PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

In this crazy West this year I suppose it's only fitting the 5 and 6 seeds both won on the road in Round 1.

Seton Hill's Ryan Meis went nuts, hitting (7) treys.

IUP had an unlikely hero in Luke Triggs, who came off the bench to hit (4) treys and score 16 points. IUP was getting blown out early. Then they were blowing SRU out. In the end it came down to the last shot.

And, Sarp, of course, grabbed the biggest rebound of his career with 5.4 seconds left.

[bballfan03]

In this crazy West this year I suppose it's only fitting the 5 and 6 seeds both won on the road in Round 1.

Seton Hill's Ryan Meis went nuts, hitting (7) treys.

IUP had an unlikely hero in Luke Triggs, who came off the bench to hit (4) treys and score 16 points. IUP was getting blown out early. Then they were blowing SRU out. In the end it came down to the last shot.

And, Sarp, of course, grabbed the biggest rebound of his career with 5.4 seconds left.

Just glad to see Rocks season come to an end. Won't miss Maceo *******-tin at all.

[bballfan03]

Ive never seen Lombardi look so defeated before. First half he was all over the refs, like usual. Yelling at players (coaching, not necessarily bad), jumping up and down etc.

Once Gannon started their 2nd half run (it was only a 13 pt lead), he just looked like he was ready to be done. Chirped at the ref a few times, but nothing typical. Clapped for some Gannon plays and gave many "college try" claps to his players when they messed up. Ironically, despite looking like he was ready to be done, he called 2 timeouts under a minute (and once with 4.4 seconds left which was accompanied by well deserved boos lol).

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind the look on him haha but it was depressing as I felt it summed up IUPs season.

[IUPalum]

Ive never seen Lombardi look so defeated before. First half he was all over the refs, like usual. Yelling at players (coaching, not necessarily bad), jumping up and down etc.

Once Gannon started their 2nd half run (it was only a 13 pt lead), he just looked like he was ready to be done. Chirped at the ref a few times, but nothing typical. Clapped for some Gannon plays and gave many "college try" claps to his players when they messed up. Ironically, despite looking like he was ready to be done, he called 2 timeouts under a minute (and once with 4.4 seconds left which was accompanied by well deserved boos lol).

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind the look on him haha but it was depressing as I felt it summed up IUPs season.

He called those time outs with purpose. First all, to draw a play up for a departing bench player to get one last try. The other was to basically give Bazzoli and F-U, we'll remember this. Bazzoli still pressing up 30 under 3min left. He's an A-HOLE and that's why the rest of the league hates him. You won, back off! His day is coming!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

He called those time outs with purpose. First all, to draw a play up for a departing bench player to get one last try. The other was to basically give Bazzoli and F-U, we'll remember this. Bazzoli still pressing up 30 under 3min left. He's an A-HOLE and that's why the rest of the league hates him. You won, back off! His day is coming!

We'll see. He may leave after a year, too. He's young and coaches need to strike while the iron is hot. It doesn't stay hot forever.

[bballfan03]

He called those time outs with purpose. First all, to draw a play up for a departing bench player to get one last try. The other was to basically give Bazzoli and F-U, we'll remember this. Bazzoli still pressing up 30 under 3min left. He's an A-HOLE and that's why the rest of the league hates him. You won, back off! His day is coming!

Have you not watched GU, WLU or NSU play? Score doesn't matter.. press start to finish. Up 10 or 60. (Which WLU was up on Salem the other day and still pressing lol). It's the system, you don't stop it. Normally Bazzoli would put bench scrubs in, but we only have one at this time (and he was in already) because 2 of our other ones are now actively in the 2nd unit.

[bballfan03]

We'll see. He may leave after a year, too. He's young and coaches need to strike while the iron is hot. It doesn't stay hot forever.

I can't see him getting any big offers yet. Fee has a long history of success, Bazzoli has one good season. He also tried to coach "traditionally" at one point and failed miserably (alas Clarion).

[IUPHawks24]

We'll see. He may leave after a year, too. He's young and coaches need to strike while the iron is hot. It doesn't stay hot forever.

He’s not going anywhere. He’s nowhere near as connected as Fee and he’s at least 5 years younger, so not as far along in his career.

Plus, he’s got by far the best resourced job in the league.

Interesting that the coach of the 1st place team who won the league by five games wasn’t voted Coach of the Year by his peers.

[bballfan03]

He called those time outs with purpose. First all, to draw a play up for a departing bench player to get one last try. The other was to basically give Bazzoli and F-U, we'll remember this. Bazzoli still pressing up 30 under 3min left. He's an A-HOLE and that's why the rest of the league hates him. You won, back off! His day is coming!

And why was Fee not viewed as an A-HOLE when he did this up 40 practically every game?

[bballfan03]

He’s not going anywhere. He’s nowhere near as connected as Fee and he’s at least 5 years younger, so not as far along in his career.

Plus, he’s got by far the best resourced job in the league.

