West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

[QUOTE=Columbuseer;n567475]Observations from a Dummy: The Improvement of WLU Play since Their Three Losses

I would add, the lack of ball movement allowed the other team time to rest which means they are "fresher" late in the game. Can't emphasize this too much. A (THE) key component to WLU's success over the years is wearing their opponents down with constant pressure on defense AND on offense through constant ball and player movement. When the ball sticks in "physically gifted players" hands and they take their defender to the rack, the other four defenders have time to recover. Over the course of the game, these little rests add up making it harder to achieve the WLU "Black Out" that often results in WLU taking a 5 point lead to 15 in a short period of time.

[Scrub]

Oh, don't worry, Columbus. You'll get no argument from me. I truly believe when Yoakum is healthy, he might actually be the best player on the WLU squad (even better than Bolon & Robinson, and that's really saying something because those two are studs). But I was just a little surprised that whomever votes for this thing didn't pass up a 3rd Hilltopper (and one who missed about 4 games with injuries) for a next-best guy to add to the first team.

[Columbuseer]

No doubt Reid is a great player who gives great effort and is a great finisher. Good rebounder too. But Yoakum exceled in more areas and was on a team where he did not have to be the main man. I think Will is a more complete player, better shooter, and takes better care of the ball. Will only played 55% of the minutes that Reid played and took a little over half (57%) of the shots that Reid attempted.

STAT. Yoakum. Reid
pts avg. 16.5 22.5 Reid had to shoulder scoring burden and took over 4 more shots per game

pts per
Minute
Played. 0.69 0.66

Min. Per
game. 23.8 34.2. Far fewer mins per game


FG% 56.2 48.5
3FG% 33.3. 21.4
FT% 75.5. 72.0

Assist to
Turnover
ratio. 0.90 0.65

TOs per min 0.073 0.078 will has fewer turnovers per minute played

Blocks
per
Game 1.0 0.93 Many of Will's blocks were difficult and stopped sure layups

Steals
Per
Game. 1.0. 1.2

[Scrub]

Bolon repeats as MEC POY. I thought he had a chance to get edged out by Abram in that vote, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Robinson also a much-deserved first-team All-MEC selection.

Yoakum made first team as well (in a bit of a surprise given that he missed a handful of games and got off to a slow start). Jordan Reid from Wheeling probably has the biggest beef with being put on the 2nd team in favor of Yoakum on the first. I wouldn't have argued with Reid making first team in Yoakum's place.

[Columbuseer]

Observations from a Dummy: The Improvement of WLU Play since Their Three Losses

IMHO What led to the three losses:

Play Since the three losses: Following the three losses, it became clear to all the players that the secret to the WLU success was the style of play more than the players. They returned to the WLU style of play, based on:

• Rapid ball movement
• Continuous player movement
• Giving up a good shot for a great shot

The improvement has been amazing since the three losses!
The following statistics substantiate that the WLU style of ball is superior to styles that emphasize one-on-one play.
Just look at the following statistics in the 3 losses (shaded in blue) and compare them with the games following the losses (red font):

• Points per Possession
  • In the three losses the values were 1.01, 1.09, 1.04, very D1 like numbers
  • Since: the range was 1.13 (on abysmal shooting) to an unbelievable 1.59, with 5 games over 1.30!
  • Season Average: an incredible 1.27, which compares favorably with the best past WLU teams and higher than Gonzaga (who is typically far above other elite D1 teams).
• Assists per 100 Possessions
  • Three losses: 9.8, 19.3 and 8.5
  • Since: 5 games over 30, 2 games over 20, and with a low of 12.8
  • Season Average: 24.9
• Assists / FG Made % - indicator of how much one-on-one versus passing (although steals and layups can lower the number)
  • Three Losses: 29%, 55%, 26%
  • Since: 5 games over 65%, low of 35%
  • Season average of 54.5%.
• Effective FG % - factors added value of 3-point shooting in the overall shooting percentage
  • Three losses: 48%, 46%, 43%
  • Since: 6 games over 59%
  • Season Average: 56.7%, despite having a lower team 3-pt shooting % compared to past WLU teams
• Effective FG% Difference (WLU- Opp.)
  • Three losses: -9%, -11%, -20% (opponent shot better than WLU)
  • Since: 4 games over 17% better, only 1 game shooting worse (-8%)
  • Season Average: 7.4% better than opponent

