West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[ctrabs74]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[West Liberty's] fatigue will not be a factor in regional until the finals. But it will be an even playing field then.

However, it looks like IUP has the inside track at this time for hosting the regional. But a lot of basketball to be played.

Good argument, except for IUP's 91-81 overtime loss at home to Fairmont State on Dec. 19. Hosting rights, at this point, are Fairmont's to lose.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Correct. Fairmont now controls its ability to host. Run table and done deal.

[Guest]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

For fun assume west Liberty beats fairmont in the tourney final and iup wins out and wins the psac tournament.

Fairmont two losses both to WL
WL two losses fairmont concord
Iup two losses ship and fairmont

Who hosts

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

FSU

But ... they are due for a flop.

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Where has Gross been the last two games? We need more output from him to be successful.

School Min Rebounds Points

Concord 20 1 9

Fairmont 35 6 0

[timbertopper]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Where has Gross been the last two games? We need more output from him to be successful.

School Min Rebounds Points

Concord 20 1 9

Fairmont 35 6 0

Gross appears to have reverted to the 2-guard mentality he brought with him from Wofford. Has been a growing problem. WLU needs him to get back to the double-double machine he was at the end of last season. One rebound in 20 minutes at Concord isn't going to get it done.

Thursday may have been Dennis' worst game as a Hilltopper. Shot selection, finishing, decisions, etc. not up to his usual very high standards. Look for him to refocus on creating opportunities for his teammates rather than shouldering the scoring burden himself. WLU is better when that happens.

Griffin's shoulder injury may be more problematic than they're letting on. His minutes - and effectiveness - have been severely limited the last couple of games. Need him at 100% to make a run.

Guillozet has impressed me as a freshman. No fear and love his defense. Wonder where his game would be if he hadn't missed most of the first semester due to injury.

This team lacks the individual offensive firepower of previous WLU teams but has been getting better execution as the season goes on (e.g. second half of Fairmont game). Also, when focused as they were for the Fairmont game, this may be the best half-court defensive team of the Crutchfield era. That being said, the defense has to show up every night - especially on the road - or you wind up in one-possession coin flip games like we had at Glenville (got away with it) and Concord (didn't get away with it).

[cavsfan94]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

WLU vs UVA-Wise Game Updates:

HALFTIME:
UVA-Wise leads #2 West Liberty 34-31

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Good argument, except for IUP's 91-81 overtime loss at home to Fairmont State on Dec. 19. Hosting rights, at this point, are Fairmont's to lose.

Those are good points. What role or predictive value does the coach's national ranking have in hosting the regional? IUP was #4 and Fairmont was #5. I was assuming it was the same people that decide the regional. Would a loss in MEC finals by Fairmont or West Lib doom them for hosting if IUP wins? I would think so.

[ctrabs74]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Those are good points. What role or predictive value does the coach's national ranking have in hosting the regional? IUP was #4 and Fairmont was #5. I was assuming it was the same people that decide the regional. Would a loss in MEC finals by Fairmont or West Lib doom them for hosting if IUP wins? I would think so.

It has no bearing whatsover on the regional rankings. The NCAA releases the top ten teams in each region over the final three Wednesdays of the regular season (starting this week); it's those regional rankings which determine the field of eight teams from each region (excluding conference tournament champions, who get an automatic bid).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

That national poll means absolutely nothing. Zero. It's all a puppet show. Nothing more.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

WLU is a little shakey right now and it seems like the starters need a wake-up call. Tonight might be the best opportunity for Crutch to send a message. How about benching our starting five and starting the game with:

Meinenger
Guillozet
Smith
Primmer
Arnold

Sounds crazy, right? Not so fast. I note that this five collectively is averaging 2.6 points per minute while the starting five of Monte, Gross, Dennis, Hoehn and Griffin is averaging 2.49 PPM. I also note that the regular starting five are off their season high (probably not enough to call it a slump for any one player, but collectively, its taking a toll).

Crutch has upset the starter apple cart at some point in most recent seasons. It's much later than typical but I think it's time for the starters to be humbled a little by putting their warm-ups back on and grabbing a seat for tip off.


And if that starting five played well and lead the way to a W...I'd start them against Glenville too! It would be nice to have a pissed off AND somewhat rested starting five heading into the last two games of the regular season and on into the tourneys!

[Chevydude89]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Hahaha u make a good point but i still think your off your rocker!!!!!

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

You could start any four off the team and the office secretary and you should beat WVWC at home. As you noted Boat they are just not playing typical Hilltopper basketball as we have become to know lately. To win the tourney they are going to have to step up their game.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Hahaha u make a good point but i still think your off your rocker!!!!!

You're in good company!

WLU is a good team that knows how to win. But even though they are winning, that doesn't mean they are playing well. Yes, they beat Wise by 20+ but that doesn't really tell the story. No way that Wise should take a lead into half time particularly when WLU was coming off of a L. We played great in the second half scoring 57 points but that masked a first half were we scored 32! Game before we lost to a pretty bad Concord team by three. But the score again masks the fact that we were behind by 20 points much of the second half until a FURIOUS run over the last nine minutes allowed us to tie the game before losing. Even in the Fairmont game we had to overcome a bad first half (32 points) before gaining the W.

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Monteroso sprained his ankle in practice, in a boot might be out till the conference tourney