West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

Watson was extremely raw when he came to wlu. Great student, great character. Sky is the limit with him as he has the physical tools. Just needs time to develop.

Webb - incredibly high basketball iq and valedictorian of his class. Would have redshirted except for yoakum's injury in preseason. Gym rat. Just needs time to get stronger and adjust to the college game.

Powell just needs to work hard on his defensive technique, as he never was asked to play that in high school. Great shooter who just needs to become more complete player.

Satterfield is a matchup nightmare. Just needs to hit the weights for college game. He is 6-7 with shooting guard skills.

I think the future is very bright. Of course there may be transfers, but the coaches don't run players off who are trying.

Fans need a reality check about West Liberty, wv. It is a frontier outpost location relative to Ft Lauderdale. Players come there to play for Ben and his style, in spite of its location. But the location can be an obstacle for some elite players.

Suggesting significant changes in philosophy for a 29-3 team whose regular season losses were by a total of 4 points followed by an OT loss strains credibility.

I'm sure all the guys you mentioned are great fellows who try really hard but at the end of the basketball day, it is about they produce in games and were they fit in the pecking order of the team. Satterfield was rail thin when recruited. I would imagine the coaches said you need to put on weight before you get here and here's a plan to do it. If he didn't (or couldn't) do that, that's a red flag. He's been in the program for a a season now...if he STILL hasn't been able to put on any weight, that's another red flag. He needs to be at about 205 before next season.

This was Watson's second season and for whatever reason, the needle is moving in the wrong direction on him. He has gone from starter last year who averaged over 10 minutes a game, was an effective rebounder (.25/min...team leader Bolon averaged .27/min) and an improving inside scorer to a bench player to start his second season who averaged 8.5 MPG (but still used in the regular rotation) to a guy who played 6 MPG and often only during bench clearing time by the end of the season. Pretty clear that his skill set (rebounder/put back scorer) is not one that WLU values much. While I'd love to see him stay and develop into an inside force, I don't think Ben see's the same value in him. The WV State game is a perfect example of this, we sure could have used an active defender/rebounder to help Kovacvic counter Moore and Jordon (who were absolutely eating our lunch). Ben chose not to play Watson.

Powell and Webb are largely clones of each other and duplications of many players we have on the roster. Do you really want them taking minutes from better versions of them we already have and will recruit this coming year, next year and the year after that?

You seem to be saying that fans of WLU need to recalibrate their expectations...that WLU is to small and too remote to ever get the elite players we need to become a NC contender. That going 29-3 is somehow our ceiling and we should just be happy we can even achieve that. If our ceiling is just being happy to make the NCAA playoffs every year then what's the point in recruiting so hard to try and improve? Why bother trying to recruit better "athletes"? Ben and company could coast in with 6 or 7 losses and make the NCAA tourney every year with out all the pressure and aggrivation.

[Columbuseer]

I note that if the players don't get it, don't listen to their coaches and on mass have relapses after a year of having the coaches in their ear on a daily basis, MAYBE they never will.

Ben will not do ANY retooling because he doesn't think any needs to be done. I believe Watson transfers...While he shot .429 from 3, he didn't take NEARLY enough 3 tries (only 7 in 17 games) to warrant a roster spot. Coupled with Kovacavic leaving, MAYBE Ben is forced to bring in a transfer "big"...but just as likely he'll bring in another 6'3" "silky shooter" type with a "high basketball IQ." We love them and can never seem to get enough (why limit yourself to 10 on your roster when you can have 11...or even 12!!). Heck, Satterfield is 6'7" so we probably don't really need to bring in a big...I mean, the only thing they are good for is the opening jump ball! As long as Satterfield can make, and is willing to take, 3's, he'll be fine...he's a little light at 185 pounds but that just means he'll be quicker on the perimeter!

Other transfer candidates include Powell and Web...Also think there will be one surprise transfer.

Watson was extremely raw when he came to wlu. Great student, great character. Sky is the limit with him as he has the physical tools. Just needs time to develop.

Webb - incredibly high basketball iq and valedictorian of his class. Would have redshirted except for yoakum's injury in preseason. Gym rat. Just needs time to get stronger and adjust to the college game.

