West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Topper_Hopper]

Looking at the box score from the win tonight... attendance was only 200?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Howlett is trying to do it with largely DII level talent at the D1 level. He may yet be successful but most of the teams he faces this year are going to be a little more athletic and maybe more importantly, a little deeper. This depth will possibly delay (eliminate?) the "blackouts" that are an important part of the WLU System. In the offensive end, these slightly better D1 players are probably going to be able to play better D which will present scoring challenges.

The real tell on weather the WLU Style will truly work at the D1 level will probably not be until next season when Howlett has D1 level talent.

A big factor, too, is D1 teams have quality depth.

WL can often run D2 teams ragged and the benches in D2 are typically thin at best (nice way of saying it). Not to mention, they are not only better players at D1 but also bigger, faster and stronger.

It's interesting. I've watched more D1 basketball so far this year than the past 5 years combined. All, BTW, IU Indy.


To your point, I think everyone was expecting some growing pains.

Butler is also a really good team. I'm more interested in seeing how it goes when they get into league play.

[boatcapt]

Ben stayed in it against Butler -- and got destroyed.

That said, at this level, you're going to have very, very few nights it is ineffective.

Howlett is trying to do it with largely DII level talent at the D1 level. He may yet be successful but most of the teams he faces this year are going to be a little more athletic and maybe more importantly, a little deeper. This depth will possibly delay (eliminate?) the "blackouts" that are an important part of the WLU System. In the offensive end, these slightly better D1 players are probably going to be able to play better D which will present scoring challenges.

The real tell on weather the WLU Style will truly work at the D1 level will probably not be until next season when Howlett has D1 level talent.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm interested in seeing if Mike can adjust to different styles and other teams' strengths, like continuing to press when the other team is breaking it without any resistance. Does he switch it up a little and go to a half-court trap for a few possessions and go back to it, or do we continue to keep banging our head against the wall and say, 'this is how we play regardless". I'm looking for a little more diversity and strategy on the defensive end, especially when we get in foul trouble and put other teams in the bonus 5-7 minutes into the game. I have no worries offensively, as I believe we have enough fire power most nights to overcome any bad shooting performances from game to game. Man, this feels weird that I don't know 95 percent of the roster, for the first time in over 20 years.

Ben stayed in it against Butler -- and got destroyed.

That said, at this level, you're going to have very, very few nights it is ineffective.

[TopperNation]

I'm interested in seeing if Mike can adjust to different styles and other teams' strengths, like continuing to press when the other team is breaking it without any resistance. Does he switch it up a little and go to a half-court trap for a few possessions and go back to it, or do we continue to keep banging our head against the wall and say, 'this is how we play regardless". I'm looking for a little more diversity and strategy on the defensive end, especially when we get in foul trouble and put other teams in the bonus 5-7 minutes into the game. I have no worries offensively, as I believe we have enough fire power most nights to overcome any bad shooting performances from game to game. Man, this feels weird that I don't know 95 percent of the roster, for the first time in over 20 years.

[boatcapt]

Our bigs play like guards so there should be no problem.

[Topper_Hopper]

I would assume that we won't press as much if our starting lineup has three guys over 6'7" (Muldowney, Lattos, Abdullah). But who knows... maybe they move really well.

[Columbuseer]

It will be interesting to see who will be in the platoon that starts the game on Friday.
Here is my uneducated guess:
1. Spadafora #10 6-0 160,lb
2. Muldowney #23 6-7 230 lb
3. Lattos #5 6-8 230 lb
4. Pankey #25 6-2:180 lb
5. Butler #4 6-3 185 lb. Or Harris #13 6-2:180 lb Or Abdullah #11 6-9 200 lb

I am fairly confident only in selecting spadafora and muldowney.
It may depend on matchups. Like past teams, they will be better in March than in Nov.

[boatcapt]

Allllll-righty-then...One day before the season and all of the pre-season hype is over. Time to roll the basketballs out for reals. By the numbers:

Number of Players on the Roster: 16 which is the largest Topper team going back to before Howlett became the HC.
Number of Transfer Players: 10 which is the most that WLU has ever had.
Year Break Down: 2 Seniors, 3 Juniors, 6 Sophomores, 5 Freshmen
Number of Returning Players: 2, One with game experience. (3 returnees if you count Pankey)
Number of Players With WLU Style Experience: 10 (7 from Coker, 3 from WLU (Spadfora and Kent plus Pankey)
Number of True Freshmen: 4
Number of Players With College Game Experience: 10 (101 total starts among the 10)

Questions to be answered:

1. Do the Coker transfers produce more wins by wearing the WLU jersey than they did when they were wearing the Coker one?
2. With so many experienced transfers, is this team as good on day 1 as they will be at the end of the season?
3. Do we really have seven 40+% 3-point shooters or will we see 3 point shooting similar to the last few years where we had a couple of really good 3 point shooters, and the rest of the team?
4. Do any of our bigs play like bigs or are they used as glorified guards?

But the biggest question is how is Mike-ball different than Ben-ball? Yes, they are both from the same WLU System tree but they are different guys. While I would presume much will be the same, it will be interesting to see how Mike might do things differently than Ben did. We are already seeing some difference in roster size and general construction so one would presume there will be other differences as well.

