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Edinboro upsets Mercyhurst in the MAC ... snapping a 13-game skid against the Lakers.
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Updated Standings (MEN'S)
It's going to be quite the race for the conference tournament cut-off (top 6 make it)
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TEAM PSAC OVERALL STREAK California 8-2 14-2 W1 Gannon 8-2 14-2 W3 IUP 7-2 10-5 W1 Seton Hill 5-4 10-5 W1 Mercyhurst 4-5 8-9 L2 Slippery Rock 4-5 6-9 L1 Clarion 4-6 6-10 L2 Edinboro 4-6 5-11 W2 Pitt-Johnstown 3-7 5-11 L4 Comment
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Call me crazy but I think Hurst is trending out of the top 6. I think Clarion and Boro will fight for the eventual 6th slot when it's all said and done.Comment
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I haven't been paying too much attention this year but am starting to notice that Boro is building some positive momentum. Mercyhurst isn't a bad team and that garage is tough to play in. UPJ is this year's Gannon or Clarion from two years ago: some talent on that roster but just a disaster on the score sheet.
Also, Bernie Blunt is a hell of a name.Comment
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It's an interesting year in the West.Originally posted by Fightingscot82 View Post
Cal and Gannon are above everybody else but the race for third is going to be entertaining.
SRU is red hot (despite losing to GU in OT last night). They have a lot of talent but took forever to get going.
IUP is like throwing darts blindfolded. Occasionally you get a bullseye. Other times you miss the board.
Mercyhurst is in a funk but could get going. Obviously they don't even resemble past Lakers' teams right now.
Seton Hill and Clarion play everybody fairly tough. Edinboro is a tough out all the sudden. UPJ will pull an upset here shortly.Comment
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SRU has talent, plus what looked like a new serious injury to one of their key players between Cal and GU games. Playing 6 deep until a foul out was... A choice last night. My main concern will be durability, endurance, and substitution strategy for their continued success. But of any of the teams in the west, I think they are the most talented top 5 remaining.Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS View Post
IUP is a sad mess, losing Dillard hurt big time, and they're just... Out of sorts. It seems like the reliance on star players the last few years has really hurt development? That said, you have a HOF coach who is still managing to compete with a meager roster right now.
To me Hursts big issue is offense. They will often hang bc of their defense, but watching the final minutes of that Boro game they had plenty of opportunities and just bricked it. Thought Manchel was being a bit too humble preseason about where they were starting... Turned out it was Fee who undersold his team in the region.
Heard Fee say in the IUP postgame that they saw a rotation and schematic issue after the Cal loss that they've adjusted. He's also switched both his rotations and re-expanded the bench since that loss. For all the bemoaning of their cake walk early schedule, they sure do have a brutal welcome to the West. Started with 4 of 5 on the road: @ Cal, @ Boro, v IUP, @ SRU, @ Clarion.
Cal injuries are troubling and their current stretch is more like Gannons start with two road games at SRU and Clarion, before hosting UPJ, then another brutal @ Hurst, IUP (4 of 5 on road). Also notable that Cal has had their bye and doesn't rest again until Feb 17.
I still think barring injuries we are looking at a west with some version of this in the top 6
Cal / Gannon
SRU / IUP
SHU
Clarion / Boro
Hurst
UPJ
​​​​​​​Cal Boro senior night final could be a huge decider tbh
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There's no 'primetime' match-up tomorrow, but there are enough decent games to keep things interesting. Of note, a rash of injuries to star players has made the betting world much more complicated of late. As always, happy gambling, you degenerates.
