West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

I'm of the opinion that you take the best players available to you and then work them into your style. And if you need to tweak your style a bit to get a 30/30 player into the game, you do that. Particularly in this time of portal madness

I agree... that it is an opinion.

[boatcapt]

I'm of the opinion that you take the best players available to you and then work them into your style. And if you need to tweak your style a bit to get a 30/30 player into the game, you do that. Particularly in this time of portal madness

[Columbuseer]

But increasingly, those areas of difference are becoming very narrow. Seems like the WLU recruit metrics are 1. Can shoot the 3, 2. Can shoot the 3, 3. Can shoot the 3, 4. Can dribble, 5. Can pass, 6, Can play defense.. The metric for players staying on the team are 1. Shoot the 3 at a .350+ clip, 2. Average at least two 3 point tries per game, 3. Average fewer than 1.5 turnovers per game, 4. Average 2 rebounds per game. Fall below those lines (particularly the first two) and as a minimum, you'll see your minutes reduced and quite possibly you are a candidate for the portal.

Sometimes I wonder if a player like say, Patrick Ewing, came through the doors at the ARSC if Ben would even consider him for a second. I think his scouting report on Patrick would be, "Too big, too slow, doesn't handle the ball well enough, doesn't shoot the 3 well enough. PASS on offering him a scholly." Fact that he would get you 30 rebounds a game, would score 30 points per game on putbacks and would average 10 blocked shots a night would be dismissed because he only made .150 of his 3 pt tries and perhaps more importantly, only took 7 3 pt shots all season.

Of course, we all know Big Pat or even a player like him is not coming to WLU.

Keys to playing time assuming everyone has adequate basic fundamental skills.
- high motor
- situational awareness and rapid correct decision making
- Good shot selection
- Unselfishness

You are correct. Ewing does not fit the style. But there are plenty of other styles where Ewing could excel.

if a collegiate steph curry showed up, we would offer him because he fits the style. Obviously many d1s passed on him because he did not fit their style.

We would take a young Wilt because he was the fastest player on the his team and often won long distance shooting competitions on his team. But he was pigeonholed in a traditional style.

Different strokes...

[IUPalum]

But increasingly, those areas of difference are becoming very narrow. Seems like the WLU recruit metrics are 1. Can shoot the 3, 2. Can shoot the 3, 3. Can shoot the 3, 4. Can dribble, 5. Can pass, 6, Can play defense.. The metric for players staying on the team are 1. Shoot the 3 at a .350+ clip, 2. Average at least two 3 point tries per game, 3. Average fewer than 1.5 turnovers per game, 4. Average 2 rebounds per game. Fall below those lines (particularly the first two) and as a minimum, you'll see your minutes reduced and quite possibly you are a candidate for the portal.

Sometimes I wonder if a player like say, Patrick Ewing, came through the doors at the ARSC if Ben would even consider him for a second. I think his scouting report on Patrick would be, "Too big, too slow, doesn't handle the ball well enough, doesn't shoot the 3 well enough. PASS on offering him a scholly." Fact that he would get you 30 rebounds a game, would score 30 points per game on putbacks and would average 10 blocked shots a night would be dismissed because he only made .150 of his 3 pt tries and perhaps more importantly, only took 7 3 pt shots all season.

Of course, we all know Big Pat or even a player like him is not coming to WLU.

They only recruit complete players.

[boatcapt]

I agree players are better in some areas than others.
i think Bonifant still holds career 3pt shooting % at d1and d2 at 52+%. In that era i saw wlu hit 31 threes versus urbana.

There are numerous interviews where St. Crutch and Howlett state that they recruit players who can dribble, pass, shoot, rebound and defend all over the court. That is a fundamental premise of 5 out, positionless basketball. Any player can bring the ball up the court and start the offense without coaches holding their breath.

In addition, players must know a good shot from a bad one, are unselfish and absolutely hate to lose, which eliminates many gifted players from consideration.

But increasingly, those areas of difference are becoming very narrow. Seems like the WLU recruit metrics are 1. Can shoot the 3, 2. Can shoot the 3, 3. Can shoot the 3, 4. Can dribble, 5. Can pass, 6, Can play defense.. The metric for players staying on the team are 1. Shoot the 3 at a .350+ clip, 2. Average at least two 3 point tries per game, 3. Average fewer than 1.5 turnovers per game, 4. Average 2 rebounds per game. Fall below those lines (particularly the first two) and as a minimum, you'll see your minutes reduced and quite possibly you are a candidate for the portal.

