West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

That No. 3 offense scored 90.8 ppg but gave up 92.8 ppg against a very weak schedule. Edinboro somehow hung 113 on them. The two best teams they played (Charleston and Virginia Union) both ran them out of the building and held them in the low 60s. No doubt they could score against the competition they played but their defense was horrendous.

I suspect his 10-14 record will improve to the 14-10 range this season. At that point, he'll be a candidate to get out of there. I would think he'll be sought after for any lower-level MEC/PSAC jobs that open after next season.

Devin picked a tough place for a first head coaching gig. Back when Northfork Blue Demons were winning 7 straight AA titles and pressing like wlu, many wound up at bsc. But that was when when coal was king and there were 100K population in McDowell County, not 18.6k (2019). Fairly decent 1st season all things considered. Wish him well and hope he can squeeze 20 wins in a couple of years

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That would be #4. Devin Hoehn at Bluefield being #3. After opening the season 2-10, they finished the year on an 8-4 run. #3 offense in the country after WLU and Nova. They exceded the century mark 8 times during the season with 6 of the 8 coming in the second half of the season.

That No. 3 offense scored 90.8 ppg but gave up 92.8 ppg against a very weak schedule. Edinboro somehow hung 113 on them. The two best teams they played (Charleston and Virginia Union) both ran them out of the building and held them in the low 60s. No doubt they could score against the competition they played but their defense was horrendous.

I suspect his 10-14 record will improve to the 14-10 range this season. At that point, he'll be a candidate to get out of there. I would think he'll be sought after for any lower-level MEC/PSAC jobs that open after next season.

[boatcapt]

Looks like WLU and Nova SE have another member of the positionless basketball coaching ranks- new wvu women's coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Her South Dakota team upset Baylor.

from wvmetrobews.com

That would be #4. Devin Hoehn at Bluefield being #3. After opening the season 2-10, they finished the year on an 8-4 run. #3 offense in the country after WLU and Nova. They exceded the century mark 8 times during the season with 6 of the 8 coming in the second half of the season.

[Columbuseer]

Looks like WLU and Nova SE have another member of the positionless basketball coaching ranks- new wvu women's coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Her South Dakota team upset Baylor.

from wvmetrobews.com

[Columbuseer]

FYI

NCAA All Divisions All-Time Head Coach Win Percentage
1. Jim Crutchfield (West Liberty/Nova Southeastern) .848 (459-82, 17 yrs.)*
2. Mark Few (Gonzaga) .836 (658-129, 23 yrs.)*
3. Clair Bee (Rider/LIU Brooklyn) .824 (412-88, 21 yrs.)
4. Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) .822 (876-190, 41 yrs.)
5. Matt Logie (Whitworth/Point Loma) .821 (247-54, 11 yrs.)*
6. Bucky Harris (Jefferson) .811 (240-56, 13 yrs.)
7. Dolph Stanley (Beloit) .810 (238-56, 12 yrs.)
8. John Wooden (Indiana State/UCLA) .804 (664-162, 29 yrs.)
9. Ben McCollum (Northwest Mo. St.) .801 (334-83, 13 yrs.)*
10. John Kresse (Coll. of Charleston) .797 (560-143, 23 yrs.)
11. Josh Schertz (Lincoln Memorial/Indiana State) .796 (348-89, 14 yrs.)*
12. Dave Robbins (Virginia Union) .786 (713-194, 30 yrs.)
13. Jerry Tarkanian (LBSU/UNLV/Fresno St.) .784 (729-201, 31 yrs.)
14. Francis Schmidt (Tulsa/Arkansas/TCU) .782 (258-72, 17 yrs.)
15. Dean Smith (North Carolina) .776 (879-254, 37 yrs.)
* - active head coaches
Source: NCAA Statistics (Minimum of 10 Years' Experience)

[Columbuseer]

Congrats Bryce Butler on making 2nd team All American! Only sophomore on 1st or 2nd team!
Well deserved and reflects his hard work!
https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...-american.aspx

[Columbuseer]

FYI

8 finalists for Bevo Francis Award. Butler and Robinson III made top 50.

Buzz Anthony Randolph Macon d3 national champs d3 POY
Myles Burns loyola (LA) naia national champs
Jack Davidson Wabash d3
Alex gross Olivet nazarene naia
Trevor Hudgens nwmsu 2,829 pts, 700 assists, nabc d2 national poy
Joel Scott Jr. BHSU d2
Sekou Sylla Nova se
Ryan Turell Yeshiva d3

https://youtu.be/VxrARBiNlHA

[Columbuseer]

Elijah Watson has interest from D2 Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska.

[boatcapt]

Going to find out soon if anybody is interested. Ben is the perfect age for somebody to poach. Obviously he's not going from WL to the P5, but I could see a mid-major being intrigued enough to roll the dice.

The Catch 22 is would it work against teams with equal depth? Ben's system would also have to be able to incorporate legit big guys. It would get blown up 'up there' without them. You can get away -- typically -- in D2 playing just small forwards. That would get you killed in D1.

And, as you said, the time factor. Mastering that system isn't going to happen in a year or two. Coaches don't get 4-5 years to implement a system in D1. They better be winning -- or showing massive gains -- by Year 2. Or, call the U-HAUL reservations line.

The hardest part may be dealing with the egos in D1. Those kids all think they are a year away from playing with Kevin Durant. Playing 18 mpg as a 'starter' isn't going to fly.

Doesn';t seem like you can "sneak up" on the WLU style. What I mean is you cant really take a couple of years to impliment it. Its more a rip the band aid off thing. Try to impliment it gradually and you're going to struggle.

