PSAC WEST

[Ship69]

UPDATED MEN'S WEST STANDINGS

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TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon	9-0	14-2	W14
Slippery Rock	6-3	10-7	W1
Edinboro	5-5	8-8	L1
California	4-5	9-8	W2
Pitt-Johnstown	4-5	8-8	W1
IUP	3-5	7-8	L2
Seton Hill	3-6	10-7	L1
Clarion	3-6	8-7	L4

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Observations:

* Teams 2-8 can all beat each other. They are all about equally average.

* After seeing Gannon in person, it is my opinion Gannon's team last year would smoke Gannon's team this year. The West being so weak this year, however, should mask that for now. The Knights are still a very strong team and without question an Atlantic Region front-runner, but I just don't think (as of now) they are nearly as powerful as last season. In fairness, Gannon has yet to play at full strength this season.

* The battle to just make the PSAC Tournament is going to be crazy in the West. As mentioned, aside from Gannon, the other teams will just beat each other up all season. You best win your home games.

* This isn't a 'parity' year in a good sense. The West is just full of incredibly average teams. They can all look good certain nights -- and look awful the next.

* A positive spin on this season is the division is about to experience one crazy race (for better or worse).

The East is really much the same this year except that there is no team as dominant as Gannon, and the bottom of the East is somewhat weaker than the West.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

UPDATED MEN'S WEST STANDINGS

-

TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon	9-0	14-2	W14
Slippery Rock	6-3	10-7	W1
Edinboro	5-5	8-8	L1
California	4-5	9-8	W2
Pitt-Johnstown	4-5	8-8	W1
IUP	3-5	7-8	L2
Seton Hill	3-6	10-7	L1
Clarion	3-6	8-7	L4

-

Observations:

* Teams 2-8 can all beat each other. They are all about equally average.

* After seeing Gannon in person, it is my opinion Gannon's team last year would smoke Gannon's team this year. The West being so weak this year, however, should mask that for now. The Knights are still a very strong team and without question an Atlantic Region front-runner, but I just don't think (as of now) they are nearly as powerful as last season. In fairness, Gannon has yet to play at full strength this season.

* The battle to just make the PSAC Tournament is going to be crazy in the West. As mentioned, aside from Gannon, the other teams will just beat each other up all season. You best win your home games.

* This isn't a 'parity' year in a good sense. The West is just full of incredibly average teams. They can all look good certain nights -- and look awful the next.

* A positive spin on this season is the division is about to experience one crazy race (for better or worse).

[Fightingscot82]

As I've said before, less than 25 pts isn't really a blowout with the style Gannon plays. Down 20+ in first half, down 16 at half, down 13 with 6+ to go.. win by 16.

Gannon again benefitted from some horrible referees, but they didn't get the foul calls in the first half and, luckily, they did when it mattered (even the ones that weren't fouls lol).

Funny how all these refs look old, but their judgment would say they're brand spanking new.

That Boro-Gannon crew had me scratching my head in the first half then pulling out hair in the second. I'm impressed that Jennings didn't get a technical. Good for Gannon.

[bballfan03]

As I've said before, less than 25 pts isn't really a blowout with the style Gannon plays. Down 20+ in first half, down 16 at half, down 13 with 6+ to go.. win by 16.

Gannon again benefitted from some horrible referees, but they didn't get the foul calls in the first half and, luckily, they did when it mattered (even the ones that weren't fouls lol).

Funny how all these refs look old, but their judgment would say they're brand spanking new.

[bballfan03]

The injuries have been unreal in the league this year. Ship is unfortunately starting to catch up in that department, and it had a real impact in the Raiders becoming Kutztown's first league victim last night. Freshman David Dorsey is the latest Raider to be seen on crutches and joining the tracksuit brigade. With him, Gabriel Romero-Sanz, and Michael Dickson all out with injuries, Ship is basically missing three of its top eight rotation. Dickson, in the four games he started for Ship this year, was averaging more than five assists a game. The current leader, forward Donovan Hill, gets a little over two a game. And when Hill get into quick foul trouble and had to sit for about 13 minutes of the first half Wednesday, an eight-point Ship lead turned into a four-point halftime deficit. When you lose your big guy, having two reserves who are 6-7 and 5-4 and unable to play does not help you. With the 6-8 Hill out, we drop down to 6-3 Denzel Figueroa. Denzel plays hard, but it was no surprise he had some trouble with Kutztown's 6-9 Tyler Koenig close to the basket. Dickson, specifically brought in to play point guard this year, might be done for the season. I'm not sure about the other two. This was not an especially deep team to begin with, and any more key injuries would probably turn a bleak outlook into disaster.

While I will never blame officiating for a loss, last night's officiating at Ship was just not good. Ship players were mugged going to the hoop all night, but they almost got back into the game when they were able to hack Kutztown players in return with a late press. The unsatisfactory rationale of it is what it is comes to mind.

The crew for GU/IUP was awful, too. While GU fortunately benefitted from the atrocity, as a basketball fan, it was hard to watch.

[Ship69]

Not 100% confirmed but I've been told Cal's (3) post players are likely out for the season (Palek, Lucas and Arnette).

