PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Former UPJ guard Andrew Shull (most recently of West Liberty) has officially hit the transfer portal.

He will likely have (2) years' eligibility (pending a medical redshirt is granted).

For those with short memories, he was the PSAC West Freshman of the Year a couple years back.

I suspect his phone is already ringing.

[Ship69]

UPDATED MEN'S STANDINGS

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TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon	11-1	16-4	L1
Slippery Rock	7-5	11-9	W1
Edinboro	6-6	10-9	W1
IUP	6-6	10-9	W1
Seton Hill	5-7	12-8	W2
California	5-7	10-10	L2
Pitt-Johnstown	5-7	9-10	L1
Clarion	4-8	9-9	L1

When was the last time that you saw only two teams in the West over .500 in league play at this stage of the season? Unreal.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

UPDATED MEN'S STANDINGS

-

TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon	11-1	16-4	L1
Slippery Rock	7-5	11-9	W1
Edinboro	6-6	10-9	W1
IUP	6-6	10-9	W1
Seton Hill	5-7	12-8	W2
California	5-7	10-10	L2
Pitt-Johnstown	5-7	9-10	L1
Clarion	4-8	9-9	L1

[WarriorVoice]

Like the Monkees once sang, That was then, this is now...

[Ship69]

ESU has wins against West Chester and Shepherd who are both right above them in the East. They're also 2nd in the conference in scoring. In the loss to Lock Haven they only scored 67 points. but otherwise they've had no trouble scoring 80 or more. I think they can beat any team on any day/night, but they have to prove it.

They are very far removed from the better teams I've seen Wilson have at East Stroudsburg, but most of the other teams in the division are far from the best they've ever been, either. Some of the teams I've seen the past 6-7 years in the East would have rolled over this year's bunch with the greatest of ease.

[Fightingscot82]

Edinboro swept Cal on a big football recruiting weekend.

[WarriorVoice]

ESU doesn't seem to have the scoring depth they've had in the past. Right now they are very dependent on their veteran players, McAliley and Young, and McAliley is prone to fouling. And as you say they score a lot, but give up a lot as well. They're still probably one of the best teams in the East, but this season that basically means being the best of a mediocre bunch.

ESU has wins against West Chester and Shepherd who are both right above them in the East. They're also 2nd in the conference in scoring. In the loss to Lock Haven they only scored 67 points. but otherwise they've had no trouble scoring 80 or more. I think they can beat any team on any day/night, but they have to prove it.

[Ship69]

It doesn’t help the east that ESU looks like a bit of a paper tiger. They only have one maybe good win (against WCU). They also have a glaring weakness; while their defense is good at not letting other teams shoot they’re getting shredded when opponents actually can get their shots up, especially inside the arc. I’m not surprised that Millersville beat them given that Millersville is the best 2P scoring team in the league (Ganon scores about a point more per game from 2P but they’re also attempting ~4 more 2PA/game last time I did the math). ESU’s also quite dependent on having an advantage in free throw shooting to outscore opponents; I haven’t updated my math for Saturday or Wednesday’s games but as of last Friday they were only outscoring opponents by about 1.8PPG from the floor vs. 4.7PPG from the line. Negate their FT advantage like the Ville did and ESU’s chances of winning get a lot dicier.

ESU doesn't seem to have the scoring depth they've had in the past. Right now they are very dependent on their veteran players, McAliley and Young, and McAliley is prone to fouling. And as you say they score a lot, but give up a lot as well. They're still probably one of the best teams in the East, but this season that basically means being the best of a mediocre bunch.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That's exactly the issue. If they're hitting 3s, it opens up their inside game and allows for all 5 players to be involved. If they're not making 3s, they force the ball inside too much and it's turnover city

When they hammered IUP up in McComb, they shot the lights out from outside (13 of 24). That's a crazy shooting performance.

I was thinking to myself they better enjoy this one because in the rematch they may hit 4 of 24.

The Seton Hill zone is pretty good, too (even with some of their guys out). They can make life real tough for these teams that want to fire up 25-30 treys a game.

[bballfan03]

After seeing Edinboro my hunch would be they are living and dying with the trey.

I've watched hundreds of PSAC games over the years ... it's very common to see teams red hot in the first half and ice cold in the second half. Or, vice versa.

