West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

It’s looking like last years recruiting class was an all-time dud sans D’Augustino. Can’t happen again

Depends on how you measure. Three HS recruits and two redshirted so too early to call it a bust. Transfers were a mixed bag. Korte was good. Shuler showed some positives late but his 3pt shooting was bad. Fergus was pretty bad. Kisner was redshirted which is really NOT what you expect/want form a transfer. If you consider the whole class, yea, pretty disappointing this year with the caviat that three of the seven didn't play.

I would add that all six of the returners need to have BIG 2024-25 step-ups as probably three will be in our starting five and the other three will probably be the bulk of our second platon.

[Layton]

Fergus to the portal

[Scrub]

Fergus to the portal

Least surprising development in team history.

[boatcapt]

Fergus to the portal

Not a shock at all. His advanced stats aside, it was clear that he just wasn't getting it. His absence from the rotation late in the year spoke volumes about his future on the Hilltop. WLU typically has 15 on the roster recently. With now 8 returning players and 4 more inbound (12 total), that indicates recruiting is still open for up to 3 roster spots for next season.

[Layton]

Wheeling’s Marcus Johnson in the portal need to put the full court press on him

[Scrub]

Wheeling’s Marcus Johnson in the portal need to put the full court press on him

You think he could actually play this style night in & night out? I have my doubts. Good D2 player for sure. But probably not for this system.

[boatcapt]

You think he could actually play this style night in & night out? I have my doubts. Good D2 player for sure. But probably not for this system.

6'7", 250 so he's probably not even on Ben's radar! Buuuttt...he can sure shoot the 3...soooo...maybe?

[Layton]

Concord’s JJ Harper to WL

[Layton]

Good size but poor shooting numbers

[Layton]

Sarson isn’t returning

[Scrub]

Good side but poor shooting numbers

I thought the same thing. Harper is a good addition for sure. WLU needs that kind of athleticism out of its forwards (especially if it's true that Sarson is moving on after his graduation this semester). But he doesn't have the shooting profile we're used to seeing from a WLU "big."

And we saw this year that in the WLU system having "designated shooters" as opposed to everyone-has-the-green-light makes the system much easier to defend. Teams keyed on Rasile/Hinds/Mont this year when they stepped behind the arc, and when those "designated shooters" kicked to the other guys who were open (due to over pursuing the three-ball from the shooters), those other guys tended to either miss the open 3 or, as they're more comfortable doing, drive to the lane. The problem is help D is waiting in the lane. The beauty of the system--in the past--was that all 5 guys on the floor had a green light from 3 at any time and could hurt you out there. So if teams chose to over pursue certain shooters they would get punished. That was less the case this year.

[boatcapt]

I thought the same thing. Harper is a good addition for sure. WLU needs that kind of athleticism out of its forwards (especially if it's true that Sarson is moving on after his graduation this semester). But he doesn't have the shooting profile we're used to seeing from a WLU "big."

And we saw this year that in the WLU system having "designated shooters" as opposed to everyone-has-the-green-light makes the system much easier to defend. Teams keyed on Rasile/Hinds/Mont this year when they stepped behind the arc, and when those "designated shooters" kicked to the other guys who were open (due to over pursuing the three-ball from the shooters), those other guys tended to either miss the open 3 or, as they're more comfortable doing, drive to the lane. The problem is help D is waiting in the lane. The beauty of the system--in the past--was that all 5 guys on the floor had a green light from 3 at any time and could hurt you out there. So if teams chose to over pursue certain shooters they would get punished. That was less the case this year.

We had five players take 100+ 3pt shots which is pretty typical for WLU. Seems like our problem this season was making them! We also didn't have much of an answer when teams sold out defending the 3 tries.

It will be up to Ben to develop an answer when next years opponents believe that the way to beat WLU is to contest every 3. If the answer is to take more 3's and they don't fall, we may see a repeat of this season. While most teams would be over the moon happy with a 5 loss regular season, WLU shouldn't be one of them.

As they say...Adapt or die.

[Layton]

Reasbeck to the portal

[Scrub]

Reasbeck to the portal

Must not have enjoyed the scenery from his redshirted seat on the bench.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Must not have enjoyed the scenery from his redshirted seat on the bench.

He's from right near Cal. Danny will probably pick him up.