IUP Women’s Basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Funny you bring up officials. If that youngish short dude shows up again (same crew as Edinboro game), look out. He’s the worst official in the league and loves nothing more than to make the game about him. If he has any reason to go to the monitor he’ll do it so that people will look at him and how important he is. He also seems to have a particular bias against IUP. Frankly, that entire crew is the worst in the conference.

The group that was in town for the Slippery Rock game may have been the best I’ve seen for the women this year. Maybe they’ll be back. If they get a crew that doesn’t want to call fouls unless there’s blood, it could be a long night for the home team.

That clown even had the KCAC in a tizzy. That's historically not an easy nest to stir up. Only the great Kevin Reynolds could get that place hopping.

In 10 years on here you could count on one hand how many times I blame officials. I believe it typically balances out. How IUP won that game (and made that huge comeback) despite getting hosed constantly ... quite amazing. Wheeler owned that guy. Credit it to her. She's great at it. Craig just got ignored for 40 minutes. That trio just isn't qualified for this level. The two women are too old and can't run the floor. The make calls from 25' away. It's just horrendous. Purely from a fan viewing standpoint, they just ruin the game.

Said it for years ... you can tell what kind of game you're about to watch the second you see the crew.

The worst, however, is a crew that lets Wrestlemania erupt the first 20 but then goes total ticky-tack the next 20. There's a men's crew that does that constantly.

On the men's side, the 'GQ' trio calls everything under the sun all 40 minutes. Ruins every game. Tort's brothers' crew lets them clobber each other. The games fly and are entertaining, but they let a lot of obvious stuff go (both sides).

It's an awful, awful job. You're dealing with these ego maniac coaches who think they're running the Duke program. Unlike football, the crowd is right on top of you. The pay stinks once you subtract the time/travel.

I actually think the officials have become too lax with the coaches. The "coaches' box" or line ... whatever they call it ... is a complete joke. It's not enforced at all. In the old days (90s) Danny Sancomb would have been T'd up nightly. Joe used to be a mega jerk to officials but has drastically calmed down. KR, in his prime, was on a different level. He's chilled way down.

Basketball isn't black and white. Officials are humans. They will favor, if ever so slightly, people they like. If anybody doesn't believe that ... I got some bad news.

[IUPalum]

That clown even had the KCAC in a tizzy. That's historically not an easy nest to stir up. Only the great Kevin Reynolds could get that place hopping.

In 10 years on here you could count on one hand how many times I blame officials. I believe it typically balances out. How IUP won that game (and made that huge comeback) despite getting hosed constantly ... quite amazing. Wheeler owned that guy. Credit it to her. She's great at it. Craig just got ignored for 40 minutes. That trio just isn't qualified for this level. The two women are too old and can't run the floor. The make calls from 25' away. It's just horrendous. Purely from a fan viewing standpoint, they just ruin the game.

Said it for years ... you can tell what kind of game you're about to watch the second you see the crew.

The worst, however, is a crew that lets Wrestlemania erupt the first 20 but then goes total ticky-tack the next 20. There's a men's crew that does that constantly.

On the men's side, the 'GQ' trio calls everything under the sun all 40 minutes. Ruins every game. Tort's brothers' crew lets them clobber each other. The games fly and are entertaining, but they let a lot of obvious stuff go (both sides).

It's an awful, awful job. You're dealing with these ego maniac coaches who think they're running the Duke program. Unlike football, the crowd is right on top of you. The pay stinks once you subtract the time/travel.

I actually think the officials have become too lax with the coaches. The "coaches' box" or line ... whatever they call it ... is a complete joke. It's not enforced at all. In the old days (90s) Danny Sancomb would have been T'd up nightly. Joe used to be a mega jerk to officials but has drastically calmed down. KR, in his prime, was on a different level. He's chilled way down.

Basketball isn't black and white. Officials are humans. They will favor, if ever so slightly, people they like. If anybody doesn't believe that ... I got some bad news.

Funny, the short young white guy showed up! He sucked and the Cal coach bullied her way to many calls.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I don't even know where to get started on last night. So, I'm not going to even bother getting in to it too much.

Carey called out the players pretty hard. Deservedly so.

He deserves a lot of it, too.

A couple of his key players looked totally lost most of the night.