Sometimes I wonder if a player like say, Patrick Ewing, came through the doors at the ARSC if Ben would even consider him for a second. I think his scouting report on Patrick would be, "Too big, too slow, doesn't handle the ball well enough, doesn't shoot the 3 well enough. PASS on offering him a scholly." Fact that he would get you 30 rebounds a game, would score 30 points per game on putbacks and would average 10 blocked shots a night would be dismissed because he only made .150 of his 3 pt tries and perhaps more importantly, only took 7 3 pt shots all season.

Of course, we all know Big Pat or even a player like him is not coming to WLU.

[Columbuseer]

WLU used to have specialists (Brady Arnold, Keen Cockburn, Kirkbride, Gossenbacher, CJ Hester, etc...). Yea, they had an ability to shoot and would pull the trigger from time to time. But that wasn't really why they were there.

For comparison...CJ Hester and Seger Bonifant were two contemporaries and both were listed as forwards. In his four year career, Seager took 703 three point shots and collected 511 rebounds. while CJ took 293 three point shots and collected 1107 rebounds during his four years. Same team, same style, same "green light," dramatically different production. And both were All-Americans.

I agree players are better in some areas than others.
i think Bonifant still holds career 3pt shooting % at d1and d2 at 52+%. In that era i saw wlu hit 31 threes versus urbana.

There are numerous interviews where St. Crutch and Howlett state that they recruit players who can dribble, pass, shoot, rebound and defend all over the court. That is a fundamental premise of 5 out, positionless basketball. Any player can bring the ball up the court and start the offense without coaches holding their breath.

In addition, players must know a good shot from a bad one, are unselfish and absolutely hate to lose, which eliminates many gifted players from consideration.

[boatcapt]

Do we still have a football program?

Pop Warner

[Layton]

Same number of natty titles. We do move on to football. You guys should try it.

Do we still have a football program?

[boatcapt]

In a traditional program, there is an emphasis on roles.
WLU is different. WLU recruits complete players. Everyone has the green light to shoot the three.

Of the top 10 players in terms of playing time, 8 shoot 35% or higher. Of these 8, 4 shoot 40% or greater.

The 3 players on the roster that are under 33% are new to the program.

WLU used to have specialists (Brady Arnold, Keen Cockburn, Kirkbride, Gossenbacher, CJ Hester, etc...). Yea, they had an ability to shoot and would pull the trigger from time to time. But that wasn't really why they were there.

For comparison...CJ Hester and Seger Bonifant were two contemporaries and both were listed as forwards. In his four year career, Seager took 703 three point shots and collected 511 rebounds. while CJ took 293 three point shots and collected 1107 rebounds during his four years. Same team, same style, same "green light," dramatically different production. And both were All-Americans.

[boatcapt]

Same number of natty titles. We do move on to football. You guys should try it.

Face it, WLU has become the top dog of the Atlantic Region. They have been in three of the last five Regional Champ games and have won two of the last three Atlantic Regional titles. Seems like IUP is more focused on winning in the regular season and there by hosting the Regional's. Not a bad idea for a school that is struggling. Got to get those dollars were ever you can!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP is turning into little brother which is nice with Wheeling being down

Same number of natty titles. We do move on to football. You guys should try it.

[Layton]

IUP is turning into little brother which is nice with Wheeling being down

[IUPalum]

Remember, the Wlu style is just a fad, a gimmick. Who wants to see 100 pt games when one can wallow in the strategy of a good, slow paced coaches duel? It gets fans mentally ready for baseball.

Experienced, proven coaches know that you win with a 7 man rotation having a dominant center, power forward and a shooting guard who can attempt incredibly difficult shots. That is what brings the crowd to their feet and keeps the boosters happy.

That’s right Ben, maybe you can try and go win a fight in the stands at the KCAC.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Remember, the Wlu style is just a fad, a gimmick. Who wants to see 100 pt games when one can wallow in the strategy of a good, slow paced coaches duel? It gets fans mentally ready for baseball.

Experienced, proven coaches know that you win with a 7 man rotation having a dominant center, power forward and a shooting guard who can attempt incredibly difficult shots. That is what brings the crowd to their feet and keeps the boosters happy.

Just hope there's no instant replay to catch all the dirty stuff (as a national television audience saw).

You should add flagrant and technical fouls per 40 minutes. They only cost WL a national title so it's hard not to include them.

[IUPalum]

In a traditional program, there is an emphasis on roles.
WLU is different. WLU recruits complete players. Everyone has the green light to shoot the three.

Of the top 10 players in terms of playing time, 8 shoot 35% or higher. Of these 8, 4 shoot 40% or greater.

The 3 players on the roster that are under 33% are new to the program.

This post is a crock of ****! Lol