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Re: PSAC WEST
The lines just posted in Las Vegas.
Clarion at California -- The good news is somebody has to win. After showing some life in a spirited effort at IUP, Cal seemed to mail it in early this week. The Vulcans got blasted inside the Angelo Dome by Seton Hill. Clarion enters its swan song game having played fairly well in its past two outings. The Golden Eagles gave Edinboro all it could handle and jumped out to a nice lead on Gannon (leading at the break) before falling in the second half. Neither team made the PSAC Tournament. These games can be tricky. Which team is going to fight until the final whistle ... and which has already mentally checked out? Cal gave it to Clarion pretty good in late January but has lost 6 of their past 7 games. This one will be closer, but aside from Cameron Grumley, Clarion just doesn't have enough scoring punch. Grumley will have a big stat day against the Vulcan defense, but Cal has too many weapons. Vulcans -7
Mercyhurst at Edinboro -- Interesting game. Edinboro is coming off a very emotional, spirited loss at IUP. Mercyhurst is in a bit of a tailspin -- losers of three straight (all close losses). Both teams will turn around and play Monday night in the opening round of the PSAC Tournament. The Lakers won Round 1, 80-79, in late January. Mercyhurst can do enough defensively to slow down Edinboro's guards a bit but the question is can the Lakers score enough to win this game. In Mercyhurst's last three games -- Cal, GU and UPJ -- its offense has vanished (just 71, 50 and 64 points). They'll need to score in the mid-70s to have a shot. Neither teams wants to head in to Monday night on a losing streak. One of them is going to do so. As usual, Mercyhurst keeps this game close -- but not close enough. Edinboro -4
IUP at Seton Hill -- It feels like we've seen this movie before. Actually, we have. Two years ago IUP traveled to Greensburg under eerily similar circumstances (same date, in fact, for you superstitious types). Heavy favorite. Great shape for the postseason. Rolling. What was expected to be an easy game in front of 150 people turned into a disaster in front of about 2,000 juiced up Greensburgites. It was the largest crowd ever at Seton Hill and its biggest win in program history. Fast forward two years and the scene is very similar. Some things are very different, however. Most importantly, this IUP team is far better than that one. Seton Hill was also much better two seasons ago. This is an afternoon game. That one was a night game. IUP likely took that road trip for granted. Joe won't let that happen again tomorrow. The first meeting this year was a run-away. IUP torched the Griffins and were up near 30 points in the second half. The Griffins failed to make the PSAC Tournament but have won two straight. This is also a team that beat Gannon in Greensburg and lost at Slippery Rock in OT not very long ago -- so, they have showed some life at times. The McKenna Center is a tricky venue -- very tight, dim and claustrophobic. Seton Hill is much better at home than on the road. Look for a spirited senior day effort. Perhaps it's close at the half. But, with Malik Miller back, IUP is just too tough for Seton Hill to deal with for 40 minutes. Joe erases some demons. Crimson Hawks -12
GAME OF THE DAY
Slippery Rock at Gannon -- The stakes are high in the Hammermill Center. The winner gets a first-round bye and second place in the West. Ironically, these two teams will likely play again Wednesday night. The winner of tomorrow, however, will host. The three unfortunate referees assigned the game should get double pay. This should be the marquee home game of the season (so far) for the Gannon Bingo Hall Faithful. It would have a much better vibe as a night game, but that's a different topic. There's a lot to consider in trying to pick a winner in this game. Slippery Rock physically took it to Gannon in the first meeting -- a 72-61 Rock win in Morrow. John Reilly's team was dominated on the glass -- including giving up 19 offensive rebounds to SRU. Slippery Rock shot poorly from outside but dominated inside. A lot has changed since the Jan. 24 meeting. Slippery Rock is just 4-3 since the Gannon win -- including a very rare SRU loss in which it gave up 97 points to Edinboro. However, SRU recovered quickly last Saturday -- drubbing UPJ, 89-63.
Gannon, on the other hand, enters on a hot steak. Winners of 5 straight, the Knights are rolling. The big question in this game is can Gannon's post players handle Micah Till & Co. Evan Phoenix is a nice player, but he's not a physical player. Slippery Rock is gigantic under the basket and plays with some nastiness. Aaron McDonald made a return last week for Slippery Rock but exited the game after apparently re-aggravating his knee injury. However, SRU has been without him for several weeks now and should be adjusted. He was a non-factor in the first game -- playing just 16 minutes.
Tough one to call. Gannon has been winning but winning very close games. That doesn't last forever. Kevin Reynolds also has a proven history of beating John Reilly when the stakes are the highest. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the winner of tomorrow is the loser of next Wednesday. These two play 10 times ... SRU probably goes 6-4 (perhaps 5-5). Basketball so often comes down to match-ups. Slippery Rock's guards can do enough to stay competitive. The Rock is too strong inside in this particular match-up. Till is going to wreck havoc in the Gannon post. Kevin Reynolds escapes Erie with a tough win -- and leaves scratch marks from those darn stools all over the Hamermill floor. SRU -4
Idle: Pitt-Johnstown
The lines just posted in Las Vegas.
