West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

ESU is really bad in the record vs regionally ranked category. That will hurt them Sunday night.

I think WL is in good shape.

However, I'd cheer against Lock Haven just to be safe.

Top 4 are in and PROBABLY in the positions that they are in the latest RR. 5-8 (5-7 with Lincoln). Four of that group are still in it and can control their own destiny. A victory by any of the four in todays semi's will lock them in although all four are probably underdogs. Assuming all four lose today, the question will be how much ESU is penalized for losing a round earlier than any of their competators for 5-7? Lock Haven should move ahead of ESU based on H-to-H. If we go chalk today, I predict:

1a. Gannon
1b. Cal
3a. UC
3b. WLU
5. Millersville
6. Concord
7. Haven
8. ESU (but Lincoln)
9. WV State
10. Lincoln

* Top 4 TBD by the result of the conf champ game.

[Scrub]

Speaking of Charleston, I saw that pesky WVSU blasted them the other night.

I swear WVSU gets hot every March. They must just lose interest at times during the season.

It's weird how they seem to turn it off and on again over the course of a season.

I've been very complimentary of Brian Poore on this board in the past--I think he's a good coach. But you do have to wonder how his teams consistently play out this Jeckyl & Hyde routine, and it makes you wonder if it stems, somehow, from the top.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The win today makes us all feel a little better. A loss to Concord tomorrow would at least be a respectable loss.

But, let's not stop there. Let's go after that revenge game with Charleston!

Speaking of Charleston, I saw that pesky WVSU blasted them the other night.

I swear WVSU gets hot every March. They must just lose interest at times during the season.

[Scrub]

I expect Concord to be a close game tomorrow. They (Concord) could move off the bubble with a win.

Absolutely. And they have pushed the Toppers to the brink twice this year.

But as I said above, I want to believe that the Toppers are in even with a loss tomorrow. If Concord would win (and possibly move off the bubble--pending Lock Haven's results), it's a loss to a tournament team and it's a season record of 2-1 against that tournament team. I would hope the committee wouldn't ding the Toppers for a loss like that in the conference tourney.

But better safe than sorry--let's get the season sweep of the Mountain Lions tomorrow!

[Topper_Hopper]

I expect Concord to be a close game tomorrow. They (Concord) could move off the bubble with a win.

[Scrub]

The win today makes us all feel a little better. A loss to Concord tomorrow would at least be a respectable loss.

But, let's not stop there. Let's go after that revenge game with Charleston!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Thinking out loud and without looking at the rankings, I can't easily envision a scenario where the Toppers would be on the bubble with a loss today. Maybe if Lock Haven and WVSU were to win their conference titles? Even then, I don't think ESU would jump WLU.

ESU is really bad in the record vs regionally ranked category. That will hurt them Sunday night.

I think WL is in good shape.

However, I'd cheer against Lock Haven just to be safe.

[Topper_Hopper]

Thinking out loud and without looking at the rankings, I can't easily envision a scenario where the Toppers would be on the bubble with a loss today. Maybe if Lock Haven and WVSU were to win their conference titles? Even then, I don't think ESU would jump WLU.

[Scrub]

I know the most recent regional rankings have WLU fans breathing a small sigh of relief, but I still think today's game is a must-win. This is the time of year when a bad loss must be avoided. I would argue that a loss in round 2 to Concord or a loss in the Finals to Charleston and WLU's resume still looks good enough to get in. But a loss today puts the Toppers firmly back on that very precarious bubble. So far, the chalk in the PSAC is helping matters for every at-large candidate, but I still see today as a must-win. Gotta take care of business against a pesky Glenville squad. Get it done, Toppers.

[boatcapt]

So you're basically creating some sort of conspiracy theory and rubbish rumors like the media does... got it!

Isn't that what we do all the time in an on-line forum? If you want double verified facts, you are in the wrong place. People give their opinions of what's going on or what they think should or could happen in the future.

[IUPalum]

I agree. Zero reason (interest) in leaving as things are right now. But if things change in a dramatic way, who knows.

So you're basically creating some sort of conspiracy theory and rubbish rumors like the media does... got it!

[boatcapt]

Correct, they have zero intentions of leaving the PSAC. It's a perfect home for them which is why they left the GLIAC years ago.

I agree. Zero reason (interest) in leaving as things are right now. But if things change in a dramatic way, who knows.

[IUPalum]

Correct. Even Erie to Indiana is less than 3 hours.

The biggest question is why in the world would Gannon and Mercyhurst 'want' to leave? They don't, and, it's highly unlikely they aren't going to.

Correct, they have zero intentions of leaving the PSAC. It's a perfect home for them which is why they left the GLIAC years ago.

[boatcapt]

PSAC has an East and West. So it may only be once every few years Gannon has to travel to Shepherd. Not sure if GMAC has the same structure. But if not, you're going to Owensboro every year.

Sure...But when you add the other East teams to the annual mix, let's just say that Gannon and Hurst are making multiple trips every year to PSAC East. There is a lot of churn going on right now among schools in the PSAC, MEC and GMAC...When the dust finally settles, the three conferences could (will?) look quite different.

[boatcapt]

Correct. Even Erie to Indiana is less than 3 hours.

The biggest question is why in the world would Gannon and Mercyhurst 'want' to leave? They don't, and, it's highly unlikely they aren't going to.

As it stands right now, you are right, no reason for either to move. But there is a very plausible scenario were Gannon and Hurst look at a PSAC that has condensed to either a dramatically reshuffled E/W or even one statewide league.