Iup basketball

[IUPalum]

The ending of a long era is rarely simple. We aren't at the 'end' yet, but, well, the train is heading for the station.

The odd item here, of course, is the program went from elite to Captain Smith hitting the iceberg -- and, did so very quickly. Some of it was due to terrible (and, I mean terrible) luck. Some of it was due to extremely illogical decisions. Combine the two, and, well, this is where we are.

Two years ago at this time Joe was on the verge of winning his fourth straight PSAC title. For several weeks that season, IUP was ranked No. 1 in the country -- an incredible accomplishment.

Now, 24 months later, he's running arguably the worst (and by far the youngest) team in the PSAC West. Granted, the difference between 2nd and 8th in this version of the West is usually which team hits a couple more foul shots. It's just not IUP down this season. The entire PSAC, with 2-3 exceptions, is pretty average. Some call it parity. Some say the whole league stinks. Gannon, for example, is the perceived top team in the PSAC right now -- and has been blown out in three non-conference losses.

Regardless, Joe hasn't helped himself much. Tomiwa left and was never replaced. He almost came back a year later, left Joe at the altar, then again wasn't replaced. The KJ charade was epic (and not in a good way). Damir Brooks didn't start last year but instead a converted 6'3" guard did. Dallis blew out his knee. Garvin Clarke left early to play professionally. Bautista Rodriguez was ruled ineligible due to a recruiting violation. Sarp is starting over Ian Herring. Denzel Kasabele was injured in his first camp and never played a second at IUP. Jordan Watson was a JUCO star PG who is so far down the IUP bench he might as well be in Section 113. Luke Triggs came in from Mercyhurst and is a gold card member at Joe Island Hotel & Resort (Siberia). Alphonso Pickens was hurt in camp, missed the first month and likely still isn't anywhere near 100 percent. Attendance has tanked. Joe's assistants, once a staple of the program, are all in the one-and-done program and/or the basketball version of witness protection.

A lot of players on a lot of current PSAC and CIAA teams wanted to play at IUP. This isn't hearsay. They were largely ignored. A couple of them just smoked Joe when Edinboro was in town. Two of them are at Virginia State having strong seasons.

The rest of the West got new (and younger) coaches. Younger coaches are doing better in the Portal World. They are hungrier. The days of "West Ball" being your best 6.5 vs their best 6.5 are long gone. Joe's routinely running in to teams with 10-man (or more) rotations. The West is no longer Wrestlemania. His last several teams have been (physically) toasted by late February due to his best players playing upward of 35 mpg.

One way or another, this season is almost (thankfully) over. Hopefully, the two-year run of misery goes with it. They have a chance to bounce back in a hurry. Joe has (7) strong players in the mix - already here - for next season. He still needs a couple more. The nice thing is he doesn't need to find 'stars' for 2025-26, but rather a couple effective role players to fill certain needs.

Providing those (7) are all back (I'd actually bet money on them returning), I think he'll add a bruiser forward and also a Bryce Radford-type guard.

Perhaps the logic was he didn't want mercenary rentals for a year (to maybe go 17-13 again), but rather wanted to gear up for one last push. That's the positive spin, anyway.

His three (true) freshmen are special. I think he'll have said trio for at least one more season. Adding Dallis and Bautista will make everything and everybody much better. Christian Moore will thrive with Dallis absorbing a lot of the heat he's receiving this season. Bautista will draw so much attention Tyler Grove will sit on an island to launch treys. Trust me, they are going to be a difficult team to play next November. The growing pains will be gone, and the current glaring weaknesses dramatically upgraded.

The question is ... does Joe have one last run in him? One last run when he's playing to win -- and none of the past two years' charades are anywhere near the program. We'll find out soon enough. If not, I'd guess retirement is nearing.

Great speech! The piece I always forget is the Garvin Clarke walk away.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I didn't say I'm not watching them. Just that I'm following from afar and not posting here. I've been frustrated with the decline of the program, and I think Joe has a lot to do with that. I'll leave it at that.

