West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Scrub]

Yup. And only 2 of the 7 present are regular starters. But, this is why you need good depth on your team. This is a prime opportunity for some bench players to step up!

[Layton]

[Columbuseer]

FYI
WLU now #8 in NABC poll , with Nova SE #4.

https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...nabc-poll.aspx

[Columbuseer]

Luke Denbow ashland 2022 signee is tearing it up this season.

The lefty is a deadly scorer from three, midrange and at the rim.
Quick release.
Could play pg or sg.
Perfect fit for wlu

33 pts 6 assists
32 pts 6 assists
30 pts 6 assists
24 pts 7 assists

[Columbuseer]

• Nearly 63% of forced turnovers are from steals -these are live ball turnovers that usually lead to good scoring opportunities in transition.
• Current assist to turnover ratio is the best in 5 years at 1.66.
• The difference in the assist to turnover ratio between WLU and its opponents is 1.13, which is the best in 5 years. It is incredible, since opponents are trying to slow the pace to a half-court game.
• Offensive rebounding efficiency has improved to a very good 33.5%, which is comparable to the pre-Bolon and pre-Yoakum years.
• Scoring margin is nearly 19 points, which is good, given the difficult schedule.
• Although getting about 4 shots less than the previous 2 years, our points per FGA is nearly equal at 1.36.
• Despite the slow down efforts of opponents, WLU is getting 80 possessions a game, due to many forced live ball turnovers in the backcourt.
• Slowly but surely, 3FG % is climbing toward 40%.
• FT% still needs improvement.

TeamYear	year start	Team	GP	FG Pct	3FG PCT	FT PCT	Reb Per Game	Assist to Turnover Ratio	Shots per 40 min	Points Per Shot	Points Per Possession	Possessions per game	Num Possessions	Off Reb Efficiency	Three FGA per Game	FGA per Game	Assist to Turnover Ratio Margin (WLU-Opp.)	steals to forced TO Ratio	PPP Margin (WLU - Opp.)	Scoring Margin (WLU - Opp.)
WLU2021	2021	WLU	11	49%	39%	69%	38	1.66	70.7	1.36	1.20	80	875	33.5%	28	71	1.13	63%	0.23	18.73
WLU2020	2020	WLU	23	49%	37%	75%	43	1.58	74.2	1.36	1.25	81	1856	37.4%	30	74	0.80	55%	0.24	20.39
WLU2019	2019	WLU	31	51%	41%	77%	42	1.62	74.5	1.37	1.27	80	2490	37.0%	28	75	0.95	57%	0.29	24.00
WLU2018	2018	WLU	33	50%	43%	78%	42	1.49	70.7	1.40	1.27	79	2615	37.4%	28	72	0.51	55%	0.15	11.79
WLU2017	2017	WLU	30	48%	38%	77%	44	1.98	77.1	1.36	1.28	82	2473	36.2%	34	77	1.22	56%	0.26	21.90
WLU2016	2016	WLU	32	49%	36%	72%	41	1.96	70.4	1.34	1.25	78	2491	32.7%	31	72	1.10	54%	0.22	18.16
WLU2015	2015	WLU	35	50%	41%	73%	43	1.80	68.7	1.42	1.25	79	2767	31.6%	29	69	0.80	55%	0.23	18.91
WLU2014	2014	WLU	32	52%	41%	71%	40	1.70	68.5	1.46	1.28	79	2517	34.9%	27	69	0.83	62%	0.21	17.56
WLU2013	2013	WLU	35	49%	40%	75%	42	1.84	72.4	1.36	1.26	79	2773	34.0%	30	73	1.05	59%	0.23	18.00
WLU2012	2012	WLU	36	52%	41%	76%	41	1.65	72.1	1.43	1.28	80	2886	39.0%	27	72	1.06	59%	0.30	24.14

[Columbuseer]

FYI Here are national rankings of WLU in various statistics as of games completed by midnight Dec 19, 2021.

A ranking of 33 or less puts WLU approximately in the 90th percentile among all D2 teams. it is amazing how well they are doing, given that they lost:

• D2 All American in Dalton Bolon, who was second leading scorer in WLU history
• All Conference player (and all region-level player IMHO) in Will Yoakum.
• Also they lost a PG in Luke Dyer, who had the second highest Assist to Turnover ratio in history at 5.9 two years ago, and had incredible steals per minute played stats.

