PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Something that needs to be pointed out about Clarion's win in Erie -- the Golden Eagles did it without Cam Kearney.

I've been watching these guys more than anyone else in the West, at least partly because Jeremy Thomas is a Ship homeboy. But they're a real sleeper going forward.

Joe hammered them at the KCAC this past Saturday (by almost 30). I said that day winning in Clarion will be a whole different ballgame.

Winning without him is amazing. They aren't overly deep.

I mentioned earlier today that's one of the biggest upsets in division play in an extremely long time.

[Ship69]

Joe hammered them at the KCAC this past Saturday (by almost 30). I said that day winning in Clarion will be a whole different ballgame.

Winning without him is amazing. They aren't overly deep.

I mentioned earlier today that's one of the biggest upsets in division play in an extremely long time.

Yeah, after watching Clarion's game WITH Kearney when they lost to Ship earlier this season, it's hard to believe they'd take Gannon without him. He seemed like about 40 percent of their offense against Ship.

[bballfan03]

Something that needs to be pointed out about Clarion's win in Erie -- the Golden Eagles did it without Cam Kearney.

I've been watching these guys more than anyone else in the West, at least partly because Jeremy Thomas is a Ship homeboy. But they're a real sleeper going forward.

I didn't think clarion looked anything tremendous. Gannon was just really really bad. I think if IUP/Rock/Cal had been the opponent Gannon loses by 50.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yeah, after watching Clarion's game WITH Kearney when they lost to Ship earlier this season, it's hard to believe they'd take Gannon without him. He seemed like about 40 percent of their offense against Ship.

Kearney is a rather polarizing player in the West. For starters, he sure doesn't look the part. We don't have many athletic, built, 6'8" guards in the league.

I'm not saying he's a P4 player, but he's certainly a lower-level D1 player. He did go in to the Portal after last season. He indicated he signed (if I recall correctly, with Niagara).

His flaw, however, is he gets very trigger happy.

He was smoking IUP in the first 5 minutes last week. Being honest, he had a dream matchup. Once Joe made a switch and got a bigger, faster player (Ian Herring) on him, he cooled off significantly.

My only 'up close' view of Clarion this year ... IUP hung a 30 burger on them. But, there is some talent on that team. Depth is their issue. After the first 5-6 guys, there isn't much on the bench.

At this point we can say Teams 1-8 in the West are all dangerous (especially at home). We have some teams (IUP being one of them) that can play really well at home -- then look below average in a hurry on the road. 'Home' IUP and 'Away' IUP literally looks like two different teams.

[Ship69]

Kearney is a rather polarizing player in the West. For starters, he sure doesn't look the part. We don't have many athletic, built, 6'8" guards in the league.

I'm not saying he's a P4 player, but he's certainly a lower-level D1 player. He did go in to the Portal after last season. He indicated he signed (if I recall correctly, with Niagara).

His flaw, however, is he gets very trigger happy.

He was smoking IUP in the first 5 minutes last week. Being honest, he had a dream matchup. Once Joe made a switch and got a bigger, faster player (Ian Herring) on him, he cooled off significantly.

My only 'up close' view of Clarion this year ... IUP hung a 30 burger on them. But, there is some talent on that team. Depth is their issue. After the first 5-6 guys, there isn't much on the bench.

At this point we can say Teams 1-8 in the West are all dangerous (especially at home). We have some teams (IUP being one of them) that can play really well at home -- then look below average in a hurry on the road. 'Home' IUP and 'Away' IUP literally looks like two different teams.

Depth is a problem for several teams in the league this season. Ship's physical mismatch with Shepherd on Wednesday was ridiculous. With the Raiders' point guard and three of their tallest forwards (6-7, 6-6, and 6-6) in tracksuits due to injury or illness, the roster height fell from a single tall guy, Donovan Hill at 6-8, to nobody taller than 6-4. They faced a Shepherd front line that included Chase and Cole Paar at 6-10 and 6-9 respectively, plus the veteran Carson Poffenberger at 6-8. At times, the 6-3 Denzel Figueroa was guarding Chase Paar, who has good skills and is not the typical 6-10 stiff you sometimes see in the PSAC, plus he weighs more than 250 pounds to go with the height. Fortunately, for some reason Shepherd wanted to shoot three-pointers quite a bit, or the score might have been worse. Chase Paar had 20 and probably should have had 35, but nobody seems to coach an inside game these days. To add insult to injury the Rams, 13th in the league in three-point percentage, were even hitting those.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Depth is a problem for several teams in the league this season. Ship's physical mismatch with Shepherd on Wednesday was ridiculous. With the Raiders' point guard and three of their tallest forwards (6-7, 6-6, and 6-6) in tracksuits due to injury or illness, the roster height fell from a single tall guy, Donovan Hill at 6-8, to nobody taller than 6-4. They faced a Shepherd front line that included Chase and Cole Paar at 6-10 and 6-9 respectively, plus the veteran Carson Poffenberger at 6-8. At times, the 6-3 Denzel Figueroa was guarding Chase Paar, who has good skills and is not the typical 6-10 stiff you sometimes see in the PSAC, plus he weighs more than 250 pounds to go with the height. Fortunately, for some reason Shepherd wanted to shoot three-pointers quite a bit, or the score might have been worse. Chase Paar had 20 and probably should have had 35, but nobody seems to coach an inside game these days. To add insult to injury the Rams, 13th in the league in three-point percentage, were even hitting those.