I don't disagree with a thing you said. But the problem is not all of those guys are going to return next year. It's just not the world anymore. I get the numbers, needing five of them back, etc. I totally agree with that sentiment. I just don't see it all working out that way is mostly where I'm at. Maybe I'm wrong and they do return the five that they need, and get Dallis back healthy, and get Rodriguez eligible, etc. I am just skeptical that all of that stuff works out. I'm less optimistic than you are.

Maybe "terrible" is a harsh word. Perhaps we also have different definitions of the word as well. But compared to where they were a short time ago, it isn't even comparable. That's probably where my barometer and evaluation is coming from when I say that.

The ending of a long era is rarely simple. We aren't at the 'end' yet, but, well, the train is heading for the station.

The odd item here, of course, is the program went from elite to Captain Smith hitting the iceberg -- and, did so very quickly. Some of it was due to terrible (and, I mean terrible) luck. Some of it was due to extremely illogical decisions. Combine the two, and, well, this is where we are.

Two years ago at this time Joe was on the verge of winning his fourth straight PSAC title. For several weeks that season, IUP was ranked No. 1 in the country -- an incredible accomplishment.

Now, 24 months later, he's running arguably the worst (and by far the youngest) team in the PSAC West. Granted, the difference between 2nd and 8th in this version of the West is usually which team hits a couple more foul shots. It's just not IUP down this season. The entire PSAC, with 2-3 exceptions, is pretty average. Some call it parity. Some say the whole league stinks. Gannon, for example, is the perceived top team in the PSAC right now -- and has been blown out in three non-conference losses.

Regardless, Joe hasn't helped himself much. Tomiwa left and was never replaced. He almost came back a year later, left Joe at the altar, then again wasn't replaced. The KJ charade was epic (and not in a good way). Damir Brooks didn't start last year but instead a converted 6'3" guard did. Dallis blew out his knee. Garvin Clarke left early to play professionally. Bautista Rodriguez was ruled ineligible due to a recruiting violation. Sarp is starting over Ian Herring. Denzel Kasabele was injured in his first camp and never played a second at IUP. Jordan Watson was a JUCO star PG who is so far down the IUP bench he might as well be in Section 113. Luke Triggs came in from Mercyhurst and is a gold card member at Joe Island Hotel & Resort (Siberia). Alphonso Pickens was hurt in camp, missed the first month and likely still isn't anywhere near 100 percent. Attendance has tanked. Joe's assistants, once a staple of the program, are all in the one-and-done program and/or the basketball version of witness protection.

A lot of players on a lot of current PSAC and CIAA teams wanted to play at IUP. This isn't hearsay. They were largely ignored. A couple of them just smoked Joe when Edinboro was in town. Two of them are at Virginia State having strong seasons.

The rest of the West got new (and younger) coaches. Younger coaches are doing better in the Portal World. They are hungrier. The days of "West Ball" being your best 6.5 vs their best 6.5 are long gone. Joe's routinely running in to teams with 10-man (or more) rotations. The West is no longer Wrestlemania. His last several teams have been (physically) toasted by late February due to his best players playing upward of 35 mpg.

One way or another, this season is almost (thankfully) over. Hopefully, the two-year run of misery goes with it. They have a chance to bounce back in a hurry. Joe has (7) strong players in the mix - already here - for next season. He still needs a couple more. The nice thing is he doesn't need to find 'stars' for 2025-26, but rather a couple effective role players to fill certain needs.

Providing those (7) are all back (I'd actually bet money on them returning), I think he'll add a bruiser forward and also a Bryce Radford-type guard.

Perhaps the logic was he didn't want mercenary rentals for a year (to maybe go 17-13 again), but rather wanted to gear up for one last push. That's the positive spin, anyway.