Interesting that the coach of the 1st place team who won the league by five games wasn’t voted Coach of the Year by his peers.

No way he was getting coach of the year. Fee took a 3-23 program to 31-3. Bazzoli took that 31-3 program to like 25-7. Now, we all know those programs have no correlation to each other in those years, BUT if Fee won after that, Bazzoli was not getting it for this.

Jennings was, in my opinion, without a doubt the PSAC West COTY. Clarions coach a distant 2nd.

[bballfan03]

I feel this may be the youngest All-Team in the West in quite some time. Only 2 grads and 1 senior. Scary for the PSAC if they stick around.

[Columbuseer]

Have you not watched GU, WLU or NSU play? Score doesn't matter.. press start to finish. Up 10 or 60. (Which WLU was up on Salem the other day and still pressing lol). It's the system, you don't stop it. Normally Bazzoli would put bench scrubs in, but we only have one at this time (and he was in already) because 2 of our other ones are now actively in the 2nd unit.

WLU stopped the double team traps against Salem with over 10 minutes remaining when they were ahead by 40. They generally stop it when the outcome is no longer in doubt.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I feel this may be the youngest All-Team in the West in quite some time. Only 2 grads and 1 senior. Scary for the PSAC if they stick around.

Regarding the 'if they stick around' ... I don't think there's any major college prospects, but many (most) of these guys would get low-level D1 interest. The West also had a lot of stars miss the entire (or majority) of the season -- Keith Palek, Bryson Lucas, Dallis Dillard, etc.). California would have been a Region favorite with Palek and Lucas.


First Team (no seniors):

Cenker Evran (Edinboro) - He'll be a senior next year. He had a breakout season that unfortunately ended with him missing the conference tournament due to injury. He could probably get some low-end D1 offers if he'd enter. Everybody targets mobile size. I'd project him as a bench player at smaller D1s.

Jomo Goings (SRU) - He will be a senior next year. He entered the Portal after last season but eventually withdrew. He's a very strong all-around D2 player. I don't see him getting much interest, however, up a level. He's kind of the jack of all trades.

Tasman Goodrick (Gannon) - Has the size (6'9", 225 lbs) and athleticism that catches eyes. Two years' eligibility is also a plus. He'd get some lower-level looks if he'd try to go up.

Cam Kearney (Clarion) - Kearney went in to the portal after last season. It was reported (on his Twitter) he had signed with I believe Niagara. Fast forward to the Fall, and he was still on the Clarion roster. He certainly has a D1 frame. He's listed at 6'8" and plays guard. My hunch is he will give it another shot and see if he gets any bites.

Cam Polak (California) - With his teammate Palek already entering the portal and stating he's looking for a D1 home ... you never know. KJ McClurg left Cal last year and had about 25 D1 phone calls the first day. Polak can really shoot the ball. He would get low-level D1 interest.

Ernest Shelton (Gannon) - The measurables are there to move up. He has the perfect SG size at 6'5" and a really smooth outside shot. He would certainly get interest.

Donald Whitehead (Cal) - He's fast enough to play up a level. His size may concern some.


Second Team:

Kedrick Curtis (Seton Hill) - He's built like a house at about 6'8", 240 lbs -- but moves well and actually has a decent outside shot. He would draw interest from low-level D1 programs.

Steve Kelly (Edinboro) - Out of eligibility

Ryan Meis (Seton Hill) - Out of eligibility

Kymani Merraro (IUP) - He is confirmed staying at IUP (at least one more year)

Christian Moore (IUP) - He is confirmed staying at IUP (and may be bringing a friend to town)

Pace Prosser (Gannon) - This is KJ McClurg Part 2. So, yes, he would certainly get looks.

Ryan Smith (UPJ) - Out of eligibility (I think ... but he may have a Covid year ... he did walk on Senior Day)

[gman16506]

I can't see him getting any big offers yet. Fee has a long history of success, Bazzoli has one good season. He also tried to coach "traditionally" at one point and failed miserably (alas Clarion).

Completely agree!!! Fee seemed to have a very good reputation even before the Gannon hiring. Even this Board seemed to think he would be an excellent hire for Gannon. Not sure that I understood the Bazzoli hire without some type of search process, so the jury is still out whether this will work over the long-term. With that said, I am surprised at the quality of the recruits that Bazzoli brought in.........unless they committed under Fee and just decided to stay with Gannon regardless of the change-over. Again, time will tell.........

[gman16506]

Have you not watched GU, WLU or NSU play? Score doesn't matter.. press start to finish. Up 10 or 60. (Which WLU was up on Salem the other day and still pressing lol). It's the system, you don't stop it. Normally Bazzoli would put bench scrubs in, but we only have one at this time (and he was in already) because 2 of our other ones are now actively in the 2nd unit.

Exactly.....just what I was thinking! And Lombardi knows that those teams with that "system" will press the entire game. I am sure Joe was not prepared for the team's rather poor performance, hence the remarks in postgame interviews.