I'll always root against Danny straight up, but you don't like to see any team deal with this amount of injuries. No word if they plan to come back next year or not. Lucas and Palek have been there for a long time so we'll see. Arnette is younger so I'd assume he will return.

Lucas may be the best Small Forward in the league. He's so athletic for his size and can play a foot above the rim. Palek does so much for them inside and outside. Arnette is a physical grinder.

I hope they all recover well. Hopefully they can finish their careers on their terms.

Had this team been healthy, it would have certainly been in the Regional discussion.

The injuries have been unreal in the league this year. Ship is unfortunately starting to catch up in that department, and it had a real impact in the Raiders becoming Kutztown's first league victim last night. Freshman David Dorsey is the latest Raider to be seen on crutches and joining the tracksuit brigade. With him, Gabriel Romero-Sanz, and Michael Dickson all out with injuries, Ship is basically missing three of its top eight rotation. Dickson, in the four games he started for Ship this year, was averaging more than five assists a game. The current leader, forward Donovan Hill, gets a little over two a game. And when Hill get into quick foul trouble and had to sit for about 13 minutes of the first half Wednesday, an eight-point Ship lead turned into a four-point halftime deficit. When you lose your big guy, having two reserves who are 6-7 and 6-4 and unable to play does not help you. With the 6-8 Hill out, we drop down to 6-3 Denzel Figueroa. Denzel plays hard, but it was no surprise he had some trouble with Kutztown's 6-9 Tyler Koenig close to the basket. Dickson, specifically brought in to play point guard this year, might be done for the season. I'm not sure about the other two. This was not an especially deep team to begin with, and any more key injuries would probably turn a bleak outlook into disaster.

While I will never blame officiating for a loss, last night's officiating at Ship was just not good. Ship players were mugged going to the hoop all night, but they almost got back into the game when they were able to hack Kutztown players in return with a late press. The unsatisfactory rationale of it is what it is comes to mind.

[bballfan03]

Everybody playing for SRU ? Holy smokes.

I didn't see any big names missing for rock.. and now new names for Cal.

Rock did shoot 30% in first half

1 and 13 had huge first halves. 13 outscored rock himself

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Uh.. just flipped through games.. Cal 57 - 17 Rock

Did cal bring in a new squad?

Everybody playing for SRU ? Holy smokes.

[bballfan03]

Uh.. just flipped through games.. Cal 57 - 17 Rock

Did cal bring in a new squad?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Not 100% confirmed but I've been told Cal's (3) post players are likely out for the season (Palek, Lucas and Arnette).

I'll always root against Danny straight up, but you don't like to see any team deal with this amount of injuries. No word if they plan to come back next year or not. Lucas and Palek have been there for a long time so we'll see. Arnette is younger so I'd assume he will return.

Lucas may be the best Small Forward in the league. He's so athletic for his size and can play a foot above the rim. Palek does so much for them inside and outside. Arnette is a physical grinder.

I hope they all recover well. Hopefully they can finish their careers on their terms.

Had this team been healthy, it would have certainly been in the Regional discussion.

[bballfan03]

In Lucas and Palek you're talking two elite, All-PSAC post players. So, yes, that cripples everything Cal does.

Lucas is a nightmare to play against and Palek can play inside and is a very good deep shooter at 6'8". Lucas is a terrific defender and Palek is a knat.

Without having to worry about those two, teams can swamp their guards.

With Arnette also out, they have no size or depth, and are playing true freshmen.

At full strength Gannon may still beat them but it wouldn't look anything like yesterday.

I'm far from a Danny fan but his whole season got f-ed by injuries. You feel for the players as they are seniors.

Cal has lost so many with them out. They all three may redshirt at this point.

Ok yeah if that's all their true size then that makes more sense. Didn't realize they were all post players/swings.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

With Cal in the state they are, the West is probably as weak as it's been since I started paying attention. And the East is no prize this year, either.

It is historically bad from No. 2 down.

Injuries galore across the West aren't helping.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

So i get that those 3 are good players.. but does missing 3 players equate to that much of an embarrassment? Like, do those 3 do everything and then they have no bench? Not just digging at Cal, but they looked pathetic. Felt like they should be playing Behrend. And I know Gannon played a really good game, but even without that.. Cal looked completely lost.

In Lucas and Palek you're talking two elite, All-PSAC post players. So, yes, that cripples everything Cal does.

Lucas is a nightmare to play against and Palek can play inside and is a very good deep shooter at 6'8". Lucas is a terrific defender and Palek is a knat.

Without having to worry about those two, teams can swamp their guards.

With Arnette also out, they have no size or depth, and are playing true freshmen.

At full strength Gannon may still beat them but it wouldn't look anything like yesterday.

I'm far from a Danny fan but his whole season got f-ed by injuries. You feel for the players as they are seniors.

Cal has lost so many with them out. They all three may redshirt at this point.

[Ship69]

Gannon over Cal by 37

Still no Lucas, Palek or Arnette for the Vulcans.

Are they out for the season at this point?

With Cal in the state they are, the West is probably as weak as it's been since I started paying attention. And the East is no prize this year, either.

[bballfan03]

Did iup not play last night?