His three (true) freshmen are special. I think he'll have said trio for at least one more season. Adding Dallis and Bautista will make everything and everybody much better. Christian Moore will thrive with Dallis absorbing a lot of the heat he's receiving this season. Bautista will draw so much attention Tyler Grove will sit on an island to launch treys. Trust me, they are going to be a difficult team to play next November. The growing pains will be gone, and the current glaring weaknesses dramatically upgraded.

The question is ... does Joe have one last run in him? One last run when he's playing to win -- and none of the past two years' charades are anywhere near the program. We'll find out soon enough. If not, I'd guess retirement is nearing.

[IUP24]

This isn't a "terrible" basketball team. It's a very young team with many flaws. Terrible would imply they lose by 30 every night. They aren't a good team by any means. But, 'terrible' is a bit harsh. Having arguably their two best players in the Tracksuit Army all year certainly didn't help matters.

As for your comments:

You don't think adding Dallis Dillard and Bautista Rodriguez next year -- the exact two players they are so desperately missing -- will help?

It will help TREMENDOUSLY. Rodriguez is the best player in the program -- and, it isn't even close. A fully-healthy Dillard will give them so much they are so desperately missing this year at the third guard spot (on both ends). A healthy Dallis compared to Sarp? Good Lord. There's no relative comparison.

Joe is playing (8) guys this year. Of them, he needs (5) of them back next year. The other three are fringe. They may leave. He may cut them. We'll see. If they are here, they would be depth pieces. I suspect 2 of said 3 will not return.

These (3) freshmen are special. They'll be a year older. He'll get them all for at least one more season. No promises beyond next year.

Joe should be very good come November.

Last year and this year were so freaked up ... it's a thread in itself.



As you said, you aren't watching much. Adding Dallis to play with Merraro and Moore is gigantic. With no threat at Guard 3, teams this year are suffocating those two. Dallis cannot be ignored. He's also a shutdown defender. Rodriguez is going to remind many of Cobo -- just a more physical and aggressive version.


On Opening Night next year, Joe will start Merraro (PG), Moore (G), Dillard (G), Rodriguez (F) and Grove (F). That is an incredibly better lineup than he's played the past two years. He'll bring Damir and Herring off the bench. I suspect he'll add another guard (shooter) and forward via the portal.

No question Joe's had two awful years -- on the court and off. He's pi$$ed off the entire fanbase. But, there's light at the end of the tunnel.

I didn't say I'm not watching them. Just that I'm following from afar and not posting here. I've been frustrated with the decline of the program, and I think Joe has a lot to do with that. I'll leave it at that.

I don't disagree with a thing you said. But the problem is not all of those guys are going to return next year. It's just not the world anymore. I get the numbers, needing five of them back, etc. I totally agree with that sentiment. I just don't see it all working out that way is mostly where I'm at. Maybe I'm wrong and they do return the five that they need, and get Dallis back healthy, and get Rodriguez eligible, etc. I am just skeptical that all of that stuff works out. I'm less optimistic than you are.

Maybe "terrible" is a harsh word. Perhaps we also have different definitions of the word as well. But compared to where they were a short time ago, it isn't even comparable. That's probably where my barometer and evaluation is coming from when I say that.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I wish I could pinpoint where it all went wrong for IUP, and Joe specifically. This isn't just a team that is going through a dip. This is a terrible basketball team. The reality is that they weren't very good last year either, but they had Ethan Porterfield that bailed them out in many games. I have followed from afar this season and haven't really posted here, but I see nothing to think this team will be tangibly better next year if the same group returns.

I think everyone knew that at the completion of the 2023 season, there was going to be a drop off. They had nearly zero turnover for 5 years and the bill simply came due on that. The replacement parts to try to retool have nearly all been abject failures. I get there has been extenuating circumstances... Clarke leaving... Injuries to key players... Eligibility issues (which is the fault of the staff in my opinion)... But that's life in the business. Those things happen to everyone.