IMHO, given there was no change in personnel, these improvements indicate that when players commit to the WLU system, it greatly improves the probability of winning games, compared to the typical D1 like styles (where the ball sticks and there is significant 1-on-1 shot creation).

WLU Statistics in Games after their Three Losses (Losses shown in blue background; important stats are shown in red font)

WEST Lib Stats	3fgm	3fg %	Reb. Off	Points per Possession	Assists per 100 Possessions	Assists / FG Made %	Offensive Rebound Efficiency %	Effective FG %	Effective FG% Difference (team- Opp.)	FGA % Diff ((team FGA-Opp.FGA)/Opp.)	Forced Turn overs	Forced Turn overs % of Opp. Possession
NDC	5	33.3%	19	1.31	18.7	36.8%	46.3%	52.6%	-5.4%	37.5%	18	24.3%
at Alderson Broaddus	11	42.3%	23	1.50	29.3	52.2%	59.0%	62.0%	15.1%	27.7%	23	28.8%
at Fairmont St.	10	27.8%	23	1.08	19.1	56.7%	40.4%	43.2%	-3.8%	20.9%	19	21.3%
Frostburg	14	43.8%	13	1.38	32.0	68.9%	36.1%	66.7%	31.2%	13.0%	25	26.3%
at Concord	5	21.7%	10	1.01	9.8	28.6%	31.3%	48.4%	-12.9%	18.9%	22	27.8%
W.VA. STATE	14	31.1%	18	1.09	19.3	54.8%	34.6%	45.8%	-9.1%	33.9%	20	22.0%
at UC	7	31.8%	18	1.04	8.5	26.1%	43.9%	43.4%	--10.8%	3.4%	11	15.7%
GSC	12	38.7%	9	1.18	31.3	73.8%	25.0%	60.8%	20.4%	1.3%	16	16.8%
A-B	14	41.2%	14	1.38	37.6	69.6%	42.4%	67.1%	6.4%	41.1%	24	29.3%
WVWU	16	41.0%	16	1.19	31.2	70.7%	39.0%	59.0%	23.0%	5.1%	21	23.6%
Wheeling	13	46.4%	19	1.47	37.0	65.2%	47.5%	61.8%	9.2%	46.6%	18	22.8%
at NDC	6	22.2%	11	1.14	12.8	34.5%	25.6%	46.4%	-7.7%	11.3%	14	17.9%
at Frostburg	14	36.8%	21	1.47	25.3	47.8%	50.0%	63.1%	19.4%	33.3%	19	22.1%
at D&E	11	26.2%	21	1.13	25.0	65.4%	42.9%	44.4%	1.8%	31.5%	13	19.4%
Fairmont State.	17	63.0%	9	1.59	32.9	54.2%	34.6%	76.4%	17.9%	13.8%	12	15.4%
at Wheeling	10	31.3%	17	1.30	22.0	40.9%	42.5%	60.5%	6.6%	26.6%	16	19.8%
WLU Reg Season	179	36.0%	261	1.27	24.9	54.5%	40.3%	56.7%	7.4%	21.9%	291	22.1%

[Columbuseer]

WLU Stats End of Regular Season
Following the three losses, WLU started playing WLU ball, which entails ball movement, player movement and sharing the ball. As a result, the key stats started improving dramatically.

