West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUP Extra Mile]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I saw where Street and Smith has WLU ranked #1 in their preseason rankings. Based on the end of last season, I really cannot understand that ranking. Y'all would know better than I, is that ranking defensible?

I'll confess, I'm a huge Hilltopper fan...but also fairly objective..

And I do think WL has a really good national reputation in D2, for what it's worth... And therefore the "uninformed" national folks figure that they are always a good bet to be land in the Top 5 or so...And they are buoyed by what has never been a murderer's row of non conference opponents... add it all up, and you land in the top 10...

That being said, they lost a d2 all american in Monteroso, lost a good solid, D1 transfer in James Griffin, lost a good PG in Jordan Watson...and lost a Swiss Army knife player in Brandon Smith...

And I agree with IUP BIG INdIANS, it's usually more newsworthy when they aren't preseason #1.... They'll be good, but no way should they be preseason #1!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

The actual reality is nobody gives a whiz about D2 basketball. The assistant to the intern likely makes this poll at S&S.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Don't they start every year at No. 1?

It will be interesting if the coaches vote them No. 1 in the MEC poll ahead of Fairmont State?

WLU number 1 is frankly a surprise to me - given that All American Monteroso is gone. But they seem to surprise me every year after they lose an All American player - Falk, Harris, Bonefant, Monteroso. I am curious as to their rationale for the ranking. I could see top 10 pre-season, perhaps just based on reputation.
But pre-season #1 and $3 will get you a starbucks so it does not mean much, other than to generate conversation.



There are so many teams one could argue could be Number 1, to name a few:
Lincoln Memorial
Queens
Bellarmine
Valdosta State (thanks to 2 ex hilltoppers)?
And looming in the shadows.... Nova Southeastern.

Fairmont state always has great talent - I really like Jolly's game. But for many years, one could depend on Fairmont having 5-7 bonehead offensive possession every game, like "heat check" shots. They don't value every possession, which has hurt them against less athletic teams like WLU and WJU who have more disciplined players who actually listen to their coaches.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I saw where Street and Smith has WLU ranked #1 in their preseason rankings. Based on the end of last season, I really cannot understand that ranking. Y'all would know better than I, is that ranking defensible?

Don't they start every year at No. 1?

It will be interesting if the coaches vote them No. 1 in the MEC poll ahead of Fairmont State?

[Knightmoves]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I saw where Street and Smith has WLU ranked #1 in their preseason rankings. Based on the end of last season, I really cannot understand that ranking. Y'all would know better than I, is that ranking defensible?

[PSAC76]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Seems like he will fit well into your system

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

New commit http://verbalcommits.com/players/owen-hazelbaker

Saw him play in all star game in late march featuring best central ohio underclassmen.
Thought he was the best big man on the floor.
High motor, unselfish, great stroke on the 3, good ball skills and foot movement, aggressive rebounder.
Actually tried to play team ball, which is rare in an all star game.
Has body type of a tight end, so in a weight program he could really become a dominant physical inside force.
Could be still growing.
Has 4.3 GPA as a Junior so that definitely does not hurt.
He is one of those guys who was under the radar but is improving rapidly with a very high upside.

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Losing 5 seniors after this year. Starting the replenishment! Nice to start off with a 6" 7" guy.

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

New commit http://verbalcommits.com/players/owen-hazelbaker

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Realistically, I don't think this will happen, but wouldn't it be amazing if WLU sent 3 waves of lineups at opponents, each playing intense pressure defense for 2-4 minutes? It would require tremendous parity among the players and of course would depend on the match ups. It would make it difficult for opponents to get comfortable with the skills and tendencies of the player guarding them. The physical and mental stress on opponents would be something to see, especially if they are not disciplined and their coach is not top-notch.

I am looking forward to next year when Boswell can play with Bolon. His game seems to be perfectly suited for the WLU style.

As I recall, UNC did somthing like this "back in the day." They would play their "end of the bench" 5 as a unit for a 2 minute stretch with instructions to press, harass, try and jump every pass and play HARD D (including giving HARD fouls to the opposing team stars). Players gave maximum effort knowing that they didnt need to "save" anything because they weren't going back in!

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

If you dress for all the games, but never get in can that count for a red shirt year? Because in the past the guys that WL were redshirting were always in street clothes on the bench.

Technically, a redshirt player is allowed to suit up for the game. As long as they don't play, it does not affect the redshirt.
Being in street clothes serves as a failsafe mechanism to keep a mistake from inadvertently allowing the redshirt in the game. In the case of a transfer, street clothes would definitely be in order, as a similar mistake would be akin to playing an ineligible player in the game.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redshirt_(college_sports)

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

If you dress for all the games, but never get in can that count for a red shirt year? Because in the past the guys that WL were redshirting were always in street clothes on the bench.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Don't know if it is, but that sounds right.

15 can dress for the game - no limit to people listed on roster. WJU used to have at least 20 on their roster.

http://www.answers.com/Q/How_many_pe...asketball_team

There is no limit on the number of players on a team. The NCAA limits scholarships to 13, and 15 total can suit up for a game. Kentucky had 20 players on the team in Billy G's last year. Obviously five of those did not make the trip for away games or suit up for home games.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I don't know but I note that WJU shows 15 players on their stat page from last season.

It does feel a little odd for WLU to have so many players. Typically during the Crutch era we were typically at 12 and SOMETIMES at 13 if memory serves me correctly. 15 players is going to make practice crowded!!!

Realistically, I don't think this will happen, but wouldn't it be amazing if WLU sent 3 waves of lineups at opponents, each playing intense pressure defense for 2-4 minutes? It would require tremendous parity among the players and of course would depend on the match ups. It would make it difficult for opponents to get comfortable with the skills and tendencies of the player guarding them. The physical and mental stress on opponents would be something to see, especially if they are not disciplined and their coach is not top-notch.

I am looking forward to next year when Boswell can play with Bolon. His game seems to be perfectly suited for the WLU style.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

D2 allows 10 full ride scholarships that can be split among > 10 players. D1 allows 13.
In terms of players on bench max is 15 for both d1 and d2 according to link:
https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketballinsincere carry but his game was not quite as developed imho. His team should have beaten Solon in the tourney as they led until deep into 4th quarter. Solon lost in d1 championship to team with 3 d1 players.

That is great. LOL.