West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

There are several plausible reasons why we are going for twos more frequently than 3s, compared to the past.

• opponents are spreading out to stop the open look three. This leaves an empty lane, which invites a rim run for a possible and one.
• More than past years, we have guys that are capable of breaking down their opponent and getting bigs in foul trouble
• We need an alternative , when we are not hitting threes.

However, tonight we attempted more difficult finishes at the rim than was prudent, resulting in empty possessions, when we should have kicked it out for an open three. Our defense and some clutch shooting in the last 3 minutes saved us. Might not be so fortunate next time.

I'm not against having the drive and kick as part of our offense. Heck, with Cedric Harris as our PG, it was probably the biggest part of our offensive. But even under Harris, it wasn't the largest by a mile...more like 51% as opposed to what seems like 75%+. Also Harris' drives were so controlled and purposeful. He finished many of those drives with an uncontested finger roll lay-up but he was equally willing and able to kick the ball out to an open shooter behind the 3 line. On our current team, it seems like we have 5 people who not only believe they can drive, but that WANT to drive when they get the ball...And when they do take that first step and commit to driving, they are going all the way come he11 or high water.

I understand that we are in love with "positionless" basketball, but this team appears to be in need of a true PG who brings the ball up most of the time AND get's them in a coherent offensive set.

[Scrub]

Well that was more like it. WLU 89 UC 78. Pretty much a heavy weight slug fest. Both teams absorbed the best their opponent could give then punched their way off the ropes. Key move was going to a zone to take McManus out of the game and WLU getting hot from 3. Also, can WLU PLEASE hit the front end of a 1 and 1????

It was so interesting: the zone was so effective at minimizing McManus (UC didn't score in any of the 5 possessions in which they faced the zone, if I recall correctly). Then Osborne promptly took out McManus. As soon as Heatherington came back in, WLU matched up in man again (with Moore on Heatherington). And Osborne just chose to leave McManus on the bench for fear that WLU would go back to the zone and neutralize him anyway. In other words, rather than solve the zone, Osborne chose to play the final 5 minutes of a tight, regional-implications game with his All-Region player on the pine. What an interesting turn of events.

And your heavyweight bout analogy certainly seems apropos. In this case, Howlett's roundhouse zone sent Osborne to the ropes without an answer for getting back off the ropes. Osborne will be ready for him next time. I expect another all-out battle down in Charleston in the next meeting.

[Columbuseer]

There are several plausible reasons why we are going for twos more frequently than 3s, compared to the past.

• opponents are spreading out to stop the open look three. This leaves an empty lane, which invites a rim run for a possible and one.
• More than past years, we have guys that are capable of breaking down their opponent and getting bigs in foul trouble
• We need an alternative , when we are not hitting threes.

However, tonight we attempted more difficult finishes at the rim than was prudent, resulting in empty possessions, when we should have kicked it out for an open three. Our defense and some clutch shooting in the last 3 minutes saved us. Might not be so fortunate next time.

[boatcapt]

Well that was more like it. WLU 89 UC 78. Pretty much a heavy weight slug fest. Both teams absorbed the best their opponent could give then punched their way off the ropes. Key move was going to a zone to take McManus out of the game and WLU getting hot from 3. Also, can WLU PLEASE hit the front end of a 1 and 1????

[Layton]

[boatcapt]

This is an underrated point that hasn't gotten much play. There's been much discussion on the IUP board (and deservedly so) about the loss of their All-Region / All-American player. That's a terrible blow at this, or any, point in the season. There's just no replacing a 25 ppg average after a team has settled in to its groove.

But WLU has been playing without it's All-Region player--Yoakum--all season long. It'll be interesting to see when (if?) he returns how he'll mix in and impact the WLU game.

Replacing really good players, whether they have moved on or due to injury, is never easy. The replacement for Yoakum last year and again this is Bryce Butler. Bryce performed very well as a starter last year and has stepped-up further this year.

I think the player WLU is missing most is Luke Dyer. As the PG, he was responsible for getting WLU into their half court offense. He was completely selfless as an offensive player even though he had the chops to put up 20 a game. He almost never called his own number. This year we seem to be doing PG by committee and whoever brings the ball up seems to be more than willing to try and take it to the hole by himself.

[boatcapt]

I don't disagree with any of what you wrote, Boat. I, too, am lacking some confidence going into tonight's game with UC. And the offensive discombobulation was on full display against D&E (especially in the second half--there was just no flow whatsoever). You can get away with that against D&E, but if they're not clicking tonight, McManus, Williams, & Co. will make them pay. I'd like to think they'll dial it up for the home crowd tonight, but count me among the nervous as well.

