West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Layton]

The success of Bolon and Robinson at 11-1 College of Charleston speaks volumes about the D1 opportunities that await Butler...If he choses to enter the portal. D1 can be a copycat "league" and I would imagine there are a number of D1 programs that are looking at CofC and then looking at Butler and saying hummmm...Wonder if we can repeat their success by getting this years WLU top dog? The real question is will Ben be able to convince Butler that staying at WLU is in his best interest.

As for WLU players punching the Euro ticket, I doubt Bolon or Robinson or Butler if he chooses to transfer to a D1 will suddenly lose that. All three will have plenty of Euro "offers" when their college careers are over. Success at a D1 would only enhance those opportunities.

Shhhhhh I’m selfish

[Columbuseer]

The success of Bolon and Robinson at 11-1 College of Charleston speaks volumes about the D1 opportunities that await Butler...If he choses to enter the portal. D1 can be a copycat "league" and I would imagine there are a number of D1 programs that are looking at CofC and then looking at Butler and saying hummmm...Wonder if we can repeat their success by getting this years WLU top dog? The real question is will Ben be able to convince Butler that staying at WLU is in his best interest.

As for WLU players punching the Euro ticket, I doubt Bolon or Robinson or Butler if he chooses to transfer to a D1 will suddenly lose that. All three will have plenty of Euro "offers" when their college careers are over. Success at a D1 would only enhance those opportunities.

Patrick and Dalton were elite 3pt shooters over 40%. Patrick was also a great finisher (he won game at end of va tech game). Bryce was elite 3p % early in career but now is a good 3pt shooter. His complete skill set is elite. Will be a great coach someday.
I agree that if he goes to d1 and does not start, his future in Europe is secure. His performance in 3v3 won't hurt either. If he stays at wlu he has a shot at national title. That won't happen in d1.

[boatcapt]

Hopefully he doesn’t get the D1 Flu

The success of Bolon and Robinson at 11-1 College of Charleston speaks volumes about the D1 opportunities that await Butler...If he choses to enter the portal. D1 can be a copycat "league" and I would imagine there are a number of D1 programs that are looking at CofC and then looking at Butler and saying hummmm...Wonder if we can repeat their success by getting this years WLU top dog? The real question is will Ben be able to convince Butler that staying at WLU is in his best interest.

As for WLU players punching the Euro ticket, I doubt Bolon or Robinson or Butler if he chooses to transfer to a D1 will suddenly lose that. All three will have plenty of Euro "offers" when their college careers are over. Success at a D1 would only enhance those opportunities.

[Columbuseer]

Hopefully he doesn’t get the D1 Flu

I agree. Imho his future is in Europe and wlu is one of best places to showcase those skills. Kovacevic is doing very well in Spain.
Imho at 6-4, in d2 one needs to shoot over 40% from three for a mid major d1 starting job; d1 inside guys are too athletic for post up game.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
To see wlu games in vegas will cost $30 as it requires 1 month subscription to flohoops. No free trial. Can cancel at any time.
they broadcast many games.
https://www.flohoops.com/signup?redi...age_id=7983334

[Layton]

Hopefully he doesn’t get the D1 Flu

[Columbuseer]

FYI
Congrats to Bryce Butler, who was named D2CIDA National Player of the Week!
He has taken his game to another level.

https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...-the-week.aspx

[Columbuseer]

Wlu stats
Fyi ncaa stats west liberty as of dec 11

1st - assists per game 23.4
1st- 3pt attempts per game 35.2
1st - 3pt made per game 12.7
1st- Assist to turnover ratio 2.07
2nd - Turnover margin 9.3 Nova se is 9.5
2nd - forced turnovers 20.67 Nova se is #1 at 26
3rd- scoring 100.7 Nova se is first at 101.8 lol
4th - steals per game 12.8 Nova se is 13.4
4th - Scoring margin 24 Nova se 1st at 29
11th - offensive rebounds per game 14.56
40th - FG % 48.37
50th - Rebound margin 5
78th - FT % 73.97
102nd - 3 pt % 35.96

[Columbuseer]

I wouldn't say they schooled Augusta. They won by 9 and that was a real tight game with 2 minutes to play.

Yep i should have been more specific. On paper, nwmsu looked out manned and augusta looked like a favorite after IUP game. No one to guard the 7-2 guy. And i thought their 6-6 guy was better than he. Diego barnard playing hurt. Many folks believe elite big boy basketball beats small guards shooting from three. Imho the nwmsu coach took the augusta coach to school. Totally outcoached him.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Nwmsu may not be the best example. It does not matter the style that you play against nwmsu. We lost by 18. Semi and final losses to nwmsu were much worse. At one time nwmsu was up by approx. 30 in the finals on west texas.
No one was even close to nwmsu. Heck they lost to duke by 6 in exhibition. They had 2 nba level players on their team. We did not have yoakum and nwmsu had a week to prepare.
hillsdale coach said it was really hard to prepare for wlu in 1 day. But they still would have beaten us.

