - out for season / redshirt
Romero-Sanz - Guess my weight at the carnival / redshirt


A normal Joe team probably beats this team by 20-25 every night of the week.