West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Golden89]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

With last nights drumming of Glenville, WLU secured the MEC regular season title again (8th time in the last 9 years). With two meaningless games still to play in the regular season, does Coach Howlett rest his starters before the tourney? Perhaps give some deep bench players (Allen, Saben and Moore) extra minutes in hopes that one can break out in case they are needed during the tourney?

No. Gotta keep winning to ensure a host spot in the regional. And these are college kids playing two games in a week.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

No. Gotta keep winning to ensure a host spot in the regional. And these are college kids playing two games in a week.

Probably right. But WLU is a team that prides itself on every player being able to step up with no letdown from the player they replace. Not saying they would want to or even expect to lose with any player grouping on their bench...just that getting some additional players beyond their front nine might not be a bad thing over the last two games.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Yeah ... no chance they don't play WJ full force. No coach is sitting players in a rivalry game ... even it this version doesn't mean anything.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Yeah ... no chance they don't play WJ full force. No coach is sitting players in a rivalry game ... even it this version doesn't mean anything.

I note that in the last game, Sabben was firmly entrenched with the second platoon and Moore and Allen got a share of first half minutes...In fact, WLU closed out the first half with Sabben, Moore, Allen, Primmer and Watson on the floor. Sure, it was against Glenville and WLU ended up winning by 38 points so hard telling if Ben is trying to ID a dependable #10 or just a matter of protecting their big guns against injury in a blow out.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'm seeing IUP vs WL in Round 1

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'm seeing IUP vs WL in Round 1

Unless they win the PSAC tourney, I don't see IUP making the playoffs. Baring an upset the last week of the season or an outsider winning a spot by winning their conf tourney, I think the 8th playoff slots comes down to Fairmont, IUP and SRU with the team that goes the farthest in their conf playoffs winning the spot.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

IUP wins tomorrow night ... they're likely in.

It's more than records. IUP swept Rock and beat Fairmont. Beat Boro and they're probably going dancing.

Rock has to play at Gannon and their SOS is awful. Few quality wins. IUP has one of the top SOS in the Atlantic and played a real schedule. Aside from winning PSAC ... Rock has no chance going ahead of IUP. None. IUP also won its division. Those are factors. Fairmont also has a couple bad losses. Rock has two D3 wins which the NCAA subtracts ...which lowers their percentages even more.


The major curveball, of course, is if somebody not named VSU wins the CIAA.

Or, Joe loses at home tomorrow and it's all over. I like their chances of winning tomorrow.

Still a lot at play. East teams are going to lose tomorrow. They all play each other. Then east teams lose again next week in Tournament. Lot yet to happen.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Fairmont losing last week was huge. Now, Boat, just have your boys knock them out of the MEC Tournament for us.

No surprises down there !

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

IUP wins tomorrow night ... they're likely in.

It's more than records. IUP swept Rock and beat Fairmont. Beat Boro and they're probably going dancing.

Rock has to play at Gannon and their SOS is awful. Few quality wins. IUP has one of the top SOS in the Atlantic and played a real schedule. Aside from winning PSAC ... Rock has no chance going ahead of IUP. None. IUP also won its division. Those are factors. Fairmont also has a couple bad losses. Rock has two D3 wins which the NCAA subtracts ...which lowers their percentages even more.


The major curveball, of course, is if somebody not named VSU wins the CIAA.

Or, Joe loses at home tomorrow and it's all over. I like their chances of winning tomorrow.

Still a lot at play. East teams are going to lose tomorrow. They all play each other. Then east teams lose again next week in Tournament. Lot yet to happen.

Or someone not named WLU or WJ wins the MEC...Someone other than the four PSAC teams that are better than IUP OR IUP win the PSAC crown. All it takes is one outsider to win their conf tourney and the 8th seed goes to them. Possible dark horses who could upset the IUP apple cart...UVa Wise. They are on a 5 game winning streak that includes W's over Fairmont AND WJ (at WJ). They seem to be getting hot at the right time.

But I'm not as quick to discount Fairmont as you seem to be. They own W's over nationally ranked Lemoyne and WLU as well as WJ and have a 2 point loss at the same nationally ranked Findlay that IUP lost by 19 to. Sure, IUP has the head to head, but let IUP go out in the first or second round of the PSAC and Fairmont advance to the semis of the MEC and the selection committee might surprise you.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Fairmont losing last week was huge. Now, Boat, just have your boys knock them out of the MEC Tournament for us.

No surprises down there !

I could point out that IUP's back to back losses the week before were even huger...particularly losing to Pitt Johnstown AT IUP! But I'm not going to!!!

