West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

Hopefully we can pull a Gannon from a few years ago and just throw a team together that wins about 30 games, lol. I know that's wishful thinking, but man I'm real nervous about this upcoming season, as we are thin and don't think that we have the talent. I better not see WL in the pre-season top 25 ranking or I will lose my mind, haha. We all know those rankings are based mostly off of names.

As I calculated it, prior to Howlett leaving, we had 12 players "under contract" for this coming season (returning players, incoming Freshmen and transfers). We have lost five of those which would leave us with seven. Only two (Spadafora and Tinsley) of the seven have bounced a basketball in an actual WLU game. To "stay static' at a 12 player roster, we need to bring in FIVE players AND everyone of these five need to produce big time. AND we will be competing with four other teams in a similar position (late coaching change) to do it (Coker, Fayetteville, IU Indy and Bluefield). All will be culling the portal for any remaining WLU Style players.

Roughly 86 days until the fall semester begins...tick tock, tick tock!

[boatcapt]

D’Augustino is very good but he’s not even close to Stirtz.

I have no idea if Woodward’s game translates. He can’t shoot at all, but he’s got a really strong understanding of the game. It’ll be curious to see if he can adapt to the size and physicality difference.

Wait a minute, we were told that Woodward spent all off season last year honing his 3 point shooting and that we would see a new and improved version!!!

He's a 3 point shooting machine just looking for the opportunity to blossom! THIS year will be the year because we all KNOW that D1 bigs are all slow footed plodders that can't compete further than five feet from the basket!

[Topper_Hopper]

I do not disagree with you.
However, I take solace in the fact that:
- we have had heavy losses before through graduation and have reloaded.
- There are still players in the portal.
- lamberti did a great job at Coker in his first year, which had no reputation in basketball
- we have a leader by example in Dante
- the system can compensate for some disparity in talent if they can pick it up quickly.

However, our 3 freshmen might be pressed into service more than usual.

I agree here. I think the Toppers will pick up some atypical losses in the first half of the season, but I still think the team will be at/near the top of the conference standings by year end.

An NCAA tournament bid in Mike's first season would be a fine accomplishment.

[Columbuseer]

It will be interesting to see how Woodward performs at d1. In talking with him during last summer, he said he was working hard on his 3 pt shot to keep defenders honest in order to open up driving lanes. During the season, he was 4 for 10 from 3, or 40%, which is elite. However, it is an insignificant sample size. ( BTW, Data analysts claim that to get an accurate mean on 3fg %, one needs 750 attempts. Amazing, but explains some of the variance season to season, even in NBA.).

With Bryce working with him on his inside game, he dramatically improved footwork and scored mostly inside.
He became a handful to guard with his back to the goal.

[boatcapt]

4-10 is oops territory. Can't really tell anything from 4-10 except that he didn't take many 3 point shots... particularly when he is 0-20 his other two seasons at WLU.

If his goal at D1 is to pull his opposite number big away from the basket, he'll need to shoot (and make) a lot more from 3. I mean, even if he hits 100% of his 3s this coming year, if he only takes 10 shots, the opposing coach will not consider this enough to bring his defense out to contest the shots.

[TopperNation]

I said it before and I will say it again, Woodward needs to get a face to the rim game if he wants to survive in D1. Posting up with your back to the basket at 6'6 isn't going to work in the Horizon League. You have to square up and make a move to the basket.

[Columbuseer]

I said it before and I will say it again, Woodward needs to get a face to the rim game if he wants to survive in D1. Posting up with your back to the basket at 6'6 isn't going to work in the Horizon League. You have to square up and make a move to the basket.

Your suggestion would really add to his game. If the league has athletic, taller shot blockers, he might also need to develop a jump hook with either hand. Last season, he sometimes brought the ball up the court and initiated the offense to confuse his opponent as to whether to come out and guard him. I wonder if he will do that on occasion at Indy?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The kid from WVW is back in the Portal. Saw his name last night.

Not good timing for him.

[Columbuseer]

The kid from WVW is back in the Portal. Saw his name last night.

Not good timing for him.

Good find. Thanks. I had been wondering about Michael Bachelor. That leaves only Parker Day from emporia state from the original 4 transfers. I am curious about his status.

[boatcapt]

I said it before and I will say it again, Woodward needs to get a face to the rim game if he wants to survive in D1. Posting up with your back to the basket at 6'6 isn't going to work in the Horizon League. You have to square up and make a move to the basket.

Great point. What strikes me is the difference in the term "big" in DII as opposed to D1. At 6'6" (or 7 or 8), Woodard is not a big in D1. He is at best a power forward or maybe (although his shooting numbers tell a different story) a shooting forward. While he may be asked to defend against opponent bigs, HE will probably be defended by forwards who are every bit as big and quick as he is.