I'll point to two things over the last few years that have happened that I think have largely contributed to where they are at:

1) A number of the high school recruits that they brought in didn't work out. There's probably a combination of reasons as to why that has been the case. I think there has been some examples of Joe "missing" on guys. I also think there has been examples of misuse, poor development, and confidence problems which has resulted in guys, fairly or unfairly, being jettisoned to the bench or out of the program.

2) Joe failed to identify the change in recruiting related to realistically available players. Thinking about the players Joe was "linked" to and they "just missed" out on over the last few years. All big fish. And to be clear, there's NOTHING wrong with going after big fish. But Joe had to recognize that the likelihood of landing those guys given the dynamic change with the portal and immediate eligibility after transferring was slim and none. He never recognized that. And that blunder resulted in them getting the third-rate guys in the portal to round out their roster.

I know there is youth on this roster. I have read some of the optimism for some of the individual players. But the reality is that all of these guys won't be back, and nothing I've seen from Joe tells me that he is capable of filling the roster with better players in this new world of recruiting.

Right now, I think IUP is closer to the bottom of the league than the top of it. I don't know when they'll compete within the region again, but I doubt Joe Lombardi will be coaching them when they do.

This isn't a "terrible" basketball team. It's a very young team with many flaws. Terrible would imply they lose by 30 every night. They aren't a good team by any means. But, 'terrible' is a bit harsh. Having arguably their two best players in the Tracksuit Army all year certainly didn't help matters.

As for your comments:

You don't think adding Dallis Dillard and Bautista Rodriguez next year -- the exact two players they are so desperately missing -- will help?

It will help TREMENDOUSLY. Rodriguez is the best player in the program -- and, it isn't even close. A fully-healthy Dillard will give them so much they are so desperately missing this year at the third guard spot (on both ends). A healthy Dallis compared to Sarp? Good Lord. There's no relative comparison.

Joe is playing (8) guys this year. Of them, he needs (5) of them back next year. The other three are fringe. They may leave. He may cut them. We'll see. If they are here, they would be depth pieces. I suspect 2 of said 3 will not return.

These (3) freshmen are special. They'll be a year older. He'll get them all for at least one more season. No promises beyond next year.

Joe should be very good come November.

Last year and this year were so freaked up ... it's a thread in itself.



As you said, you aren't watching much. Adding Dallis to play with Merraro and Moore is gigantic. With no threat at Guard 3, teams this year are suffocating those two. Dallis cannot be ignored. He's also a shutdown defender. Rodriguez is going to remind many of Cobo -- just a more physical and aggressive version.


On Opening Night next year, Joe will start Merraro (PG), Moore (G), Dillard (G), Rodriguez (F) and Grove (F). That is an incredibly better lineup than he's played the past two years. He'll bring Damir and Herring off the bench. I suspect he'll add another guard (shooter) and forward via the portal.

No question Joe's had two awful years -- on the court and off. He's pi$$ed off the entire fanbase. But, there's light at the end of the tunnel.

[IUP24]

IUP goes 1-3 in these last 4 games and misses the PSAC's. Joe better then do a little house cleaning and clean up this mess he created. Getting Dallis and Bautista added to this bunch isn't enough.

They need upgrades from Sarp and Pickens.

How does Triggs fit, if at all.

Moore, Merraro, Dallis should be the starting guards.

Grove, Brooks, Bautista... two of those 3 should start at the forwards.

I wish I could pinpoint where it all went wrong for IUP, and Joe specifically. This isn't just a team that is going through a dip. This is a terrible basketball team. The reality is that they weren't very good last year either, but they had Ethan Porterfield that bailed them out in many games. I have followed from afar this season and haven't really posted here (mostly out of frustration), but I see nothing to think this team will be tangibly better next year if the same group returns.

I think everyone knew that at the completion of the 2023 season, there was going to be a drop off. They had nearly zero turnover for 5 years and the bill simply came due on that. The replacement parts to try to retool have nearly all been abject failures. I get there has been extenuating circumstances... Clarke leaving... Injuries to key players... Eligibility issues (which is the fault of the staff in my opinion)... But that's life in the business. Those things happen to everyone.

