Coach McConnell excited about future of IUP Women’s Basketball

Sports Coach McConnell excited about future of IUP Women’s Basketball

AUSTIN SMITH

Staff Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

What’s cooking in the nest right now for the women’s Crimson Hawks basketball team?

At this point, the Hawks should be playing their usual season and dominating their opponents, but we all know what has stopped all our normal activities.

This stoppage has not kept the Hawks from putting in work and impressing early. IUP was ranked No. 4 in the preseason ranking, which is the best the team has been ranked in the preseason in program history.

The 2021–22 season should be very promising, especially since the intensity and loud cheers will be back to normal at the Kolvachick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) as soon as it is safe. IUP looks to get back to its winning ways as soon as the season can get underway, and the roster will be filled with talent.

With the Hawks’ entering the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Region last year, you can bet to see more of the same from IUP. The Crimson Hawks were geared up for another run, but there was a roadblock in the way: COVID-19.

Head Coach Tom McConnell, despite all the setbacks, is optimistic about the coming season.

He expects “late March and early April to be able to play some games and practice to get warmed up.”

“Any specific expectations would be to grow and get better and kind of treat this spring as a chance to grow and mesh our young players,” McConnell said.

With having some scrimmage games, the Hawks will have an advantage against other teams for sure. Playing a few games will allow some of the younger Hawks on the roster like freshman guards Gina Adams (marketing) and Keira Baughman (kinesiology health and sports science) to adapt to the Hawks’ system.

McConnell didn’t want to get caught up in the hype and made sure to emphasize his respect for his opponents

“We have great respect for everybody that we play in one of the best conferences,” McConnell said. “With a lot of great competitive games that IUP has had over the past couple seasons, that has definitely shown. I think it’s very important to respect any given team on any given night, which is what makes every game exciting to watch.”

Among a strong team, McConnell mentioned two students that really stand out. “Two players come to mind: Courtney Alexander (redshirt senior, nursing) and Rajah Fink (junior, communications media),” McConnell said. “Courtney Alexander emerged as a 3-point shooter and mainly a catch-and-shoot player. “Rajah Fink can really take the ball to basket and was a big-time scorer in high school and was so fun to watch her grow. “

Alexander was a very exciting player to watch, especially in the playoffs last season. She came in clutch hitting key 3-point shots, which is a huge asset to have on a team. Fink had the more driving nature to go to the basket, and the stats had shown that greatly in her sophomore season in which she averaged 7.7 points and four rebounds per game. “When the players are at home, they have to be creative and self-driven,” McConnell said. “When they are here at campus, we are able to do skill development four hours a week Monday through Friday. Early in March, [we] will be able to do team things and hope to play some scrimmages.”

Some of the Crimson Hawks have been running up and down hills, going to close parks and doing home workouts, which is key vital to having a healthy successful season. Like McConnell mentioned, scrimmages will be a big key in getting ready for the upcoming season.

Despite early ratings, McConnell still has things that he wants to work on as a team.

“We established ourselves as one of the best defensive teams in the PSAC,” McConnell said. “We want to work hard on playing faster. We want to share the ball and move it and really want to take that to another level. We also want to keep that unselfish style play basketball.”

The Crimson Hawks have been a solid defensive team and allowed an average of 53.3 points per game, which was eight in the nation. The Hawks do move the ball around, which is where a lot of their success has been found. By giving it to multiple players throughout the game, you are creating more scoring opportunities and creating a very complete team.

The Crimson Hawks are going to be a very competitive team to play in the PSAC, and a lot of teams are going to have to play their best ball if they want to compete with the Hawks, especially at the KCAC.

Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu

(Teddy Jeannette/ The Penn) Despite their canceled season, the Hawks show a lot of promise.

Sports January 20, 2021 15 From Indiana to the pros: IUP athletes make it to the professional level

Jeffery Hart

Sports Editor J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The past year has been challenging for athletes at every level, and IUP athletes are not exempt.

Many IUP athletes have had to endure their seasons and normal routines being disturbed by COVID-19, but some have adapted and found success at a professional level.

Two members of Hawk Nation made the jump to the next level. IUP football alumnus JoJo Gause and basketball alumnus Chucky Humphries have both proven

From January 4 IUP Athletics Press Release

Despite the limitations and difficulties brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IUP Athletic Department – and its 17 varsity teams – achieved a successful fall semester academically.

A total of 299 student-athletes, more than 67 percent, earned Dean's List honors by earning a grade point average of at least 3.25. That number is broken down into 173 women and 126 men, or 79.2 and 56.4 percent, respectively, of their totals.

One hundred Crimson Hawks achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall of 2020, or nearly 23 percent of the total. Women's student-athletes had 77 perfect GPAs, or nearly 40 percent of their total. Women's tennis had the highest percentage of 4.0 GPA's, with exactly half (50.0 percent) of its rostered members being perfect.

Combining indoor and outenough to make it onto a roster.

Gause put up staggering numbers for the Crimson Hawks as a wide receiver. Every year, Gause put in the work and increased his production for the team.

