West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Fairmont losing last week was huge. Now, Boat, just have your boys knock them out of the MEC Tournament for us.

No surprises down there !

I could point out that IUP's back to back losses the week before were even huger...particularly losing to Pitt Johnstown AT IUP! But I'm not going to!!!

Seems like both squads are doing everything in their power to give the selection committee a reason to pick someone else!!!!

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

IUP wins tomorrow night ... they're likely in.

It's more than records. IUP swept Rock and beat Fairmont. Beat Boro and they're probably going dancing.

Rock has to play at Gannon and their SOS is awful. Few quality wins. IUP has one of the top SOS in the Atlantic and played a real schedule. Aside from winning PSAC ... Rock has no chance going ahead of IUP. None. IUP also won its division. Those are factors. Fairmont also has a couple bad losses. Rock has two D3 wins which the NCAA subtracts ...which lowers their percentages even more.


The major curveball, of course, is if somebody not named VSU wins the CIAA.

Or, Joe loses at home tomorrow and it's all over. I like their chances of winning tomorrow.

Still a lot at play. East teams are going to lose tomorrow. They all play each other. Then east teams lose again next week in Tournament. Lot yet to happen.

Or someone not named WLU or WJ wins the MEC...Someone other than the four PSAC teams that are better than IUP OR IUP win the PSAC crown. All it takes is one outsider to win their conf tourney and the 8th seed goes to them. Possible dark horses who could upset the IUP apple cart...UVa Wise. They are on a 5 game winning streak that includes W's over Fairmont AND WJ (at WJ). They seem to be getting hot at the right time.

But I'm not as quick to discount Fairmont as you seem to be. They own W's over nationally ranked Lemoyne and WLU as well as WJ and have a 2 point loss at the same nationally ranked Findlay that IUP lost by 19 to. Sure, IUP has the head to head, but let IUP go out in the first or second round of the PSAC and Fairmont advance to the semis of the MEC and the selection committee might surprise you.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Fairmont losing last week was huge. Now, Boat, just have your boys knock them out of the MEC Tournament for us.

No surprises down there !

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

IUP wins tomorrow night ... they're likely in.

It's more than records. IUP swept Rock and beat Fairmont. Beat Boro and they're probably going dancing.

Rock has to play at Gannon and their SOS is awful. Few quality wins. IUP has one of the top SOS in the Atlantic and played a real schedule. Aside from winning PSAC ... Rock has no chance going ahead of IUP. None. IUP also won its division. Those are factors. Fairmont also has a couple bad losses. Rock has two D3 wins which the NCAA subtracts ...which lowers their percentages even more.


The major curveball, of course, is if somebody not named VSU wins the CIAA.

Or, Joe loses at home tomorrow and it's all over. I like their chances of winning tomorrow.

Still a lot at play. East teams are going to lose tomorrow. They all play each other. Then east teams lose again next week in Tournament. Lot yet to happen.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'm seeing IUP vs WL in Round 1

Unless they win the PSAC tourney, I don't see IUP making the playoffs. Baring an upset the last week of the season or an outsider winning a spot by winning their conf tourney, I think the 8th playoff slots comes down to Fairmont, IUP and SRU with the team that goes the farthest in their conf playoffs winning the spot.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'm seeing IUP vs WL in Round 1

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Yeah ... no chance they don't play WJ full force. No coach is sitting players in a rivalry game ... even it this version doesn't mean anything.

I note that in the last game, Sabben was firmly entrenched with the second platoon and Moore and Allen got a share of first half minutes...In fact, WLU closed out the first half with Sabben, Moore, Allen, Primmer and Watson on the floor. Sure, it was against Glenville and WLU ended up winning by 38 points so hard telling if Ben is trying to ID a dependable #10 or just a matter of protecting their big guns against injury in a blow out.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Yeah ... no chance they don't play WJ full force. No coach is sitting players in a rivalry game ... even it this version doesn't mean anything.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

No. Gotta keep winning to ensure a host spot in the regional. And these are college kids playing two games in a week.

Probably right. But WLU is a team that prides itself on every player being able to step up with no letdown from the player they replace. Not saying they would want to or even expect to lose with any player grouping on their bench...just that getting some additional players beyond their front nine might not be a bad thing over the last two games.

[Golden89]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

With last nights drumming of Glenville, WLU secured the MEC regular season title again (8th time in the last 9 years). With two meaningless games still to play in the regular season, does Coach Howlett rest his starters before the tourney? Perhaps give some deep bench players (Allen, Saben and Moore) extra minutes in hopes that one can break out in case they are needed during the tourney?

No. Gotta keep winning to ensure a host spot in the regional. And these are college kids playing two games in a week.

[boatcapt]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

With last nights drumming of Glenville, WLU secured the MEC regular season title again (8th time in the last 9 years). With two meaningless games still to play in the regular season, does Coach Howlett rest his starters before the tourney? Perhaps give some deep bench players (Allen, Saben and Moore) extra minutes in hopes that one can break out in case they are needed during the tourney?

Wonder how we would do with a starting five against Notre Dame of Dyer, Monteroso, Saben, Watson and Allen and then bring in a "second unit" of Smith, Griffin, Bolon, Moore and French then a "third unit" of Meineniger, Primmer, Monteroso, Dyer and Allen?

[Columbuseer]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Wonder what is happening with Nate Allen and Marlon Moore? Has their stock dropped to the point of setting on the end of the bench, not cheering on their teammates, etc.. Getting little if any minutes. Thought they were going to be pushing for lots of playing time. Just wondering....

I know Nate had a tough bout of the flu. He did not even dress for one game. He has a killer first step and can shoot the 3, as he showed toward the end of the Charleston game.

Coach Howlett put Marlon in with under 2 minutes left against WV Wesleyan when they were in a must foul situation. They focused on fouling Marlon and he calmly knocked down one free throw after another after coming in cold. His stroke on the 3 is looking better and better.

Other than that, I don't have any information, other than it is a big adjustment to adapt to the WL style on both offense and defense. Probably not much can be reused from prior school; IMHO it requires a lot of dynamic, situational decision making on both ends that takes experience. Also WL has more experienced depth at their positions compared to PG.

I think they will make huge contributions next year!

[Sportsnut]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

Wonder what is happening with Nate Allen and Marlon Moore? Has their stock dropped to the point of setting on the end of the bench, not cheering on their teammates, etc.. Getting little if any minutes. Thought they were going to be pushing for lots of playing time. Just wondering....

[Layton]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I'd say it just wasn't for him, he was the only player over 6'5 though :(

[timbertopper]

Re: West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

I heard Joe was redshirting due to health reasons but not sure what the problem was. Havent seen him around campus so he may not have come back for second semester. Could have been academics - college work can be a big jump up depending on your high school - but don't think it was basketball or discipline related. Easy to forget we're still dealing with 18-19 year old kids trying to adjust to a totally new environment with multiple challenges. It's not easy.