I'll point to two things over the last few years that have happened that I think have largely contributed to where they are at:

1) A number of the high school recruits that they brought in didn't work out. There's probably a combination of reasons as to why that has been the case. I think there has been some examples of Joe "missing" on guys. I also think there has been examples of misuse, poor development, and confidence problems which has resulted in guys, fairly or unfairly, being jettisoned to the bench or out of the program.

2) Joe failed to identify the change in recruiting related to realistically available players. Thinking about the players Joe was "linked" to and they "just missed" out on over the last few years. All big fish. And to be clear, there's NOTHING wrong with going after big fish. But Joe had to recognize that the likelihood of landing those guys given the dynamic change with the portal and immediate eligibility after transferring was slim and none. He never recognized that. And that blunder resulted in them getting the third-rate guys in the portal to round out their roster.

I know there is youth on this roster. I have read some of the optimism for some of the individual players. But the reality is that all of these guys won't be back, and nothing I've seen from Joe tells me that he is capable of filling the roster with better players in this new world of recruiting.

Right now, I think IUP is closer to the bottom of the league than the top of it. I don't know when they'll compete within the region again, but I doubt Joe Lombardi will be coaching them when they do.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Has Joe ever missed the PSAC tournament?

Likely. His first team was God awful.

[Fightingscot82]

Has Joe ever missed the PSAC tournament?

[IUPalum]

IUP goes 1-3 in these last 4 games and misses the PSAC's. Joe better then do a little house cleaning and clean up this mess he created. Getting Dallis and Bautista added to this bunch isn't enough.

They need upgrades from Sarp and Pickens.

How does Triggs fit, if at all.

Moore, Merraro, Dallis should be the starting guards.

Grove, Brooks, Bautista... two of those 3 should start at the forwards.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

For those (few) still following along ...


Vegas certainly wouldn't have the odds in favor of Redshirt Joe making the PSAC Tournament.

at Seton Hill
Slippery Rock
California
at Clarion

The killer, obviously, is IUP has lost (3) recent games by (5) points or less. That likely sealed its fate ... but, you never know. The path, however, is tough.

The trip to Greensburg will be a huge challenge. IUP beat the Griffins in Indiana (on a walk-off trey). That will be a whole different environment down there -- and, IUP doesn't play well on the road.

At minimum, this team needs to win Saturday. Don't be the team to snap the streak (SRU hasn't won in Indiana since 1991). Make no mistake, SRU walloped IUP in Morrow. But, we've seen this movie many times.

The last two are toss-ups. I like IUP's chances in both. Joe barely lost to Danny in the Angelo Dome, and Danny won't get all those calls in the KCAC. By the time they make the Friday night trip to Clarion, that game will either mean everything or nothing (for both).

It goes without saying Wednesday's trip to the Yellow Shoebox is a playoff game for IUP. Win that one and see what happens.

IUP has four chances left to finally put a full game together. They can't have these constant lapses if they want to beat any of these four remaining teams. In particular, IUP's 3-PT defense continues to be horrendous. It's killing them. Game. After. Game.

[tonyc]

Saturday's Edinboro-IUP game story: https://open.substack.com/pub/tonyco...meOnShare=true

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Men's game, IUP gave a good fight. Edinboro is right now just older, bigger, better and deeper. Easy equation. A Round 3 could be entertaining. But, IUP may not get invited. Lot of work to do.


Women's game was nuts. IUP's comeback was pretty epic. Great atmosphere and crowd.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Underground lines today:

IUP Women -2.5

IUP Men +9.5

[IUPbigINDIANS]

So many teams live and die by the three-pointer now. That's why it was so weird to see Ship beat a West Chester team that made 15 three-pointers on Wednesday. That happened partially because the Rams had a better shooting percentage from the three-point line than they did on two-point shots. Another strange stat in that game is that Ship has a higher shooting percentage from the field than for free throws, missing 13 FTs. Free throws have been an adventure for the Raiders all year. As for IUP and UPJ, defense seems to vary wildly in the league from game to game this year. Funny thing is that Ship had its best free-throw game of the year against UPJ, making 15 of 16, and — UPJ made 17 of 18. They just didn't miss the night they played Ship. They are a team you have to guard.

