West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I understand. Just had to point that out cuz I thought it was kinda funny. I just picked a bad half to watch IUP for the first time this season. I watched the 2nd half last nite. I know they're much much better than what they showed but I logged off wondering what all the buzz was about. I do agree though that they are the front runner to host, WL's 2 losses have come to teams that IUP have beaten. Also WL SOS is a little better but still not as tough as IUP's.

It's not hoopla. All you can judge is a resume. Not what 8 dorks on a message board talk about. IUP has two losses. Both will be regionally ranked. They also have wins against just about every good team in the region. Only thing for sure is it plays itself out.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

But SOS changes based on what the team you played does over the course of a season. WLU beating Fairmont Sat will pull IUP's OWP down a bit. Probably not down a whole lot, but down just the same. By the same token, IUP's loss to Hurst will pull WLU's OOWP down a touch. But at the end of the day, the direct SOS effect of what happened this weekend will have a larger negative SOS effect on IUP. The overall effect will be small but it will be there.

Tracking PI and SOS during the course of a season as "proof" that one team is "better" than another is fools gold and little more than message board fodder. Gives us somthing to talk about but there is little value to until all the games are played.

Right so at the same time every time Kutztown keeps losing it isn't doing WL any favors. Shoulda played Penn State-Fayette instead like you wanted to. Or have we forgot crying a river because they played a real team and lost to start the season? One that likely finishes 5th in the PSAC East.

Mercyhurst likely runs the table and gets the 4 seed.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

But SOS changes based on what the team you played does over the course of a season. WLU beating Fairmont Sat will pull IUP's OWP down a bit. Probably not down a whole lot, but down just the same. By the same token, IUP's loss to Hurst will pull WLU's OOWP down a touch. But at the end of the day, the direct SOS effect of what happened this weekend will have a larger negative SOS effect on IUP. The overall effect will be small but it will be there.

Tracking PI and SOS during the course of a season as "proof" that one team is "better" than another is fools gold and little more than message board fodder. Gives us somthing to talk about but there is little value to until all the games are played.

[Dirtybird]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I understand. Just had to point that out cuz I thought it was kinda funny. I just picked a bad half to watch IUP for the first time this season. I watched the 2nd half last nite. I know they're much much better than what they showed but I logged off wondering what all the buzz was about. I do agree though that they are the front runner to host, WL's 2 losses have come to teams that IUP have beaten. Also WL SOS is a little better but still not as tough as IUP's.

[IUPalum]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

It's interesting you are being critical of FSU and WL defensively when all IUP had to do was prevent a good 3 point look for 7 seconds and they couldn't do it.

IUP gave up 64 points. It wasn't their D that lost that game. Piss poor shooting lost that game. Poor shooting happens to every team once in awhile. Now when you watch a game and two teams repeatedly give up weak side buckets because off ball defense sucks then you got major issues! Just sayin...

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

WJ put one on Shepherd last night. Maybe their turnaround will be faster than we think.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

It's interesting you are being critical of FSU and WL defensively when all IUP had to do was prevent a good 3 point look for 7 seconds and they couldn't do it.

Hursts D stifled IUP particularly in the first half. I frankly expected more from them given that they were playing at home in a mostly packed house. Losing always stings but getting shut down defensively in your own building before a full house REALLY hurts.

So much for the hard part of their schedule being over.

[Dirtybird]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

It's interesting you are being critical of FSU and WL defensively when all IUP had to do was prevent a good 3 point look for 7 seconds and they couldn't do it.

[IUPalum]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Impressive win for the Toppers over Fairmont. WLU never trailed the entire game and was only tied once at 12-12! Coasted to an 11 point W that felt more like 20.

WLU made a STRONG case that inspite of all the hoopla for IUP, THEY are the true beast of SR1 this year.

Couple this with IUP's loss and WLU is the odds on favorite to host Regionals.

IUP is still the odds on favorite to host the regional. Their strength schedule far surpasses WLU. I watched tht game yesterday... the defense by both teams was horrendous. I'll leave it at that.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Impressive win for the Toppers over Fairmont. WLU never trailed the entire game and was only tied once at 12-12! Coasted to an 11 point W that felt more like 20.

WLU made a STRONG case that inspite of all the hoopla for IUP, THEY are the true beast of SR1 this year.

Couple this with IUP's loss and WLU is the odds on favorite to host Regionals.

[Layton]

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I hope you're right that they'll bounce back quickly. It's good for the area and the conference when they're going toe to toe. But, boy, they looked REALLY down last night. I fear it'll be more than a few years before they bounce back completely.

Difference between bouncing back and bouncing back completely. They are a quality academic school with instant connections in the Catholic school community. Provided administration provides them the schollies to compete, they should be relatively "good" probably the year after next. To be on of the top 3 teams in the MEC will depend on the quality of the HC as a basketball coach AND recruiter.

Tough year with him coming in so late. It will be a "good" year if he can ID 2 or maybe 3 players with enough quality to build on.

[Scrub]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Obviously not a fan of WJ, but I think it's a bit premature to stick a fork in the rivalry. Way too much history to throw it away after one bad year by WJ. WJ will rebound and I think pretty quickly. Add to that the addition of football and I think the rivalry between WLU and WJU will be strong for many, many years.

As for a primary rival for Fairmont, I'd look down I68 to Frostburg.

I hope you're right that they'll bounce back quickly. It's good for the area and the conference when they're going toe to toe. But, boy, they looked REALLY down last night. I fear it'll be more than a few years before they bounce back completely.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Obviously not a fan of WJ, but I think it's a bit premature to stick a fork in the rivalry. Way too much history to throw it away after one bad year by WJ. WJ will rebound and I think pretty quickly. Add to that the addition of football and I think the rivalry between WLU and WJU will be strong for many, many years.

As for a primary rival for Fairmont, I'd look down I68 to Frostburg.

[Scrub]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

As expected, a match-up with a bit more fizzle than sizzle. The atmosphere was great . . . in the beginning. The start of the game saw a SRO crowd of close to 1,800 people (including many announcements from the PA announcer about following fire code). By the first media time out of the second half, the place was a ghost town. The student section was empty by then--nothing to see here; back to the dorms to party. Just disappointing to see. Although, I imagine a similar atmosphere (with a less disappointing game) next weekend against Fairmont. Time to declare a new rival. Just because they're further than 12 miles away doesn't mean Fairmont can't just become the new rivalry game I guess.