Clarion at California -- The good news is somebody has to win. After showing some life in a spirited effort at IUP, Cal seemed to mail it in early this week. The Vulcans got blasted inside the Angelo Dome by Seton Hill. Clarion enters its swan song game having played fairly well in its past two outings. The Golden Eagles gave Edinboro all it could handle and jumped out to a nice lead on Gannon (leading at the break) before falling in the second half. Neither team made the PSAC Tournament. These games can be tricky. Which team is going to fight until the final whistle ... and which has already mentally checked out? Cal gave it to Clarion pretty good in late January but has lost 6 of their past 7 games. This one will be closer, but aside from Cameron Grumley, Clarion just doesn't have enough scoring punch. Grumley will have a big stat day against the Vulcan defense, but Cal has too many weapons. Vulcans -7
Mercyhurst at Edinboro -- Interesting game. Edinboro is coming off a very emotional, spirited loss at IUP. Mercyhurst is in a bit of a tailspin -- losers of three straight (all close losses). Both teams will turn around and play Monday night in the opening round of the PSAC Tournament. The Lakers won Round 1, 80-79, in late January. Mercyhurst can do enough defensively to slow down Edinboro's guards a bit but the question is can the Lakers score enough to win this game. In Mercyhurst's last three games -- Cal, GU and UPJ -- its offense has vanished (just 71, 50 and 64 points). They'll need to score in the mid-70s to have a shot. Neither teams wants to head in to Monday night on a losing streak. One of them is going to do so. As usual, Mercyhurst keeps this game close -- but not close enough. Edinboro -4
IUP at Seton Hill -- It feels like we've seen this movie before. Actually, we have. Two years ago IUP traveled to Greensburg under eerily similar circumstances (same date, in fact, for you superstitious types). Heavy favorite. Great shape for the postseason. Rolling. What was expected to be an easy game in front of 150 people turned into a disaster in front of about 2,000 juiced up Greensburgites. It was the largest crowd ever at Seton Hill and its biggest win in program history. Fast forward two years and the scene is very similar. Some things are very different, however. Most importantly, this IUP team is far better than that one. Seton Hill was also much better two seasons ago. This is an afternoon game. That one was a night game. IUP likely took that road trip for granted. Joe won't let that happen again tomorrow. The first meeting this year was a run-away. IUP torched the Griffins and were up near 30 points in the second half. The Griffins failed to make the PSAC Tournament but have won two straight. This is also a team that beat Gannon in Greensburg and lost at Slippery Rock in OT not very long ago -- so, they have showed some life at times. The McKenna Center is a tricky venue -- very tight, dim and claustrophobic. Seton Hill is much better at home than on the road. Look for a spirited senior day effort. Perhaps it's close at the half. But, with Malik Miller back, IUP is just too tough for Seton Hill to deal with for 40 minutes. Joe erases some demons. Crimson Hawks -12
GAME OF THE DAY
Slippery Rock at Gannon -- The stakes are high in the Hammermill Center. The winner gets a first-round bye and second place in the West. Ironically, these two teams will likely play again Wednesday night. The winner of tomorrow, however, will host. The three unfortunate referees assigned the game should get double pay. This should be the marquee home game of the season (so far) for the Gannon Bingo Hall Faithful. It would have a much better vibe as a night game, but that's a different topic. There's a lot to consider in trying to pick a winner in this game. Slippery Rock physically took it to Gannon in the first meeting -- a 72-61 Rock win in Morrow. John Reilly's team was dominated on the glass -- including giving up 19 offensive rebounds to SRU. Slippery Rock shot poorly from outside but dominated inside. A lot has changed since the Jan. 24 meeting. Slippery Rock is just 4-3 since the Gannon win -- including a very rare SRU loss in which it gave up 97 points to Edinboro. However, SRU recovered quickly last Saturday -- drubbing UPJ, 89-63.
Gannon, on the other hand, enters on a hot steak. Winners of 5 straight, the Knights are rolling. The big question in this game is can Gannon's post players handle Micah Till & Co. Evan Phoenix is a nice player, but he's not a physical player. Slippery Rock is gigantic under the basket and plays with some nastiness. Aaron McDonald made a return last week for Slippery Rock but exited the game after apparently re-aggravating his knee injury. However, SRU has been without him for several weeks now and should be adjusted. He was a non-factor in the first game -- playing just 16 minutes.
Tough one to call. Gannon has been winning but winning very close games. That doesn't last forever. Kevin Reynolds also has a proven history of beating John Reilly when the stakes are the highest. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the winner of tomorrow is the loser of next Wednesday. These two play 10 times ... SRU probably goes 6-4 (perhaps 5-5). Basketball so often comes down to match-ups. Slippery Rock's guards can do enough to stay competitive. The Rock is too strong inside in this particular match-up. Till is going to wreck havoc in the Gannon post. Kevin Reynolds escapes Erie with a tough win -- and leaves scratch marks from those darn stools all over the Hamermill floor. SRU -4
Idle: Pitt-Johnstown
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