Powell just needs to work hard on his defensive technique, as he never was asked to play that in high school. Great shooter who just needs to become more complete player.

Satterfield is a matchup nightmare. Just needs to hit the weights for college game. He is 6-7 with shooting guard skills.

I think the future is very bright. Of course there may be transfers, but the coaches don't run players off who are trying.

Fans need a reality check about West Liberty, wv. It is a frontier outpost location relative to Ft Lauderdale. Players come there to play for Ben and his style, in spite of its location. But the location can be an obstacle for some elite players.

Suggesting significant changes in philosophy for a 29-3 team whose regular season losses were by a total of 4 points followed by an OT loss strains credibility.

[IUPalum]

The one constant that comes with losing is the reappearance of the secondary style argument. Lol

wlu has highest % wins of any d1 or d2 team over the last 13 years.
Ben has highest % of wins of any coach with 5 years or more experience.
st. Crutch has proven that the wlu philosophy is not a fluke at nova se.

[Columbuseer]

The one constant that comes with losing is the reappearance of the secondary style argument. Lol

wlu has highest % wins of any d1 or d2 team over the last 13 years.
Ben has highest % of wins of any coach with 5 years or more experience.
st. Crutch has proven that the wlu philosophy is not a fluke at nova se.

[IUPalum]

The Boat capsized! Down goes the Titanic!

[boatcapt]

Love your take Boat...I can guarantee you Ben is not staying put with this roster, he will be bringing in a few different pieces. I've spoken to Ben numerous times and he is not one to stay put as he knows that getting knocked out in round one is not going to cut it. West Liberty will have atleast 2 players leave and be replaced. I just saw Ben's comments after the game and he already stated he is changing the roster!

There's changing and there's rearanging the deck chairs. If he gets rid of some underperforming pieces and simply replaces them with newer versions of the same, that's not really changing. If he replaces the under performing pieces and brings in players with an intent on installing a different or secondary style, that's a true change. Guess we'll see.

[TopperNation]

Love your take Boat...I can guarantee you Ben is not staying put with this roster, he will be bringing in a few different pieces. I've spoken to Ben numerous times and he is not one to stay put as he knows that getting knocked out in round one is not going to cut it. West Liberty will have atleast 2 players leave and be replaced. I just saw Ben's comments after the game and he already stated he is changing the roster!

[boatcapt]

Congrats to WVSU. They played extremely hard.

IMHO Difference in game (have not seen stats)

• WLU lost the rebounding battle
• WLU attempted too many difficult passes, resulting in turnovers
• WLU did not turn enough forced turnovers into points

IMHO, there are no sweeping changes needed in the roster. Players just need to learn to move with purpose without the ball and not let the ball stick. The coaches exhort them to do that, but they have relapses. When a team does that, it distorts the defense and creates openings for three-point snipers and much easier shots inside too that won't get blocked.

The players need to watch NWMSU move the ball. Hudgens, the national player of the year will drive but refuse to take a difficult, contested shot. Instead he kicks it out to a teammate for a three. They wear down opponents offensively with their passing and movement without the ball.

I note that if the players don't get it, don't listen to their coaches and on mass have relapses after a year of having the coaches in their ear on a daily basis, MAYBE they never will.

Ben will not do ANY retooling because he doesn't think any needs to be done. I believe Watson transfers...While he shot .429 from 3, he didn't take NEARLY enough 3 tries (only 7 in 17 games) to warrant a roster spot. Coupled with Kovacavic leaving, MAYBE Ben is forced to bring in a transfer "big"...but just as likely he'll bring in another 6'3" "silky shooter" type with a "high basketball IQ." We love them and can never seem to get enough (why limit yourself to 10 on your roster when you can have 11...or even 12!!). Heck, Satterfield is 6'7" so we probably don't really need to bring in a big...I mean, the only thing they are good for is the opening jump ball! As long as Satterfield can make, and is willing to take, 3's, he'll be fine...he's a little light at 185 pounds but that just means he'll be quicker on the perimeter!

Other transfer candidates include Powell and Web...Also think there will be one surprise transfer.

[Scrub]

Congrats to WVSU. They played extremely hard.

