West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Daemen must be anticipating a big team. They are playing Northwest Missouri State on opening weekend. They are also playing Syracuse and Buffalo in exhibition.

Nearly everyone is back from NCAA tourney team - They average about 80 points a game and 38% of threes. They have a returning 6-9 2nd team All American. This will be a good test for WLU in competing against a team with a dominant big man and with 3 point shooters.

Don't know much about Shaw or St. Augustine, but I would expect them to have some great players and be difficult to guard in one-on-one dribble-drive situations, if Va State is indicative of the conference.

These 3 games will reinforce the coach's emphasis about the extraordinary effort required to win for the freshmen and transfers; If they don't quite buy in yet and are not ready to give 100%, they could lose some of these games.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Daemen must be anticipating a big team. They are playing Northwest Missouri State on opening weekend. They are also playing Syracuse and Buffalo in exhibition.

[Columbuseer]

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

U should have no problem with them. Just guard their outside shooters. Even the bigs can shoot the three. Flohr is a guard who may not start but when he is beaten off the dribble he can trip or push opponent from behind. I am not a fan of that kind of play.

Their coach would win the mec drew Carey lookalike contest with his black glasses and haircut. LOL

They came up here 4-5 years ago. I remember it was like 57-42 or something. Real slow game.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Good info.

They get Joe inside the KCAC on a Saturday night. Not easy.

We love when the other team has a goon. We'll have him frazzled by opening tip.

U should have no problem with them. Just guard their outside shooters. Even the bigs can shoot the three. Flohr is a guard who may not start but when he is beaten off the dribble he can trip or push opponent from behind. I am not a fan of that kind of play.

Their coach would win the mec drew Carey lookalike contest with his black glasses and haircut. LOL

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

It is the all-international team of the MEC.
They lose Bronsted, one of their twin towers, but Petrovic is a good shooter.
They have Flohr, who primary skill seems to be trying to instigate something with WL players.
His biggest contribution to his team would be to get an opponent kicked out of the game along with himself.

Their problem is that they have no interest in getting offensive rebounds. Everyone just stands outside and watches their teammates. Really soft. They play zone and once they got tired, WL was getting layups off the pass to the foul line and then breaking to the basket.

They can be dangerous on a given night, depending on who they play. I was amazed that they beat both West Chester and Kutztown to start the year.

Good info.

They get Joe inside the KCAC on a Saturday night. Not easy.

We love when the other team has a goon. We'll have him frazzled by opening tip.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

What's the report on WVW? They play that real slow-down game, correct?

Looks like they have most everybody back this year.

It is the all-international team of the MEC.
They lose Bronsted, one of their twin towers, but Petrovic is a good shooter.
They have Flohr, who primary skill seems to be trying to instigate something with WL players.
His biggest contribution to his team would be to get an opponent kicked out of the game along with himself.

Their problem is that they have no interest in getting offensive rebounds. Everyone just stands outside and watches their teammates. Really soft. They play zone and once they got tired, WL was getting layups off the pass to the foul line and then breaking to the basket.

They can be dangerous on a given night, depending on who they play. I was amazed that they beat both West Chester and Kutztown to start the year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

What's the report on WVW? They play that real slow-down game, correct?

Looks like they have most everybody back this year.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

My guess would be yes...as would the mix and match position less nature of how they play (practice). Seems like the goal is to get 10 players that are completely comfortable with each other and that know exactly how the other 9 players are going to react to situations...for example if you know that French is most comfortable at the 3 line in the corner and that he drifts to that area almost all the time (because you've seen it a thousand times in "game" practice), you can be pretty comfortable knowing that if he's on the court with you, wipping a largely blind pass to that area is probably going to be rewarded with a 3.

French what a shooter. If only he had remained healthy... That might have put us over the top for he would have likely been in platoon 1 which would have given us more experience. Academic all American and elite 90 winner too

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Well said. Wonder if that is a reason for the unconventional practice method of playing games to 100?

My guess would be yes...as would the mix and match position less nature of how they play (practice). Seems like the goal is to get 10 players that are completely comfortable with each other and that know exactly how the other 9 players are going to react to situations...for example if you know that French is most comfortable at the 3 line in the corner and that he drifts to that area almost all the time (because you've seen it a thousand times in "game" practice), you can be pretty comfortable knowing that if he's on the court with you, wipping a largely blind pass to that area is probably going to be rewarded with a 3.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

The freedom WLU's style offers is probably difficult for players to adjust to. But to paraphrase the old saying - With great freedom comes great responsibility. It's not about taking a shot every time the ball hits your hands...it's not about jumping passing lanes every time the opponent passes...it IS about knowing when you should take the shot and when the better option is to pass to a more open teammate...it IS about knowing what your defensive teammates are doing so if you miss jumping a pass, you have backup. Seems like WLU players have to know what every one of their teammates are doing and be able to act correctly on that knowledge immediately.

Being able to drain 3's is important...knowing when to pass to a more open teammate is even more important.

Well said. Wonder if that is a reason for the unconventional practice method of playing games to 100?

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

LOL You are a wise man, Boat. Very good counsel to a young player. From his highlights, it looks like he likes defense too. Both he and Robinson have a great first step, but they don't slash out of control to the basket - they appear to change their angle to avoid charges. They also appear strong enough to score after contact to get the and-one.

Without knowing them and just generally speaking, I would suspect that another difficult adjustment for a new player is to adjust to the freedom given to players to make good decisions in rapidly changing dynamic situations under duress, when there are no set plays. Kind of rare in today's environment of micro-managing coaches.

The freedom WLU's style offers is probably difficult for players to adjust to. But to paraphrase the old saying - With great freedom comes great responsibility. It's not about taking a shot every time the ball hits your hands...it's not about jumping passing lanes every time the opponent passes...it IS about knowing when you should take the shot and when the better option is to pass to a more open teammate...it IS about knowing what your defensive teammates are doing so if you miss jumping a pass, you have backup. Seems like WLU players have to know what every one of their teammates are doing and be able to act correctly on that knowledge immediately.

Being able to drain 3's is important...knowing when to pass to a more open teammate is even more important.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

If he does that he should have his head examined. Lol.

LOL. I agree, unless he cannot afford MIT or CMU - what is it $50K a year?
Or maybe he falls in love on his recruiting trip!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

You raise an interesting point. With no seniors, how many scholarships are available next year?
I can see it now - Player X with 5.0 GPA turns down MIT and Carnegie Mellon for academic scholarship and basketball at WL :-)

If he does that he should have his head examined. Lol.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

A lot of talent with a years experience could pay off in a big way. No seniors so everyone back the following year is kinda crazy.

You raise an interesting point. With no seniors, how many scholarships are available next year?
I can see it now - Player X with 5.0 GPA turns down MIT and Carnegie Mellon for academic scholarship and basketball at WL :-)