West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[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.

[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]

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.

[Topper_Hopper]

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

[Columbuseer]

I attended Indy games against Butler and OSU.
imho Indy only has 1 player who can create his shot against high major D1 - #15 Compas.
Indy is starting 2 freshman and 3 are d2 players.
High major d1 has 6-6 230 lbs wings who are quick with good handles, in addition to 7 foot players. They can close out on threes very fast, which requires Indy players to shoot from much deeper range. High major d1 defenders are too strong 1-on-1.

things fell apart against butler after fin and Kyler got in foul trouble.
fortunately, horizon league is not high major D1.

[boatcapt]

Trying not to learn too much from one game but last nights game vs Clarion kind of had me sit up in a somewhat concerned way. Yes we won, so that is a good thing, But it wasn't the dominating W that we should have seen when WLU plays v one of the predicted PSAC back markers. While we are used to winning the first half by 20 points and then "only" winning the second by 5 as we coast to a win, we aren't used to winning the first by 15 and then losing the second half by 4, which is what happened last night. Also concerning was our 3-point shooting. While .333 is certainly what we have become acustomed to over the last couple of years, on a team with 7 .400+ 3-point shooters, we should have seen better production from 3.

Five players did not play last night in Coan, Kent, Butler, Hill and Burton.

But a win is a win no matter how you get it. We got it last night and it's on to a much tougher foe in Cal today. They will be hungry after surrendering a double digit second half lead and falling yesterday to Wheeling by 3.

[Scrub]

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

I'm confident they don't bother counting students (who get in free) or pass holders--which, let's be honest, is the grand majority of the crowd. They're only counting the people they collect money from at the door. I hate that because it sells short the actual gate the Hilltoppers draw if anyone is paying attention to box scores and league stats.

[Topper_Hopper]

I'm confident they don't bother counting students (who get in free) or pass holders--which, let's be honest, is the grand majority of the crowd. They're only counting the people they collect money from at the door. I hate that because it sells short the actual gate the Hilltoppers draw if anyone is paying attention to box scores and league stats.

Thanks, I suspected there was some weird counting going on. That being said, the box scores from the last three seasons' openers all show attendance close to 1,000.

[boatcapt]

Well that was an interesting game. Cal gave WLU all they could handle but their players flat ran out of gas allowing WLU to stretch the lead to the final whistle. Hard to beat a WLU team when you play effectively 5 players!!! Took a bit but eventually WLU ground them into submission!! Kind of like Rocky going to the body!

Again, doesn't matter how you win just as long as you win! .333 3-point shooting again. Worry some.

[IUPalum]

Well that was an interesting game. Cal gave WLU all they could handle but their players flat ran out of gas allowing WLU to stretch the lead to the final whistle. Hard to beat a WLU team when you play effectively 5 players!!! Took a bit but eventually WLU ground them into submission!! Kind of like Rocky going to the body!

Again, doesn't matter how you win just as long as you win! .333 3-point shooting again. Worry some.

The ****ty technical was the turning point.

[Columbuseer]

The ****ty technical was the turning point.

I rewatched the play. Imho it was called because the play was over and Clayton took two steps carrying the ball after the foul was called and pushed montgomery in the back sending him to the floor. It was just too obvious. He needed to be more subtle, like his teammate who sent butler flying to floor on the previous play under the basket. That play might have also alerted the refs to get control.

I think the cumulative effect of fatigue was the turning point in both halves, with cal started getting a step slow and not winning 50-50 balls. The timing just happened to coincide with the techncal. They played 5 guys over 30 minutes. WLU had a true shooting % over 60% and much of it was due to cal's fatigue that resulted in easy looks.

[Columbuseer]

In watching the replay, some of the threes were taken off the dribble and a jump stop. That is a much harder 3 pt shot to make. Ideally, the shooter should receive a pass with their feet already set and in shooting position - a catch and shoot. Shooting position.should improve once they get more comfortable with each other. Some players were better in getting in the catch and shoot position last game.
3fgs
Muldowney 4-6. 67%
Lattos 1-2. 50%
Pankey 1-2 50%
Hurray 2-5. 40%
Davis 1-3 33.3% one of his shots counted as 2 so he was close to 2-4 and 50%.

Of course, there is high individual variation in % from game to game.

[boatcapt]

In watching the replay, some of the threes were taken off the dribble and a jump stop. That is a much harder 3 pt shot to make. Ideally, the shooter should receive a pass with their feet already set and in shooting position - a catch and shoot. Shooting position.should improve once they get more comfortable with each other. Some players were better in getting in the catch and shoot position last game.
3fgs
Muldowney 4-6. 67%
Lattos 1-2. 50%
Pankey 1-2 50%
Hurray 2-5. 40%
Davis 1-3 33.3% one of his shots counted as 2 so he was close to 2-4 and 50%.

Of course, there is high individual variation in % from game to game.

Also a high variance when you take 2 shots. Only 3 possible pct's - 0%, 50%, or 100%.

[Scrub]

This doesn't look like a very good basketball team right now. Serious concerns in Richmond right now.

[Scrub]

This is an absolute smackdown. WLU is a turnover machine right now (and not in the good way)