IUP Women's Basketball | 2019-20

[TheMadLibs]

What is it that you don’t like about Craig Carey? I admit I was skeptical of him last year when he had the interim tag but as someone who has seen all but a couple of their games, my opinion has changed. Other than the other night when I thought a couple of the women should have gotten a few more minutes, he’s used a smart rotation he coaches harder than it appears at first glance. He’s just not an “in your face” personality. The women seem to take to him and for the first time in a while, you don’t hear grumbling around the program about unhappy players.

How many IUP women’s basketball games have you seen to inform that opinion?

I'm super glad to hear that around the program there's a positive attitude and less grumbling. That's honestly refreshing to hear! And critical for the future. Gannon and the PSAC are better when IUP is a strong program competing at the top. I want tough competition and Gannon Cal IUP to be fighting tooth and nail for the top seed.

I've watched 8 or 9 games this year (caretaking plus insomnia)? Do I think he's awful? No, not at all. Do I think he's young and has improved from last year? Yes, absolutely. Is the short roster hurting him? Yes, but it happened last year too, which leads me to question the culture on the team and his ability to unite tbh. When I compare what I'd call the top teams in the West this year (GU, CAL, Hurst this year) you see a demeanor during huddles and on the court I frankly don't see under Careys team this year or last (and didn't much with McConnells). His style is definitely different, and that can be fine. Team doesn't come together after whistles, they scatter. Bench is disengaged lots of the game. Starters aren't communicating. Those are impacts of coaching, no?

Some other things I've seen are below. What do I know but, man, I think Carey teams will beat the bad teams and be average at best in the West. I'll give him a few more recruiting classes, but right now I see him being a consistent 16 to 18 win coach in this conference.

1. Unforced turnovers (the number of travels, double dribbles, telegraphed passes) are high.
2. Yes, the bench is unfortunately short, but his rotations have allowed teams to come back in games bc his pg and bigs are landing in deep foul trouble in q2 consistently. He obviously has to make cost benefit analyses, but my point is I don't think he's pulling the right strings against better teams successfully enough.
3. Offense often is flat footed if they don't score in transition that leads to turnovers. They seem to score best in transition and not in a set half court. In the half court, his offense is not taking advantage of size and getting to the line enough. They're getting opponents more free throws than they are, and that's with some talented bigs. And overall, it seems like they're not prepared on in game management. Lots of instances where players are making me decisions instead of team, taking bad shots, not situationally aware. Not running clock and forced shots, etc.
4. He's at a disadvantage with weak nonconf schedule. Perhaps in the next few years in the role he'll have better luck, but the last few years they're not prepared for play in the West and start to collapse around mid January, either endurance, preparation against adversity, or something else.
5. He's running a good defense, I don't doubt that. It keeps them in most games against deeper benches. In fact, the more I watch the more commonality I see to ex GU Coach Reilly. Good to great D, strong pg and big men who rebound well, but scoring against good defenses seems... problematic.

When I look at the PSAC, he reminds me of the UPJ coach or Katarski. Fine. Good dude. Finds gems. Can compete every night. Will have some unexpected wins. But will be a happy to make it to the playoffs attitude. Prove me wrong, I want to be!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Mercyhurst lost in Greensburg yesterday so they dodged a bullet (and, however, missed an opportunity).

Unfortunately, IUP plays there next - and has struggled there at times.

Aside from Gannon pulling away, this women's race is going to be pretty hectic.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

She left the floor twice from the 8:00 minute mark. Neither time did IUP lose the lead and in fact, they built a two possession lead with her off the floor. They had the lead when she came back on the floor and subsequently lost the lead with her on the floor. She also took and missed the final shot. She also led the team in turnovers today with four. I’m in no way putting it on Maria, but to suggest they lost the game because she wasn’t on the floor the entire time down the stretch is reaching.

The painful part is that team is SO close to being very good.

They are sloppy. Carey has all the tools.

The machine just isn't fine-tuned. That's on him.

They lost a game they should have won by double digits.


Clean the sh!t up.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

One way or another ... Devastating loss.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Just stop! Carey was clueless as to what to do. How the heck is their best PG Cerro not on the floor late in games? The floor general was not on the floor in this late game collapse, period! That's on Carey!

She left the floor twice from the 8:00 minute mark. Neither time did IUP lose the lead and in fact, they built a two possession lead with her off the floor. They had the lead when she came back on the floor and subsequently lost the lead with her on the floor. She also took and missed the final shot. She also led the team in turnovers today with four. I’m in no way putting it on Maria, but to suggest they lost the game because she wasn’t on the floor the entire time down the stretch is reaching.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Just stop! Carey was clueless as to what to do. How the heck is their best PG Cerro not on the floor late in games? The floor general was not on the floor in this late game collapse, period! That's on Carey!

That team - like clockwork - dribbles out of bounds under the basket at least 10 times per game. It's maddening.

Every time they get cute and run the baseline they go out. Cost them at least 10 points today. Probably more.

[IUPalum]

I have trouble putting that on him. The ladies just didn’t have it today. The turnovers weren’t on him and neither was the foul shooting. They were also slow on defense and showed little hustle. The Henderson technical didn’t help. IUP was up two possessions at that point and in position to take command, but instead Boro makes a free throw and scores on the next possession and now it’s a dogfight again.

I suppose it’s going to happen. Teams lose games every year that that shouldn’t and today was one of those days. I guess the one thing I will put on Carey is I thought Baughman should have taken the last shot. That may be what was drawn up and it got taken away, but she was the best scorer on the floor at the time. I might have also had Benito in there with Henderson out. She’s a sharp shooter and probably would have been ignored. Regardless, it should have never come to that.

