West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

Wow... now some sense being spoken. I wonder why a team like IUP didn't opt in with only being able to get cup cakes on the schedule? hmmm

[IUPalum]

When you're sitting on 3 losses in a small-field tourney year, you're worried about every opponent. Notre Dame was about 2 minutes away from making hosting duties in the Regional very uncomfortable for a disappointed collection of ball boys and stat runners.

Wow... now some sense being spoken. I wonder why a team like IUP didn't opt in with only being able to get cup cakes on the schedule? hmmm

[Scrub]

So true. Another concern is balance of GMAC. Hillsdale and Findlay have had close games. Cedarville has beaten them both. Risk is hillsdale and findlay lose inTourney and gmac gets 3 teams.

Walsh and Kentucky Wesleyan are also tough outs. MEC fans just have to hope that Hillsdale takes care of business.

[Columbuseer]

When you're sitting on 3 losses in a small-field tourney year, you're worried about every opponent. Notre Dame was about 2 minutes away from making hosting duties in the Regional very uncomfortable for a disappointed collection of ball boys and stat runners.

So true. Another concern is balance of GMAC. Hillsdale and Findlay have had close games. Cedarville has beaten them both. Risk is hillsdale and findlay lose inTourney and gmac gets 3 teams.

[Columbuseer]

My mistake. Powell is the kid from D&E who started the year with a very high scoring average. Looks like he got off to a very hot start but may have regularized lately. We haven't seen him yet.

Speaking of powell, can't wait to see Luke powell next year. He is injured this year at wlu. Scored 2374 points. He and Zach Rasile were 2 of 8 finalists for mr. ohio basketball.

[Scrub]

You're worried about Frostburg? That's like playing against a low class high school team.

When you're sitting on 3 losses in a small-field tourney year, you're worried about every opponent. Notre Dame was about 2 minutes away from making hosting duties in the Regional very uncomfortable for a disappointed collection of ball boys and stat runners.

[Scrub]

Don't see a powell on fsu roster. Imho best player is #4 edwards averages 19 and 39% from 3 and good dribble drive. I know we beat them by 62 earlier. But against wvsu they were playing wlu ball on offense and were carving up wvsu. Frostburg definitely lost the pre game warmup against wvsu. Announcers said it was the unselfish offense they had been waiting to see.

Wvsu definitely took them lightly. Unselfish, team ball can be a great equalizer.

I know coach Howlett will make changes if he does not see great Effort.

My mistake. Powell is the kid from D&E who started the year with a very high scoring average. Looks like he got off to a very hot start but may have regularized lately. We haven't seen him yet. I just remember him making some headlines after a hot start. But we've had to wait so long to see him--we many not see that version of him.

[Columbuseer]

The Powell kid averages some obscene number of points (like, maybe 27 per game or something like that). If someone around him has a career game, they're already halfway to an upset. I agree that they will need to take care of business against Frostburg.

Don't see a powell on fsu roster. Imho best player is #4 edwards averages 19 and 39% from 3 and good dribble drive. I know we beat them by 62 earlier. But against wvsu they were playing wlu ball on offense and were carving up wvsu. Frostburg definitely lost the pre game warmup against wvsu. Announcers said it was the unselfish offense they had been waiting to see.

Wvsu definitely took them lightly. Unselfish, team ball can be a great equalizer.

I know coach Howlett will make changes if he does not see great Effort.

[IUPalum]

Wlu cannot overlook frostburg. When we played them earlier, their star player had the green light to jack up bad shots. Before their wvsu victory, somebody gave them the wlu version of the vulcan mind meld. They were rapidly passing the ball and giving up good shots for great shots. Went up 20 in 1st half.

You're worried about Frostburg? That's like playing against a low class high school team.

[Scrub]

Wlu cannot overlook frostburg. When we played them earlier, their star player had the green light to jack up bad shots. Before their wvsu victory, somebody gave them the wlu version of the vulcan mind meld. They were rapidly passing the ball and giving up good shots for great shots. Went up 20 in 1st half.

The Powell kid averages some obscene number of points (like, maybe 27 per game or something like that). If someone around him has a career game, they're already halfway to an upset. I agree that they will need to take care of business against Frostburg.

[Columbuseer]

Wlu cannot overlook frostburg. When we played them earlier, their star player had the green light to jack up bad shots. Before their wvsu victory, somebody gave them the wlu version of the vulcan mind meld. They were rapidly passing the ball and giving up good shots for great shots. Went up 20 in 1st half.

[boatcapt]

WLU has been in win or stay home since the final horn in Charleston on Jan 30. One more loss and they are probably out of the Top 6 and their only route to the tourney is through the MECs automatic bid. EVERY game for them is must win.

[Columbuseer]

FYI WLU National D2 stat ranking (through midnight Feb 14)
NCAA ranks the 312 D2 schools in 31 national statistics, of which only 26 are relevant to the WLU style (see note below).

WLU ranks in the:

• top 50 in 24 of the relevant 26 categories
• top 20 in 19 categories
• top 10 in 12 categories
• top 5 in 9 categories

Note: The WL style is incongruous with some statistics, such as fewest fouls, personal fouls per game, fewest turnovers, turnovers per game, scoring defense, etc., which leaves only 26 relevant stats for WLU.

Date	Stat	Rank	Value
2/14/2021	Scoring Offense	1	104.8
2/14/2021	Assists per game	2	20.8
2/14/2021	Total Rebounds per game	2	45.58
2/14/2021	Scoring margin	3	24
2/14/2021	Turnover margin	3	6.3
2/14/2021	Steals per Game	4	10.6
2/14/2021	Turnovers forced per game	4	19.25
2/14/2021	Defensive Rebounds per game	5	29.5
2/14/2021	Rebound Margin	5	9
2/14/2021	Offensive rebounds per game	6	16.08
2/14/2021	Assist to turnover ratio	7	1.61
2/14/2021	Total steals	9	127
2/14/2021	Blocked shots per game	12	4.3
2/14/2021	Total Assists	15	249
2/14/2021	Three Point FG Defense	16	30.20%
2/14/2021	Free Throw Made	19	240
2/14/2021	Free Throw Percentage	20	77.67%
2/14/2021	Three-point FG per game	20	10.6
2/14/2021	Total Blocks	20	52
2/14/2021	Free Throw Attempts	30	309
2/14/2021	FG percentage	32	48.26%
2/14/2021	Total Rebounds	34	547
2/14/2021	3-point FG attempts	38	358
2/14/2021	Total three-point FG Made	40	127

[Columbuseer]

Do note that Findlay had a terrible week this week and now shows 4 losses on their record. But, they have that signature win against Hillsdale on their record from back in December. Can't take that away from them. I wouldn't count the Oilers out of anything just yet. Especially with the mess the MEC has become this year. Charleston likely has the easiest path to a "secure" spot. After that, it's a dog fight between WLU, WVSU, FSU, & Glenville. The upcoming WLU/FSU game might just become a sort of de facto "play in game." Both teams gotta have it.

Thanks scrub. Was not aware of findlays losses. Hope ndc or others can pull some upsets in the last week and wlu can win out.

[Scrub]

Do note that Findlay had a terrible week this week and now shows 4 losses on their record. But, they have that signature win against Hillsdale on their record from back in December. Can't take that away from them. I wouldn't count the Oilers out of anything just yet. Especially with the mess the MEC has become this year. Charleston likely has the easiest path to a "secure" spot. After that, it's a dog fight between WLU, WVSU, FSU, & Glenville. The upcoming WLU/FSU game might just become a sort of de facto "play in game." Both teams gotta have it.