PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Cal up 42-16 on Gannon in first half. WTF?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

To those watching Gannon closely ... what is going on up there?

It's fairly rare to win the first game by 40+ and get blown out in the rematch.

That's losses in 4 out of last 5. Bad stretch or more to it?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

UPDATED MEN'S STANDINGS / WEST

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TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon	11-3	16-6	L3
Edinboro	8-6	12-9	W3
California	7-7	12-10	W2
Slippery Rock	7-7	11-11	L2
IUP	6-7	10-10	L1
Pitt-Johnstown	6-7	10-10	W1
Seton Hill	6-8	13-9	W1
Clarion	5-9	10-10	L1

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Notes & The Week Ahead

* Gannon is currently in mini-crisis mode having dropped 3 straight (and 4 of its past 5). This will not be an easy week for the Golden Knights. A red-hot Edinboro visits Wednesday, followed by IUP on Saturday. Gannon defeated both in the first loop -- knocking off the Scots, 100-84, and, IUP, 89-82. Things are much different a month later, however.

* Hand it to Danny Sancomb. His Vulcans were decimated by injuries in December. It took some time, but Cal is back to being a highly-competitive team. Cal was hammered by Gannon in early January, 108-71. A month later, the roles reversed. Cal avenged that blowout defeat by taking down the Knights by 22 points. Cal isn't deep and isn't big. But, they are very well-coached -- and, making it work. Like Danny or not, he's one of the best coaches in the whole league. His second half adjustments won them the game against IUP.

* In a normal year, playing the last-place team is a night off. Not this year. Clarion sits at 10-10 overall, but has (5) losses by 4 points or less. Most recently, the Golden Eagles upset Gannon, and then dropped a heart-breaker at Edinboro, 94-93.

* Things change from the first loop to the second. A sneaky team to watch is UPJ. The Mountain Cats have went over 100 points in 2 of their past 3 games -- including an impressive, 105-93, win against California. This was a real young team to start the season. They are growing up fast.

* Slippery Rock continues to be a confusing team. After defeating IUP in front of nearly 2,000 inside Morrow Field House, SRU dropped consecutive outings to Edinboro and Seton Hill (the latter in blowout fashion). The Rock can be real dangerous on the right night. A lack of consistency, however, is crushing them.

* IUP played well enough to win at California -- for, say, 34 of the 40 minutes. The Crimson Hawks continue to have short (devastating) lapses. Teams are given a lot of timeouts. Use them.

[Fightingscot82]

I know for the purists this isn't preferred, but I really enjoy this season's parity. It could be a lot worse and each time seems like its on its own rollercoaster, but you never know who is going to show up each game nor what the outcome will be.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I know for the purists this isn't preferred, but I really enjoy this season's parity. It could be a lot worse and each time seems like its on its own rollercoaster, but you never know who is going to show up each game nor what the outcome will be.

It's different. No doubt. Every team in the West has some flaws. As you said, the night-to-night change is wild.


Consider:

Gannon has lost 4 of 5, and West teams seem to be figuring them out. Maybe this is a funk. Maybe it isn't.

Edinboro is a couple buckets away from being 16-5 instead of 12-9. At this moment in time, the Scots may be the best team in the West.

Cal is going to launch 38 treys a game and everybody knows it. Yet, they are still hitting a good clip.

Slippery Rock wins -- or gets run out of the building.

IUP can't put 40 minutes together -- and can't win at all on the road. However, Joe has a scrappy bunch. They are hard to scout because Joe doesn't even know what they may do next. Right now, IUP likely isn't a major threat in the conference tournament, but they could pull a perceived upset.

UPJ is playing pretty well of late but is still just 3-7 in its past 10 games. When the trey ball is firing they can smoke some teams. When it's not, they get smoked.

Seton Hill will be terrifying to play in a one-and-down -- much the way Mercyhurst was for years. That zone can cause fits. But, they aren't the same offensively without their starting PG.

Clarion is dangerous. They are one player away from having a much, much different record. Their starting group can match any team in the West. The bench, however, is thin. The Golden Eagles, much like IUP, struggle to put a full 40 minutes together. And, it's in those mini-lapses where they've probably lost 4-5 games this year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Assuming these games all get played tonight ... it's a pretty good lineup.