In his 2019 season, he put up 838 yards and nine touchdowns for the Hawks. His play earned a spot on the second team AllPSAC West. Gause was constantly a threat to the defense and could put up highlight-reel plays at any moment.

After graduating, Gause had NFL aspirations and wanted to work towards making a roster. Despite the pandemic’s shutting

IUP Athletes put up high department GPA

down of many sports facilities door track and field, a total of 15 programs boast team GPAs of at least 3.00. Every women's team put together a combined GPA of 3.20 or higher, with field hockey and women's tennis leading the way with team GPA's of 3.73.

The most successful men's team was the golf program, boasting a GPA of 3.76 – the best of any IUP program. Five of the nine rostered members of the men's golf team earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Successful 2020

The success during the fall semester caps of a calendar year in which the Crimson Hawks excelled in the classroom despite limited resources and difficult times.

During the spring semester, IUP teams combined for a 3.359 cumulative GPA, which ranked seventh among Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schools. Again, 15 programs finished the spring with GPA's of 3.00 or better, with women's volleyball earning a department-high 3.771 GPA. and gyms, he was able to impress the Sioux Falls Storm and make an Indoor Football League (IFL) roster.

The announcement was made official by the Storm on Dec. 26.Gause will look to make an impact for the Storm once the season starts in March.

Much like Gause, Humphries was electrifying on the court as a forward for the basketball team. Humphries was an all-around player whose stats were not mind-blowing, but his effect on the team could not be questioned.

In his final season, Humphries emerged as a leader for his

From January 6 IUP Athletics Press Release

The IUP football program made an impressive debut in the Nationalf Football League (NFL) Wildcard Playoffs.

Eight former members of the IUP football program were part of seven that advanced to the NFL's postseason, which kicked off with the Wild Card round last weekend.

The group includes Nick Sirianni (offensive coordinator) and Chad Henry (area scout) of the Indianapolis Colts; Brandon Hunt (pro scouting coordinator) of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Jim Haslett (linebackers coach) of the Tennessee Titans; Kevin Weidl (area scout) of the Baltimore Ravens; Luke Getsy (quarterback coach) of the Green Bay Packers; Jim Hostler (receivers coach) of the Washington Football Team; and Anthony Piroli (strength & conditioning coach) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

These former IUP greats are a huge part of the program's success over the last 50 years. They have combined to bring IUP 16 of 18 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships, 15 of its 19 NCAA playoff berths, five of its seven national squad and averaged 7.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He was the heart and soul of the team in 2019 and would get the team playing harder with his hard dunks and emphatic blocks.

Humphries announced on his Instagram that he will be going to play professionally overseas. He is the fifth IUP men’s basketball player to go overseas in the last two years.

He will be playing for Santo Andre in Portugal. There, he will hope to contribute to his squad and help make his teammates better as he did for the Hawks.

Gause and Humphries are just two names on a long list of IUP semifinal appearances and both Division II title game showings.

They also boast individual success as Haslett was a threetime All-American and earned five All-PSAC West selections (at two positions), while Hostler, Weidl and Hunt combined for five all-conference nods during their playing days.

Look below for the full list with short bios.

Six of these seven teams will be in action during Wild Card Weekend, with the Colts kicking things off Saturday at 1:05 p.m. against the Buffalo Bills. See the full playoff schedule at NFL.com.

Luke Getsy – Green Bay Packers, quarterbacks coach

IUP offensive coordinator, 2011 –13

Won PSAC championship in 2012; 12–2 record

Chad Henry – Indianapolis Colts, area scout

IUP student assistant coach, 1994–95

Helped IUP to PSAC title, national semifinalist finish in 1994

Brandon Hunt – Pittsburgh Steelers, pro scouting coordinator

IUP offensive lineman, 2000–03

First team All-PSAC selection in 2003

Helped IUP to four PSAC titles, athletes that have made it to the next level. IUP has a history of producing top-tier athletes that can produce at a high level.

The future remains uncertain, but it certainly looks bright for

IUP Football program has large presence in NFL playoffs

these IUP graduates. three NCAA playoff berths

Jim Hostler – Washington Football Team, wide receivers coach

IUP defensive back and assistant coach, 1986–99

Two-time All-PSAC defensive back ('87, '89)

Part of 10 NCAA playoff teams, eight PSAC title teams, two national title game appearances

Jim Haslett – Tennessee Titans, linebackers coach

UP linebacker/defensive end/ punter, 1975–78

Three-time All-American, 20 sacks in 1976

Drafted in 2nd round of 1979 NFL Draft by Buffalo Bills

Anthony Piroli – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head strength & conditioning coach

IUP graduate assistant, 2007

Helped IUP to NCAA playoffs in only season

Nick Sirianni – Indianapolis Colts, offensive coordinator

IUP receivers coach, 2006–08

Won PSAC title in 2006

Kevin Weidl – Baltimore Ravens, area scout

IUP quarterback, 2002–06

Two-time All-PSAC selection ('03-04) 5,594 passing yards, 46 passing touchdowns

(Buffalo Bills Twitter)

Hot Take Jake gives NFL Conference Championships predictions

JAKE TAYLOR

Staff Writer J.M.Taylor8@iup.edu @JakeTaylor8726

Super Bowl 55 will be down to Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. Three are the league's best quarterbacks, and one is the most improved football player in the NFL. The young guns and the geezers, a championship Sunday matchup many predicted.