The team looked completely unprepared for the press. In fact, it was if they'd never seen a press before.

If he's going to roll with that lineup against that team ... well, the result is a given. If he doesn't soon make a lineup change, the season will be over very shortly.

[IUPalum]

I don't even know where to get started on last night. So, I'm not going to even bother getting in to it too much.

Carey called out the players pretty hard. Deservedly so.

He deserves a lot of it, too.

A couple of his key players looked totally lost most of the night.

The team looked completely unprepared for the press. In fact, it was if they'd never seen a press before.

If he's going to roll with that lineup against that team ... well, the result is a given. If he doesn't soon make a lineup change, the season will be over very shortly.

Carey rolled out the BS excuse in his post game interview. He said the girls were playing that press like they were trapping/trying for turn overs when it wasn't. The press was just to slow IUP from getting into their offense. Isn't it his job to help these girls recognize that? Call time out and help them, call it out during the play. SOMETHING!!!!! As usual, he blamed the girls instead of himself. Something like that he should be looking at himself as to why these girls don't recognize it. Coach em up and they recognize things!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP is hosting Cal next week. Round 3.

The way Carey coaches, this is the worst possible matchup he could have got in the West.

If he plays the slower lineup again ... they'll be 0-3.

They need to pray they have a crew that actually calls fouls. If they get a strict group, that will really hamper the physical Vulcans. In a physical game Carey will get slammed again.

[EyeoftheHawk]

If I’m reading the PSAC West women’s standings correctly, Seton Hill or Edinboro could still finish first and host the PSAC tournament. Edinboro needs a win at Cal and a Seton Hill loss at Gannon to get the top spot. They beat Gannon twice and have the tiebreaker. If Seton Hill and Edinboro win or they both lose, it’s a tie and I’m not sure who has the edge there. It must be Seton Hill because they’re listed ahead on the PSAC website. The best Gannon can do is finish second because they lost both games to Edinboro and would lose the tiebreaker.

The Cal/Edinboro game is going to be interesting. Boro has a chance to host the PSAC and is already going to make the NCAA tournament. Cal with this late run has a chance to make the NCAA tournament but they have little margin for error. A loss today and a quick out in the PSAC will end their season.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

If I’m reading the PSAC West women’s standings correctly, Seton Hill or Edinboro could still finish first and host the PSAC tournament. Edinboro needs a win at Cal and a Seton Hill loss at Gannon to get the top spot. They beat Gannon twice and have the tiebreaker. If Seton Hill and Edinboro win or they both lose, it’s a tie and I’m not sure who has the edge there. It must be Seton Hill because they’re listed ahead on the PSAC website. The best Gannon can do is finish second because they lost both games to Edinboro and would lose the tiebreaker.

The Cal/Edinboro game is going to be interesting. Boro has a chance to host the PSAC and is already going to make the NCAA tournament. Cal with this late run has a chance to make the NCAA tournament but they have little margin for error. A loss today and a quick out in the PSAC will end their season.

Cal may be the lower seed come Monday, but make no mistake they are favored in the KCAC.

In a gambling world, I'd probably set the line Monday at Cal -5.5

It's hard to beat a team three times (and all the coach speak) but they are just the Kryptonite to Craig Carey.

Strom will own the officials. He'll be ignored. This is an officiating game. If it's physical and they can bang, IUP has little chance. If they call a legit game and it's more finesse, IUP can win.

Strom is a vastly better coach. IUP has better skill players but the Vulcans are tremendously more physical.

There's also the elephant in the room with Carey's lineup choices. He needs a heavy dose of Lilly. Cal plays in your face 40 minutes. IUP hasn't matched that intensity.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Cal may be the lower seed come Monday, but make no mistake they are favored in the KCAC.

In a gambling world, I'd probably set the line Monday at Cal -5.5

It's hard to beat a team three times (and all the coach speak) but they are just the Kryptonite to Craig Carey.

Strom will own the officials. He'll be ignored. This is an officiating game. If it's physical and they can bang, IUP has little chance. If they call a legit game and it's more finesse, IUP can win.

Strom is a vastly better coach. IUP has better skill players but the Vulcans are tremendously more physical.

