West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Topper_Hopper]

Columbuseer, I did not watch the game (behind a paywall). Was Dominican's 3P% a product of finding easy shots after breaking the press? Or, were they getting looks in half-court sets? (Or both?)

[boatcapt]

More importantly, how did this game effect our season long effective FG % and how do we rank in national statistical categories??

I kid...I KID!!!! : 🤣

[Columbuseer]

Dominican had an excellent game plan. On season they had averaged over 40% from three as a team.
They hit 58% from three 11-19
they won turnovers 16 vs 21 for wlu. Wlu had 16 in first half!
they won offensive rebounds 20 to 13
They won fast break pts 13 to 4
they had 10 more FGA.
They smothered Zach rasile, limiting good looks.

Turnover and off rebounding advantage are typically in wlu's favor and are keys to victory for wlu. Not today.
We had so many unforced turnovers on forced passes, etc.

imho, this is first game where we missed bryce butler, who would carry us thru these abnormal games.

[boatcapt]

You're not the only team that does this nowadays. A couple of years ago I watched a generally good-shooting Shippensburg team that averaged about 35 percent from the three-point line go 4-for-34 from three-point range in a game. They also missed about half their free throws and lost in OT. Some nights it just isn't there, especially in the era of the three-pointer, which can both giveth and taketh away.

Every team is susseptable to an off night now and then. Sometimes teams tough through and sometimes it costs them. But for WLU, this seems to be a yearly occurrence and more than a cold shooting night. It's as if the team collectively decides they are going to forget what the coaches want and do it "their" way. They win a couple just because, but when faced with good teams, they lose. Then the team comes dragging their tails back to the coach and plays the way they should be playing and all is well again.

[Ship69]

Frustrating that WLU does this almost every year recently. Start out on fire doing what wins games easily in this system. Then as if someone hits a switch, the entire team starts playing AAU ball. I could see if it was one or even two players, but it seems to be every player from the top of the roster to the bottom all at once.

Like I said, tomorrow is a must win if we have any illusions of hosting Regionals.

You're not the only team that does this nowadays. A couple of years ago I watched a generally good-shooting Shippensburg team that averaged about 35 percent from the three-point line go 4-for-34 from three-point range in a game. They also missed about half their free throws and lost in OT. Some nights it just isn't there, especially in the era of the three-pointer, which can both giveth and taketh away.

[boatcapt]

Ouch. That's the worst I've seen them play in a LONG time. The amount of times they simply dribbled the ball of their own feet today was unreal--just a microcosm for how out of synch they were all day. This is a team that looked like it already has one foot in the Winter Break. Too bad they have a ranked opponent waiting for them tomorrow. Better figure it out real quick.

The only good news is this: They went 1-1 in the holiday shootout last year. Put up a poor performance against Lubbock who made them pay. Rebounded well the following day. Maybe the same will hold true this year. And if this year's team mirrors last year's team in terms of how far they go, I'll be all right with that.

But they need to get back in synch in a hurry. It was easy to see that they've been off for over a week.

Frustrating that WLU does this almost every year recently. Start out on fire doing what wins games easily in this system. Then as if someone hits a switch, the entire team starts playing AAU ball. I could see if it was one or even two players, but it seems to be every player from the top of the roster to the bottom all at once.

Like I said, tomorrow is a must win if we have any illusions of hosting Regionals.

[boatcapt]

Yep...WLU loses 112-101. Tomorrow's game vs Angelo State is a must win if we entertain ANY hope of hosting the NCAA Regional tourney.

So tired of taking body blows inside. Of course, this game included one team that was taking and making 3's with reckless abandon. Hard to win when you can't stop them inside OR outside! Hey, at least we might have beat them on FG Efficiency...Yea... Probably not!!

[Scrub]

Ouch. That's the worst I've seen them play in a LONG time. The amount of times they simply dribbled the ball of their own feet today was unreal--just a microcosm for how out of synch they were all day. This is a team that looked like it already has one foot in the Winter Break. Too bad they have a ranked opponent waiting for them tomorrow. Better figure it out real quick.

The only good news is this: They went 1-1 in the holiday shootout last year. Put up a poor performance against Lubbock who made them pay. Rebounded well the following day. Maybe the same will hold true this year. And if this year's team mirrors last year's team in terms of how far they go, I'll be all right with that.

But they need to get back in synch in a hurry. It was easy to see that they've been off for over a week.

[boatcapt]

WLU down bi 19 at the half to Dominican. Shot sub 30% from 3 in the first half.

We'll need a MONSTER comeback to pull this one out.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi. Good article on wlu stats and preview of dominican and angelo state games.
West is #2 nationally in assist to turnover ratio at 5.0
Spadafora is #5 in steals per game at 3.22

https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...ine-state.aspx

[Columbuseer]

Just like the perfect country and western song would mention momma, train, prison and rain, I started musing about the perfect wlu basketball player:

Some possible talents of folks to emulate:
- Post footwork of Bryce Butler
- Shooting mechanics of Zach Rasile or Seger Bonifant
- Energy, hand speed, and trapping defense of Dante Spadafora or Brady Arnold
- Passing and ball security of Alek West or Luke Dyer
- First step off dribble of Darren Fergus
- Crunch time judgment and leadership of Christian Montague
- Rebounding of CJ Hester

Imho, if players would watch film of these players and practice accordingly, they could incorporate some technical aspects of these winning techniques into their skill set, within the limits of their athletic ability.

[Columbuseer]

Alek West has amazing vision and elite passing. Who can forget the 20 ft bounce pass between legs of running defender to woodward for layup in transition against new haven in elite 8? Many of his passes are non trivial.

national assist to turnover ratio:
#2 west 5.0
#22 Montague 3.13
#31 Spadafora 2.83 (oddly missing, when he has more assists than others in the list)

[Columbuseer]

Found this game of Dominican vs post on dec 2.
only watched beginning moments.
some prelim observations. Dominican looks like they do dribble drive and kick to corner for three. Good 1 on 1 players, good athletes.
they average 19 turnovers per game, so they might be vulnerable. If they break press, they will attack the rim.
Feel free to watch and add your observations.

https://www.youtube.com/live/4Fkk9VPmegU?feature=shared

[Columbuseer]

FYI
West Liberty national stats thru dec 10

#1 Assists 23.7
#1 Turnovers margin 13.7
#1 3pt attempts 35.1

#2 Turnovers forced 25.11
#2 Bench points 47.67
#2 Assist to turnover ratio 2.07

#3 Steals 14.7
#3 Scoring 102
#3 3pts made 12.3
#4 Scoring margin 15

#6 Fast break pts 22.22

#17 3 pt defense 28.3 %
#17 off rebs 14.57
#37 effective fg % 56.1%
#67 fg% 47.94%

[boatcapt]

Next up is 7-1 Damien followed by 7-1 Angelo State in Daytona. We picked the wrong time to be in a slump!!!!