Let’s begin with Sunday’s 3:05 afternoon matchup: the Green Bay Packers vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay is coming into the game for the second year in a row. This time around, however, Rodgers is red-hot and the odds-on favorite for league MVP. When coached by Matt LaFleur, the Packers are 26–7.

The NFL media and fans were in an uproar during the 2020 draft when the team traded up in the first round to draft quarterback Jordan Love. This decision still makes zero sense considering Green Bay has the league's best QB, and it was one game away from the Super Bowl last year.

Whether it was the drafting of Love or Rodgers’ appearances on the Pat McAfee show every Tuesday, Rodgers came to play. His determination to prove everyone wrong has led to a league-leading 48 touchdowns, 70.7 percent completion percentage and 121.5 passer rating. The latter rating ranks second in single-season NFL history (only behind Rodgers’ own record of 122.5 in 2011.)

The Packers’ playing at the most efficient level the NFL has seen in 10 years is going to be an uphill battle for any defense. Rodgers and co. hung 36 points and nearly 500 yards on the league's best defense, the Los Angeles Rams, in the postseason’s divisional round.

Nobody is tired of hearing that Tom Brady is back in a league championship game. Well, typically he’d be back in the AFC championship, but unless you live under a rock, Tom Brady has moved from New England to Tampa Bay and assembled an Avengers-level NFL team to compete for the Super Bowl yet again.

The Bucs laid a bit of a beating on the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round. The score was only 30–20, but the key factor was Tampa’s defense. The Bruce Arians offense was pretty much shut down by the Saints' brick wall defense. New Orleans turned over the ball four times, which led to three Buccaneer touchdowns.

The easiest way to lose a game is to turn the ball over more times than the opponent. For example, in the 2020 playoffs, every team that has lost has had equal or more turnovers than their opponents. Whether it is an interception, fumble lost, turnover on downs or a missed field goal, the turnover differential is the deciding factor in playoff football.

In the case of Packers vs Bucs, both quarterbacks play mistake-free, so turnover differential will be at the hands of fate.

Let’s discuss the controllable: Green Bay could not get to the big game last year because of its lack of superstar talent and defensive grit. San Francisco passed the ball seven times and won the game. Look for the Buccaneers to play a similar game. Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette in the backfield will be difference-makers. This exact matchup was played in Week 6 this year and saw a 38–10 Tampa Bay victory. In that game, the team passed for only eight more yards than they ran.

Rodgers and Davante Adams cannot be stopped this year, so it will be up to Tampa Bay to make the most of every opportunity. Deep down, I am rooting for Tampa Bay because I will be living there by the time you are reading this article; however, my heart is telling me Green Bay 34, Tampa Bay 28.

Now to the prime-time game of the weekend: the Buffalo Bills Mafia vs. the Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom, the up-and-coming AFC East champions against the reigning champions.

While I am writing this, I do not know whether Mahomes will play in this game. So, I am going to assume he is. Despite the fact that #HenneThingIsPossible, Chad Henne will not get the W if he starts. This AFC Championship matchup is reminiscent of last year’s Chiefs vs. the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee came in red-hot but could not overcome the Mahomes Magic.

This year, everyone is saying Buffalo is coming in red-hot, but let me cool that thought off. The Andy Reid and Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs are coming in on a 24–1 streak. Let that sink in when you think about who is coming in hot.

Buffalo’s offense scored only 10 points in the divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens. Granted, the Bills’ defense did step up, but a total of 17 points will not beat the Chiefs. The most intriguing aspect of this game is the coaching matchup. The league's two best coaching staffs will come up with a game plan that not even the great Hot Take Jake can predict.

I’ll try anyway: if Mahomes plays, expect a better second-half performance than his third-quarter showing against the Browns. Speaking of the Browns, if they did not treat one playoff win like the Super Bowl and played in Arrowhead like a team that has been there before, they would have won. If they could not beat Henne, they stood no chance against the rest of the league.

Now here is the biggest thing we must remember about the Chiefs: not only do they have the NFL’s second-best QB, but they also have the league's best tight end and wide receiver core with a dynamic backfield. It is going to take more than a perfect game defensively to win.

The Bills have the defensive power to shut down Lamar Jackson, but Mr. Chokealot cannot stand on the same ground as the Chiefs’ firepower. The AFC championship is a match-up Vegas does not even know how to set lines for. The game can go either way depending on which team’s defense wants to show up at the most opportune time.

My prediction is Buffalo 28, Kansas City 27; Bills Mafia deserves the chance. And I just gave it to them. Thanks to my all things right no things wrong hot take analysis.

Sit down, shut up and take it to the bank.