IMHO Difference in game (have not seen stats)

• WLU lost the rebounding battle
• WLU attempted too many difficult passes, resulting in turnovers
• WLU did not turn enough forced turnovers into points

IMHO, there are no sweeping changes needed in the roster. Players just need to learn to move with purpose without the ball and not let the ball stick. The coaches exhort them to do that, but they have relapses. When a team does that, it distorts the defense and creates openings for three-point snipers and much easier shots inside too that won't get blocked.

The players need to watch NWMSU move the ball. Hudgens, the national player of the year will drive but refuse to take a difficult, contested shot. Instead he kicks it out to a teammate for a three. They wear down opponents offensively with their passing and movement without the ball.

This. Thanks for bringing the voice of reason and talking the other Hilltopper faithful off the ledge, Columbus.

[Columbuseer]

Congrats to WVSU. They played extremely hard.

IMHO Difference in game (have not seen stats)

• WLU lost the rebounding battle
• WLU attempted too many difficult passes, resulting in turnovers
• WLU did not turn enough forced turnovers into points

IMHO, there are no sweeping changes needed in the roster. Players just need to learn to move with purpose without the ball and not let the ball stick. The coaches exhort them to do that, but they have relapses. When a team does that, it distorts the defense and creates openings for three-point snipers and much easier shots inside too that won't get blocked.

The players need to watch NWMSU move the ball. Hudgens, the national player of the year will drive but refuse to take a difficult, contested shot. Instead he kicks it out to a teammate for a three. They wear down opponents offensively with their passing and movement without the ball.

[Scrub]

The old saying goes: hard to beat a good team three times in one season. Needed to bring the A game today and didn't do it.

[Columbuseer]

I actually think I agree with you. Foster or Alston probably has a stronger claim to that honor this season. (Heck, from a sheer individual stat-stuffing performance standpoint, guys like Isaiah Sanders and John Williams have reasonable claims to the crown as well). Butler certainly had a nice season, but not the kind of season in which your opponent has to game plan you (whereas every team in the PSAC has to ask themselves "what are we gonna do about Alston?" when they play Cal). That, to me, is the mark of a regional POY. In the past, when WLU guys like Bonifant, Falk, Monteroso, etc. won that honor, I think they passed that "game plan test" a bit more than Butler. Butler is still just a Soph, so I expect he'll get to that level in the coming years, but the award seems a year or two early in this case. But congrats to the young man nonetheless. He has certainly worked hard to add aspects to his game that weren't there a year or two ago. And if he keeps developing, he could be scary good in two years.

Both Foster and Alston were first team. I am sure it was a difficult call.
If NBA combine measurables were a factor, Alston would be the runaway winner over Bryce.

However, although I respect Alston's talent, watching the CAL Fairmont game, he takes plays off, especially on defense.
Have not watched Foster.

Bryce had the following stats for the entire season averaging 26 minutes per game:
7.3 rebounds
68% overall FG %
43% from three
67% effective FG %
1.67 Assist to TO ratio
3.1 assists per game
Very good defender - he drew two charging calls on McManus in the low post in the MEC tourney
9 double doubles
His motor does not stop.

Those numbers are somewhat misleading. In January, he started to dominate, much like Patrick Robinson, but in a different way.
Some of those games in 2022, Bryce had incredible high effective shooting % (70% to 80+% in some games).
He started dominating in close games when the game was on the line.

Coaches did start to worry about how to game plan for Bryce, in addition to Patrick.

[Scrub]

I actually think I agree with you. Foster or Alston probably has a stronger claim to that honor this season. (Heck, from a sheer individual stat-stuffing performance standpoint, guys like Isaiah Sanders and John Williams have reasonable claims to the crown as well). Butler certainly had a nice season, but not the kind of season in which your opponent has to game plan you (whereas every team in the PSAC has to ask themselves "what are we gonna do about Alston?" when they play Cal). That, to me, is the mark of a regional POY. In the past, when WLU guys like Bonifant, Falk, Monteroso, etc. won that honor, I think they passed that "game plan test" a bit more than Butler. Butler is still just a Soph, so I expect he'll get to that level in the coming years, but the award seems a year or two early in this case. But congrats to the young man nonetheless. He has certainly worked hard to add aspects to his game that weren't there a year or two ago. And if he keeps developing, he could be scary good in two years.

[IUPalum]

[Layton]