PSAC WEST

[bballfan03]

With the West an eight-team division for now, it also should be quite a race for seeding in the conference tournament.

If I had to place a bet, I'd say in the end Edinboro and UPJ will be wallflowers watching others dance

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, if the 'first half' of this men's season has told us anything ... it's that this -- as a whole -- may be the worst edition of the West in a very, very long time.

That should, however, translate to one heck of a race (for 2nd place) over the next two months.

Here's an attempt at re-ranking the division::


1. Gannon (5-0, 10-2) - How good is Gannon? I don't know. The Knights got blown out (twice) to start the season (against strong teams), but have won 10 straight since. With California dealing with massive injury issues and IUP looking like a JV version of IUP, Gannon should have a very easy path through January and February.

(insert big gap)

2. Slippery Rock (4-2), 7-6) - The Rock was without star guard Maceo Austin for portions of November and early December. Without him, things weren't good. With him, they are pretty tough. SRU entered the break on a 5-game winning streak, highlighted by a surprising road win at East Stroudsburg.

3. Clarion (3-3, 8-4) - The Golden Eagles can look pretty good one night -- and, well, not good the next. Clarion has been sporadic -- with a big win against Millersville sandwiched between looses to Lock Haven and Shippensburg. Clarion's starting group is tough. The bench, however, is very thin. When the officials get whistle happy, it's a major problem.

4. Seton Hill (2-4, 9-5) - The Griffins' rising star PG Dimitrios Sklavenitis hasn't played since Game 3. Seton Hill is 3-0 with him -- and 6-5 without him. No word on his status, but he's been out a long time now. If he returns, the Griffins can be pretty good.


THE REST (in no particular order)

IUP (3-3, 6-6) - The talk all season was this young team would get better as the season wore along. One could argue it's actually been the opposite. The cupboard isn't totally bare. There will be nights this group looks pretty good. There will also be nights this team looks terrible. IUP went 6-6 in the first half. With its two best players in the tracksuit army all season, that's about what this team is. There's simply too much inexperience and too many flaws in other (most) areas.

California (2-4, 7-7) ) - The Vulcans have been devastated by injuries. Two All-PSAC post players haven't played in a month. There's no 'next men up' replacing those two guys. Add to it their star PG missed a prolonged stretch. Making matters even worse, Cal's top reserve forward hasn't played in two months. In early November, the Vulcans looked like - at minimum -- a Top 3 team in the Region. The Danny Sancomb Show seems to have gone off the air. No injury updates anywhere. Who knows.

Pitt-Johnstown (3-3, 7-6) - Another young team. UPJ will have its moments -- good and bad. They play hard and disciplined -- same as all Rukavina teams -- but have some shortcomings.

Edinboro (2-4, 5-7) - The Fighting Scots may be the 'best of the rest'. Edinboro has a deceiving record. The Scots have (6) single-digit losses. Among those, Edinboro lost to Fairmont State (8 points), West Chester (1 point), and East Stroudsburg (4 points). However, they also have some very odd performances (such as a loss to a woeful Mansfield team).

[Ship69]

Well, if the 'first half' of this men's season has told us anything ... it's that this -- as a whole -- may be the worst edition of the West in a very, very long time.

That should, however, translate to one heck of a race (for 2nd place) over the next two months.

Here's an attempt at re-ranking the division::


1. Gannon (5-0, 10-2) - How good is Gannon? I don't know. The Knights got blown out (twice) to start the season (against strong teams), but have won 10 straight since. With California dealing with massive injury issues and IUP looking like a JV version of IUP, Gannon should have a very easy path through January and February.

(insert big gap)

2. Slippery Rock (4-2), 7-6) - The Rock was without star guard Maceo Austin for portions of November and early December. Without him, things weren't good. With him, they are pretty tough. SRU entered the break on a 5-game winning streak, highlighted by a surprising road win at East Stroudsburg.

3. Clarion (3-3, 8-4) - The Golden Eagles can look pretty good one night -- and, well, not good the next. Clarion has been sporadic -- with a big win against Millersville sandwiched between looses to Lock Haven and Shippensburg. Clarion's starting group is tough. The bench, however, is very thin. When the officials get whistle happy, it's a major problem.

4. Seton Hill (2-4, 9-5) - The Griffins' rising star PG Dimitrios Sklavenitis hasn't played since Game 3. Seton Hill is 3-0 with him -- and 6-5 without him. No word on his status, but he's been out a long time now. If he returns, the Griffins can be pretty good.


THE REST (in no particular order)

IUP (3-3, 6-6) - The talk all season was this young team would get better as the season wore along. One could argue it's actually been the opposite. The cupboard isn't totally bare. There will be nights this group looks pretty good. There will also be nights this team looks terrible. IUP went 6-6 in the first half. With its two best players in the tracksuit army all season, that's about what this team is. There's simply too much inexperience and too many flaws in other (most) areas.

California (2-4, 7-7) ) - The Vulcans have been devastated by injuries. Two All-PSAC post players haven't played in a month. There's no 'next men up' replacing those two guys. Add to it their star PG missed a prolonged stretch. Making matters even worse, Cal's top reserve forward hasn't played in two months. In early November, the Vulcans looked like - at minimum -- a Top 3 team in the Region. The Danny Sancomb Show seems to have gone off the air. No injury updates anywhere. Who knows.