When you go cold against that Seton Hill zone, panic can set in a bit.

The Scots hit just 5 of 27 from deep last night. There it is.

That's exactly the issue. If they're hitting 3s, it opens up their inside game and allows for all 5 players to be involved. If they're not making 3s, they force the ball inside too much and it's turnover city

[TheBigCat2192]

No team really stands out in the East, either. Ship has a bad record, but has lost seven games by seven points or less this year. They haven't been able to finish. And now, their rosster is injury depleted. They had a double OT loss to Lock Haven last night in which two guys fouled out and a couple of other key players played much of the game with four fouls. When you have an eight- or nine-man total roster, you have no room for error. I agree about Cal, and of course you IUP boosters have documented the woes of that program this year. There are a lot of young players in the league, and I expect some degree of bounce-back next year as long as teams don't lose too many to the portal.

It doesn’t help the east that ESU looks like a bit of a paper tiger. They only have one maybe good win (against WCU). They also have a glaring weakness; while their defense is good at not letting other teams shoot they’re getting shredded when opponents actually can get their shots up, especially inside the arc. I’m not surprised that Millersville beat them given that Millersville is the best 2P scoring team in the league (Ganon scores about a point more per game from 2P but they’re also attempting ~4 more 2PA/game last time I did the math). ESU’s also quite dependent on having an advantage in free throw shooting to outscore opponents; I haven’t updated my math for Saturday or Wednesday’s games but as of last Friday they were only outscoring opponents by about 1.8PPG from the floor vs. 4.7PPG from the line. Negate their FT advantage like the Ville did and ESU’s chances of winning get a lot dicier.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I may have to find time to take a look at Edinboro's second half point differential. They've lost several games in the second half. They were up big on Gannon in the first half only to lose big. Last night, tied at the half with Sisters of Charity-Greensburg campus, but losing big again. I haven't been able to watch many games so I can't tell if its talent, coaching, scheme, conditioning, etc.

After seeing Edinboro my hunch would be they are living and dying with the trey.

I've watched hundreds of PSAC games over the years ... it's very common to see teams red hot in the first half and ice cold in the second half. Or, vice versa.

When you go cold against that Seton Hill zone, panic can set in a bit.

The Scots hit just 5 of 27 from deep last night. There it is.

[Fightingscot82]

Case in point:

Edinboro rocked IUP. IUP beat Seton Hill. Seton Hill rocked Edinboro. UPJ gave Gannon quite a tussle last night.

As we discussed weeks back, teams 2-8 in the West can all beat each other. You better win your home games. SRU made some insane shots last night against IUP -- like once-a-season insane. I fully expect IUP to win the rematch -- regardless of who plays for SRU.

You are 100% correct regarding the sporadic play. I've witnessed it all year. IUP looks great for five minutes. IUP then looks like an intramural team for the next five minutes.

It is a very odd year.

I may have to find time to take a look at Edinboro's second half point differential. They've lost several games in the second half. They were up big on Gannon in the first half only to lose big. Last night, tied at the half with Sisters of Charity-Greensburg campus, but losing big again. I haven't been able to watch many games so I can't tell if its talent, coaching, scheme, conditioning, etc.

[Ship69]

There are a bunch of Jeckyl & Hyde teams this year. Strong games or upsets one day, piss poor performances or the other end of upsets the next game. I think only a handful of teams are showing who they truly are.

A classic example of that occurred earlier in the season when Millersville pounded Ship at Millersville, Ship romped over Bloomsburg their next game, and then a two-win Bloomsburg team knocked off Millersville later that week.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There are a bunch of Jeckyl & Hyde teams this year. Strong games or upsets one day, piss poor performances or the other end of upsets the next game. I think only a handful of teams are showing who they truly are.

Case in point:

Edinboro rocked IUP. IUP beat Seton Hill. Seton Hill rocked Edinboro. UPJ gave Gannon quite a tussle last night.

As we discussed weeks back, teams 2-8 in the West can all beat each other. You better win your home games. SRU made some insane shots last night against IUP -- like once-a-season insane. I fully expect IUP to win the rematch -- regardless of who plays for SRU.

You are 100% correct regarding the sporadic play. I've witnessed it all year. IUP looks great for five minutes. IUP then looks like an intramural team for the next five minutes.

It is a very odd year.