West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

That's what she said

Yea...She says all kinds of things that she doesn't mean!!!

[boatcapt]

I'd like a chance to play a complete game against them and let them know they don't own the 2023-2024 edition of the Hilltoppers. It reminds me a bit of that Voorhees NDC team. They just had our number, and we never really got to them (losing in the MEC championship to them as well). It was a missed opportunity for sure, and Voorhees, Koenig, & company can always hang their hat on owning WLU that year. I'd like a shot at getting the last word against this year's UC group. They're really good and really well coached, no doubt--much like that old NDC team. But it's no use being afraid of good teams--gotta go out and prove you can beat them.

With Fairmont and Concord still to play, I don't really want to face UC in the MEC tourney sitting at 6 or perhaps 7 losses. Imagine going onto the NCAA selection show sitting at 7 or even 8 losses!! You think the possibility of falling out of the top 25 for the first time in 10 years is upsetting, try not making the NCAA Tourney for the first time in 14 years!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That's what she said

[boatcapt]

Uc is a very well coached team, who nearly always gets a good shot. Good ball movement on offense.
great rotations on defense.
With sarson hurt and hinds with a bad knee, our 3 point threats were all around 6-0 ft.
Uc's starting five only had one player under 6-4. One shadowed rasile. With their size advantage, Wlu had trouble getting that 6 ft buffer to allow an open look 3pt shot. Our forced turnovers and tremendous efforts by west, korte and Woodward kept us in the game. Tremendous effort on offensive glass.

UC played the odds by leaving low % shooters open when a choice had to be made.

To wlu credit, they played good half court defense even though they were outsized. Just fewer leakouts allowed in transition and it could have been a victory. There Is just a small margin for error when short handed and playing a good team and not shooting well.

imho wlu has to find a way to get rasile and company open looks.

I thought in position-less basketball, size didn't matter?? ;-)

[boatcapt]

Topper 3 point shooting during Ben's tenure as HC:

2017-18 .378 34
2018-19 .425 28
2019-20 .414 27
2020-21 .392 23
2021-22 .377 27
2022-23 .384 32
2023-24 .362 35

On average before this season, Ben lead teams at WLU average .395 from 3. As of right now, WLU is shooting their 3 point shots 33 points below average. Also, on average Ben coached Topper teams took 28 3pt shots per game. This years Toppers are averaging 35 3pt tries per game.

We are taking more 7 more 3 point shots per game this season but hitting at a much lower rate than a typical Ben coached team.

[Scrub]

I would rather NOT get another crack at UC in the MEC tourney.

I'd like a chance to play a complete game against them and let them know they don't own the 2023-2024 edition of the Hilltoppers. It reminds me a bit of that Voorhees NDC team. They just had our number, and we never really got to them (losing in the MEC championship to them as well). It was a missed opportunity for sure, and Voorhees, Koenig, & company can always hang their hat on owning WLU that year. I'd like a shot at getting the last word against this year's UC group. They're really good and really well coached, no doubt--much like that old NDC team. But it's no use being afraid of good teams--gotta go out and prove you can beat them.

[Scrub]

Our forced turnovers and tremendous efforts by west, korte and Woodward kept us in the game.

West was an absolute beast today for sure. Woodward is steadily getting better every single game, and that's great to see.

I love Korte's effort, but his losses of composure lately have been costly. The momentum of that game seemed to swing a bit when he got a silly T. In addition, he's going to have to stop flopping so much. A few times he was genuinely hammered, but no whistle comes because refs are so used to him falling down when breathed on. I'll take his effort and fire any day of the week and twice on Sunday. But I'd like to see him play a headier game. WLU has historically prided itself on playing a bit headier and avoiding the knucklehead stuff that costs lesser teams (national championship game last year notwithstanding). But this year's Hilltoppers have participated in some knucklehead stuff lately that isn't helping the cause.

[Columbuseer]

Uc is a very well coached team, who nearly always gets a good shot. Good ball movement on offense.
great rotations on defense.
With sarson hurt and hinds with a bad knee, our 3 point threats were all around 6-0 ft.
Uc's starting five only had one player under 6-4. One shadowed rasile. With their size advantage, Wlu had trouble getting that 6 ft buffer to allow an open look 3pt shot. Our forced turnovers and tremendous efforts by west, korte and Woodward kept us in the game. Tremendous effort on offensive glass.