Pitt-Johnstown (3-3, 7-6) - Another young team. UPJ will have its moments -- good and bad. They play hard and disciplined -- same as all Rukavina teams -- but have some shortcomings.

Edinboro (2-4, 5-7) - The Fighting Scots may be the 'best of the rest'. Edinboro has a deceiving record. The Scots have (6) single-digit losses. Among those, Edinboro lost to Fairmont State (8 points), West Chester (1 point), and East Stroudsburg (4 points). However, they also have some very odd performances (such as a loss to a woeful Mansfield team).

Based on Ship's experiences with Gannon, Clarion, Seton Hill, IUP, and UPJ, I'd largely concur with your observations on those teams. Gannon is about the only game so far that I've felt Ship was completely outclassed. Clarion has a couple of individuals who are very hard to guard, but falls off after that. With Seton Hill, it all depends on how you do with their gimmicky zone defense. IUP is an up-and-down young team. UPJ shot the lights out against Ship — 50 percent three-point shooting and 18--of-19 from the free-throw line. Next night against Millersville there were about 30 percent in three-point shooting and missed eight free throws. They're not big and will go where their shooting takes them.

The East is basically a mirror image of the West this year — a mish-mash of unpredicatable and/or young teams — without a Gannon at the top. East Stroud is probably the best, but they haven't looked overwhelming. West Chester will have a say in things. Millersville seems very erratic so far. Shepherd and Lock Haven can be solid on occasion. Ship has some good young talent, but seems a player or two away and has had trouble putting together a complete 40-minute game. Bloom, Mansfield and Kutztown could spring the occasional surprise, but don't seem to have much talent at this point.

[bballfan03]

Based on Ship's experiences with Gannon, Clarion, Seton Hill, IUP, and UPJ, I'd largely concur with your observations on those teams. Gannon is about the only game so far that I've felt Ship was completely outclassed. Clarion has a couple of individuals who are very hard to guard, but falls off after that. With Seton Hill, it all depends on how you do with their gimmicky zone defense. IUP is an up-and-down young team. UPJ shot the lights out against Ship — 50 percent three-point shooting and 18--of-19 from the free-throw line. Next night against Millersville there were about 30 percent in three-point shooting and missed eight free throws. They're not big and will go where their shooting takes them.

The East is basically a mirror image of the West this year — a mish-mash of unpredicatable and/or young teams — without a Gannon at the top. East Stroud is probably the best, but they haven't looked overwhelming. West Chester will have a say in things. Millersville seems very erratic so far. Shepherd and Lock Haven can be solid on occasion. Ship has some good young talent, but seems a player or two away and has had trouble putting together a complete 40-minute game. Bloom, Mansfield and Kutztown could spring the occasional surprise, but don't seem to have much talent at this point.

Ugly game vs WVSU today for Gannon.. they scored 97 pts and won by 16.. but they were fortunate WVSU just wasn't that great. Done by 10 in first half due to a flurry of TOs and missed shots (including wide open layups).. Gannon found some light and took control.

It may have been a deficit of 16 on the scoreboard, but it was more of a semblance of a 5 pt game. Game wasn't "over" until about 2.5 left when WVSU had wittled the deficit down and then got frustrated and committed 2 offensive fouls in a row.

interesting game Saturday vs Cal.

[Ship69]

Ugly game vs WVSU today for Gannon.. they scored 97 pts and won by 16.. but they were fortunate WVSU just wasn't that great. Done by 10 in first half due to a flurry of TOs and missed shots (including wide open layups).. Gannon found some light and took control.

It may have been a deficit of 16 on the scoreboard, but it was more of a semblance of a 5 pt game. Game wasn't "over" until about 2.5 left when WVSU had wittled the deficit down and then got frustrated and committed 2 offensive fouls in a row.

interesting game Saturday vs Cal.

Cal game will be interesting if Cal has some of its team back. Gannon likely isn't as good as it was last year, but neither is the PSAC.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Ugly game vs WVSU today for Gannon.. they scored 97 pts and won by 16.. but they were fortunate WVSU just wasn't that great. Done by 10 in first half due to a flurry of TOs and missed shots (including wide open layups).. Gannon found some light and took control.

It may have been a deficit of 16 on the scoreboard, but it was more of a semblance of a 5 pt game. Game wasn't "over" until about 2.5 left when WVSU had wittled the deficit down and then got frustrated and committed 2 offensive fouls in a row.

interesting game Saturday vs Cal.

The interesting item will be if Cal has any of its (3) post players back. If not, this may be blowout city. Their two stars have been out the past month.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Gannon over Cal by 37

Still no Lucas, Palek or Arnette for the Vulcans.

Are they out for the season at this point?

[bballfan03]

Gannon over Cal by 37

Still no Lucas, Palek or Arnette for the Vulcans.

Are they out for the season at this point?

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.

[bballfan03]

Did iup not play last night?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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]

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

Did cal bring in a new squad?