When Shepherd can control the tempo ... that can be a very challenging team to play this year.

If you get sucked in to a game in the 50s against them (their ideal target) you're in trouble. That's a massive frontcourt they have.

You have to get that team running (and tired). They'll beat any team in the league this year in one of those old-school PSAC brawls.

[Ship69]

When Shepherd can control the tempo ... that can be a very challenging team to play this year.

If you get sucked in to a game in the 50s against them (their ideal target) you're in trouble. That's a massive frontcourt they have.

You have to get that team running (and tired). They'll beat any team in the league this year in one of those old-school PSAC brawls.

Problem is, you have to hit some three-pointers, grab some rebounds or create turnovers to get a running game going. Ship wasn't doing it. It's no surprise that Shepherd's two losses in the East are to two of the deeper teams, East Stroud and West Chester. Millersville likes to win bruise fests as well, but Shepherd can beat them at their own game this season.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's hard to say what will happen next. This is one whacky season. Half the West is idle tomorrow.

Saturday:

Slippery Rock at Seton Hill - The Griffins followed up big wins against Edinboro and Gannon -- by naturally losing to UPJ. Following the popular theme, Seton Hill won both at home and then lost in the Dirty J. Trying to figure out this Rock will make your head spin. They rotate back and forth between very good and bad. The Rock won Round 1, 73-61. This one won't be so easy. The Griffins are tough inside the claustrophobic and loud, yellow shoebox. Tough call, but I like Seton Hill in Greensburg. SH -3.5

Gannon at California - Anybody remember that famous lyric ... "There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear." That philosophy could certainly be applied to Gannon. The Knights have lost 3 of their past 4 outings (and could have lost all of them) The Knights were held in the 70s in all three defeats. This could simply be a funk. Most teams have a rough stretch over a 4-month season. Or, there could be more to it. The Vulcans' story is well-documented by now. Cal is fresh off an ugly (both teams) 4-point win against IUP. Gannon obliterated Cal in the first meeting, 108-71. The sequel, my opinion, will be much, much tighter. The Vulcans were still trying to re-group back in early January. They still have many issues, but Danny is a good coach and is making things work. It's also safe to say Gannon was a much better team a month ago than they are today. This will be a tight one. Gannon recovers - but has to really fight. Knights -7.5

[boatcapt]

It's hard to say what will happen next. This is one whacky season. Half the West is idle tomorrow.

Saturday:

Slippery Rock at Seton Hill - The Griffins followed up big wins against Edinboro and Gannon -- by naturally losing to UPJ. Following the popular theme, Seton Hill won both at home and then lost in the Dirty J. Trying to figure out this Rock will make your head spin. They rotate back and forth between very good and bad. The Rock won Round 1, 73-61. This one won't be so easy. The Griffins are tough inside the claustrophobic and loud, yellow shoebox. Tough call, but I like Seton Hill in Greensburg. SH -3.5

Gannon at California - Anybody remember that famous lyric ... "There's something happening here. What is ain't exactly clear." That philosophy could certainly be applied to Gannon. The Knights have lost 3 of their past 4 outings (and could have lost all of them) The Knights were held in the 70s in all three defeats. This could simply be a funk. Most teams have a rough stretch over a 4-month season. Or, there could be more to it. The Vulcans' story is well-documented by now. Cal is fresh off an ugly (both teams) 4-point win against IUP. Gannon obliterated Cal in the first meeting, 108-71. The sequel, my opinion, will be much, much tighter. The Vulcans were still trying to re-group back in early January. They still have many issues, but Danny is a good coach and is making things work. It's also safe to say Gannon was a much better team a month ago than they are today. This will be a tight one. Gannon recovers - but has to really fight. Knights -7.5

With regard to Gannon, lyrics also on point...I can feel it coming in the air tonight, hold on. Well if you told me you were drowning, I would not lend a hand.

They are on the prescious of playing themselves out of the #1 seed and hosting the NCAA Regionals.

[jrshooter]

Kearney's back and in the warmup line at Edinboro.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Kearney's back and in the warmup line at Edinboro.

Rare Friday night game.

This should be a good one.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Clarion at Boro is nuts.

The Lord of the Red Bull fired up on the play by play. Screaming as usual.

Clarion going insane from outside.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That may have been the game of the year in the West.

Edinboro pulled out one crazy finish.

[Fightingscot82]

That may have been the game of the year in the West.

Edinboro pulled out one crazy finish.

Three straight doubleheader sweeps for Edinboro. Heating up at just the right time.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Three straight doubleheader sweeps for Edinboro. Heating up at just the right time.

Those two combined to shoot 26 for 44 from outside. Crazy.

Ironically, on an incredible shooting night, Boro hits a banked-in shot for the 94-93, walk-off win.

I doubt he called BANK, but, it counts the same.

When the Scots are hitting from outside, that's a pretty good team.

How the whole league didn't pounce on Steve Kelly is amazing.

The West has a huge void in quality big men this year. Nobody can slow down the guy from Edinboro.

They rely on that trey a bit too much, which is the only weakness right now. Those shots don't fall every game.

But, the Boro is poised to make a run here (my opinion). There's some buzz on campus. Great crowd last night.

And, by the way, Clarion may have lost but the Golden Eagles put up one heck of a fight. They are inconsistent, which is their glaring weakness. The nights they are on that's a dangerous group.