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Quick look at the West (Men's):
IUP (4-0, 10-0) - Hawks kick off a big three-game stretch Friday at Millersville. The Marauders are tough -- especially in their building. Millersville started slow, losing 3 of its first 4 games. However, the Marauders have gone 5-1 since (including a win over Mercyhurst). Millersville is 5-0 at home this season. IUP is home twice next week, with Seton Hill and Mercyhurst visiting the KCAC. The Hawks seem to have finally reached (close to) full strength, roster-wise. Their first 10 guys all played for the first time together in last weeks victory over West Chester. Prediction: Millersville has enough to hang around in this game (they put up a very rare 84 on Mercyhurst). IUP should pull away down the stretch, but, it better be careful.
Slippery Rock (3-1, 9-1) - The Rock has a 'we're for real' moment in 48 hours at East Stroudsburg. SRU's only loss came to a good-at-times Shippensburg, 75-59. Of note, the Rock didn't look too hot in its past two games -- single-digit wins overs Mansfield and Bloomsburg. Aside from the KCAC, ESU is probably the toughest venue in the league. Prediction: SRU would have to play close to a perfect game to win this one. Long road trip paired with a lay-off ... perhaps close for a half but ESU wins comfortably.
Mercyhurst (3-1, 7-1) - The Lakers decided to basically take November off so not much was said about them. After 8 games, well, they are still here, same as always. Mercyhurst crushed both Shippensburg (29) and Lock Haven (22) last week. A trip this weekend to Mansfield should ring in Gary's new year quite well. Prediction: Ugly. Lakers. Big.
Pitt-Johnstown (3-1, 7-3) - On one hand, you could say UPJ has played three big teams and lost to all three -- by 17, 19 and 32 points. However, those were all deep, 40-minute pressing teams. They aren't built for that this year, depth-wise. On the flip-side, they are 7-0 against half-court teams -- which is all they'll see in West play. Friday night's visit to Shepherd should be a tough one. The Rams (3-1, 6-4) aren't pushovers. Both play very similar styles. Prediction: UPJ leaves town with a win -- but, it will be close. This game may play in the 60-55 range.
Seton Hill (1-3, 6-4) - The Griffins have been the surprise team of the PSAC thus far, but they'll no longer be sneaking up on anybody. Seton Hill pulled a shocker against East Stroudsburg, but that was the highlight of a pretty rough December. The Griffins travel to West Chester as losers of 4 of their past 5 outings. This team is unpredictable -- with wins against ESU and Shippensburg - and losses to Mansfield and Kutztown. Similarly, West Chester is also a very streaky team. The Rams are capable of incredible stretches. Prediction: Tough game to call. Both are sporadic. Seton Hill's zone should cause WCU a lot of issues. However, the Rams will launch from essentially the half-court line without hesitation. Expect WCU to come out with a little fire after its showing in the KCAC. West Chester wins a close one.
California (1-3, 4-6) - The injuries are well-documented. Nonetheless, the Vulcans are in hot water. Cal has been beat up in two of its past three outings. A trip to Kutztown isn't going to be easy. The Golden Bears are better than their record. Both have players out -- and, both desperately need to win this game. Prediction: There won't be many subs at the scorers' table. Danny Sancomb is tough to beat with a week to prepare. Vulcans slip out of town with a narrow win.
Edinboro (1-3, 3-6) - The good news is, for the most part, Edinboro hasn't been getting blown out. The real good news is the Scots travel to Bloomsburg for their next game. This is a must-win. Prediction: Bloomsburg is capable of playing a decent 20-25 minutes or so. But, the Huskies have a drastic lack of depth. Bloom's head man used to be the first assistant for Edinboro. Scots win by 3-4 points.
Clarion (0-4, 2-7) - The Golden Eagles have lost 5 straight. However, the past 4 losses have been respectable scores against good teams. Gerald Jarmon is capable of catching fire, but he needs help. Shippensburg is up next. Prediction: If this was in Clarion ... maybe the Golden Eagles could hang around. Ship is inconsistent on the road. But, at Shippensburg, the Raiders are pretty tough. Clarion may linger around a bit but will take a loss.
Gannon (0-4, 0-8) - The Golden Knights have lost 6 straight games by single digits. So, while (amazingly) winless, they aren't getting bulldozed. They are drastically banged up -- playing much of December sans 4 rotation players. So, things should get better. However, a 9th consecutive loss may be looming as this trip to Lock Haven won't be easy. The Bald Eagles were cruising prior to visiting Mercyhurst -- a place where many winning streaks go to die. Prediction: Gannon is still fighting, but unless they have close to a full lineup, they are in trouble. Bald Eagles win.