Over the years, WLU has always seemed like a team who's first goal in their half court sets is to find the open 3 and if that isn't available, to get a 2 either by pinpoint passing or by stepping inside for a short range jumper. This year they seem completely backward (driving for the 2 seems to be the #1 priority and they work out to 3 if the 2 is not available.) and it's showing in a less effective, herky jerky sort of offense. I think I've seen more reverse layup, eurostep and up and under tries in 8 games this year than I've seen the last 4 years from WLU.

[Scrub]

Some positives:[*]we went from 3 all region level players to one, losing Will and Dalton leaving only Patrick. Impressive coaching that we are 7-1.with 40% new players

This is an underrated point that hasn't gotten much play. There's been much discussion on the IUP board (and deservedly so) about the loss of their All-Region / All-American player. That's a terrible blow at this, or any, point in the season. There's just no replacing a 25 ppg average after a team has settled in to its groove.

But WLU has been playing without it's All-Region player--Yoakum--all season long. It'll be interesting to see when (if?) he returns how he'll mix in and impact the WLU game.

[Columbuseer]

Some positives:

• Malik, Bryce and Cmont have significantly elevated their game
• Ben is maturing very rapidly and has a non stop motor
• Zach improving defense and contributing beyond scoring
• Viktor and Marlon have given us strong post defense
• May be the best half court defense we have had in many years
• Also forcing 20 turnovers to offset poor shooting

Areas for improvement

• Younger players need to continue to grow.
• we went from 3 all region level players to one, losing Will and Dalton leaving only Patrick. Impressive coaching that we are 7-1.with 40% new players
• we have to reduce wide swings in shooting %.

Keys to UC game IMHO

• dominate their guards
• Run, run, run
• Avoid foul trouble for our bigs
• Shoot at least an average %

[Scrub]

First big MEC game tonight against 7-1 Charleston tonight. Color me very nervous about this one. While WLU has one three straight since losing to NDC, the manner they have won those games has not given me much confidence. Offensively, WLU is all over the place. We've swung from shooting 56% from 3 in the first half of the WVW game to 11% in the first half of the D&E game. The offence just seems very different than what we've seen for the last number of years when it just appeared very smooth (run the weave, get the ball onto the wing, reverse with a couple of crisp passes for an open 3...This year it just seems more herky-jerky with players getting the ball and almost immediately driving the lane).

The last two games have been poor opportunities for the Toppers to work out their offensive kinks. Yea, we won both by BIG margins but we were so much better than them that we could do almost anything, and still pull away. I fear it reinforced the bad things we saw in the loss to NDC and the narrow poorly played win over Daemen.

I don't disagree with any of what you wrote, Boat. I, too, am lacking some confidence going into tonight's game with UC. And the offensive discombobulation was on full display against D&E (especially in the second half--there was just no flow whatsoever). You can get away with that against D&E, but if they're not clicking tonight, McManus, Williams, & Co. will make them pay. I'd like to think they'll dial it up for the home crowd tonight, but count me among the nervous as well.

[boatcapt]

First big MEC game tonight against 7-1 Charleston tonight. Color me very nervous about this one. While WLU has one three straight since losing to NDC, the manner they have won those games has not given me much confidence. Offensively, WLU is all over the place. We've swung from shooting 56% from 3 in the first half of the WVW game to 11% in the first half of the D&E game. The offence just seems very different than what we've seen for the last number of years when it just appeared very smooth (run the weave, get the ball onto the wing, reverse with a couple of crisp passes for an open 3...This year it just seems more herky-jerky with players getting the ball and almost immediately driving the lane).

The last two games have been poor opportunities for the Toppers to work out their offensive kinks. Yea, we won both by BIG margins but we were so much better than them that we could do almost anything, and still pull away. I fear it reinforced the bad things we saw in the loss to NDC and the narrow poorly played win over Daemen.

[boatcapt]

The PSAC crossover drives the bus. They know that years in advance.

So, like this year, IUP has the heavyweights (Ship, WCU, Kutz, Millersville).

Some years they get Lock Haven and Mansfield. Those years, bulk up the non-con.

But, even with the heavy crossover load this year, Joe still scheduled Le Moyne, VA State and Bowie. He can't predict they'd all be so-so this year..

Concord is a steady non-con game. They won't be an anchor. They will give a good fight. But, yes, that is a game they expect to win. But, I will say, the Bolte years they were pretty good.

