West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

They may be interested in Gannon and Mercyhurst but it's safe to say that's one-way interest. Neither is leaving the PSAC.

Both wanted to join the PSAC for years due to the short road trips and local rivalries.

Who were the local rivals?

[boatcapt]

Last chance for WLU to right the ship before tourney season today @ Wheeling. Will the toppers break 100 and sail to 40% from three, or will they struggle as they have in four of their last five games and limp into the MEC Tourney?

[Scrub]

Who were the local rivals?

Edinboro, Hurst, & Gannon are all in proximity to each other. That's at least 2 games where you barely have to leave town to play away.

[Scrub]

Last chance for WLU to right the ship before tourney season today @ Wheeling. Will the toppers break 100 and sail to 40% from three, or will they struggle as they have in four of their last five games and limp into the MEC Tourney?

I don't really care what the score and percentages are. Just need a W. At this point, they're among the 7 getting spots in the NCAA tourney. Just gotta get a W today and stay away from a badly timed bad loss.

[Scrub]

Edinboro, Hurst, & Gannon are all in proximity to each other. That's at least 2 games where you barely have to leave town to play away.

Slippery Rock and Clarion aren't too far either.

Sure beats going to Hillsdale, MI or Owensboro, KY for road games.

[boatcapt]

Slippery Rock and Clarion aren't too far either.

Sure beats going to Hillsdale, MI or Owensboro, KY for road games.

I would note that Shepherd U is further than Hillsborough.

[Scrub]

I would note that Shepherd U is further than Hillsborough.

PSAC has an East and West. So it may only be once every few years Gannon has to travel to Shepherd. Not sure if GMAC has the same structure. But if not, you're going to Owensboro every year.

[boatcapt]

PSAC has an East and West. So it may only be once every few years Gannon has to travel to Shepherd. Not sure if GMAC has the same structure. But if not, you're going to Owensboro every year.

Notionally assuming Gannon AND Hurst jumped to the GMAC, the GMAC would probably break into regions. Of course, each conf has some schools that might not be around for long which would drive some changes.

[boatcapt]

So, WLU took care of business today at Wheeling 107-92.

1. They won
2. They scored over 100
3. They shot 48.5% from three

They are now stand 0-0 like everyone heading into the post season.

[boatcapt]

Some interesting MEC related stuff:

Future MEC school Point Park defeated WVU Tech (future MEC school???) 87-63 to punch their ticket for the NAIA Championship Tourney. Point stands 28-2 on the season While WVU Tech finished 18-10.

Salem as a last minute "stand-in" for AB finished the season 4-20 against MEC opponents.

UPike finished the season 23-7. Finished second in the NAIA's Appalachian Athletic Conf. They also punched their ticket for the NAIA Championship Tourney

Salisbury University finished the season 13-11 and finished third in the wacky D3 Coast-To-Coast Conference.

Shenandoah University finished the season 17-10 good enough for eight in the D3 Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Slippery Rock and Clarion aren't too far either.

Sure beats going to Hillsdale, MI or Owensboro, KY for road games.

Correct. Even Erie to Indiana is less than 3 hours.

The biggest question is why in the world would Gannon and Mercyhurst 'want' to leave? They don't, and, it's highly unlikely they aren't going to.

[boatcapt]

Correct. Even Erie to Indiana is less than 3 hours.

The biggest question is why in the world would Gannon and Mercyhurst 'want' to leave? They don't, and, it's highly unlikely they aren't going to.

As it stands right now, you are right, no reason for either to move. But there is a very plausible scenario were Gannon and Hurst look at a PSAC that has condensed to either a dramatically reshuffled E/W or even one statewide league.

[boatcapt]

PSAC has an East and West. So it may only be once every few years Gannon has to travel to Shepherd. Not sure if GMAC has the same structure. But if not, you're going to Owensboro every year.

Sure...But when you add the other East teams to the annual mix, let's just say that Gannon and Hurst are making multiple trips every year to PSAC East. There is a lot of churn going on right now among schools in the PSAC, MEC and GMAC...When the dust finally settles, the three conferences could (will?) look quite different.

[IUPalum]

Correct. Even Erie to Indiana is less than 3 hours.

The biggest question is why in the world would Gannon and Mercyhurst 'want' to leave? They don't, and, it's highly unlikely they aren't going to.

Correct, they have zero intentions of leaving the PSAC. It's a perfect home for them which is why they left the GLIAC years ago.

[boatcapt]

Correct, they have zero intentions of leaving the PSAC. It's a perfect home for them which is why they left the GLIAC years ago.

I agree. Zero reason (interest) in leaving as things are right now. But if things change in a dramatic way, who knows.