Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Wow. He really wanted out of here I guess. Oh well, maybe he’s the missing piece they need to dethrone those mighty Catamounts of Vermont.

You have to wonder just how bad things were by season’s end with all these departures. Winning truly seems to have masked a lot of issues.

My personal opinion (with a hint of some inside info) is this was far from one of Joe's best 'teams'. I think certain players got real tired of a certain player having no leash. It got worse as the season went along, and, by February, it started to erupt a bit. Despite racking up so many wins, IUP didn't look anything like a dominant, 32-2-type team the last 6-7 weeks of the season.

Polce and Bethea were straight up benched. I personally don't think Tomiwa liked being Joe's 'garbage man' when he probably should have been one of the main features of the offense.

I will say this: Polce and Bethea took a long time to enter the portal. My hunch is they've seen some of the players Joe's had in here the past couple weeks and perhaps saw the writing on the wall.

Joe's going to have a fancy roster next year full of players who have had a lot of success at this level. Don't worry about the talent he's going to have. Question is can he blend it together fast enough -- and avoid the behind-the-scenes circus he had this year?

[Chuck Norris]

Tomiwa has committed to Bryant

Wow. He really wanted out of here I guess. Oh well, maybe he’s the missing piece they need to dethrone those mighty Catamounts of Vermont.

You have to wonder just how bad things were by season’s end with all these departures. Winning truly seems to have masked a lot of issues.

[IUPHawks24]

What? Just bc it’s D1 doesn’t mean it more competitive.

I mean, it is a more competitive schedule. They played multiple Power 5 teams, FAU and the America East is obviously stronger than the PSAC. They also beat Syracuse which IUP didn’t really come close to doing.

But it’s still a baffling move. Fan support isn’t the same level. Not a very big jump in level of play. Makes me think something was amiss last year. It’s not like the Nova SE player who is transferring to Memphis.

[IUPalum]

Bryant does have a more competitive schedule. Gym looks like your average PSAC venue.

What? Just bc it’s D1 doesn’t mean it more competitive.

[IUP1423]

Money talks....

[Bart]

Sad. Seems like a downgrade.

Their basketball facility looks like a crappy high school gym.

Bryant does have a more competitive schedule. Gym looks like your average PSAC venue.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Baffling decision. They get 900 a game.

Maybe he'll come back after next season.

[IUPNation]

Tomiwa has committed to Bryant

Sad. Seems like a downgrade.

Their basketball facility looks like a crappy high school gym.

[Columbuseer]

Tomiwa has committed to Bryant

Imho Iup would beat them.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Tomiwa has committed to Bryant

[IUP24]

Well I'm afraid I've got some bad news...

You’re a little late, pal.

[Fightingscot82]

I am intrigued by Bethea. I hope he gets a serious opportunity next year and has a real role. I think he has a lot of upside and can grow into a really nice player. I think it was dumb of Joe to have burned the year, but it doesn’t really matter at this stage of college sports anyways.

Well I'm afraid I've got some bad news...

[boatcapt]

Add to it that way less high school players are signing with D1 programs. I mean, dramatically less. D1's are taking the quick fix method (portal). So those spots are getting taken.

We then get better players here in the bush league ... for a duration.

So, yes, a minor league of sorts is forming.

Yep...DII coaches have been very reluctant to take steps that would decrease the value of their players to D1. Thought being I guess is if you don't want to be here, we don't want you. I understand the centament but the reality of the situation "on the ground" has changed. While there is not a lot a DII coach can do, there are SOME things they can do to poison the well so to speak. Like I said, stars going to transfer, but coaches can take steps to limit the transfer potential for non-star type players.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yeah...I think DII coaches need to rethink how they do redshirts. Kind of like the football equiv of special team players. Play the freshmen enough to burn a year and thereby eat a year that might entice a D1 then, if necessary, "redshirt" them their Soph or even Junior year.. Might be a different discussion bring an unproven guy with four years in as opposed to one with three (or perhaps two) years in.

Stars are going to go no matter how you structure their careers at your school, but the "second tier" careers can be manipulated. He11, D1's manipulate the college playing careers of their players all the time...time DII coaches learned to play by the new rules as well.

Either that, or the top tier DII's becomes a "minor league" or "farm team" for D1's. "We're just happy to have you here in Pawtucket banging homers until the "big club" calls for you!"

Add to it that way less high school players are signing with D1 programs. I mean, dramatically less. D1's are taking the quick fix method (portal). So those spots are getting taken.

We then get better players here in the bush league ... for a duration.

So, yes, a minor league of sorts is forming.

[boatcapt]

So true. Saving a year these days often means saving it so it can be used by some other coach at some other institution later. So may as well use 'em while you got 'em.

Yeah...I think DII coaches need to rethink how they do redshirts. Kind of like the football equiv of special team players. Play the freshmen enough to burn a year and thereby eat a year that might entice a D1 then, if necessary, "redshirt" them their Soph or even Junior year.. Might be a different discussion bring an unproven guy with four years in as opposed to one with three (or perhaps two) years in.

Stars are going to go no matter how you structure their careers at your school, but the "second tier" careers can be manipulated. He11, D1's manipulate the college playing careers of their players all the time...time DII coaches learned to play by the new rules as well.

Either that, or the top tier DII's becomes a "minor league" or "farm team" for D1's. "We're just happy to have you here in Pawtucket banging homers until the "big club" calls for you!"