IUP Women's Basketball | 2019-20

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I guess my two nephews (3rd and 4th grade) just started back to practice after everything was shut down for a considerable time. Tough times to say the least.

I want to say that my niece may have played against the Indiana player in question a few years back. Yeah, she was a good player.

Fiala is 6'4" and athletic. She has offers (as a sophomore) from Minnesota, Penn State, Pitt, Virginia Tech and Virginia.

IHS also has a junior guard (Hope Cook) committed to IUP.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

There are a lot of players taking the year off this season. I don't blame them one bit as a coach.

I guess my two nephews (3rd and 4th grade) just started back to practice after everything was shut down for a considerable time. Tough times to say the least.

I want to say that my niece may have played against the Indiana player in question a few years back. Yeah, she was a good player.

[IUPalum]

Off-topic, but since the last few posts are about the Steelers I'll just shrug it off...anyone have an "in" on IHS girls basketball. I noticed their 6'4 sophomore phenom Eve Fiala isn't on the roster. Is she sitting out covid or has she left town for a private school? Or something else? Fiala's been getting some national attention. It's too bad if IHS loses her.

There are a lot of players taking the year off this season. I don't blame them one bit as a coach.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Off-topic, but since the last few posts are about the Steelers I'll just shrug it off...anyone have an "in" on IHS girls basketball. I noticed their 6'4 sophomore phenom Eve Fiala isn't on the roster. Is she sitting out covid or has she left town for a private school? Or something else? Fiala's been getting some national attention. It's too bad if IHS loses her.

She's taking the season off for 'personal reasons'.

She's still at IHS.

[oakleafmold]

Off-topic, but since the last few posts are about the Steelers I'll just shrug it off...anyone have an "in" on IHS girls basketball. I noticed their 6'4 sophomore phenom Eve Fiala isn't on the roster. Is she sitting out covid or has she left town for a private school? Or something else? Fiala's been getting some national attention. It's too bad if IHS loses her.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Any other year I would guarantee they draft O-line early but this year is different. They have a ton of free agents after this season to try and sign to go with Ben's 41 million cap hit next year. It's going to be very interesting what they do this off season. This might be the last good run for a few years. Cleveland and Baltimore are definitely trending up with their rosters.

Free agents:
OL: Feiler, Villanueva, DeCastro (1 year left), Banner, Hawkins
WR: JuJu, McCloud
RB: Connor, Edmunds
QB: Ben (1 year left), Dobbs

DL: Alualu, Wormley
LB: Dupree, Ola, Williamson, Spilane,
CB: Sutton, Hilton
S: Allen, Dangerfield, Davis, Brooks


I only named mostly key cogs other than safety where it will be Fitz/Edmunds and that's it. No Depth!!! Could be a crazy offseason!

Wow! I knew they had some major offseason front office work in front of them (see post I just made in the PSAC football forum) but this is going to be real tricky here. Of the names you mentioned on the list I would probably be most concerned with JuJu, Dupree, Spillane, Alualu, and maybe Sutton and Hilton.

I would assume that such studs as Watt and Fitz will up for contracts soon as well. That would be major money to sign them.

The Stillers might want to take a look and kick the tires on guys like Darnold and Wentz who both appear to be heading out of town for a QB audition. But Wentz's contract would likely preclude a trade being made.

I would make an offer to Detroit ILB Jarrad Davis as a UFA in the offseason. I was high on him coming out of Florida. He didn't do so well with the Lions, but who really does?

The Stillers did make some hay in recent years in going after other teams players. Nelson (Chiefs) and Haden (Browns) are probably the best CB tandem we have had in recent years. Ebron (Lions) as much as he can do wrong at times is their best TE since the days of Heath Miller.

[IUPalum]

Probably a pretty fair synopsis on the Steelers O-line. Too bad Wisnewski got nuked early on. Maybe the black and gold invest a high draft pick on the O-line next year. But they may have to use it on yet another member of the LB Corps. I wonder what the O-line coaching is like. I doubt this current line coach is any Mike Munchak.

Any other year I would guarantee they draft O-line early but this year is different. They have a ton of free agents after this season to try and sign to go with Ben's 41 million cap hit next year. It's going to be very interesting what they do this off season. This might be the last good run for a few years. Cleveland and Baltimore are definitely trending up with their rosters.

Free agents:
OL: Feiler, Villanueva, DeCastro (1 year left), Banner, Hawkins
WR: JuJu, McCloud
RB: Connor, Edmunds
QB: Ben (1 year left), Dobbs

DL: Alualu, Wormley
LB: Dupree, Ola, Williamson, Spilane,
CB: Sutton, Hilton
S: Allen, Dangerfield, Davis, Brooks


I only named mostly key cogs other than safety where it will be Fitz/Edmunds and that's it. No Depth!!! Could be a crazy offseason!

