IPFW Basketball Schedule: What to Expect This Season
Contents
The IPFW Mastodons men’s basketball team will look to improve on their 13-17 record from last season. Here is a look at their schedule and what to expect this season.
Introduction
The Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Mastodons men’s Basketball team represents Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne in NCAA Division I competition. The Mastodons are currently members of the Summit League The Mastodons play their home games at the Gates Sports Center on the university’s campus in Fort Wayne Indiana.
The team has never played in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament but has appeared in four Division II tournaments. In 1998, they defeated Ferris State in the first round before losing to eventual National Champion Kentucky Wesleyan in the second round. In 1999, they again defeated Ferris State in the first round before losing to South Dakota State in the second round. In 2000, they defeated Temple in the first round before losing to Kentucky Wesleyan in the second round. Finally, in 2001, they lost to South Dakota State in the first round.
The Team
The IPFW Mastodons men’s basketball team enters the 2015-16 season with a new Head Coach Jon Coffman.
Coffman comes to IPFW after spending the last six seasons as an Assistant Coach at the University of Dayton He helped lead the Flyers to five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2014.
Coffman inherits a team that went 15-15 last season and finished in seventh place in the Summit League The Mastodons will look to improve upon that record this season, and they will have their work cut out for them.
The team will be led by senior guard Steve Forbes who averaged 16.1 points per game last season. Forbes will be joined in the backcourt by junior college transfer Mo Evans, who is expected to make an immediate impact.
In the frontcourt, the Mastodons will be led by senior center Johnathan Woodard, who averaged 11.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season. Woodard will be joined by junior forward Max Landis, who is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he averaged 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game
The Schedule
The IPFW men’s Basketball team has released their schedule for the upcoming season The Mastodons will play a total of 30 games, 15 of which will be at home in the Gates Sports Center.
Non-conference play begins on November 6th with a Home game against Marian University The Mastodons will then hit the road for four of their next five, including a trip to playing in-state rivals Purdue and Indiana.
Conference play starts on December 28th when IPFW travels to Denver to take on the Pioneers. The ‘Dons will have a total of 18 conference games, nine of which will be at home. They will face each team in the Summit League twice, with the exception of South Dakota State who they will play three times.
The season comes to a close on March 3rd when IPFW hosts Oral Roberts in the Gates Sports Center.
The Competition
The Mastodons will compete against some familiar foes this season as well as some new opponents. In non-conference action, IPFW will take on Indiana State Kentucky, Marquette, Notre Dame and Purdue. The Mastodons will also participate in the Hall of Fame Classic, where they will play Virginia Tech and either Saint Louis or Texas A&M.
The Fans
basketball fans in Northeast Indiana will have a lot to be excited about this season as the IPFW men’s basketball team looks to build on last year’s success. The team finished the year with a 23-9 record and made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. While the team may have lost some Key Players from last year’s squad, they return a core group of experienced players who are ready to make another run at the tournament.
This season, the team will be relying heavily on their fans to help them create a homecourt advantage at the Gates Sports Center. The arena has a capacity of just over 4,000 people, but it can get quite loud when packed with passionate fans. If you’re planning on attending any home games this season, here are a few things you can expect:
A lot of excitement: There is always a lot of energy inside the Gates Sports Center when the men’s basketball team is playing. The fans are very passionate about their team and love to show their support.
A great atmosphere: The atmosphere at IPFW basketball games is always electric. The fans are loud and proud, and they do whatever they can to help their team win.
A chance to see some great basketball If you’re a fan of college basketball then you’ll definitely want to check out an IPFW game this season. The team is talented and exciting to watch, and they always seem to find a way to win.
The Coaches
The Coaches:
The head coach for the IPFW men’s basketball team is Doug Collins He is in his first year as the team’s Head Coach The assistant coaches are Armon Gilliam and Steve Tucker. The director of operations is Eric Herbertson.
The Coaching Style:
Doug Collins favors an up-tempo style of play. His teams have typically been known for their fast pace and high scoring. Armon Gilliam is helping to implement this style of play at IPFW. Steve Tucker is responsible for player development and scouting opponents. Eric Herbertson oversees the team’s travel arrangements and scheduling.
What to Expect This Season:
IPFW will be looking to improve upon last season’s 14-17 record. The team has a good mix of experience and youth. They will be relying heavily on seniors John Konchar and Matt Holba to provide leadership and scoring. Younger players like Jarred Godfrey, Deuce McBride, and Kamar Baldwin will be key contributors as well. The schedule includes several tough opponents, but IPFW should be competitive in most games.
The Arena
IPFW Basketball Schedule is set and the first game is right around the corner. The Dawgs will be hosting Oral Roberts on November 6th at The Arena, and there are plenty of other big games to get excited about. Here’s a look at the Arena, what to expect this season.
The History
Since the men’s basketball program’s inception in 1969, the team has produced five NCAA tournament appearances and four trips to the National Invitation Tournament The Mastodons have won five Mid-Continent conference championships one Horizon League championship, and their lone Division I conference title came in 2017 when they shared the Summit League regular season crown with South Dakota State
The Rivalries
The Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons are set to begin their Basketball season on November 1st. The team will be facing off against some tough competition this year, including several of their biggest rivals. Here’s a look at the schedule and what to expect from each game.
November 1st: vs IUPUI Jaguars
The first game of the season is always a rivalry game, and this year is no different. The Mastodons will be up against the IUPUI Jaguars who they have a long history with. This should be a good game to start the season off with.
November 8th: vs Green Bay Phoenix
The Green Bay Phoenix are another one of the Mastodons’ rivals. This game is sure to be a tough one, but the Mastodons have beaten them in the past and will be looking to do so again this year.
November 15th: vs Detroit Mercy Titans
The Detroit Mercy Titans are another team that the Mastodons have had some success against in recent years They will be looking to continue that success this year in what should be another great game
The Future
This section is devoted to looking ahead at the upcoming IPFW Basketball Schedule and what to expect from the team. The article will provide an overview of the team’s strengths and weaknesses and make predictions for how they will fare in the coming season.