There's also the elephant in the room with Carey's lineup choices. He needs a heavy dose of Lilly. Cal plays in your face 40 minutes. IUP hasn't matched that intensity.

The girl for Cal that went off on Wednesday night wasn’t even one of their top scorers. She’s tall and can play underneath, but can also shoot the three and moves well with the ball. That created some matchup problems for IUP. It’s going to be interesting on Monday night. I have a feeling IUP is going to find a way, but maybe that’s more hope than anything.

[EyeoftheHawk]

IUP ended up with a really tough draw in the tournament. They get Cal in the first round who they haven’t beaten this season. If they get by that they would have to beat Edinboro for a third time, and on their court. IF they get to the semis it would actually get a bit easier as Lock Haven is the best in the group on that side and IUP handled them easily already, although that was in November. It will either be Gannon or Seton Hill in the finals from the other bracket.

IUP is 7-3 in their last 10 games with two of the losses being to Cal, and one the ridiculous giveaway at Seton Hill. I don’t think they’re playing their best basketball at the moment but a win on Monday night might be the spark they need. The gap between IUP, Edinboro, Gannon, and Seton Hill is razor thin and any of them can win it if they get hot.

[Bballfan]

Crazy to me that in the end Edinboro won the west and got to host. And it certainly is razor thin. But don't forget Cal. Hopefully IUP can finally get over the hump this time. Should be interesting!

[EyeoftheHawk]

That was one of the more entertaining games I’ve seen at the KCAC, men or women. It was like running in mud from start to finish with neither team able to build a lead. I think the biggest was IUP at 6 a couple times. It was a very physical game and the refs weren’t calling anything in the first half but then called a bunch of fouls in the second. The biggest difference this time was only one IUP turnover that Cal forced on the press when IUP didn’t get across half court in time. IUP still had turnovers, but several were unforced because they were needlessly rushing to get out of their own end.

That was the definition of survive and advance. The matchup with Edinboro will be more enjoyable to watch and will resemble basketball a lot more. There’s a good chance that loss ended Cal’s season. We’ll have to see what happens when the dust settles. IUP will have at least two more games, hopefully several more than that.

[Bballfan]

I watched the game. Very sloppy. A lot of talent on the court but no rhythm or flow. Glad IUP won, the PSAC Conference Championship structure is pretty ridiculous. Basically is protecting the weak east, which is typically very weak compared as Gannon, IUP, and CalUP are pretty solid year after year. Name three solid teams year after year in the east. So you have to win a harder game in the next round for an easier matchup in the semi finals. Who comes up with that stuff! Seed them straight according to RPI or KPI or whatever!

[IUPalum]

I watched the game. Very sloppy. A lot of talent on the court but no rhythm or flow. Glad IUP won, the PSAC Conference Championship structure is pretty ridiculous. Basically is protecting the weak east, which is typically very weak compared as Gannon, IUP, and CalUP are pretty solid year after year. Name three solid teams year after year in the east. So you have to win a harder game in the next round for an easier matchup in the semi finals. Who comes up with that stuff! Seed them straight according to RPI or KPI or whatever!

It's done this way because of travel time and expenses. The PSAC doesn't want say and ESU traveling to Gannon on a weekday night for a playoff game.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I watched the game. Very sloppy. A lot of talent on the court but no rhythm or flow. Glad IUP won, the PSAC Conference Championship structure is pretty ridiculous. Basically is protecting the weak east, which is typically very weak compared as Gannon, IUP, and CalUP are pretty solid year after year. Name three solid teams year after year in the east. So you have to win a harder game in the next round for an easier matchup in the semi finals. Who comes up with that stuff! Seed them straight according to RPI or KPI or whatever!

That was Cal's plan ... muddy it up. That's how they play. It works in the regular season more often than not due to the officials not calling the games so tight.

Last night was the first IUP/Cal game this season when the officials called it tighter. That really favors IUP in this particular matchup.

Tomorrow will resemble normal basketball (and not a brawl).

[Bballfan]

It's done this way because of travel time and expenses. The PSAC doesn't want say and ESU traveling to Gannon on a weekday night for a playoff game.

It's tournament time. You should reward schools for their accomplishments not worry about travel and expenses in tournament. GLIAC teams travel around much farther to play each other. They are not worried about such nonsense.