Date	National Ranking	West Liberty rank	Value
12/19/2021	Steals Per Game	2	13.00
12/19/2021	Scoring Offense	3	95.80
12/19/2021	Turnover Margin	3	8.50
12/19/2021	Turnovers Forced	3	20.73
12/19/2021	Assists Per Game	4	20.00
12/19/2021	Assist Turnover Ratio	9	1.64
12/19/2021	Scoring Margin	10	18.00
12/19/2021	Three-Point Field Goals Per Game	16	10.90
12/19/2021	Three-Point Attempts	23	309
12/19/2021	Free-Throw Attempts	26	243.00
12/19/2021	Field-Goal Percentage	29	49.23
12/19/2021	Offensive Rebounds per game	33	13.09
12/19/2021	Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage	33	38.83

[Columbuseer]

It's true that things looked real smooth against WilmU. The Toppers were clicking. But against a 4-9 opponent, I would expect that. Hopefully that's a game that helps them develop some rhythm heading into the second half.

Good points. Against stronger teams, I agree that one would expect points per possession to decline. One encouraging sign was the quick extra pass or touch pass to give up a good shot for a great shot that led to easy or wide open shots. The ball was not sticking most of the game.

[Scrub]

It's true that things looked real smooth against WilmU. The Toppers were clicking. But against a 4-9 opponent, I would expect that. Hopefully that's a game that helps them develop some rhythm heading into the second half.

[Columbuseer]

FYI - Some Game by Game Stats for WLU
- Shooting %s are increasing
- Wilmington game had an incredible 32 assists. Over 82% of made FGs were due to assists. Pts per possession was an incredible 1.42
- Defense is continuing to generate large numbers of steals
- Team has outstanding Assist to Turnover (TO) Ratio, which is amazing, given the pace of play.
- Pts per FGA has climbed to 1.36

Opponent	Date	Score	FG	FGA	Pct	3 FG	3 FGA	3 FG PCT	FT	FTA	FT PCT	Assist	TO	Stl	Assist to TO Ratio	Assist per FG	Points Per FGA	Points Per Possession	Off Reb Effic	opp def reb
WINSTON-SALEM STATE	11/12/21	104-82	37	80	46.3%	9	25	36.0%	21	27	77.8%	19	9	17	2.11	51%	1.30	1.25	41.9%	25
EAST STROUDSBURG	11/13/21	108-93	38	75	50.7%	18	35	51.4%	14	21	66.7%	24	16	13	1.50	63%	1.44	1.23	34.3%	23
at Pitt.-Johnstown	11/17/21	95-83	33	70	47.1%	8	28	28.6%	21	28	75.0%	15	8	6	1.88	45%	1.36	1.25	33.3%	28
ALDERSON BROADDUS	11/20/21	100-70	39	77	50.6%	11	32	34.4%	11	20	55.0%	24	15	17	1.60	62%	1.30	1.16	32.6%	31
at Notre Dame (OH)	11/23/21	81-82	32	72	44.4%	8	23	34.8%	9	19	47.4%	18	10	12	1.80	56%	1.13	1.03	34.4%	21
DAEMEN	11/29/21	63-61	24	60	40.0%	6	24	25.0%	9	19	47.4%	16	14	11	1.14	67%	1.05	0.88	28.6%	25
at West Va. Wesleyan	12/01/21	120-72	44	81	54.3%	19	41	46.3%	13	14	92.9%	28	13	13	2.15	64%	1.48	1.56	50.0%	23
DAVIS & ELKINS	12/04/21	100-69	39	70	55.7%	5	19	26.3%	17	24	70.8%	20	11	14	1.82	51%	1.43	1.20	30.0%	21
CHARLESTON	12/08/21	89-78	29	61	47.5%	10	20	50.0%	21	32	65.6%	15	10	13	1.50	52%	1.46	1.16	22.2%	28
at West Virginia State	12/13/21	86-84	29	65	44.6%	9	26	34.6%	19	22	86.4%	11	12	9	0.92	38%	1.32	1.12	28.6%	25
WILMINGTON (DEL.)	12/19/21	108-74	39	67	58.2%	17	36	47.2%	13	17	76.5%	32	16	18	2.00	82%	1.61	1.42	40.0%	21

[boatcapt]

W.Va. State's baffling up-and-down play continued in Hawaii this weekend. After barely squeezing past a 3-7 Hawaii Pacific team, 76-74, on Friday, they blasted No. 11-ranked Embry-Riddle (Fla.), 87-69, late Sunday night - leading by as many as 27 points in the second half. No question they have the talent to be a problem for anybody on any given night. Just hope they don't decide to start stringing those nights together. West Liberty caught them on one of those nights and were fortunate to escape unscathed.