Just stop! Carey was clueless as to what to do. How the heck is their best PG Cerro not on the floor late in games? The floor general was not on the floor in this late game collapse, period! That's on Carey!

[EyeoftheHawk]

Carey was embarrassing. What an awful loss for IUP.

Total disaster.

I have trouble putting that on him. The ladies just didn’t have it today. The turnovers weren’t on him and neither was the foul shooting. They were also slow on defense and showed little hustle. The Henderson technical didn’t help. IUP was up two possessions at that point and in position to take command, but instead Boro makes a free throw and scores on the next possession and now it’s a dogfight again.

I suppose it’s going to happen. Teams lose games every year that that shouldn’t and today was one of those days. I guess the one thing I will put on Carey is I thought Baughman should have taken the last shot. That may be what was drawn up and it got taken away, but she was the best scorer on the floor at the time. I might have also had Benito in there with Henderson out. She’s a sharp shooter and probably would have been ignored. Regardless, it should have never come to that.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP women were awful today. When you commit 19 turnovers, most of them unforced, and only shoot 67% from the foul line you’re going to have trouble beating Pitt-Bradford. No disrespect to Edinboro. They played about as good as they could play and made the big shot when it mattered, but IUP should have won that game by double digits.

Carey was embarrassing. What an awful loss for IUP.

Total disaster.

[EyeoftheHawk]

IUP women were awful today. When you commit 19 turnovers, most of them unforced, and only shoot 67% from the foul line you’re going to have trouble beating Pitt-Bradford. No disrespect to Edinboro. They played about as good as they could play and made the big shot when it mattered, but IUP should have won that game by double digits.

[gman16506]

Never count Cal out. And I think you're dismissing a tall, talented Hurst team a bit. They're going to lose some games but I think they'll surprise a few folks as the season goes on (much to my chagrin). I still think they'll be 2nd at the end of reg season, with cal and iup battling for 3 and 4. Boro and IUP lack depth, their D keeps them both in games. I just don't see a lot of offensive firepower in either team (said praying I don't eat my words).

The other factor about Gannon is Cleve has been battling injuries and illnesses all of January. Not sure how many people realize that he completely shook up his starting 5 at Cal and had both his center and backup pg out for 3 and 4 games respectively. In that time, he's moved his starting 2 and 3 to the bench (both soph) and starting redshirt freshman in the post and a true freshman at the wing. I think the rotation is still gelling a bit. Backup pg played limited minutes finally yesterday, but the rs fr continues to impress with her touch around the rim. This GU squad is much younger than I think people realize. And we have who I think is their best signing from the freshmen class redshirting after a late preseason injury.

Just watched the end of the Gannon/Clarion women's game and made me realize that you were spot-on about how young Gannon is. With about 1:30 left and a six point lead, Cleve had three freshmen, a sophomore, and of course, Pirosko. Do not know if was by design, foul trouble, or an accident, but it does validate your point.

[IUP1423]

Lost to Boro.

[EyeoftheHawk]

That was the worst performance I've seen Hurst all season so thinking they're meager off that performance alone would be absolutely justified 😂. I took that loss more like iup is one of Hursts bugaboos and they dug a hole they couldn't recover from. One of Hursts starters and 3 year players is now an iup starter (Centrulla) and I'm sure she had some scouting details to share!

I have felt for years like Cal plays down to their competitors and this year is no different. But they always ramp up at the end of the season and cause headaches and knock out a young team inching into the playoffs like Seton Hill or Hurst. I don't think cal is the 2nd best but they have a great coach and solid roster. I'll be honest, the IUP wbb coach is their greatest liability imo. Maybe I'm dumb but I'm just not impressed.

What is it that you don’t like about Craig Carey? I admit I was skeptical of him last year when he had the interim tag but as someone who has seen all but a couple of their games, my opinion has changed. Other than the other night when I thought a couple of the women should have gotten a few more minutes, he’s used a smart rotation he coaches harder than it appears at first glance. He’s just not an “in your face” personality. The women seem to take to him and for the first time in a while, you don’t hear grumbling around the program about unhappy players.

How many IUP women’s basketball games have you seen to inform that opinion?

[TheMadLibs]

I don't watch the women's game much but did happen to see the Mercyhurst game at IUP.

Perhaps it was a bad night, but the Lakers looked like a 4th or 5th best team in the division type of team. IUP beat them by 20-something.

That said, they all play twice and the second meeting often looks much different than the first.

Cal beat a pretty bad Clarion team in OT last night. Who knows.

That was the worst performance I've seen Hurst all season so thinking they're meager off that performance alone would be absolutely justified 😂. I took that loss more like iup is one of Hursts bugaboos and they dug a hole they couldn't recover from. One of Hursts starters and 3 year players is now an iup starter (Centrulla) and I'm sure she had some scouting details to share!

I have felt for years like Cal plays down to their competitors and this year is no different. But they always ramp up at the end of the season and cause headaches and knock out a young team inching into the playoffs like Seton Hill or Hurst. I don't think cal is the 2nd best but they have a great coach and solid roster. I'll be honest, the IUP wbb coach is their greatest liability imo. Maybe I'm dumb but I'm just not impressed.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I don't watch the women's game much but did happen to see the Mercyhurst game at IUP.

Perhaps it was a bad night, but the Lakers looked like a 4th or 5th best team in the division type of team. IUP beat them by 20-something.

That said, they all play twice and the second meeting often looks much different than the first.

Cal beat a pretty bad Clarion team in OT last night. Who knows.

Cal is bad. They won’t be a factor. Not even close to the Cal teams of recent years.

I suppose Hurst could beat IUP up there, but they got handled pretty easily in Indiana.