Here are the regular season averages:

• For reference, Gonzaga, who also shares the ball and is typically much better than elite dribble drive D1 teams, averages 1.24 to date.
• Offensive rebounding % - 40.3% is amazing and is a key to winning on a cold shooting night, for one must get more FG attempts through offensive rebounding and turnovers
• Defense held opponents to only 0.97 points per possession and only 30% from three

Statistic	West Liberty Regular Season	Opponents Regular Season
POINTS	1695	1280
FGM	609	444
FGA	1231	1010
FGPCT	49.5%	44.0%
3FGM	179	109
3FGA	497	357
3FGPCT	36.0%	30.5%
FTM	298	283
FTA	385	414
FTPCT	77.4%	68.4%
REBOUND OFFENSIVE	261	169
REBOUND DEFENSIVE	471	387
REBOUND TOTAL	732	556
ASSISTS	332	198
TURNOVERS	195	291
BLOCKS	57	32
STEALS	160	99
Num Possessions	1334	1314
Points per Possession	1.27	0.97
Assists per 100 Possessions	24.9	15.1
Assists / FG Made %	54.52%	44.59%
Assist to Turnover Ratio	1.70	0.68
Turnovers per 100 Possessions (< better)	14.6	22.1
Opponent Defensive Rebounds	387	471
Offensive Rebound Efficiency %	40.3%	26.4%
Effective FG %	56.7%	49.4%
Effective FG% Difference (team - Opp.)	7.4%	-7.4%
FGA % Diff ((team FGA- Opp. FGA) / Opp. FGA)	21.9%	-18.0%

[Columbuseer]

The WLU pressure has a cumulative effect that eventually wears down an opponent, which in turn reduces their movement offensively and defensively, while also reducing the FG %. This effect had started to manifest itself in the last 4 minutes of the half.
In the second half, WLU increased the intensity and pace of the game even further. One could see 2 or 3 WU players lagging back in transition, while the WLU players zoomed ahead of them to start their offense. WU was a step slow, leading to assists and easy baskets. It was becoming a track meet, which WLU loves!

Marlon was controlling the boards and getting quick outlet passes in transition. Everyone was making the extra pass. One instance: Patrick had beaten his man yet again and could have made a layup, despite being challenged by a big. Instead, he executed a beautiful wrap around bounce pass to the other side of the rim to Elijah for a dunk.
The effort of WLU was a key factor in this game, for WU has good shooters who were hitting their shots. But fatigue from the pressure has a way of lowering shooting percentages and increasing turnovers.
Summary of Stats

• WLU won 107-88, but it was a more challenging game than the score appears.

Areas for improvement
Some of the turnovers and missed shots were due to lack of situational awareness.

• Both WLU and WU threw the ball out of bounds because the passer was running down the court while the recipient was stationary at a 90% angle to their direction of movement. They neglected to adjust for the fact that when the ball is released, it is still moving forward at the same speed as the passer. The result is that the ball is too far in front of the recipient and goes out of bounds. You must practice aiming behind the stationary recipient to compensate for this Law of Motion.
• On a rebound, a player had an easy layup. Instead, he brings the ball behind his head to gather himself for a statement dunk. The shorter player behind him easily blocks the ball. Not the right time or place (lack of situational awareness)
• not goodare good

Statistic	West Liberty	at Wheeling
POINTS	107	88
FGM	44	31
FGA	81	64
FGPCT	54.3%	48.4%
3FGM	10	7
3FGA	32	23
3FGPCT	31.3%	30.4%
FTM	9	19
FTA	13	26
FTPCT	69.2%	73.1%
REBOUND OFFENSIVE	17	10
REBOUND DEFENSIVE	26	23
REBOUND TOTAL	43	33
ASSISTS	18	13
TURNOVERS	12	16
BLOCKS	1	1
STEALS	8	7
Num Possessions	82	81
Points per Possession	1.30	1.09
Assists per 100 Possessions	22.0	16.0
Assists / FG Made %	40.91%	41.94%
Assist to Turnover Ratio	1.50	0.81
Turnovers per 100 Possessions (< better)	14.6	19.8
Opponent Defensive Rebounds	23	26
Offensive Rebound Efficiency %	42.5%	27.8%
Effective FG %	60.5%	53.9%
Effective FG% Difference (team-Opp.)	6.6%	-6.6%
FGA % Diff ((team FGA-Opp. FGA)/Opp. FGA)	26.6%	-21.0%

[Columbuseer]

2021 WLU signee Austin Webb Update

South Point Pointers (15-4) won the sectional championship 52-47 over Coal Grove. Austin had 17 points. They are 4th seed in district and head to district semis on Tuesday against 5th seed Adena.