[TopperNation]

Great point. What strikes me is the difference in the term "big" in DII as opposed to D1. At 6'6" (or 7 or 8), Woodard is not a big in D1. He is at best a power forward or maybe (although his shooting numbers tell a different story) a shooting forward. While he may be asked to defend against opponent bigs, HE will probably be defended by forwards who are every bit as big and quick as he is.

That's exactly my point, Woodward's footwork is not at a Power forward in D1 at best. He may even find himself guarding a wing 3, which is definitely a mismatch. His basketball IQ is great, but his athletic ability at the D1 level is suspect.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
wtov 9 interview with mike lamberti
https://youtu.be/6W8e6XjzFkQ?feature=shared

[boatcapt]

That's exactly my point, Woodward's footwork is not at a Power forward in D1 at best. He may even find himself guarding a wing 3, which is definitely a mismatch. His basketball IQ is great, but his athletic ability at the D1 level is suspect.

I think his fundamentals will allow him to have some success at the D1 level, but in a 1v1 matchup against a bigger/stronger/more athletic D1 forwards, he will suffer. I see him as a 10 ppg guy who gets most of his points via transition put backs.Now, if he really is a 40% 3pt sniper AND takes in the 90 shot/season realm he could be a factor that causes his opponents to adjust to him, he could be more successful. But we are going on some scant evidence to say he can be that guy.

10 ppg ain't bad...unless your opposite number is scoring 20 and killing you on the glass.

But, that's not our monkey anymore!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That's exactly my point, Woodward's footwork is not at a Power forward in D1 at best. He may even find himself guarding a wing 3, which is definitely a mismatch. His basketball IQ is great, but his athletic ability at the D1 level is suspect.

Starting Lineup-wise, the Horizon League isn't going to be 'all' that much different than high-end D2 basketball. Yes, he'll be undersized at that level just about every night.

The big difference is in D2, teams may have 1-2 good post players -- and then a drastic drop-off after. At D1 they can keep bringing fairly solid guys in.

D2 bigs also (generally) struggle to cover the perimeter. D1 bigs are generally faster, longer and much stronger. He won't be shooting over these guys.

As you said, 6'6" is pretty normal in D2. Most D1 posts are in the 6'8" to 6'11" range. They'll also be much more physical. If the Horizon is known for anything, it's physicality. They beat the pi$$ out of each other in that league.

All of that said, the Horizon is a pretty low-end league. I would venture to guess most years the Atlantic's top teams could easily make a run at going .500 (or better). It's certainly not the SEC.

Take Robert Morris ... making a living as of late signing experienced D2 guys.

I'd have liked Ben's chances for Year 1 much better if he'd have got the job a month earlier. But, there are still a lot of homeless players available.

The giant advantage the 'system' has in D2 is it tires D2 teams out (most of which have no quality depth). D1 teams have the depth to keep subbing. That aspect will be interesting to watch.

Hopefully Ben can get some D3 meatball games booked. Horizon teams, however, then usually become the 'meatball' and play up for some 'fundraising' games.

[Columbuseer]

Starting Lineup-wise, the Horizon League isn't going to be 'all' that much different than high-end D2 basketball. Yes, he'll be undersized at that level just about every night.

The big difference is in D2, teams may have 1-2 good post players -- and then a drastic drop-off after. At D1 they can keep bringing fairly solid guys in.

D2 bigs also (generally) struggle to cover the perimeter. D1 bigs are generally faster, longer and much stronger. He won't be shooting over these guys.

As you said, 6'6" is pretty normal in D2. Most D1 posts are in the 6'8" to 6'11" range. They'll also be much more physical. If the Horizon is known for anything, it's physicality. They beat the pi$$ out of each other in that league.

All of that said, the Horizon is a pretty low-end league. I would venture to guess most years the Atlantic's top teams could easily make a run at going .500 (or better). It's certainly not the SEC.

Take Robert Morris ... making a living as of late signing experienced D2 guys.

I'd have liked Ben's chances for Year 1 much better if he'd have got the job a month earlier. But, there are still a lot of homeless players available.

The giant advantage the 'system' has in D2 is it tires D2 teams out (most of which have no quality depth). D1 teams have the depth to keep subbing. That aspect will be interesting to watch.

Hopefully Ben can get some D3 meatball games booked. Horizon teams, however, then usually become the 'meatball' and play up for some 'fundraising' games.

Thanks for the effort for a detailed, well- reasoned analysis. I now have a better understanding of what to expect in the league.

Suporting your fundraising games observation, rumor has it that his first game will be at a strong big 10 opponent.