West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I would agree with your supposition that Crutch scheduled easy because he couldn't find difficult opponents if it wasn't apparently so easy for Ben to find difficult opponents. I believe there are SOME difficult teams that are not willing to play WLU, but not EVERY difficult opponent then or now is unwilling.

IMHO, the reason Crutch scheduled like he did (does) is because he's looking for certain "outcomes" on the season. He understands that Rule Number 1 is "just win baby" and losing to a tough opponent early in the year does a lot more harm to a team come playoff selection time than any perceived "battle toughness" it may provide when in the playoffs at the end of the season. Not saying Crutch NEVER scheduled a random 'tough game," but as Scrub pointed out, on the occasions when it did happen, it was typically around/over Christmas...AFTER he had used the early season to whip the players into shape and build team chemistry.

I would be hard pressed to disagree with the wisdom of what Crutch does and how he schedules...both at WLU and now at Nova. Clearly Ben sees things differently and perhaps this year is just an aberration...but I would note that we are sitting at 7-3 and unranked for the first time in a LOONNNGGGG time. Ben has plenty of games left this year to prove the wisdom of how he does things over how his mentor Crutch did them...but if you were a betting man, who would you put money on being the "right" way of doing things??

Isn't the argument, however, the 2017-18 season when you guys had a 26-2 record but got seeded 4th due to the awful non-conference schedule?

Aside from Daemen, Ben isn't exactly playing a world-beater schedule here so I'm not following your point. The rest: Shaw (4-5), Mansfield (2-6), Salem (4-6), Ohio Valley (3-8), Ohio Dominican (4-8). Aside from Daemen, I'm not sure how he could have scheduled any easier?

Losing at home to a 4-7 (then 1-6) West Virginia Wesleyan is far more hurtful than losing to Daemen.

[boatcapt]

I would agree with your supposition that Crutch scheduled easy because he couldn't find difficult opponents if it wasn't apparently so easy for Ben to find difficult opponents. I believe there are SOME difficult teams that are not willing to play WLU, but not EVERY difficult opponent then or now is unwilling.

IMHO, the reason Crutch scheduled like he did (does) is because he's looking for certain "outcomes" on the season. He understands that Rule Number 1 is "just win baby" and losing to a tough opponent early in the year does a lot more harm to a team come playoff selection time than any perceived "battle toughness" it may provide when in the playoffs at the end of the season. Not saying Crutch NEVER scheduled a random 'tough game," but as Scrub pointed out, on the occasions when it did happen, it was typically around/over Christmas...AFTER he had used the early season to whip the players into shape and build team chemistry.

I would be hard pressed to disagree with the wisdom of what Crutch does and how he schedules...both at WLU and now at Nova. Clearly Ben sees things differently and perhaps this year is just an aberration...but I would note that we are sitting at 7-3 and unranked for the first time in a LOONNNGGGG time. Ben has plenty of games left this year to prove the wisdom of how he does things over how his mentor Crutch did them...but if you were a betting man, who would you put money on being the "right" way of doing things??

[Columbuseer]

Per VC, the biblical figure down in Florida snagged a power forward from Ohio.

A PF who shoots 36% from three and had 3.75 GPA. Had some interest from Penn. I suspect he is another do it all player like 6-10 Shane hunter this year.

Sunahara was injured against ave Maria. Probably a factor in close loss to Rollins. Matchup nightmare.

[Columbuseer]

I like it, Boat. Bringin' the data! Your point is a good one. Up above in the discussion, I was paying more attention to the period just before that (10-11, 11-12, etc.) when it seemed like Crutch was more willing to challenge himself. But there's no arguing with the data you provided about the last 5 years. It does appear that Crutch & Howlett differ in their philosophy on the OOC schedule. Neither guy won the championship on the Hilltop, so it's tough to say which philosophy works better in March (which both philosophies are geared for). I would say Howlett's team overachieved expectations in March last year, so that's a good sign. This year is off to a rough start to say the least. Guess we'll see.

[boatcapt]

I know we are working on scant data, but for comparison, here are WLU's season results between "scheduling tough" as Ben does and "scheduling easy" as Crutch favored:

2019-20, OOC % .579, W/L 7-3, ?? seed, ?? results
2018-19, OOC % .555, W/L 28-4, #2 seed, Lost in Regional Final
2017-18, OOC % .330, W/L 26-3, #4 seed, Lost in first round
2016-17, OOC % .383, W/L 28-3, #3 seed, Lost in first round
2015-16, OOC % .304, W/L 27-3, #2 seed, Regional Champion
2014-15, OOC % .456, W/L 27-2, #1 seed, Lost in Regional Final
2013-14, OOC % .396, W/L 26-3, #2 seed, Regional Champion

IMHO, for WLU to have a chance at getting a high seed, they effectively have to run the table and win the MEC tourney...Or perhaps have one more loss along the way. That is a TALL order going 20-1 "down the stretch" in the always tough MEC!!

[Scrub]

I like it, Boat. Bringin' the data! Your point is a good one. Up above in the discussion, I was paying more attention to the period just before that (10-11, 11-12, etc.) when it seemed like Crutch was more willing to challenge himself. But there's no arguing with the data you provided about the last 5 years. It does appear that Crutch & Howlett differ in their philosophy on the OOC schedule. Neither guy won the championship on the Hilltop, so it's tough to say which philosophy works better in March (which both philosophies are geared for). I would say Howlett's team overachieved expectations in March last year, so that's a good sign. This year is off to a rough start to say the least. Guess we'll see.