As demonstrated at times by WLU, "D1 caliber" players seem to have occasional game long lapses and on mass revert to 1v1/hero/aau/iso ball. I think that might be a bigger problem at a true D1.

[Columbuseer]

Going to find out soon if anybody is interested. Ben is the perfect age for somebody to poach. Obviously he's not going from WL to the P5, but I could see a mid-major being intrigued enough to roll the dice.

The Catch 22 is would it work against teams with equal depth? Ben's system would also have to be able to incorporate legit big guys. It would get blown up 'up there' without them. You can get away -- typically -- in D2 playing just small forwards. That would get you killed in D1.

And, as you said, the time factor. Mastering that system isn't going to happen in a year or two. Coaches don't get 4-5 years to implement a system in D1. They better be winning -- or showing massive gains -- by Year 2. Or, call the U-HAUL reservations line.

The hardest part may be dealing with the egos in D1. Those kids all think they are a year away from playing with Kevin Durant. Playing 18 mpg as a 'starter' isn't going to fly.

Excellent points. I would hate to be a d1 coach now, where players listen to "advisors" more than the coach.
I could see an ivy league school being open to the style. No athletic or academic scholarships, high iq players who have no delusions of NBA stardom, and more patience by school and alumni. One example was pete carril and his Princeton teams. No one wanted to play them in the tourney.

[Scrub]

As to weather it would work at a P5, I think it would. The true challenge would be finding an AD and alumni base willing to accept an entire roster made up of non-stars. ZERO chance of a new coach getting any "grace period." They would need to win from Day 1 or they would stand a pretty good chance of being run out of town before Christmas break!

We might get an answer about this if College of Charleston continues to model it roster the way it looks like they are. They're obviously not P5, but we may get a look at how it works in D1 if CoC keeps picking up seasoned Hilltoppers!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The answer to your questions are a qualified No and Yes. Qualified no in that when you bring in a bunch of athletic players who were their HS team stars, they are MUCH more reluctant to share minutes/the ball but if you bring in a team full of gym rat over achievers who were not their HS team stars, yes, they can thrive in a "share minutes" "extremely hard playing" style. these players may not be able to "beat their man off the dribble" and explode down the lane for a spinning one hand reverse lay-up, but typically they are pretty good at identifying where they should be to get an open shot and are willing to give up the ball when their shot isn't available.

As to weather it would work at a P5, I think it would. The true challenge would be finding an AD and alumni base willing to accept an entire roster made up of non-stars. ZERO chance of a new coach getting any "grace period." They would need to win from Day 1 or they would stand a pretty good chance of being run out of town before Christmas break!

Going to find out soon if anybody is interested. Ben is the perfect age for somebody to poach. Obviously he's not going from WL to the P5, but I could see a mid-major being intrigued enough to roll the dice.

The Catch 22 is would it work against teams with equal depth? Ben's system would also have to be able to incorporate legit big guys. It would get blown up 'up there' without them. You can get away -- typically -- in D2 playing just small forwards. That would get you killed in D1.

And, as you said, the time factor. Mastering that system isn't going to happen in a year or two. Coaches don't get 4-5 years to implement a system in D1. They better be winning -- or showing massive gains -- by Year 2. Or, call the U-HAUL reservations line.

The hardest part may be dealing with the egos in D1. Those kids all think they are a year away from playing with Kevin Durant. Playing 18 mpg as a 'starter' isn't going to fly.

[boatcapt]

Remotely related:
wvu hired dawn plitzuweit from univ. South Dakota.
wvu's choice was lower risk from the perspective of AD job security, if things don't work out.

Although Kim stephens was clearly qualified, imho the only concern was whether the style will work in D1.
- can u recruit great players who are willing to share minutes and play extremely hard?
- can the style be equally disruptive in power 5 D1 as in D2?


Glenville and wlu play very similar styles.
The same concerns have been raised about wlu and have probably kept St. Crutch from getting d1 opportunities despite his record. Of course, on the positive side, he does not have to put up with d1 nonsense.

The answer to your questions are a qualified No and Yes. Qualified no in that when you bring in a bunch of athletic players who were their HS team stars, they are MUCH more reluctant to share minutes/the ball but if you bring in a team full of gym rat over achievers who were not their HS team stars, yes, they can thrive in a "share minutes" "extremely hard playing" style. these players may not be able to "beat their man off the dribble" and explode down the lane for a spinning one hand reverse lay-up, but typically they are pretty good at identifying where they should be to get an open shot and are willing to give up the ball when their shot isn't available.

As to weather it would work at a P5, I think it would. The true challenge would be finding an AD and alumni base willing to accept an entire roster made up of non-stars. ZERO chance of a new coach getting any "grace period." They would need to win from Day 1 or they would stand a pretty good chance of being run out of town before Christmas break!

[Columbuseer]

Remotely related:
wvu hired dawn plitzuweit from univ. South Dakota.
wvu's choice was lower risk from the perspective of AD job security, if things don't work out.

Although Kim stephens was clearly qualified, imho the only concern was whether the style will work in D1.
- can u recruit great players who are willing to share minutes and play extremely hard?
- can the style be equally disruptive in power 5 D1 as in D2?


Glenville and wlu play very similar styles.
The same concerns have been raised about wlu and have probably kept St. Crutch from getting d1 opportunities despite his record. Of course, on the positive side, he does not have to put up with d1 nonsense.

[Columbuseer]

in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

https://www.timesreporter.com/story/...ar/7062052001/