UC played the odds by leaving low % shooters open when a choice had to be made.

To wlu credit, they played good half court defense even though they were outsized. Just fewer leakouts allowed in transition and it could have been a victory. There Is just a small margin for error when short handed and playing a good team and not shooting well.

imho wlu has to find a way to get rasile and company open looks.

[boatcapt]

Hat tip to UC. They put on a defensive clinic tonight. Boat is right that WLU didn't shoot well, but I firmly believe that UC caused that poor shooting performance. These weren't just unfortunate misses with guys' feet set. UC made everything difficult tonight. Heck of an effort by the Golden Eagles. All respect to Dwaine Osborne--that's an incredibly disciplined and well-coached team that came in here and put on a defensive clinic tonight.

Hope WLU gets another crack at them in the MEC tourney.

But right now, WLU has to get some things figured out and finish this regular season strong enough to build a tourney resume.

Obviously, this doesn't really matter in the long run, but I'll be sad to see their streak of top-25 appearances end this week. 10+ years in the rankings is pretty impressive and worth celebrating. Again, rankings don't win ballgames, and I know it doesn't matter, but it was a fun ride.

Time to start a new streak!

I would rather NOT get another crack at UC in the MEC tourney.

UC beat us defensively outside knowing we had little chance of beating any of their bigs inside.

[Scrub]

Hat tip to UC. They put on a defensive clinic tonight. Boat is right that WLU didn't shoot well, but I firmly believe that UC caused that poor shooting performance. These weren't just unfortunate misses with guys' feet set. UC made everything difficult tonight. Heck of an effort by the Golden Eagles. All respect to Dwaine Osborne--that's an incredibly disciplined and well-coached team that came in here and put on a defensive clinic tonight.

Hope WLU gets another crack at them in the MEC tourney.

But right now, WLU has to get some things figured out and finish this regular season strong enough to build a tourney resume.

Obviously, this doesn't really matter in the long run, but I'll be sad to see their streak of top-25 appearances end this week. 10+ years in the rankings is pretty impressive and worth celebrating. Again, rankings don't win ballgames, and I know it doesn't matter, but it was a fun ride.

Time to start a new streak!

[boatcapt]

WLU ;loses to UC.

WORST 3 point shooting game I've seen from the Toppers. 5-26 (19%) ain't going to win many games for us. Montegue 1-5...West 1-5...Risile, Spadfora and Korte each 1-4 from 3.

We had no answer for UC's three bigs who combined went 13 for 20 from the field and grabbed 17 defensive rebounds.

For all their 100 point games and stunning advanced stats, this team comes up small against good opponents.

[boatcapt]

UGLY game going on vs UC.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
construction company owner bought A-B land and bldings for $5m

[Columbuseer]

Anyone hearing anything about Sarson's injury? If he's out Saturday that's a serious problem against UC. If he's out for the season, that's a serious problem. Period. Full stop.

Although, I did really like what I saw from Woodward last night (as did the WVSU announcer who waxed rhapsodic over Woodward's contributions at one point during the second half). He's developing well this year and making strides compared to what we saw last year.

Yep, hard to believe woodward is just a soph.
he makes 60% effective fg% , which is amazing given that he rarely shoots threes.
Like other teams, UC will likely shadow Rasile with a big guard. wlu might use a lineup with rasile, cmont, Dante and optionally hinds like they did in 2nd half against wvsu to free up shooters.
I was impressed that they nearly beat wvsu without Sarson.
one advantage of 5 out positionless basketball.

[boatcapt]

Cut to the facts...
for individuals , 35% is a good three pt. Shooter. An elite 3 pt shooter is 40%
shooting 40% or higher
spadafora
Montague
Rasile
Hinds 39.5%



Team average for season 36.8%, which is very good.

So the slumping shooters are not taking an inordinate amount of shots or the average would be much lower.

That said, shooting fluctuates significantly game to game, which is true for all teams. One reason why it is hard to go undefeated.

It's a game to game League. Looking at season long performance points to potential but when you look at individual game performances, somewhat lacking in big game production.

Big game coming Saturday against a team that has already beaten us once. Do we see 40+ (or even 35+) 3 point shooting from our "big four" as their season long numbers say...our do we see much less? That will tell the tale of weather we win or lose. And by extension, do we limp into the post season or roar in like last year?