West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

Seems like only in the Hilltop can you get better by subtracting All Americans!!

If we were a NC final team with the scrubs Butler, McKinney and Canady on the floor, ANYTHING less than a NC with this team is coaching malfeasance!!! Cast the rings and print the NC T-Shirts because it's OVER!!

Each year that we had lost an all American or dominant player, I used to wonder how will we ever replace them?

2012 Alex Falk, AA leads us to 34-2
2013 Cedric Harris AA emerges and we go 31-4
2014 Seger Bonifant AA emerges and we are 28-4
2016 Dan Monterosa AA emerges and we are 28-4
2018 Dalton Bolon AA emerges with Will Yoakum and we are 28-5
2021 - Will Yoakum is hurt but Bryce Butler AA emerges and we are 29-3
2022 - Bryce Butler AA leads a very unselfish team and we are 33-4.
2023 - which players will emerge?

It never ceases to amaze me how wlu seems to find ways to compensate for the loss of elite players. In 2023, will it be a transfer, a veteran, or a younger player who emerges?
Should be an interesting year.

[Columbuseer]

Wlu fans Fyi in case you missed it.
Coach Howlett named MEC male coach of year across all sports.
https://hilltoppersports.com/sports/mens-basketball

[boatcapt]

Seems like only in the Hilltop can you get better by subtracting All Americans!!

If we were a NC final team with the scrubs Butler, McKinney and Canady on the floor, ANYTHING less than a NC with this team is coaching malfeasance!!! Cast the rings and print the NC T-Shirts because it's OVER!!

[Columbuseer]

On a slow summer day, I was watching some regular season games, looking for a game where WLU may have started raising their game to another level, which foreshadowed a deep NCAA run.
I came upon the Concord at WLU game on Feb 11.
WLU had 31 assists on 48 FGs. They forced 21 turnovers, of which 14 were steals.
They were 20-35 from three.
WLU set a D2 record, with 12 different players making a 3 pt shot (previous record was 11; D1 record is 9). Only one player did not make a three point shot.

With 5:15 left in the first half, Concord led 42-39.
At the half, WLU led 58-51.
At the 15:00 mark of the second half, the lead was just 10 at 65-55.
However the cumulative pressure of the 1st and second platoon was starting to wilt the Concord team.
WLU was rapidly moving the ball on offense, which tired Concord as much as the defensive pressure.
WLU was making the extra pass, passing up a good shot for a great shot.
By the 10 minute mark, the lead grew to 83-65.
By the 5 minute mark, the lead was 106--71.

The final was a 48 pt margin, 127-79.

The dominance of a well coached team with an all MEC player by extreme effort and sharing of the ball was when I got the feeling that WLU was developing incredible synergy, far beyond the sum of the individual talents. They won by double digits through the MEC tourney, Atlantic Region and Elite 8 game.
Hopefully, their unselfish attitude will be repeated this season with all the new players.

Will have to wait and see.

[Columbuseer]

Some opinions for WLU fans: FYI

It looks like WLU has reloaded for 2023, despite losing Butler, McKinney, and Cannady.

Some observations, primarily on the guards:

- WLU will score in variety of ways in order to replace the production of those who have moved on. The offense can flow through a variety of players, not just butler.

- I cannot recall when WLU has had so many guards who can play above the rim, getting blocks (or close goal tending calls) in the style of of will yoakum. Montague is joined by Shuler, Fergus, Pankey and D'Augustino in playing above the rim. They are all solid defenders.

- Rasile has gotten even better defensively. He is able to stay in front of extremely quick guards. When he was recruited as the 2nd leading scorer in Ohio high school history at 3,000+ points (behind Diebler of Ohio State), I don't think anyone expected him to be a tough defender. A coach's son, he understands the game too and is a great passer.

- WLU has an embarrassment of riches in 3 pt shooting - Rasile 45%, Montague 44+%, Sarson 39+%, Barnhart 37%, Spadafora 35%. Reasbeck 35% will likely join the 40% club, when he realizes that the ball movement of wlu will give him more wide open looks with his feet set. When he has a wide open look, he can get red-hot from three.

- Spadafora improved his 3 pt shooting over the course of the season. He continues to improve following the season. He is also playing at an even faster pace and attacking opponents, while somehow remaining under control. He will exhaust opponents trying to keep up.

- Alek West has continued to work on his 3 pt shot, which will also see improvement this season. His passing is elite; teammates have to keep their head on a swivel and be ready for great pass when they least expect it. His inside game has also improved.

- The new players are adjusting to the defensive intensity and active hands of the West Liberty game. Moves that might have worked at their previous college or high school now result in live ball turnovers and fast breaks for the opponent. All a normal part of the adjustment. WLU has some new scorers with elite quickness. Once they learn the system, they will realize that scoring will come much easier and they don't have to rely on 1-on-1 dribble drives.

[boatcapt]

FYI West Liberty Fans - Will Yoakum is on Chicago Bulls Summer League Roster
They play in Las Vegas beginning Jul 7.

https://bullswire.usatoday.com/2023/...league-roster/

Should be in the South Region thread.

[Columbuseer]

FYI West Liberty Fans - Will Yoakum is on Chicago Bulls Summer League Roster
They play in Las Vegas beginning Jul 7.

https://bullswire.usatoday.com/2023/...league-roster/

[Columbuseer]

FYI for WLU fans
Bryce Butler won his second consecutive MEC male athlete of the year, spanning all sports.
Congrats Bryce and thanks for a great four years!

https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...ear-honor.aspx

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It is his alma mater. I guess the lure of Morgantown isn’t enough to pull him away. A lot of people down there seem excited about the possibility of John Beilein returning. I actually really enjoyed his teams with Mike Gansey, Pittsnoggle, etc.

Maybe they can bring Rich Rod back after this current disasters contract finally expires. Get the old band back together.

[Chuck Norris]

Staying at UAB rather than Morgantown?

It is his alma mater. I guess the lure of Morgantown isn’t enough to pull him away. A lot of people down there seem excited about the possibility of John Beilein returning. I actually really enjoyed his teams with Mike Gansey, Pittsnoggle, etc.

[Columbuseer]

Staying at UAB rather than Morgantown?

Yes. Remaining as coach of UAB.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Looks like kennedy staying at UAB, per his tweet. Maybe mccollum, kelsey or beilein for 1 or 2 years

Staying at UAB rather than Morgantown?

[Columbuseer]

I’m guessing they play it safe and go with Andy Kennedy. Calhoun’s time will come, he’s winning at a place no one wins, but he probably needs the shine of making the Dance to land a job that big.

Looks like kennedy staying at UAB, per his tweet. Maybe mccollum, kelsey or beilein for 1 or 2 years

[Chuck Norris]

Ben might be in Morgantown.

There is a lot of buzz that former Fairmont State and current Youngstown State head coach Jerrod Calhoun could get the WVU job.

This will be interesting. It's not easy to lure big coaching names near the end of June.

I’m guessing they play it safe and go with Andy Kennedy. Calhoun’s time will come, he’s winning at a place no one wins, but he probably needs the shine of making the Dance to land a job that big.

[Columbuseer]

Ben might be in Morgantown.

There is a lot of buzz that former Fairmont State and current Youngstown State head coach Jerrod Calhoun could get the WVU job.

This will be interesting. It's not easy to lure big coaching names near the end of June.

Ben is being mentioned by some... Ben McCollum that is.