Kutztown at Bloomsburg - If you haven't noticed, Kutztown is making some progress. The losses are getting (somewhat) more competitive, and the Golden Bears got a nice win against Shippensburg last weekend. Bernie's kids are slowly growing up. Their opponent is about as hard to predict as teams can get. Bloomsburg can put a scare in to anybody on the right night -- but can also look like a disinterested, foul-happy dumpster fire at others. The Huskies do seem to play better at home and should be the clear favorite in this one. Will they be engaged? Bloom -5.5
Millersville at Mansfield - The Mounties' Saraj Ali, one of the top sophomores in the PSAC, didin't dress in Mansfield's recent OT win against Shippensburg. He was on the bench and didn't appear to have any boots or crutches, etc. That's the good news. The bad news is Millersville is a whole different animal than Shippensburg. So, for the Mounties to have a shot, he better be suited up. With or without Ali, the Marauders are favored in this game. But, he does effect by how much. At full strength, Mansfield can be a somewhat dangerous team. That's also a fairly odd gym to play inside. One thing plaguing this Mounties' teaam is consistently being inconsistent. For instance, Mansfield went 0-9 from deep in the first half against Shippensburg. The second half, well, they couldn't miss -- hitting 10 of 14 (including several more in OT). One way or another, take the 'Ville -7.5
Shepherd at Lock Haven - The Rams are nearing rock bottom. Shephered scored just 44 points in its last outing and looked terribly disinterested. Lock Haven is coming of a massive upset at East Stroudsburg. The Bald Eagles have very strong guard play but are shaky under the basket. Regardless, this is a somewhat danerous team (with wins over ESU and WCU). Shepherd is due to pull a Shepherd and put one together. Will it come in the cramped, awkward gym at Lock Haven? Doubtful. Bald Eagles -11.5
Shippensburg at East Stroudsburg - The Raiders have lost 5 straight. Tomorrow's trip to play an angry Warriors' team isn't a good cure. Logic says this has 'ugly' written all over it. But, we'll see what Chris Fite can dial up. ESU takes out some frustrations. Warriors -17.5
Edinboro at IUP - The good news for the Crimson Hawks is they somehow (and, I mean, somehow) survived in Johnstown. But, make no mistake, IUP looked bad. This is the first IUP team in at least 15 years with zero identity. This group has its moments -- very good and very bad. While it's clear the Hawks are trending downward, the opposite can be said for Edinboro. The Scots, winners of two straight, are playing very well of late -- including losing to East Stroudsburg by just 9 points (it was real tight with two minutes to play) and putting up 96 points in a loss at Gannon. Edinboro also recently scored 100 on a UPJ team that IUP struggled to score against. It's been a long, long time since the point spread in this game was single digits -- let alone the Scots being favored. Momentum is leaning heavily toward Edinboro tomorrow. IUP's lineup is an utter mess -- different each game and no consistency. With Josh Petteno possibly missing another game tomorrow, IUP is a home dog. IUP has looked unprepared in several games. Hard to beleive, but bet Edinboro. Scots -2.5
Gannon at Clarion - The Golden Eagles feature one of the biggest lineups in the league. Clarion (6-10) has been close many times this year to pulling some upsets, but has conistently come up short. Gannon survived a scare at Slippery Rock, and will face a similar roster make-up tomorrow -- big and phsyical. Expect the Golden Eagles to hang around for a bit, but the Knights will pull away. Gannon -17.5
Mercyhurst at Seton Hill - For those who know Gary Manchel, it's hard to grasp what his players are going through right now -- fresh off a home loss to Edinboro. Manchel isn't a 'warm and fuzzy' coach -- and, at 8-9, things likely aren't too friendly in the locker room. Seton Hill is having a breakout season. The Griffins are 10-5 and have stayed under the radar -- including giving Cal all it could handle in Angelo's Dome. If you like zone defenses, this is the game. Both run variations all 40 minutes. Most years this game would be well over by halftime. Not this year. The Lakers still aren't an easy out, but take Seton Hill inside the yellow shoebox. Griffins -3.5 (in a game that may be 47-43).
