West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Still the question ... can he play this year per transfer rules (in the MEC)?

PSAC (and most D2) require you sit out a year for an inter-conference transfer.

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

For some unfortunate reason that Brady Arnold couldn't play this year he would be a good replacement.

[Dirtybird]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

He will be missed at WJ. High energy and passionate on the court but very quiet and humble off the court.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

WL loses Brandon Smith, Monty, and Jordan Watson, and James Griffin from last year's team....all 4 that had played a slasher / #3 / shooting guard type position, and you wouldn't be overly excited about adding a 17 ppg soph guard into that vacancy? That production in this league is great and he'd start day one.

WL fans, imagine for a second, your two guards are Bolon and Boswell for the next two years? That would be nice.

I think Boz is most dangerous in an open court, transition style, which makes it easy for him to go by his defender with the option to kick out to Bolon for the 3 and go for the and-1 at the rim. He will need to kick his defense up several notches at WLU, which can only help him at the next level (Europe).

I have high hopes for Nate Allen to fill one of the slasher roles. He has a great first step. Just needs to get comfortable in the WLU style and improve his 3 pt shooting % and defense. I also look for great things from Keegan Saben as a slasher too.
Yahel Hill is a PG and slasher, who is the real deal.
If we can get one more big who can shoot the 3 and/or slash, it could be a very interesting year.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

WL loses Brandon Smith, Monty, and Jordan Watson, and James Griffin from last year's team....all 4 that had played a slasher / #3 / shooting guard type position, and you wouldn't be overly excited about adding a 17 ppg soph guard into that vacancy? That production in this league is great and he'd start day one.

WL fans, imagine for a second, your two guards are Bolon and Boswell for the next two years? That would be nice.

Didn't say I wouldn't be excited...just not over the top excited. Did he score 17+ PPG? Yes he did. But he was the second minute getter on the team averaging 35.7 minutes per game. The #2 WLU guy last season was Bolon who averaged 25.3. Take Boswell's points per minute and give him 10.4 fewer minutes per game and he averages 12.3 PPG. That's nothing to sneeze at and as I said, he would be a good addition but not necessarily a season changer.

I also question weather he would be our starting PG. If he does, his impact will be greater...if he's the 2 guard or off the bench player his impact would be lessoned. He'd still be a good pick up and would make WLU better, just not as great an impact as if he were the starting PG.

As for weather Boswell should come to WLU, I think that really depends on were his allegiance lies. If it's to his school, he stays at WJ...if it's to his coach, he goes to Cal...if it's to himself, he goes to WLU. Given the current state of WJ and Cal, if he stays/goes to either of those places, he pretty much guarantees he won't be in the NCAA Tourney and probably will be on roughly 500 teams at best. At WLU he would be on one of the best programs in the nation that will be a front runner for MEC Ttitles, Regional Titles, and have a shot at an NCAA Championship.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

The MEC wouldn't make him sit out this year?

[IUP Extra Mile]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'd take Boswell if he applied but I wouldn't be "over the moon" about it. Real question I have is would he be our starting PG? If the answer is yes, he would be a very good pick-up...If the answer is no, then I would be less excited. At that point he'd become another shooter in WLU's arsenal. Certainly an upgrade but not necessarily one that pushes us to the next level.

WL loses Brandon Smith, Monty, and Jordan Watson, and James Griffin from last year's team....all 4 that had played a slasher / #3 / shooting guard type position, and you wouldn't be overly excited about adding a 17 ppg soph guard into that vacancy? That production in this league is great and he'd start day one.

WL fans, imagine for a second, your two guards are Bolon and Boswell for the next two years? That would be nice.

[Dirtybird]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I think at this level every player benefits from having multiple weapons on the floor. As great as Highsmith is, his offensive stats would have been harder to achieve if he was the only legit scorer on the floor.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

That 17.5 ppg came as a true sophomore, too. His best two years are ahead of him.

The only real question is he really 'the guy' or was he a good player but one who highly benefited from Highsmith and Moseh?

[Dirtybird]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Anytime you pickup a 2nd team all conference 17.5ppg player it's something to be excited about. Boswell gets to the rim and foul line a lot so I think he is viewed more as a scorer than just another shooter.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'd take Boswell if he applied but I wouldn't be "over the moon" about it. Real question I have is would he be our starting PG? If the answer is yes, he would be a very good pick-up...If the answer is no, then I would be less excited. At that point he'd become another shooter in WLU's arsenal. Certainly an upgrade but not necessarily one that pushes us to the next level.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'd take Boswell if he applied but I wouldn't be "over the moon" about it. Real question I have is would he be our starting PG? If the answer is yes, he would be a very good pick-up...If the answer is no, then I would be less excited. At that point he'd become another shooter in WLU's arsenal. Certainly an upgrade but not necessarily one that pushes us to the next level.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Mr. Hatfield ... you play for Mr. McCoy now.

[IUP Extra Mile]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

It was in another thread on this board, but rumor of Preston Boswell to the Hilltop, would be an incredible add.... Watching him, I thought his on court personality was a bit over the top, but I could certainly learn to cheer for it....

My guess is he will follow Sancomb to Cal, but if he's used to being on an elite team, WL trumps Cal's rebuild...

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Good career move. beilein is on short list for d1 head coach jobs. They often take assistants with them. Or he might succeed him at lemoyne.
After brett came to wlu i noticed that we were much faster on getting the pass out after a defensive rebound and post footwork improved.

I am very impressed with lamberti. High academic iq and basketball iq.

Coaches, especially young ones like Ben, can learn new things and ways of doing things from almost any source. Hopefully he will internalize the things that Evans did that produced results that were "better" than what was done before and will continue to use them. Same with Lamberti. He has two years experience doing things a different way. Ben needs to take the things that Lamberti brings in that work better than what we have been doing and incorporate them in the "Howlet Style."