IUP (4-0, 10-0) - Hawks kick off a big three-game stretch Friday at Millersville. The Marauders are tough -- especially in their building. Millersville started slow, losing 3 of its first 4 games. However, the Marauders have gone 5-1 since (including a win over Mercyhurst). Millersville is 5-0 at home this season. IUP is home twice next week, with Seton Hill and Mercyhurst visiting the KCAC. The Hawks seem to have finally reached (close to) full strength, roster-wise. Their first 10 guys all played for the first time together in last weeks victory over West Chester. Prediction: Millersville has enough to hang around in this game (they put up a very rare 84 on Mercyhurst). IUP should pull away down the stretch, but, it better be careful.
Slippery Rock (3-1, 9-1) - The Rock has a 'we're for real' moment in 48 hours at East Stroudsburg. SRU's only loss came to a good-at-times Shippensburg, 75-59. Of note, the Rock didn't look too hot in its past two games -- single-digit wins overs Mansfield and Bloomsburg. Aside from the KCAC, ESU is probably the toughest venue in the league. Prediction: SRU would have to play close to a perfect game to win this one. Long road trip paired with a lay-off ... perhaps close for a half but ESU wins comfortably.
Mercyhurst (3-1, 7-1) - The Lakers decided to basically take November off so not much was said about them. After 8 games, well, they are still here, same as always. Mercyhurst crushed both Shippensburg (29) and Lock Haven (22) last week. A trip this weekend to Mansfield should ring in Gary's new year quite well. Prediction: Ugly. Lakers. Big.
Pitt-Johnstown (3-1, 7-3) - On one hand, you could say UPJ has played three big teams and lost to all three -- by 17, 19 and 32 points. However, those were all deep, 40-minute pressing teams. They aren't built for that this year, depth-wise. On the flip-side, they are 7-0 against half-court teams -- which is all they'll see in West play. Friday night's visit to Shepherd should be a tough one. The Rams (3-1, 6-4) aren't pushovers. Both play very similar styles. Prediction: UPJ leaves town with a win -- but, it will be close. This game may play in the 60-55 range.
Seton Hill (1-3, 6-4) - The Griffins have been the surprise team of the PSAC thus far, but they'll no longer be sneaking up on anybody. Seton Hill pulled a shocker against East Stroudsburg, but that was the highlight of a pretty rough December. The Griffins travel to West Chester as losers of 4 of their past 5 outings. This team is unpredictable -- with wins against ESU and Shippensburg - and losses to Mansfield and Kutztown. Similarly, West Chester is also a very streaky team. The Rams are capable of incredible stretches. Prediction: Tough game to call. Both are sporadic. Seton Hill's zone should cause WCU a lot of issues. However, the Rams will launch from essentially the half-court line without hesitation. Expect WCU to come out with a little fire after its showing in the KCAC. West Chester wins a close one.
California (1-3, 4-6) - The injuries are well-documented. Nonetheless, the Vulcans are in hot water. Cal has been beat up in two of its past three outings. A trip to Kutztown isn't going to be easy. The Golden Bears are better than their record. Both have players out -- and, both desperately need to win this game. Prediction: There won't be many subs at the scorers' table. Danny Sancomb is tough to beat with a week to prepare. Vulcans slip out of town with a narrow win.
Edinboro (1-3, 3-6) - The good news is, for the most part, Edinboro hasn't been getting blown out. The real good news is the Scots travel to Bloomsburg for their next game. This is a must-win. Prediction: Bloomsburg is capable of playing a decent 20-25 minutes or so. But, the Huskies have a drastic lack of depth. Bloom's head man used to be the first assistant for Edinboro. Scots win by 3-4 points.
Clarion (0-4, 2-7) - The Golden Eagles have lost 5 straight. However, the past 4 losses have been respectable scores against good teams. Gerald Jarmon is capable of catching fire, but he needs help. Shippensburg is up next. Prediction: If this was in Clarion ... maybe the Golden Eagles could hang around. Ship is inconsistent on the road. But, at Shippensburg, the Raiders are pretty tough. Clarion may linger around a bit but will take a loss.
Gannon (0-4, 0-8) - The Golden Knights have lost 6 straight games by single digits. So, while (amazingly) winless, they aren't getting bulldozed. They are drastically banged up -- playing much of December sans 4 rotation players. So, things should get better. However, a 9th consecutive loss may be looming as this trip to Lock Haven won't be easy. The Bald Eagles were cruising prior to visiting Mercyhurst -- a place where many winning streaks go to die. Prediction: Gannon is still fighting, but unless they have close to a full lineup, they are in trouble. Bald Eagles win.
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