Roll out the balls and bring the bright lights up...It's time to play real basketball in the Appalachian Mountains!

[boatcapt]

Fyi for those curious about the system working in d1.
Indy will get much better as season progresses. Work in progress.
some comments on liu game from a veteran coach.
liu was picked to win nec.
https://iuindyjags.com/news/2025/11/...liu-94-90.aspx

Shot 26% from three. For a team running the WLU Style, that's almost certain death...Weather that team is at the D1 or DII level!

[Columbuseer]

Fyi for those curious about the system working in d1.
Indy will get much better as season progresses. Work in progress.
some comments on liu game from a veteran coach.
liu was picked to win nec.
https://iuindyjags.com/news/2025/11/...liu-94-90.aspx

[Columbuseer]

Fyi

UPJ scrimmage consisted of 3 separate 20 min sessions.
UPJ has a very good big man and several very good 3 point shooters.
it was good competition and valuable for wlu.
The 3rd session was played by the younger guys.

The starting 5 for wlu is not yet finalized.

final scrimmage is Friday Nov 7 6 pm at wlu vs butler county community college. Young guys will probably play a lot in the final scrimnage.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
d2 signing day starts Nov 12, 2025 for seniors graduating spring of 2026.

[boatcapt]

FYI Indy played Ohio state last night.
Indy was totally outmatched both size and athletically.
osu had 3 of the last 4 Mr Ohio basketball players.
leading 33-32 with under 10 mins in first half, osu went on a 23-3 run, fueled by Indy careless passes, terrible 3 point shooting at 16%, Indy fouls. and osu dominance inside. Osu had 2 7 footers and a 6-6 230 lb wing who was nearly unstoppable. Indy recovered somewhat and was down 66-50 at the half.
In the second half, the Indy pressure cause fatigue and poor decisions. After only 4 turnovers in the first half osu committed 13 in the second half.
With 5 minutes left, the osu lead had dropped to 10. In the final 3 mins, Indy could not get stops and had to foul, which increased final score to 118-102.
Indy had 1.25 points per possession but inside dominance of osu resulted in 1.4 pts per possession.
Tinsley 22
D'Augustino 21
dragas 11
Woodward 8 assists
Reece hagy a true frosh former wlu commit, started for indy. He is going to be good.
wlu players acquitted themselves quite well.

imho, this game was encouraging that “the system” can work at d1. Once just needs to find d1 level players who are willing to play it.

osu press conference
https://youtu.be/KgAQJ1mz3tE?si=SibihhS1ptWDlmuw

Osu shot 53 free throws to 20 for indy. Refs seemed to call indy traps tight while letting osu in half court play physical. Indy needs to not give up and ones when contesting shots. If a guy has you beat, don't foul him. Let him get his two, but not three.

I saw this game for what it was. A superior opponent playing an inferior one early in the season. We used to see it quite often at WLU. Basically it was like OSU was a cat playing with a mouse. Every time IUI would show a spark and close a little, OSU would wake up, stretch and run off a string on 13 points...then take another nap. Felt like they could have won by 30...but this early in the season, why expend the effort when you can cruise to a 14 point win?

Their upcoming game against LIU will be much more winnable and a truer test of the WLU Style at the D1 level.

As for having D1 level players, I heard that all WLU's players where already there!!! Seriously though, that has always been the question, can you get true D1 caliber players to play the WLU Style? With sooo many DII players on this years IUI roster, I don't think you will have the answer until at least next season (or probably at least the year after that).

[Columbuseer]

FYI Indy played Ohio state last night.
Indy was totally outmatched both size and athletically.
osu had 3 of the last 4 Mr Ohio basketball players.
leading 33-32 with under 10 mins in first half, osu went on a 23-3 run, fueled by Indy careless passes, terrible 3 point shooting at 16%, Indy fouls. and osu dominance inside. Osu had 2 7 footers and a 6-6 230 lb wing who was nearly unstoppable. Indy recovered somewhat and was down 66-50 at the half.
In the second half, the Indy pressure cause fatigue and poor decisions. After only 4 turnovers in the first half osu committed 13 in the second half.
With 5 minutes left, the osu lead had dropped to 10. In the final 3 mins, Indy could not get stops and had to foul, which increased final score to 118-102.
Indy had 1.25 points per possession but inside dominance of osu resulted in 1.4 pts per possession.
Tinsley 22
D'Augustino 21
dragas 11
Woodward 8 assists
Reece hagy a true frosh former wlu commit, started for indy. He is going to be good.
wlu players acquitted themselves quite well.

imho, this game was encouraging that “the system” can work at d1. Once just needs to find d1 level players who are willing to play it.

osu press conference
https://youtu.be/KgAQJ1mz3tE?si=SibihhS1ptWDlmuw

Osu shot 53 free throws to 20 for indy. Refs seemed to call indy traps tight while letting osu in half court play physical. Indy needs to not give up and ones when contesting shots. If a guy has you beat, don't foul him. Let him get his two, but not three.