Joe wouldn't come out of this worthless press the other night. UPJ sliced and diced it.

I actually don't know why IUP just doesn't go to a basic zone the rest of the season. It's can't hurt. Joe's never had a team this bad defensively. That's usually the IUP bread and butter.

[Ship69]

We're going to see what kind of character this team has tomorrow.

They aren't playing well. Edinboro hammered them last month.

However, IUP does play pretty well at home.

Joe is 9-2 in the KCAC. He's 2-10 away from it. That is a wild split.

There's no secret formula to this Scots' team. They launch. All game. Edinboro has the second-most 3-PT attempts in the league (674 in 23 games). That's just under 30 attempts per. They also make a whole lot of them -- hitting 36.5% on the season.

Like just about every team this season, they lit up IUP from the outside -- hitting a whopping 13 of 24 (54.2%).

It's real clear the nights they aren't hitting from deep -- they generally lose. The stats are clear as day.

Now, the conundrum, of course, is IUP is perhaps the worst team in the league at defending the 3-PT shot.

In the first meeting, Edinboro was getting clean looks with no IUP defenders within 6' to 8' of them.

Adding to the spice, IUP's defense in Johnstown was perhaps its worst ever under Joe Lombardi. Tony said he could have scored in that game against IUP. I think he'd have went for 12 points and 10 boards.

"Home" IUP and 'Road" IUP are very, very different teams. Joe's clearly a home dog tomorrow. I do, however, suspect Round 2 to be much closer. IUP is due for a good game. It's been awhile.

No sugar coating it ... they pretty much got b!tch-slapped in McComb. Let's see if they have a little fight in them.

So many teams live and die by the three-pointer now. That's why it was so weird to see Ship beat a West Chester team that made 15 three-pointers on Wednesday. That happened partially because the Rams had a better shooting percentage from the three-point line than they did on two-point shots. Another strange stat in that game is that Ship has a higher shooting percentage from the field than for free throws, missing 13 FTs. Free throws have been an adventure for the Raiders all year. As for IUP and UPJ, defense seems to vary wildly in the league from game to game this year. Funny thing is that Ship had its best free-throw game of the year against UPJ, making 15 of 16, and — UPJ made 17 of 18. They just didn't miss the night they played Ship. They are a team you have to guard.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

We're going to see what kind of character this team has tomorrow.

They aren't playing well. Edinboro hammered them last month.

However, IUP does play pretty well at home.

Joe is 9-2 in the KCAC. He's 2-10 away from it. That is a wild split.

There's no secret formula to this Scots' team. They launch. All game. Edinboro has the second-most 3-PT attempts in the league (674 in 23 games). That's just under 30 attempts per. They also make a whole lot of them -- hitting 36.5% on the season.

Like just about every team this season, they lit up IUP from the outside -- hitting a whopping 13 of 24 (54.2%).

It's real clear the nights they aren't hitting from deep -- they generally lose. The stats are clear as day.

Now, the conundrum, of course, is IUP is perhaps the worst team in the league at defending the 3-PT shot.

In the first meeting, Edinboro was getting clean looks with no IUP defenders within 6' to 8' of them.

Adding to the spice, IUP's defense in Johnstown was perhaps its worst ever under Joe Lombardi. Tony said he could have scored in that game against IUP. I think he'd have went for 12 points and 10 boards.

"Home" IUP and 'Road" IUP are very, very different teams. Joe's clearly a home dog tomorrow. I do, however, suspect Round 2 to be much closer. IUP is due for a good game. It's been awhile.

No sugar coating it ... they pretty much got b!tch-slapped in McComb. Let's see if they have a little fight in them.