Slippery Rock at Pitt-Johnstown - Every team has an 'annoyance' team to play against yearly. For SRU, that has to be UPJ. This is a game, every season, that looks like an NBA team warming up against an intramural team. When the whistle blows, however, the Mountain Cats' slow, methodical style causes the Rock all kinds of fits. Pitt-Johnstown's (very) young team is getting better. Bob Rukavina has seen it all in his nearly 30 years up there -- and is a great X's and O's coach. Other than Manchel, no coach spends more time scouting than Rukavina. UPJ is famous for finding every crack in an opponent and exploiting it -- offsetting its typical size and talent disadvantage. Saturday afternoon games in Johnstown usually draw decent -- and it can get a little rowdy in there. The Mountain Cats can also put up crazy shooting stats at home. SRU is playing well, but has an injury issue to a key rotation player -- and, may be a little hungover from the Gannon game. Rock wins, but this will be a tight one. This is the 'don't be shocked' game of the day. SRU -4.5
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Rock survived in Johnstown, 80-78.
Mercyhurst big win in Greensburg.
ESU dropped a bomb on Fite. Yikes.Comment
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That Hurst bucket was such a dagger, esp for a home team losing a coach last week. Don't love playing them after that win no9, nor wbb after a loss.Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS View Post
​​GUWBB has been going thru some sickness and injuries and are not looking great offensively right now. Not sure if it's the illness, better defenses overall in the West plus 4 of 5 games on the road, with you're home court also being an away court, but it's been off behind the arc and in the post.Comment
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Can't wait to see the line for Wednesday night at Bloom...Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS View PostComment
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Updated Men's Standings:
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TEAM PSAC OVERALL STEAK Gannon 9-2 15-2 W4 California 8-2 14-2 W1 IUP 8-2 11-5 W2 Seton Hill 5-5 10-6 L1 Mercyhurst 5-5 9-9 W1 SlipperyRock 5-5 7-9 W1 Clarion 4-7 6-11 L3 Edinboro 4-7 5-12 L1 Pitt-Johnstown 3-8 5-12 L5 Comment
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The spreads are up. Interesting night -- lots of rivarly games. Strange things happen in rivalry games. Happy gambling, you degenerates.
IUP at Seton Hill - The McKenna Center draws about 100 people per game all season - with one exception. Tonight. For whatever reason, IUP's short trip to Greensburg gets a near sellout. At times, this has been a tricky game for Joe Lombardi. The Griffins feed off the rare, big crowd and have given IUP some real battles over the years. Since creating its men's basketball program, Seton Hill has just one win against the Crimson Hawks. It came in Greensburg nearly 10 years ago in one of the craziest enviornments the PSAC has ever seen. There's also been a lot of lopsided games in this series, including IUP winning by 53 points in the McKenna Center a couple years ago. Times have changed. The Griffins are no longer a pushover, and, well, IUP isn't exactly the IUP most of us know. Based on this particular season, we know IUP can be good -- at times -- but is very sporadic. Seton Hill plays a tough zone defense and is very aggressive on offense. Both teams have similar records (IUP is 11-5 and SH is 10-6). This is going to be a tough enviornment -- by far the toughest IUP has seen to this point. How will the Hawks respond? Expect a 'final minute' type of game. IUP -2.5 ... but, don't be shocked.
Clarion at Slippery Rock - The Golden Eagles take their current three-game losing streak on the road and make the short trip to Slippery Rock. This is an interesting battle of two of the biggest lineups in the league. Most would say both have underachieved this season. However, SRU is suddenly trending up after a very poor start. Clarion continues to stay in nearly all its games, but is having trouble getting in to the win column. Make no mistake, the Golden Eagles are no pushover. They will eventually crack the code and get a couple big wins this season. This is a tough game to pick. Both teams match up with one another very well. But, when in doubt, take the Morrow Magic. It's tough to win in that building -- for a lot of reasons. The only way Clarioin could sneak out of there victorious tonight is if the Rock is already looking ahead to its trip to Indiana -- which, it may be. SRU -6.5
