Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Could it be a situation where Tom previously really liked recruiting the area locally, and the new staff simply doesn't? The late IUP baseball coach Jeff Ditch was the exact same way. His exact quote a top local recruit was, "You're really good, but I just don't recruit local players."

At this level, I generally think coaches believe there could be headaches involved with having a local player on the roster. Parents close by to get in the ear of the coach, player always under pressure to perform because they are local, etc.

Outside of Carlos Carter and Riley Stapleton (who eventually flipped from IUP hoops to JMU football), how many legitimate high end players have come out of the Heritage Conference or Indiana County over the last 8 years that would have legitimately helped IUP compete at the level they are trying to reach? The answer is probably none outside of those two. I recognize that's different on the girls side.

Correct. The Heritage doesn't provide players for Joe other than the occasional token walk-on. The ladies' side is much different. The PSAC as a whole recruits it heavily (aside from IUP).

[IUP24]

Regarding this, my first question as a transfer player considering IUP would be, “If I have an off night or two, can I expect to be benched for the remainder of the season other than a few minutes of garbage time?” I think the way Joe has handled certain situations likely has given him a reputation that’s not going to be looked at favorably by players or parents for that matter. We should recognize that kids like Ethan are few and far between these days in terms of their willingness to stick with a program from start to finish. If the trio of Brooks, Lambert, and Waldo are still here next season I will be shocked. I think it’s more likely that they’re all gone.

If I was recruiting against IUP, I’d ask a kid if he wants to get sucked into the “no fun zone” and possibly be benched for eternity the second he doesn’t play well. Then I’d cite the examples to prove my point.

I know many here are very, very close to the program. Some know people inside. But I can tell you on absolute authority that Alabama was attempting to put on the full court press to lure Ethan Porterfield out of Indiana last year. However, his health history ultimately backed them off from some of their "guarantees." I don't think that was ever really reported here.

What you are saying about the recruiting issue and Joe's management of his roster is what I've said on this message board for 3-5 years now. The chickens have just come home to roost now. You can't do what he's done in terms of roster management, benching guys, redshirting players as your "ace in the hole" for 2 years down the road, and missing on high school players and expect to just win indefinitely. It doesn't work like that.

I don't know how we go from Waldo being the next great SF at IUP in one breath to him being relegated to Siberia just minutes later. But that situation just seems to happen far too often with Lombardi anymore that it makes me think it's him, not the player.

[IUP24]

We'll never know. Much like Joe did with Carlos Carter (ignore), the women's program hasn't offered any of the local Heritage players in years.

Could it be a situation where Tom previously really liked recruiting the area locally, and the new staff simply doesn't? The late IUP baseball coach Jeff Ditch was the exact same way. His exact quote a top local recruit was, "You're really good, but I just don't recruit local players."

At this level, I generally think coaches believe there could be headaches involved with having a local player on the roster. Parents close by to get in the ear of the coach, player always under pressure to perform because they are local, etc.

Outside of Carlos Carter and Riley Stapleton (who eventually flipped from IUP hoops to JMU football), how many legitimate high end players have come out of the Heritage Conference or Indiana County over the last 8 years that would have legitimately helped IUP compete at the level they are trying to reach? The answer is probably none outside of those two. I recognize that's different on the girls side.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

And another Ethan.....

He's not going to find another Ethan in the portal. Most his size with his skill set are at some level of D1. If Ethan wasn't hurt last year he'd probably be there, too.

I kind of think Joe's going to go with more the small forward approach next year ... perhaps starting two SFs with three guards. You sacrifice a little size but have more speed.

Luckily, all his recruiting focus should be under the basket. He's pretty set at guard. I do think he'll bring in one shooting guard ... a Bryce-type to spread the floor.

They have enough back that he can recover pretty quickly. But, they will need some home runs under the bucket. The SF position - for a wide variety of reasons - just crushed them this year. It was a glaring weakness, which had a huge snowball effect.

[IUP1423]

And another Ethan.....

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Regarding this, my first question as a transfer player considering IUP would be, “If I have an off night or two, can I expect to be benched for the remainder of the season other than a few minutes of garbage time?” I think the way Joe has handled certain situations likely has given him a reputation that’s not going to be looked at favorably by players or parents for that matter. We should recognize that kids like Ethan are few and far between these days in terms of their willingness to stick with a program from start to finish. If the trio of Brooks, Lambert, and Waldo are still here next season I will be shocked. I think it’s more likely that they’re all gone.

If I was recruiting against IUP, I’d ask a kid if he wants to get sucked into the “no fun zone” and possibly be benched for eternity the second he doesn’t play well. Then I’d cite the examples to prove my point.