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

They've lost two massive defensive pieces for the season with ACL's. Add to it Spilane and Haden being out. Running game is non-existent and no threat. Ben's arm is showing its age. Lately the WRs can't catch a cold.

Things can change but it sure doesn't look too hot right now.

All teams in every sport have bad stretches. It's a long season. But, it's not looking good.

Yeah, seasons often have their ebbs and flows. Take the SB title season of 2005 for example---the Stillers fell into an ugly three-game losing streak in late November and early December. It was looking very bleak that they would even qualify for the playoff derby. Well, they pulled it all together while winning out and got the help they needed. The rest was history.

The Stillers are still 11-2 which is a fantastic record to be honest. Need to rest up and replenish their ranks with some healthy players and defeat the Bengals.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

I'm not sold that Ben's arm is aging, now his mobility yes. The true problem with the Steelers is the blocking both O-line and TE's. You can't hardly run or throw deeper routes when they just don't block. Play action, forget about that too. None of the TE's block. DeCastro is either aging in a hurry or hurt. Chuks doesn't run block, Feiler is better at tackle. Villanueva is just god awful. Dotson is a bull but can't pass block. Go watch the film. The short pass game is the only thing they can do until that line is fixed!!!

Probably a pretty fair synopsis on the Steelers O-line. Too bad Wisnewski got nuked early on. Maybe the black and gold invest a high draft pick on the O-line next year. But they may have to use it on yet another member of the LB Corps. I wonder what the O-line coaching is like. I doubt this current line coach is any Mike Munchak.

[IUPalum]

They've lost two massive defensive pieces for the season with ACL's. Add to it Spilane and Haden being out. Running game is non-existent and no threat. Ben's arm is showing its age. Lately the WRs can't catch a cold.

Things can change but it sure doesn't look too hot right now.

All teams in every sport have bad stretches. It's a long season. But, it's not looking good.

I'm not sold that Ben's arm is aging, now his mobility yes. The true problem with the Steelers is the blocking both O-line and TE's. You can't hardly run or throw deeper routes when they just don't block. Play action, forget about that too. None of the TE's block. DeCastro is either aging in a hurry or hurt. Chuks doesn't run block, Feiler is better at tackle. Villanueva is just god awful. Dotson is a bull but can't pass block. Go watch the film. The short pass game is the only thing they can do until that line is fixed!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I've gone from looking forward to the playoffs to studying the mock drafts and prospects for 2021.

They've lost two massive defensive pieces for the season with ACL's. Add to it Spilane and Haden being out. Running game is non-existent and no threat. Ben's arm is showing its age. Lately the WRs can't catch a cold.

Things can change but it sure doesn't look too hot right now.

All teams in every sport have bad stretches. It's a long season. But, it's not looking good.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

That fancy catchprase 'Next Man Up' ... tanslates to you're screwed.

I've gone from looking forward to the playoffs to studying the mock drafts and prospects for 2021.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The crazy thing is we are exactly three months out from Mount Olive Day (March 14) as I am reading this. I think my tooth is starting to hurt again just hearing that name. I once thought it would be a cool tradition to mail out Mount Olive Day cards to all the players and coaches from that IUP team each year. But I need to shed my jerk image. And besides I already have enough people after me. LOL.

BTW----how did that Steelers tailgate work out? They have gone from 11-0 to possibly the worst team in football this side of the J-E-T-S. Darn injuries.

That fancy catchprase 'Next Man Up' ... tanslates to you're screwed.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

The crazy thing is we are exactly three months out from Mount Olive Day (March 14) as I am reading this. I think my tooth is starting to hurt again just hearing that name. I once thought it would be a cool tradition to mail out Mount Olive Day cards to all the players and coaches from that IUP team each year. But I need to shed my jerk image. And besides I already have enough people after me. LOL.

BTW----how did that Steelers tailgate work out? They have gone from 11-0 to possibly the worst team in football this side of the J-E-T-S. Darn injuries.

[IUPalum]

Have a jar of pickles on table for Steelers tailgate. Noticed they are named Mt. Olive.

Sure enough they are made in Mt. Olive, NC.


Made me think of IUP CRIMSON HAWKS.

The darkest day in IUP women's hoops history.



Backstory: IUP was the No. 1 seed and regional host ... and got upset by 8 seed Mt. Olive in Round 1.

Infamous game in IUP history.

ICH hates that game!!!