Mercyhurst at Gannon - This game was once played in the 40s - back in the heyday of the JR vs Manchel rivalry. Tonight, it's possible Gannon may be in the 40s by the second media timeout. But, this is still Mercyhurst. Yes, this is a rare, 9-9 version of the Lakers, but this is still a proud program. Keep in mind, Mercyhurst has lost a lot of real close games this year. The Lakers' defense isn't nearly what is usually is, but it is still formidable. Strange things also happen in heated rivalry games. All of that said, a year ago the Lakers probably could have won this game -- or, at least made it real interesting. However, this Mercyhurst teams lacks the offense of the past. Old Lakers' teams could slow the game way down and they'd crush you from outside at the end of the shot clock. This group doesn't have that magic. One other item to keep in mind is Mercyhurst really struggled against IUP's press, which is just a basic 1-2-2. They'll face total havoc tonight for 40 minutes. If any coach could pull this upset off, it probably would be Manchel. But, not tonight. It may be different next month in the MAC, but tonight in the rent-a-gym, the Knights will roll -- and likely run it up if given the opportunity. GU -17.5
Pitt-Johnstown at California - You wouldn't know it based on UPJ's 5-game losing streak, but the Mountain Cats are getting better. Last week, UPJ lost twice -- by a combined 4 points -- to IUP and Slippery Rock. Devastating week, but there is a silver lining. Wins are on the way. Bob Rukavina started the season with, aside from Kutztown's nearly all-freshmen roster -- the youngest team in the league (certainly in the West). UPJ's 1950s system of pick-n-rolls, backdoors, etc., takes time to learn. So, what will all those positives mean tonight? Nothing. The Vulcans are a different animal - especially in Angelo's (empty) Dome. California is 14-2 and still hasn't played a single game with a full rotation. When (if) that happens, it's game over for the PSAC. Look for UPJ to stick around for perhaps a half tonight, but for the Vulcans to hammer them in the second stanza. Cal -16.5
Kutztown at Millersville - The Marauders are 13-3, blew out Gannon and are on a 6-game winning streak -- and, not a soul is talking about them. Maybe that's how they like it. Talk or not, the 'Ville is a tough team. Millersville is extremely balanced with an array of big, strong post players and a slew of athletic, 6'4" guards. This is a team capable of making some serious noise in March. As for the young (and improving) Golden Bears, well, this will be a hard lesson. Marauders -19.5
Mansfield at Lock Haven - When was the last time the Bald Eagles started conference play with an 8-2 record (and a current 6-game winning streak)? Mansfield is 6-10 but easily could be 10-6. This is an interesting game -- especially if the Mounties are full strength. Like Clarion in the West, Mansfield isn't a pushover. Don't let the record fool you. The Mounties have a nice combination of size and guard play. At times, however, they have a bit of the Bloomsburg disease. Some nights they don't seem to show up. The smart money goes on the Bald Eagles tonight in the cramped gym, but it should be a good one. LH -6.5
East Stroudsburg at Bloomsburg - The Huskies could stay in this game and lose, 105-99, or they could lose, 112-59. Neither would surprise most people. One thing to watch is the film of Bloomsburg vs Shippensburg. Bloom was crushing the Raiders -- up 24 points -- when Chris Fite went to a full-court press. The Huskies looked like they'd never, ever seen a press. Five minutes later, that massive lead was toast. The Huskies did pull out a win, but unless they figured out how to deal with the pressure, this could be a very long night. Bloomsburg is tremendously sporadic -- but is capable of hanging. Why? Who knows. Sometimes they just play well. ESU -23.5
West Chester at Shippensburg - The Raiders have dropped 6 straight, and are fresh of an epic beatdown. Unfortunately for Chris Fite, there's no cure coming to town tonight. West Chester is coming in with a 10-5 record (and it should be a little better). The Rams feature an array of talented guards who can score from all over. Add in some good size under the basket, and this has all the makings of another massacre. That said, Ship usually plays pretty well at home, and, the Raiders are due. West Chester isn't always consistent (i.e. they don't always turn up the volume). So, they can be a tricky bunch to bet. Regardless, take the Rams. WCU -15.5
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Hey Big Indian! Just wanted to say "thank you" for your gameday reports on all the teams. I really enjoy the analysis and it is much appreciated even though I have never bet on a PSAC game in my life and probably never will!! Keep up the great work if your schedule permits!!!Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS View PostComment
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Keith Palek is back on the court for limited minutes so far. Tonight 8 pts and 10 rbds in 14 minutes. He seems to be moving well and would be a big addition down the stretch.Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS View PostComment
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