I'd hire security to follow Garvin around lol. So long as he stays they can build the whole roster for next year around him.

Dallis and Denzel returning from injury will be huge. That said, not all come back the same from the ACL. Cross your fingers.

I'd assume Stewart, Sarp and Romero-Sanz stay.


I'd be shocked if Damir, Waldo or Lambert stay.

He needs Day 1 impact bigs (transfers) to go with what should be a good guard group. Needs a long-range shooter, too.

[EyeoftheHawk]

The bad:

Gannon was built over a summer and has LEAPS AND BOUNDS more depth and talent than IUP.

Joe better wake his a$$ up on the recruiting trail. He's getting smoked.

Regarding this, my first question as a transfer player considering IUP would be, “If I have an off night or two, can I expect to be benched for the remainder of the season other than a few minutes of garbage time?” I think the way Joe has handled certain situations likely has given him a reputation that’s not going to be looked at favorably by players or parents for that matter. We should recognize that kids like Ethan are few and far between these days in terms of their willingness to stick with a program from start to finish. If the trio of Brooks, Lambert, and Waldo are still here next season I will be shocked. I think it’s more likely that they’re all gone.

If I was recruiting against IUP, I’d ask a kid if he wants to get sucked into the “no fun zone” and possibly be benched for eternity the second he doesn’t play well. Then I’d cite the examples to prove my point.

[IUPNation]

So IUP got the split against two ranked LIT AF teams.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Garvin and Ethan played incredible games. They just needed some help. Bryce vanishes against good teams. That's not a knock on him ... the stats are the stats. He lights up the peasants but has done nothing against the elite teams.

This team has many well-known limitations. To even be in that game based on the circumstances was impressive. Consider Joe's good teams would have beat this group by 25+ every day of the week.

They fit the profile of one of those bracket busters in the PSAC Tournament.

Here's the Que the Broken Record: Brooks played 3 (productive) minutes. That's all.

Funny to think when IUP had a shot for the win, Sarp and KJ were on the floor. They were players 9 and 10 in November.


Those are my nice comments.

The bad:

Gannon was built over a summer and has LEAPS AND BOUNDS more depth and talent than IUP.

Joe better wake his a$$ up on the recruiting trail. He's getting smoked.

Stewart ... They need so much more out of him. He's a Junior now. He needs to stop being a role player. Time to put up or shut up. Is he in the plans for next year? I'm not sure.

It's clearly a lost season but they are keeping it entertaining. The win was there today.

[IUPHawks24]

Great effort. No doubt. But, no moral victories. They could have won that game despite being out-manned about 12 to 4

They are getting closer. Nobody is going to want to draw them in Round 2 (if they get to Round 2).

I thought that was a tough call at the end. James created all the contact. Put the referee in a tricky spot for sure, but it wasn't terrible defense.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I thought IUP played about as well as they could really. They are heavily outgunned in that matchup. To claw back into it and make it a game down the stretch was pretty impressive because they could have easily packed it in. Too many giveaways, especially early, cost them. Of course, that’s how Gannon wins and they lead the country in forcing turnovers for a reason. That team has a great shot to win the Region. Despite all of the second guessing we’ll have about who played how much and who took the final shot, that was a hell of an effort today.

Great effort. No doubt. But, no moral victories. They could have won that game despite being out-manned about 12 to 4

They are getting closer. Nobody is going to want to draw them in Round 2 (if they get to Round 2).

[EyeoftheHawk]

As expected, dumpster fire in the KCAC.

Joe's getting humiliated. Again.

I thought IUP played about as well as they could really. They are heavily outgunned in that matchup. To claw back into it and make it a game down the stretch was pretty impressive because they could have easily packed it in. Too many giveaways, especially early, cost them. Of course, that’s how Gannon wins and they lead the country in forcing turnovers for a reason. That team has a great shot to win the Region. Despite all of the second guessing we’ll have about who played how much and who took the final shot, that was a hell of an effort today.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

As expected, dumpster fire in the KCAC.

Joe's getting humiliated. Again.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I always assume it's one of two situations: they either love the idea of being close to home or they want to GTFO there.

We'll never know. Much like Joe did with Carlos Carter (ignore), the women's program hasn't offered any of the local Heritage players in years.

[Fightingscot82]

Oddly IUP has let those girls leave town for years. Many are in the PSAC now at Seton Hill, etc.

No doubt that is the event of the year in town. Packed.

I always assume it's one of two situations: they either love the idea of being close to home or they want to GTFO there.