West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

A loss is a loss! .

Impeccable, irrefutable logic. However, my understanding is that only in-region losses apply for regional seeding purposes. However, I am not sure about other factors, such as relative weights of bad losses versus strength of schedule.
I would not complain if IUP still hosted. Great venue.

[Scrub]

A loss is a loss! They have 3 D2 losses. A loss to Wheeling looks far worse than a possible loss to Cal.

I personally think IUP is hosting regardless. At this point, they can only get one more loss (if that) prior to the tourney. I'd say we're heading to Indiana.

[IUPalum]

Two huge ifs:
1. IUP loses to Cal
2. WLU wins the MEC tourney,

WLU could host. Their loss to Lubbock Christian does not count as an in-region game, so both have 2 losses for seeding purposes.

A loss is a loss! They have 3 D2 losses. A loss to Wheeling looks far worse than a possible loss to Cal.

[Columbuseer]

FYI NCAA stats west liberty as of Feb 27 2023 after Wheeling Game
Improving in turnovers forced, steals, and offensive rebounds
Worsening in 3 pt % and turnovers per game



1st- 3pt attempts per game 33.6 Nova SE is #44 at 25.4
1st- Assist to turnover ratio 1.94 Nova SE is #4 at 1.64
1st- 3pt made per game 12.7 Nova SE #23 at 10.1
1st - assists per game 22.9 Nova SE is #2 at 22.1

2nd- scoring 101.1 Nova SE is #1 at 104.4
2nd- Forced turnovers 19.89 Nova se is #1 at 23.30

3rd -Turnover margin 8.1 Nova se is #1 at 10.0
3rd - Scoring margin 19 Nova se is #1 at 27
3rd - Steals per game 11.1 Nova se is #1 at 12.2


20th - FG % 49.14 Nova SE #3 at 51.95%
26th - Offensive rebounds per game 12.82 Nova SE #3 at 14.48
42th - 3 pt % 37.83 Nova SE #9 at 39.94

59th – Turnovers per Game 11.8 Nova SE 144th at 13.1
101st - FT % 73.56 Nova SE 51^st 75.85
148th - Rebound margin 0.4 Nova SE 14^th 6.8

[Columbuseer]

Two huge ifs:
1. IUP loses to Cal
2. WLU wins the MEC tourney,

WLU could host. Their loss to Lubbock Christian does not count as an in-region game, so both have 2 losses for seeding purposes.

[Columbuseer]

I tend to agree. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Butler used his last year elsewhere.

But in the case of either Lombardi or Howlett, they will have no problem finding guys in the portal who want to play their brand of winning basketball. I'm not sure it's ever a rebuild with those coaches--more of a reload.

No decision made yet.
No d1 school has contacted him as that would be against the rules, and d1 sports are all about character and integrity, ROFL.

[Columbuseer]

Sampson is an odd one. He went from starting 29 games and playing 34 mpg at ND to making no starts and being a pine rider (12 mpg) this year.

He's good depth for WL but I can't imagine he wanted to be a depth guy and sit on the bench all year.

The wlu style is unlike anything he has played before. Minimal reliance on set plays. Requires real time situation identification, assessment, and response. He is getting better every game. With his athletic ability, when it clicks, he could be a force.
if he stays the course, he will be a much more complete player.
In fairness to him, the starting 5 had an all american, three all conference level players and a big with 2 prior years of experience. Opportunity awaits next year.

[Scrub]

Sounds like Butler is going to make the jump. We are very worried about Porterfield and Tomiwa up here.

If they stay, it should be business as usual next year. If they both leave, the run is over (and in for a rebuild year). Not to say Joe couldn't land two big transfers but hopefully we don't have to cross that bridge.

I tend to agree. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Butler used his last year elsewhere.

But in the case of either Lombardi or Howlett, they will have no problem finding guys in the portal who want to play their brand of winning basketball. I'm not sure it's ever a rebuild with those coaches--more of a reload.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Can we talk about the fact that 3 guys who officially have "Junior" status on the roster walked in tonight's Senior Night ceremony (including Bryce Butler)? Anyone know what's going on?

Obviously, Cannady & McKinney are finished--no more eligibility. That's who was expected to walk today.

But Butler, Montague, & Sampson also walked. Have they already declared their intent to go D1 with the last year (like Bolon & Robinson) or are they heading down to Ft. Lauderdale (like Yoakum)? Cannady & McKinney are losses for sure, but if Howlett has to replace Cannady & McKinney AND Butler, Mont, & Sampson, the recruiting task just got a lot steeper.

Sounds like Butler is going to make the jump. We are very worried about Porterfield and Tomiwa up here.

If they stay, it should be business as usual next year. If they both leave, the run is over (and in for a rebuild year). Not to say Joe couldn't land two big transfers but hopefully we don't have to cross that bridge.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

All who walked are graduating.
Montague and Cannady - masters degrees
Sampson and Butler - bachelors degree
not sure whether malik got bachelors or Master's.

For the three with eligibility remaining , we will likely know their plans after NCAA tourney.

There is no shortage of players who want to play this style.
The 2 guard recruits are among the top 30 players in ohio (all positions). I will be surprised if they redshirt.

Sampson is an odd one. He went from starting 29 games and playing 34 mpg at ND to making no starts and being a pine rider (12 mpg) this year.

He's good depth for WL but I can't imagine he wanted to be a depth guy and sit on the bench all year.

[Columbuseer]

All who walked are graduating.
Montague and Cannady - masters degrees
Sampson and Butler - bachelors degree
not sure whether malik got bachelors or Master's.