Look at Augusta in finals last year. Incredibly powerful, much bigger team and nwmsu schooled them. So big boy basketball is not a panacea.

Some counter examples on assertion that wlu is unwilling to change. Wlu went to zone against va state with 8 mins left, which won the game in past regional.

Against wvsu we left the trap and went man to man pressure for a latter part of 2nd half. We forced 18 turnovers with 12 steals and killed them on offensive glass for the game.

Imho wvsu is an ncaa tourney team. If one looks only at our shooting % most folks would have thought there was no way wvsu would lose. Imho it is the cumulative effect of the pressure. We got many more shots despite playing a taller, athletic, physical team.

I wouldn't say they schooled Augusta. They won by 9 and that was a real tight game with 2 minutes to play.

[Columbuseer]

That and WLU refuses to adapt and not play 1 way when we are in the regionals or elite 8, I almost lose my mind when I see WL continue to press a team that is breaking it with ease and causing more problems for West Lib. Freaking change it up for a few possessions at least, just to give the other team a different look and give yourself a chance to regroup. We are pressing NWMS who has an NBA guard who is breaking the press with ease, so much ease that the lead grew because WL wouldn't switch it up. I've been saying this for over a decade now, and I've been to every elite 8 that WEST LIB has been in during that time.

Nwmsu may not be the best example. It does not matter the style that you play against nwmsu. We lost by 18. Semi and final losses to nwmsu were much worse. At one time nwmsu was up by approx. 30 in the finals on west texas.
No one was even close to nwmsu. Heck they lost to duke by 6 in exhibition. They had 2 nba level players on their team. We did not have yoakum and nwmsu had a week to prepare.
hillsdale coach said it was really hard to prepare for wlu in 1 day. But they still would have beaten us.

Look at Augusta in finals last year. Incredibly powerful, much bigger team and nwmsu schooled them. So big boy basketball is not a panacea.

Some counter examples on assertion that wlu is unwilling to change. Wlu went to zone against va state with 8 mins left, which won the game in past regional.

Against wvsu we left the trap and went man to man pressure for a latter part of 2nd half. We forced 18 turnovers with 12 steals and killed them on offensive glass for the game.

Imho wvsu is an ncaa tourney team. If one looks only at our shooting % most folks would have thought there was no way wvsu would lose. Imho it is the cumulative effect of the pressure. We got many more shots despite playing a taller, athletic, physical team.

[TopperNation]

Physical presance, i.e. an inside game, seems to be the sword of Damaclise that swings over every WLU season. During the regular season and often into regionals we have the horses to out shoot and out run most teams. But as the competition gets better, we fall pray to teams that can out muscle us inside.

That and WLU refuses to adapt and not play 1 way when we are in the regionals or elite 8, I almost lose my mind when I see WL continue to press a team that is breaking it with ease and causing more problems for West Lib. Freaking change it up for a few possessions at least, just to give the other team a different look and give yourself a chance to regroup. We are pressing NWMS who has an NBA guard who is breaking the press with ease, so much ease that the lead grew because WL wouldn't switch it up. I've been saying this for over a decade now, and I've been to every elite 8 that WEST LIB has been in during that time.

[boatcapt]

Needed the muscle today. WVSU is a physical team. Notice that Sampson set a season high for minutes as well. Needed the more physical players in the game today.

It'll be interesting to see if Hinds's minutes go back down in finesse games.

Physical presance, i.e. an inside game, seems to be the sword of Damaclise that swings over every WLU season. During the regular season and often into regionals we have the horses to out shoot and out run most teams. But as the competition gets better, we fall pray to teams that can out muscle us inside.

[TopperNation]

Cannady not being able to return last night hurt as well. After his injury he was on the sideline trying to stretch and get back in, and I was able to ask him how he felt and he shook his head and said he could not return and his ankle felt swollen.

[TopperNation]

Needed the muscle today. WVSU is a physical team. Notice that Sampson set a season high for minutes as well. Needed the more physical players in the game today.

It'll be interesting to see if Hinds's minutes go back down in finesse games.

Hinds came up big last night! I spoke to him briefly before the game and he hinted that he would be playing a little more last night due to State's size. I also think Hinds is starting to get accustomed to the WL style, because as mentioned earlier by many on this site it takes some time to get use to playing like that.