Seems like both squads are doing everything in their power to give the selection committee a reason to pick someone else!!!!

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

So it's game night for WLU. What do they have to play for tonight? Obviously they are competitors and as such, getting a W is what each of them want. But beyond that, what? Here's my takes:

1. Home court in the NCAA's. Hard to fathom that they could lose it even if they lost the last two games though.
2. Chance to go through the regular season with only one L...first time since the 2012-13 season they could do that and that season ended in the NCAA national semis.
3. Keep the current 6 game wining streak going.
4. Prove that after a hick-up last year, they continue to be the class of the MEC and SR1 and by a large margin.
5. Prove all the nay sayers WRONG who before the season were predicting a down turn since we lost basically our starting 5 PLUS the Head Coach who was the "REAL reason WLU was a winner."

I think all will play into their motivation for these final two games but perhaps the biggest will be numbers 4 and 5. Seems like WLU has played the entire season with a little bit of a chip on their shoulders...Kind of a "Hey "experts"...watch THIS!" sort of an edge.

[timbertopper]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

So it's game night for WLU. What do they have to play for tonight? Obviously they are competitors and as such, getting a W is what each of them want. But beyond that, what? Here's my takes:

1. Home court in the NCAA's. Hard to fathom that they could lose it even if they lost the last two games though.
2. Chance to go through the regular season with only one L...first time since the 2012-13 season they could do that and that season ended in the NCAA national semis.
3. Keep the current 6 game wining streak going.
4. Prove that after a hick-up last year, they continue to be the class of the MEC and SR1 and by a large margin.
5. Prove all the nay sayers WRONG who before the season were predicting a down turn since we lost basically our starting 5 PLUS the Head Coach who was the "REAL reason WLU was a winner."

I think all will play into their motivation for these final two games but perhaps the biggest will be numbers 4 and 5. Seems like WLU has played the entire season with a little bit of a chip on their shoulders...Kind of a "Hey "experts"...watch THIS!" sort of an edge.

They were 28-4 last year, won the MEC Tournament, earned another NCAA bid and were upset in the regional quarterfinal when WJU banked in a 3-pointer from the corner and WLU's game-winning 3-pointer was roughly a quarter of a tick short.

Some hiccup, LOL

Oh and rest easy, They won 112-68. Bring on Jesuit!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

So it's game night for WLU. What do they have to play for tonight? Obviously they are competitors and as such, getting a W is what each of them want. But beyond that, what? Here's my takes:

1. Home court in the NCAA's. Hard to fathom that they could lose it even if they lost the last two games though.
2. Chance to go through the regular season with only one L...first time since the 2012-13 season they could do that and that season ended in the NCAA national semis.
3. Keep the current 6 game wining streak going.
4. Prove that after a hick-up last year, they continue to be the class of the MEC and SR1 and by a large margin.
5. Prove all the nay sayers WRONG who before the season were predicting a down turn since we lost basically our starting 5 PLUS the Head Coach who was the "REAL reason WLU was a winner."

I think all will play into their motivation for these final two games but perhaps the biggest will be numbers 4 and 5. Seems like WLU has played the entire season with a little bit of a chip on their shoulders...Kind of a "Hey "experts"...watch THIS!" sort of an edge.

Who are the naysayers and experts you're constantly so worried about ... ?

There is no D2 media coverage. What exists is cheerleader coverage in local papers (if that).

There's like 30 people in the country who actually follow the sport at this level. You do realize that, right?

You're like picking arguments with a ghost or something.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

They were 28-4 last year, won the MEC Tournament, earned another NCAA bid and were upset in the regional quarterfinal when WJU banked in a 3-pointer from the corner and WLU's game-winning 3-pointer was roughly a quarter of a tick short.

Some hiccup, LOL

Oh and rest easy, They won 112-68. Bring on Jesuit!

The ball was clearly out of Gross's hand before the clock ticked to zero!

For WLU, last season WAS a hiccup!!!

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Who are the naysayers and experts you're constantly so worried about ... ?

There is no D2 media coverage. What exists is cheerleader coverage in local papers (if that).

There's like 30 people in the country who actually follow the sport at this level. You do realize that, right?

You're like picking arguments with a ghost or something.

Self appointed experts that say every year that the Atlantic is "wide open" and that WLU should be playing a tougher regular season schedule...National experts who slotted WLU in at #18 to start the season...MEC coaches who had WLU slotted to be #3 behind WJ and Fairmont. Seems like all three groups of experts were predicting a dramatic decline for WLU. I know we aren't talking about thousands of people, but the DII experts do have national and regional megaphones and they voiced their opinions on what they believed WLU would be this year...problem is, they were wrong!