For the three with eligibility remaining , we will likely know their plans after NCAA tourney.

There is no shortage of players who want to play this style.
The 2 guard recruits are among the top 30 players in ohio (all positions). I will be surprised if they redshirt.

[Scrub]

Can we talk about the fact that 3 guys who officially have "Junior" status on the roster walked in tonight's Senior Night ceremony (including Bryce Butler)? Anyone know what's going on?

Obviously, Cannady & McKinney are finished--no more eligibility. That's who was expected to walk today.

But Butler, Montague, & Sampson also walked. Have they already declared their intent to go D1 with the last year (like Bolon & Robinson) or are they heading down to Ft. Lauderdale (like Yoakum)? Cannady & McKinney are losses for sure, but if Howlett has to replace Cannady & McKinney AND Butler, Mont, & Sampson, the recruiting task just got a lot steeper.

[Layton]

Crisis averted

[Layton]

No way we are going to let these bums clown us again.

[Columbuseer]

FYI

A Dummy's Observations on WLU at Notre Dame College 2/22/23 WLU 100 - NDC 57
Summary:

NDC is a dangerous team, especially at home, as they have defeated WLU there in past seasons. They defeated Charleston by 13 and defeated Youngstown State. They are a young, talented team, with 3 sophomores and 2 seniors/grad students on the starting 5. They are strong 1-on-1 players, which is both a blessing and a curse. NDC might be an elite team next year, as they get older. They have the second leading scorer in the MEC according to the announcers.

WLU had just clinched the MEC championship and #1 seed with classic win over Fairmont, so there was a possibility of a let-down. The gym was nearly full, with 900 in attendance, including many loud WLU fans.

Tale of the Tape (Season)

NDC WLU

Points 81 100

FT % 76% 74%

FG % 44% 49%

3FG% 36% 39%

Turnovers 14 12

Assists 14 23

Assist/TO ratio 1.0 1.97

NDC Strategy

· Play tight defense

· Minimize turnovers against WLU pressure

· Use motion offense with multiple screens in rapid-fire succession to free up their talented players to finish at the rim. Get Jaedon Willis open looks as he is averaging 21 points per game, 40% from three and 89% of FTs.

· Try to draw fouls and get WLU in foul trouble. Make FTs.

· Shoot the 3 effectively. Three starters shoot over 40% from three.

· Deny Rasile open looks from three.

· Keep WLU off the offensive glass and win the rebounding battle.

· Double team Butler in the lane to prevent inside moves.

· Avoid the WLU blackouts.



NDC had little success in implementing their strategy

· Both teams were shooting below average.

· NDC made Butler give the ball up in the first half, for when he started his post move on the defender, a double team from the forward would rapidly appear.

· NDC only shot 55% FTs. Willis, an 89% FT shooter, made only 50%.

· They committed 12 turnovers in the first half alone, and 22 for the game. WLU scored 31 points off turnovers, to only 4 for NDC. WLU scored 20 fast break points, to only 5 for NDC.

· They had trouble getting good shots on offense and did not draw many fouls on WLU.


Keys to the WLU victory
· IMHO, hard-nosed half-court defense and relentless pressure won the game for WLU. They held NDC to 0.69 points per possession, which is incredibly low, as under 1.0 is excellent defense in the WLU style (WLU was 1.20 points per possession for the game).

· NDC was having their best players curl around multiple screens in rapid succession and WLU was seamlessly switching, giving no advantage to the NDC player. NDC had to force up difficult shots. WLU performed a very good scouting operation on NDC.

· When the second platoon entered at the 17-minute mark of the first half, their incredible pressure and energy was starting to affect NDC mentally and physically. They turned an 4-4 tie into a 16-11 lead. When the first platoon reentered, NDC was softened up and starting to lose focus. Gradually, WLU built the lead up to 17, before NDC narrowed the gap to 12 at 44-32 at the break. IMHO, NDC played their starters too long without a rest. That usually does not bode well in the second half.

· From watching past WLU games, the half-time intermission provides a brief respite from fatigue that typically lasts until about the 15-minute mark of the second half. WLU increased the lead to 18 in the first 2 minutes of the second half. NDC answered, cutting the lead to 51-40 at the 15:44 mark.

· Then the roof fell in. WLU went on a 31-1 run. At 8:30 remaining, the score was 82-41. Cognitively and physically, NDC was exhausted from the relentless pressure. They were throwing the ball to invisible players out of bounds, getting 5-second calls, and their shots were not even close. They did not contest rebounds. They could not make free throws. These are typical indicators of extreme fatigue.

· The first platoon called it a night at the 6:20 mark with the score 89-46. The lead grew to 49 at the 2:27 mark, at 100-51. WLU went cold and final score was 100-57.

· WLU corrected several issues from previous games. WLU greatly improved their half-court perimeter passing from the Frostburg and Fairmont game. WLU did a great job of avoiding back door cuts by NDC, with great defensive positioning. I can only remember one charging foul, and it was a close call. In addition, WLU was rotating the ball so fast on offense that it was wearing out NDC from chasing the ball rotations.



Areas for Improvement

· It is hard to find significant issues, given how well they are sharing the ball and playing defense. No one takes a bad shot. Perhaps one minor area is that some of our younger players are driving to the rim and kicking the ball out for a three, while not recognizing that they have wide-open layups. No one is at the rim and they are 3 feet away. On the other hand, it causes the defense to have to sprint to close out the shooter, which increases fatigue.