West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Starting at WLU doesn't mean you will get the most minutes like on most teams. Quite the contrary...It's not uncommon for the non-starter to get more minutes that the starter over extended periods of time. So from that standpoint, doesn't really matter who starts. BUUUUTTTT...It does seem that outside of early season adjustments and injuries, WLU sticks with a set starting 5 game after game even when the #2 is playing better. I've always found that interesting about WLU.

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

So heading into the new school year, who do you have penciled in as your starting 5? Here's mine:

PG Brady Arnold
G Dalton Bolon
G Marlon Moore
F Evan French
F Eric Mehininger

Second 5:

PG Luke Dyer
G Kegan Saben
G Nate Allen
F Nick Greely
F Tyler Primmer

Tough question. Due to the parity among the Wlu players, who starts the game does not have the meaning as with other teams. Wl has the luxury of rotating whole lineup like hockey lines.
I think who starts might depend on the matchup with the other team. As the game progresses the players with the hot hand and most impact/ effort will get more minutes. Imho:
Level 1
Dalton Bolton
Brady Arnold if completely recovered
Meininger
Level 1a
depends a lot on off season improvement
Saben - creates chaos but needs to work on shot. Displaced taller talented starter late in year based on effort. Can play point.
French- Bonifant like shooter who just needs to keep improving on defense to get major minutes and move up to group 1
Moore- hi iq player. If he improves 3 and attacks offensively he could move up.
Allen- has nba first step. If he improves defensive technique he could move up.
Dyer- great assist to turnover ratio. Needs more confidence in shooting 3.
Primmer- if he improves as much as last year he could start.

Group 2 could be major positive surprises here but little is known
Alessandro - expect to play this year
Yoakum- heard good things about him
Hill - great talent
Greely- ex d1 player that needs time to adjust
Watson - scoring machine who needs time to adjust

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Have you heard if Brady Arnold has made a full recovery and will be able to play this year?

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Have you heard if Brady Arnold has made a full recovery and will be able to play this year?

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

So heading into the new school year, who do you have penciled in as your starting 5? Here's mine:

PG Brady Arnold
G Dalton Bolon
G Marlon Moore
F Evan French
F Eric Mehininger

Second 5:

PG Luke Dyer
G Kegan Saben
G Nate Allen
F Nick Greely
F Tyler Primmer

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...-american.aspx

Little more on the latest signee.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

WLU capped it's 2018 recruiting class by signing JUCO All-American:

Ariel Watson, G, 6'3", 185, Woodrow Wilson HS DC via Garrett College (MD).

Some HS tape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JjMtRJBrcs

[Layton]

https://hilltoppersports.com/documen...ndProof_2_.pdf

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I saw that your department is getting a practice facility. Does that effect basketball or is it only for outdoor sports?

It can/will be used by all but the greatest effect will be softball and baseball. It will allow them to begin their preseason practice earlier and more effectively. It is still mighty cold on the Hilltop when these two sunshine sports begin their preseason camps!

For fall field sports like football and soccer, the dome will give them a large space to do group conditioning during the winter and the occasional in door practice during the season when weather is too bad for outdoor practice. It will also give them an additional space for more specialized small group/1 on 1 coaching.

For court/track/mat based sports, it will probably be of marginal benefit...more as an out of season "change of pace" sort of thing.

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I saw that your department is getting a practice facility. Does that effect basketball or is it only for outdoor sports?

Mainly for baseball and softball but all sports can use it

[PSAC76]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I saw that your department is getting a practice facility. Does that effect basketball or is it only for outdoor sports?

[PSAC76]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

That is really amazing for your program! Well represented

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Playing for the same team Bonifant played for last year (Ehingen)! That would be an interesting combination of Monty and Seger this coming year but I note that most Euro contracts are for one year so Seger may go elsewhere. Speaking of Seger, he averaged 12.6 PPG shooting 48.7% from outside. Seems he's as deadly accurate as ever!!

Bonifant resigns with Ehingen.

Might have to take some interest in the Ehingen "Eurotoppers!"

https://hilltoppersports.com/news/20...-pro-team.aspx

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

FYI:
West Lib players play key role in their team winning Akron Canton Pro Am
Their team, Wayne Holmes, was undefeated and won the finals today by over 15 points.
West Lib players were Seger Bonifant and Dalton Bolon. Gaiter formerly from Notre Dame was their point guard
Most of the players were older and many were playing in Europe. I am sure it was a great experience for Dalton to play against older, stronger pro players. He was not only scoring and dishing out assists, but crashing the offensive and defensive glass like a mad man.
The final score was something like 118-101.

My view has been that you improve the most when you play players much better than you are.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Replacing a legendary HC is never easy. But it is not the guaranteed ticket to program decline some think it is. Some successes to consider:

Adolph Rupp was replaced by Joe B. Hall at Kentucky. Hall .748 winning %, 10 trips to the NCAA, 8 SEC Championships, 6 Elite 8 appearances, 2 NC game appearances and one NCAA Championship in his 13 years at Kentucky. Hall was admitted to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

John Wooden was replaced by Gene Bartow at UCLA. Bartow only coached the Bruins for two years but amassed a .852 winning % over those two years that included two PAC10 Championships and two straight trips to the NCAA Tourney. Bartow is admitted to the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Dean Smith was replaced by Bill Gurtridge at North Carolina. In his three year stint at UNC, Guthridge had a .741 winning % and guided the Tar Heals to three trips to the NCAA Tourney and two Final Four appearances.

Roy Williams was replaced by current HC Bill Self at Kansas. In the 15 years Self has lead Kentucky, he has amassed a .834 winning %, 14 straight Big 12 titles, 15 NCAA Tourney appearances, eight Elite 8 appearances, two NC game appearances and one NC.

Of course Roy Williams replaced Larry Brown at Kansas who in his five years as the Kansas head man has a .754 winning %, five straight NCAA tourney appearances and an NC. In 15 years as Kansas HC, Williams had an .805 winning %, made 14 NCAA tourney appearances, won nine Big 8/12 conference titles, made five Elite 8 appearance and two NC title game appearances.

Is WLU's Ben Howlett the DII equivalent of Bill Self? Will he be able to replace a legend and become a legend himself? I know it is an extremely small sample size but Howlett has a sparkling .867 winning %, one MEC title and one trip to the NCAA tourney in his one year as the Toppers HC. Just me but I'd say the early returns are encouraging.