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/spor...8843bf6e3.html

[Columbuseer]

FYI WLU National D2 stat ranking (through midnight Feb 24)
NCAA ranks the 312 D2 schools in 31 national statistics, of which only 26 are relevant to the WLU style (see note below).

WLU ranks:

• #1 in Scoring Offense
• #2 in Assist to turnover ratio, Rebound Margin, Scoring margin, Total Rebounds / game
• top 5 in 9 categories
• top 10 in 15 categories
• top 20 in 21 categories
• top 28 in 24 of the relevant 26 categories

Note: The WL style is incongruous with some statistics, such as fewest fouls, personal fouls per game, fewest turnovers, turnovers per game, scoring defense, etc., which leaves only 26 relevant stats for WLU.

Date	Stat	Rank	Value
2/25/2021	Scoring Offense	1	105.9
2/25/2021	Assist to turnover ratio	2	1.72
2/25/2021	Rebound Margin	2	11
2/25/2021	Scoring margin	2	26
2/25/2021	Total Rebounds per game	2	45.93
2/25/2021	Assists per game	3	20.9
2/25/2021	Turnover margin	3	6.1
2/25/2021	Total Assists	4	314
2/25/2021	Turnovers forced per game	4	18.33
2/25/2021	Offensive rebounds per game	5	16.27
2/25/2021	Steals per Game	6	10.1
2/25/2021	Defensive Rebounds per game	7	29.67
2/25/2021	Total steals	7	152
2/25/2021	Three-point FG per game	8	11.3
2/25/2021	Total Rebounds	12	689
2/25/2021	Free Throw Made	16	289
2/25/2021	3-point FG attempts	17	465
2/25/2021	FG percentage	18	49.09
2/25/2021	Free Throw Percentage	19	77.69%
2/25/2021	Three Point FG Defense	19	30.50%
2/25/2021	Total three-point FG Made	20	169
2/25/2021	Free Throw Attempts	23	372
2/25/2021	Total Blocks	27	56
2/25/2021	Blocked shots per game	28	3.7

[Columbuseer]

• WLU won 126-96, and the lead was 39 with 4 minutes left, when we relented. WLU played without Will Yoakum, who is injured.

• Points Per Possession - 1.59 - This is highest I have ever seen for a game. Only 7% of D1 teams average over 1.0.

• Assist to Turnover Ratio - 3.25 - This would have put the team at #8 nationally in the individual assist to turnover rankings!

• Effective FG% (weights 3 pt. shots) - 76.4%

• Assists per 100 possessions - 32.9

• Assists / FG Made - 54%

WLU put continuous, python-like pressure on FSU on both defense and offense. They were extremely aggressive in attacking them without respite. It was required, for FSU is well-coached and has at least 3 All-Conference level athletes.

• Rapid outlet passes to half court on missed shots
• Long inbounds passes after an FSU score for layups
• Near instantaneous transition from defense to offense, resulting in fast breaks. Everyone was sprinting down the floor.
• Treating every offensive possession like gold, making extra passes to teammates, and making FSU work very hard on defense. Eventually, it led to wide open looks. Just one example: Owen gets the ball in corner and has an open shot; instead, he passes it to Patrick on the wing; Patrick then fires a bullet under the basket to a cutting Bryce Butler for a layup; all within the space of 3 seconds.
• The rapid passing and ball rotation exhausted FSU, where they were a second late on the close-out, enabling Dalton, Zach, Malik, Bryce, Patrick, and Owen to drill threes. Zach was the newcomer to the three-point party, but I expect him to be a regular attendee (as his Ohio record of 485 threes in high school may never be broken and he is only the 2^nd person to score over 3,000 points in Ohio, behind Jon Deebler).
• The avalanche of threes forced the defense to spread out to defend, which left defenders on an island against Malik and Patrick for open drives to the rim against tired legs.