WVSU has always been one of those teams that is either hot or they are not. One game you watch them and think my God they are really good...then the next game you wonder if they can execute an inbound pass. Kind of like Glenville in that respect.

[timbertopper]

Interesting comment by announcers at game today. Said flu had run through the team during last week and they were not at full strength for previous game on Monday.
That fact makes their win over wvsu very impressive and might explain some of the subpar play.

W.Va. State's baffling up-and-down play continued in Hawaii this weekend. After barely squeezing past a 3-7 Hawaii Pacific team, 76-74, on Friday, they blasted No. 11-ranked Embry-Riddle (Fla.), 87-69, late Sunday night - leading by as many as 27 points in the second half. No question they have the talent to be a problem for anybody on any given night. Just hope they don't decide to start stringing those nights together. West Liberty caught them on one of those nights and were fortunate to escape unscathed.

[Scrub]

Interesting comment by announcers at game today. Said flu had run through the team during last week and they were not at full strength for previous game on Monday.
That fact makes their win over wvsu very impressive and might explain some of the subpar play.

Might also explain why McKinney didn't start and only played sparing minutes against WVSU. I had been wondering what might have prompted that shift. In retrospect (now that everybody seems to be healthy), I'm glad it was illness and not that McKinney was in coach's dog house (which would have seemed out of character for him).

[Columbuseer]

Interesting comment by announcers at game today. Said flu had run through the team during last week and they were not at full strength for previous game on Monday.
That fact makes their win over wvsu very impressive and might explain some of the subpar play.

[boatcapt]

Great all around win, 108-74. WLU played a total game from the opening tip until garbage time with about 5 to play. Great ball movement on the offensive end, draining 3 on cue, pin point passes...many of which were the "extra" pass variety. Defensively many pressure induced steals and turnovers.

Denbow is MONEY from the corner.
Top notch games by Freshmen Powell and Web who both looked really comfortable.
Shout out to Watson also. He didn't stuff the stat sheet but he seemed to play with control and poise and made a number of really smooth passes.

At one point in the second half we had 5 freshmen on the court and we didn't really miss a beat.

The announcers talked about Yoakum. Said he had a preseason knee injury that he was rehabing. Didnt say when he would be back but they didn't say he was done for the year. Just a guess, but I'd think after the Christmas break.

[boatcapt]

Maybe i misunderstood your original premise. I thought the metric was 40% 3pt % and 25 three fga and 75 fga.; all three conditions had to be met. Is that correct? If so, there may be fewer games that meet all 3 conditions.

The decline in pts per fga from 1.37 to 1.33 is a difference of .04 pts per fga. Over 75 fga, that is a difference of 75*.04 = 3 pts per game. One more three or and one would make up difference. We are winning by an average of 17 pts (#14 in usa) so it is not a major factor, compared to shooting % woes in some games.

More possessions is definitely a major factor. It depends on pace of play and turnovers. Given teams are slowing the pace on offense and defending the three, we have to rely on forcing more turnovers. WLU is currently #4 in usa at 20.5 forced turnovers per game

The metrics I listed are those that make us very tough to beat. Individually and collectively, they are well within our ability to meet every game. If we don't meat them, we become an easier team to beat. Doesnt mean we lose every game we play just that the scores are closer than they should be, or we have to pull out gut check wins.

People often want a simple answer to things when more often than not,, the problem is complex.. WLU is a case in point this year.. Even though they are 9-1, somthing seems to be amiss. But when you look at individual stats, you don't see a big difference. But when you start looking at the collection of stats, you pretty much see small declines across the board...collectively, they add up to a relatively significant production decline. I guess the silver lining to a small decline in a category is that it is relatively easy to "fix"...the black cloud is that we seem to have quite a few small declines that we need to "fix" at the same time.