[boatcapt]

Some scheduling comparisons. In Crutch's final five years of scheduling (this includes Ben's first year of 17-18), the winning % of the OOC teams on WLU's schedule was:

17-18 .330
16-17 .383
15-16 .304
14-15 .456
13-14 .396

Over that five year period, WLU played DII teams that finished the season at or above .500 on four occasions:

17-18 Kings 19-11
16-17 Lemoyne 22-7
15-16 NONE
14-15 Fayet State 15-13 and Holly Family 22-8
13-14 NONE

In Ben's two seasons being exclusively responsible for the scheduling, the winning % for his OOC opponents is:

19-20 .579 (thus far)
18-19 .555

Over those two seasons he has played SIX teams that are at or above .500:

19-20 Shaw 5-5 and Damien 11-2
18-19 Kutztown 16-14, WCU 22-9, Salem 17-9, King 15-14

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Per VC, the biblical figure down in Florida snagged a power forward from Ohio.

[Columbuseer]

That Tallahassee program has become like a hub for guys just like him. They have a stacked roster every year. Many go from Tallahassee to major D1 programs.

One of the teams in Pittsburgh is similar (CCBC). Most years CCBC would easily compete in the Atlantic Region. CCBC scrimmaged three PSAC West middle pack schools this year and I've heard beat two of them up.

The more local (Pa, DC, MD, VA) JUCO circuit is loaded for this coming recruiting season. Lasy year it was a bit down.

Harford, for example, has 3-4 guys our schools will be lining up to sign. That's the same program that has produced Micah Till, Brandon Spain, Tevin Hanner, Martin Kelly (Concord), etc. It's also where IUP snagged Dom Keyes, although that one ultimately didn't work out. Joe of course redshirted him and then he allegedly got in trouble.

This year Harford has Fairmont State PG cast-off Christain Sweazie and a very coveted 6'5" shooting guard.

Players land there for a variety of reasons. Some academics, some looking for a better opportunity.

If you look around, the Atlantic Region is loaded with guys from JUCO schools.

Good info. Thanks. The risk yahel faces at d1 is his physical stature. Guys at d1 are often bigger and stronger. But his skills could result in a role at a low level d1 school like CSU. Hopefully he will develop his defense this year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I wish him well. Avg 19 min, 7 pts, only 31% from three and 36% fg assist to turnover under 2.0. Only started 4 games out of 16.
big declines in stats going to community college.
he had a bright future at wl. Hope he has a successful academic career and is happy at Cleveland state.

funny how things work out. Got a better offensive player in Robinson iii. Both he and Malik are much better defensively. They have much stronger bodies.

That Tallahassee program has become like a hub for guys just like him. They have a stacked roster every year. Many go from Tallahassee to major D1 programs.

One of the teams in Pittsburgh is similar (CCBC). Most years CCBC would easily compete in the Atlantic Region. CCBC scrimmaged three PSAC West middle pack schools this year and I've heard beat two of them up.

The more local (Pa, DC, MD, VA) JUCO circuit is loaded for this coming recruiting season. Lasy year it was a bit down.

Harford, for example, has 3-4 guys our schools will be lining up to sign. That's the same program that has produced Micah Till, Brandon Spain, Tevin Hanner, Martin Kelly (Concord), etc. It's also where IUP snagged Dom Keyes, although that one ultimately didn't work out. Joe of course redshirted him and then he allegedly got in trouble.

This year Harford has Fairmont State PG cast-off Christain Sweazie and a very coveted 6'5" shooting guard.

Players land there for a variety of reasons. Some academics, some looking for a better opportunity.

If you look around, the Atlantic Region is loaded with guys from JUCO schools.

[Columbuseer]

Your WL boy Yahel Hill signed a National LOI with Cleveland State.

I wish him well. Avg 19 min, 7 pts, only 31% from three and 36% fg assist to turnover under 2.0. Only started 4 games out of 16.
big declines in stats going to community college.
he had a bright future at wl. Hope he has a successful academic career and is happy at Cleveland state.

funny how things work out. Got a better offensive player in Robinson iii. Both he and Malik are much better defensively. They have much stronger bodies.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Your WL boy Yahel Hill signed a National LOI with Cleveland State.

[Columbuseer]

WV State Novelette VersionAreas for Improvement

• WL has at least 4 gifted scorers, which sometimes leads to them taking matters into their own hands. They need to continue to trust the WL system and let the open shots develop for them. Hopefully, this game showed them that this style provides room at the scoring table for everyone. Even though they can make difficult shots, they need to remember that that they are even more gifted at hitting the open shot.
• Alessandro and Hazelbaker have some great learning moments in watching the replay of this game. A lot of stuff is easily corrected and is often due to inexperience.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Sunahara didn't play in Nova's loss. Not sure if he's injured or what.

[Columbuseer]

Oh absolutely. I don't expect Cedarville to be able to beat (or perhaps even hang with) Nova. However, I am suggesting they're not quite the patsy Trevecca was. In other words, my read on Crutch's scheduling philosophy is that he most often schedules a few OOC patsies to open the season and puts more respectable and/or challenging games during the Christmas break. I don't think you would disagree that Cedarville & Dominican are more respected opponents than Trevecca or Staten Island. Granted, he's not scheduling NW Missouri or anything like that, but I wouldn't qualify Cedarville as a patsy. It's a storied and respected program that typically puts a reasonably good product on the court.

I agree. Definitely not a patsy. They play Findlay and do ok. The relentless style of nova has the potential to slice and dice very solid teams.