Oh I agree that having top tier teams in-conference certainly helps prepare a team for the NCAA playoffs. But I recall that view being panned by the IUP faithful when I brought it up several years ago. Posters specifically said that you needed hard OOC games to prepare you...PERIOD! A hard in-conference slate did nothing to help prepare a team for the rigors of the NCAA. Of course this was during the time when Joe was scheduling tough OOC games every year and Crutch wasn't.

I've always felt that scheduling hard games early in the season in an effort to better "prepare" a team for play in March is WAY overrated AND WAY, WAY over rated if you are playing elite teams in-conference.

At the end of the day, the most important factor in were a team is seeded is W/L...A 30-0 team is going to have the inside tract to the #1 regional seed over a 29-1 team. Make no mistake, scheduling over the top tough OOC games to start the season increases the chances a team is going to suffer a loss (or 2 or 3). And let's be honest here, the #1 regional seed is what IUP and WLU are playing for every year. MAYBE one of us can overcome a one loss difference with a kick-a$$ SOS but a two loss difference is going to be almost impossibe to overcome.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I used to make the same argument about the tough schedule WLU played within the MEC...I was told that the toughness of the in-conference sched didn't matter. ONLY OOC toughness counted. Don't know were the PSAC love for Concord comes from (Cal posters labeled them as a "top tier MEC team") but except for an odd year, they have been middle of the MEC pack at best. Same with Bowie...The hype far outpaces the season to season results which is 500 give or take. Salem is actually 4-3 but I wouldn't get too juiced about them being a non-tomato can...the four opponents they have beaten have a combined four wins. LeMoyne and Va State are typically pretty good.

The PSAC crossover drives the bus. They know that years in advance.

So, like this year, IUP has the heavyweights (Ship, WCU, Kutz, Millersville).

Some years they get Lock Haven and Mansfield. Those years, bulk up the non-con.

But, even with the heavy crossover load this year, Joe still scheduled Le Moyne, VA State and Bowie. He can't predict they'd all be so-so this year..

Concord is a steady non-con game. They won't be an anchor. They will give a good fight. But, yes, that is a game they expect to win. But, I will say, the Bolte years they were pretty good.

[boatcapt]

Here's my theory.


This year:

Le Moyne - Usually very tough

Bowie - Usually very tough

Virginia State - Typically a regional power

Concord - Decent team ... .500 type

WVW - Need at least one meatball.

Salem - Didn't happen but they are looking decent and are 5-2

Here's the thing. The PSAC is massive. And, we are stuck with (5) crossovers.

So, this year, aside from the West, IUP got paired up with West Chester, Ship, Kutz and Millersville. Not to mention a solid Shepherd and a currently undefeated Lock Haven.

Add to it Mercyhurst, UPJ, Cal and Gannon twice each.

Joe's SOS will be outstanding come Selection Sunday.

They already played a 4-year series with Fairmont. IUP and WL can't agree on anything.. Who else, elite, is left to play?

I used to make the same argument about the tough schedule WLU played within the MEC...I was told that the toughness of the in-conference sched didn't matter. ONLY OOC toughness counted. Don't know were the PSAC love for Concord comes from (Cal posters labeled them as a "top tier MEC team") but except for an odd year, they have been middle of the MEC pack at best. Same with Bowie...The hype far outpaces the season to season results which is 500 give or take. Salem is actually 4-3 but I wouldn't get too juiced about them being a non-tomato can...the four opponents they have beaten have a combined four wins. LeMoyne and Va State are typically pretty good.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Joe used to schedule hard. Now...not so much. For years all we heard from the IUP faithful was how Joe always scheduled the toughest OOC slate if not in the country, at least in the Atlantic. But over the last several years, IUP's OOC schedule has been much softer.

Here's my theory.


This year:

Le Moyne - Usually very tough

Bowie - Usually very tough

Virginia State - Typically a regional power

Concord - Decent team ... .500 type

WVW - Need at least one meatball.

Salem - Didn't happen but they are looking decent and are 5-2

Here's the thing. The PSAC is massive. And, we are stuck with (5) crossovers.

So, this year, aside from the West, IUP got paired up with West Chester, Ship, Kutz and Millersville. Not to mention a solid Shepherd and a currently undefeated Lock Haven.

Add to it Mercyhurst, UPJ, Cal and Gannon twice each.

Joe's SOS will be outstanding come Selection Sunday.

They already played a 4-year series with Fairmont. IUP and WL can't agree on anything.. Who else, elite, is left to play?