IUP WOMEN, PITT MEN TAKE THE COURT TODAY WHILE IUP MEN RISE IN RANKINGS

IUP WOMEN

Coach Tom McConnell’s 4-0 IUP women’s team has an afternoon game this afternoon at the KCAC against Salem. The Tigers are 1-3 and coming off a one-point loss to Lock Haven Saturday followed by a 25-point loss Sunday to Seton Hill. The game tips off at 3 o’clock.

IUP vaulted into the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II Top 25 yesterday, debuting at number twelve. They are also ranked number eleven this week in the D2 Sports Information Directors Media Top 25, down two spots from last week. The SID poll also ranks IUP number two in the Atlantic Region, down a spot and now behind PSAC West rival Gannon. IUP got two first place votes to Gannon’s three.

After today’s game, IUP will play Sunday afternoon at Ohio Dominican.

IUP MEN

IUP’s men’s basketball team has risen to the Top Ten in both major Division II polls. The Crimson Hawks are number three in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 and number nine in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll.IUP made its biggest jump in the NABC poll, moving up nine spots from the preseason poll released at the end of October. They rose two spots this week. Lubbock Christian is number one in both polls.

PITT

Pitt has won its last two basketball games, albeit against lesser foes North Carolina- Wilmington and Towson by smaller margins than one might expect. Tonight, the 2-2 Panthers begin a stretch of four games in ten days when they host Vanderbilt, which is 3-1.

Vandy is coached by former NBA star Jerry Stackhouse and led by Scottie Pippen Jr., the son of the NBA Hall of Famer. Capel says Vandy is playing well.

Capel and Stackhouse are old friends who grew up near each other in North Carolina and played AAU ball together. He says Stackhouse had to overcome the stigma of being considered a star player who might expect to take over a team and not be willing to work at the art of coaching.