Spoke too soon.
Sulaiman portaling.
Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS
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It's now been (9) days since the season ended.
The good news is neither Ethan Porterfield or Tomiwa Sulaiman is in the portal.
Typically, if stars survive the first week after the last game, they aren't leaving. Everybody close to the program I've talked to seems to think both are staying in Indiana.
So, with the two building blocks in place for '23'-'24, what comes next?
Obviously, Dallis Dillard and Jaylen Stewart will elevate to much larger roles at the guard position.
If there are two transfer concerns at this point, I'd think they would be Kyle Polce and Jaheim Bethea. Both played somewhat frequently in NOV-DEC but both transitioned to Joe's version of Siberia in JAN-FEB. Polce should have played much more. Bethea was tossed in as a true freshman early, but, as Joe does with almost all his true freshmen ... well, he keeps the diapers on them. So, it's hard to say what they have in Bethea. Playing essentially 0 mpg in JAN-FEB didn't help his development much. He also played in too many games to classify as a redshirt.
Looking ahead:
The post is set for next season. Porterfield and Sulaiman will headline, with Damir Brooks and Dolan Waldo also in the mix. Waldo redshirted this past season. Many think he will be Joe's next floor-spreading small forward. He has a very nice outside shot and can also run the floor very well. He's got the ideal 6'7" height, but this offseason he needs to put on about 10-15 pounds. Brooks had a solid redshirt freshman year in his limited role. A big off-season in the weight room could turn him into a real force next season. KJ Rhodes will likely still be on the roster but with those four healthy it's hard to imagine him being in the post player rotation.
The guards are a little more complicated. I'd assume Stewart will move to his more-natural shooting guard position. Dallis will become the starter at the 2 guard. If Polce stays, I'd think he becomes the 6th man-ish. Bethea would be in the running for the PG spot (likely the backup as a sophomore).
David, Shawndale, Diop and Cordon are gone.
Recruiting-wise this off-season, I suspect Joe will target:
* A (ready to start, transfer) true point guard. It was clear he didn't like the committee approach this past year. The obvious wish list No. 1 here would be former Mercyhurst PG Michael Bradley. He checks every box on both ends, is experienced and knows the league. He's a one-year grad transfer (which Joe typically doesn't target) but he'd be too good to pass if they could get him.
* A jack-of-all-trades transfer guard. Samuel Tabe from Seton Hill is the definition of that phrase. He's a legit 6'5", athletic and strong as an ox. He can bang the glass, too. However, since entering the portal, he's received interest from 15+ D1 mid-majors. So, he's likely a longshot. But, I think he's the prototype for this second transfer guard Joe needs to target.
* A high school guard to redshirt and develop.
* The post players are set but I'd still love to see Joe sign a true muscle 'big' for the bench. I'm not talking a Diop type but more a Gary Edwards-era type ... the 'goon' per se who could give you 5-6 minutes a game, draw and give fouls, etc. This player won't help you at all in March but is needed at times during the West gauntlet.
If Joe has portal success with the two much-needed guards, I think IUP will stay in contention to win the PSAC next year. Looking (way too early) at the West, California is going to be stacked -- and hungry. Mercyhurst and UPJ were both decimated. Gannon took major losses and now enters a rebuild within a rebuild. Seton Hill lost (3) key players to the portal. SRU just lost its best players in Britt (graduation) and Gates (portal). Edinboro has been struggling for years.
So, with the right additions, I think Joe can keep the train on track. The PG import is the key. Many things contributed to the offensive train-wreck this past team became in the second half, but I think that lack of a consistent PG was a major factor. Hopefully this addition will solidify the offense and get it back to normal -- and not glorified street ball.
The good news is neither Ethan Porterfield or Tomiwa Sulaiman is in the portal.
Typically, if stars survive the first week after the last game, they aren't leaving. Everybody close to the program I've talked to seems to think both are staying in Indiana.
So, with the two building blocks in place for '23'-'24, what comes next?
Obviously, Dallis Dillard and Jaylen Stewart will elevate to much larger roles at the guard position.
If there are two transfer concerns at this point, I'd think they would be Kyle Polce and Jaheim Bethea. Both played somewhat frequently in NOV-DEC but both transitioned to Joe's version of Siberia in JAN-FEB. Polce should have played much more. Bethea was tossed in as a true freshman early, but, as Joe does with almost all his true freshmen ... well, he keeps the diapers on them. So, it's hard to say what they have in Bethea. Playing essentially 0 mpg in JAN-FEB didn't help his development much. He also played in too many games to classify as a redshirt.
Looking ahead:
The post is set for next season. Porterfield and Sulaiman will headline, with Damir Brooks and Dolan Waldo also in the mix. Waldo redshirted this past season. Many think he will be Joe's next floor-spreading small forward. He has a very nice outside shot and can also run the floor very well. He's got the ideal 6'7" height, but this offseason he needs to put on about 10-15 pounds. Brooks had a solid redshirt freshman year in his limited role. A big off-season in the weight room could turn him into a real force next season. KJ Rhodes will likely still be on the roster but with those four healthy it's hard to imagine him being in the post player rotation.
The guards are a little more complicated. I'd assume Stewart will move to his more-natural shooting guard position. Dallis will become the starter at the 2 guard. If Polce stays, I'd think he becomes the 6th man-ish. Bethea would be in the running for the PG spot (likely the backup as a sophomore).
David, Shawndale, Diop and Cordon are gone.
Recruiting-wise this off-season, I suspect Joe will target:
* A (ready to start, transfer) true point guard. It was clear he didn't like the committee approach this past year. The obvious wish list No. 1 here would be former Mercyhurst PG Michael Bradley. He checks every box on both ends, is experienced and knows the league. He's a one-year grad transfer (which Joe typically doesn't target) but he'd be too good to pass if they could get him.
* A jack-of-all-trades transfer guard. Samuel Tabe from Seton Hill is the definition of that phrase. He's a legit 6'5", athletic and strong as an ox. He can bang the glass, too. However, since entering the portal, he's received interest from 15+ D1 mid-majors. So, he's likely a longshot. But, I think he's the prototype for this second transfer guard Joe needs to target.
* A high school guard to redshirt and develop.
* The post players are set but I'd still love to see Joe sign a true muscle 'big' for the bench. I'm not talking a Diop type but more a Gary Edwards-era type ... the 'goon' per se who could give you 5-6 minutes a game, draw and give fouls, etc. This player won't help you at all in March but is needed at times during the West gauntlet.
If Joe has portal success with the two much-needed guards, I think IUP will stay in contention to win the PSAC next year. Looking (way too early) at the West, California is going to be stacked -- and hungry. Mercyhurst and UPJ were both decimated. Gannon took major losses and now enters a rebuild within a rebuild. Seton Hill lost (3) key players to the portal. SRU just lost its best players in Britt (graduation) and Gates (portal). Edinboro has been struggling for years.
So, with the right additions, I think Joe can keep the train on track. The PG import is the key. Many things contributed to the offensive train-wreck this past team became in the second half, but I think that lack of a consistent PG was a major factor. Hopefully this addition will solidify the offense and get it back to normal -- and not glorified street ball.
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