After scoring 70 points in the first half, one naturally expected WLU to cool off in the second half. They did not. They kept playing WLU ball with the same intensity.
For the second straight game, WLU got a 10 second call against the opponent. That is a very difficult accomplishment, especially against a good team who only turned the ball over 12 times.

Areas for improvement
This is difficult to identify after this game.

• Only had a couple of out-of-control drives and low percentage shots, which is a huge improvement.

FYI here are the stats

Statistic	West Liberty	FAIRMONT ST.
POINTS	126	96
FGM	48	31
FGA	74	65
FGPCT	64.9%	47.7%
3FGM	17	14
3FGA	27	34
3FGPCT	63.0%	41.2%
FTM	13	20
FTA	13	22
FTPCT	100.0%	90.9%
REBOUND OFFENSIVE	9	9
REBOUND DEFENSIVE	26	17
REBOUND TOTAL	35	26
ASSISTS	26	15
TURNOVERS	8	12
BLOCKS	1	1
STEALS	6	7
Num Possessions	79	78
Points per Possession	1.59	1.23
Assists per 100 Possessions	32.9	19.2
Assists / FG Made %	54.17%	48.39%
Assist to Turnover Ratio	3.25	1.25
Turnovers per 100 Possessions (< better)	10.1	15.4
Opponent Defensive Rebounds	17	26
Offensive Rebound Efficiency %	34.6%	25.7%
Effective FG %	76.4%	58.5%
Effective FG% Difference (team - Opp.)	17.9%	-17.9%
FGA % Diff ((team FGA - Opp. FGA) / Opp.)	13.8%	-12.2%

[boatcapt]

Quiz:
you are a top 25 team.
You have the following stats:
48% FG, 41% three FG, 91% FT, 12 turnovers, 15 assists and 7 steals.

Do you win by:
a) 12
b) 20
c) 30
d). Other

if you answered c, you are incorrect.


The correct answer is YOU LOSE BY THIRTY!

That is, when you are playing against WLU basketball, composed of elite athletes playing unselfishly at 100% effort.

That was a 40 minute display of the highest level of basketball against a top 25 opponent that i have ever seen.

Even if you follow another team, it might be enjoyable to watch on mountaineast.tv replay.

Close to perfect example of the WLU style of play...crisp passing to find the open man who takes and makes the 3...moving inside and taking/making the intermediate jumper...driving and kicking out to an open player...and when appropriate, finishing at the rim. Trading 2s for 3s...constant harassing pressure

[Columbuseer]

Quiz:
you are a top 25 team.
You have the following stats:
48% FG, 41% three FG, 91% FT, 12 turnovers, 15 assists and 7 steals.

Do you win by:
a) 12
b) 20
c) 30
d). Other

if you answered c, you are incorrect.


The correct answer is YOU LOSE BY THIRTY!

That is, when you are playing against WLU basketball, composed of elite athletes playing unselfishly at 100% effort.

That was a 40 minute display of the highest level of basketball against a top 25 opponent that i have ever seen.

Even if you follow another team, it might be enjoyable to watch on mountaineast.tv replay.

[IUPalum]

We were wrong, IUPalum. Will Yoakum was seen on crutches at tonight's game.

That's worse than what I was thinking then. I was just thinking holding him out for precaution.

[IUPalum]

DESTROYED Fairmont 126-96. WLU claims the MEC North crown!

Still three losses in that High School league.

[Scrub]

We were wrong, IUPalum. Will Yoakum was seen on crutches at tonight's game.