Seton Hill at California - It took some time but the Vulcans have developed a new identity. Cal is fresh off two big wins. The Griffins just hammered Slippery Rock. Cal pulled out a tight one in Greensburg earlier this season. However, the Vulcans are living - and dying - with the 3-point shot. That can be difficult against the Seton Hill zone. Cal has been red hot from outside recently. That doesn't last forever. Take the road team tonight (in a tight one). Seton Hill -3.5

Edinboro at Gannon - Adversity has landed in the Hammermill (or, whatever it's called now). Interesting game. The Scots are the hottest team in the division, winners of 3 straight. Gannon is the coldest team in the division, losers of 3 straight. The Knights won Round 1 by 16 points (in a real whacky affair). A lot has changed since then. Something is 'off' up in Erie. Not sure what it is just yet. Both teams are due -- Gannon is due for a bounce back, and Edinboro is due for a clunker. For you gambling degenerates, this isn't an easy game. Take the home team. Barely. Gannon -2.5

Clarion at Pitt-Johnstown - Clarion travels up to the Dirty J with the leagues' most deceptive record. The Golden Eagles, like most of the West, have been hovering around the .500 mark. But, Clarion is just 5-9 in division play (currently last in the West). Of those (9) PSAC losses ... (5) of them have been by 4 points or less. None perhaps more painful than its recent, 94-93, defeat at McComb. The Golden Eagles fought all the way back, even taking the lead entering the last possession. Then, of course, Edinboro hit a banked-in shot for the win. That moment exemplifies their whole season. So close. UPJ is fresh off a dramatic, 2 OT (mild) upset of Seton Hill. The Mountain Cats, like Clarion, are better than their record shows -- especially of late. UPJ won the first meeting by 3 points. Sounds about right in this one, too. The Cats are a feisty bunch in Johnstown -- and typically shoot the lights out. UPJ -5.5

PSU-Dubois at IUP - We've seen this movie several times. PSU-Dubois will treat this as Game 7, played inside Madison Square Garden. IUP will be somewhat disinterested. Joe will blow a gasket. IUP will then win by 30-40 points. Edinboro beat this team by 57 points earlier this season. Clarion, however, won by just 19 points. Tonight will likely be somewhere in the middle. Joe won't run it up, and the deep bench will likely play the final 15 minutes. If you gamblers want to make it interesting ... IUP -32.5

[bballfan03]

To those watching Gannon closely ... what is going on up there?

It's fairly rare to win the first game by 40+ and get blown out in the rematch.

That's losses in 4 out of last 5. Bad stretch or more to it?

The coach has essentially closed them way down. He's doing the full line changes every few minutes early on still, but the defensive schematics are way different than they were earlier and last year. The full court press is being broken through early on because they are only putting 3 guys in the backcourt and not fully trying to get a turnover, but rather just slow them. Offensively has been a complete 180, where in "the system" you shoot early and often and go for the hustle rebounds.. Gannon had 4 shot clock violations against Cal.

I dont know if the coach doesn't trust his guys and is trying to play "normal" to stave off the injuries, but its a conpletely different look. They barely got to 80 pts again tonight.

I dont see any scenario in which they beat IUP Saturday, unless IUP just sucks.

Also, of note, Montano on saturday played 7 mins first half and then only 1 minute 2nd half vs Cal. He was not on the bench tonight. Even an injury he'd still have been on the bench (didn't see anything on saturday indicating injury). Hoping he's just battling an illness rather than a disciplinary action.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

If anybody is reading this the sound is ahead of the picture on the Gannon broadcast.

Annoying as sh!t

[Fightingscot82]

Boro smacked the Pitt Outlet Store. 20+ margin in both games.

[bballfan03]

If anybody is reading this the sound is ahead of the picture on the Gannon broadcast.

Annoying as sh!t

It matched up by halftime and was good for 2nd half

[bballfan03]

Fortunately, for Gannon, IUP shot themselves in the foot with sloppy play early in 2nd half and GU finally hit some big shots to put it out of reach. Unfortunately, GU still looks like a shell of itself. Bazzoli did 5 man line changes for most of the game, but still had 2 shot clock violations called and many other possessions shots were taken under 5 seconds.

Good news is that GU got a solid performance from most everyone that played. Whether offensively or defensively or both. I fully did not expect this result at all.

Are there any other high performing freshmen in the PSAC or is Prosser a runaway for Freshman of the Year? Even though he only had 5 pts, had 19 rebounds and was just a nuisance on defense and a spark plug on offense. Hoping this kid stays all 4 years.

[bballfan03]

Anyone know what's up with Maceo Austin? I noticed he and Herster DNP against Cal today. Herster played their last game, but has missed several single games this season and Austin hasn't played since Jan 8.

[IUPalum]

Boro smacked the Pitt Outlet Store. 20+ margin in both games.

Someone is getting cocky because the Boro is winning a few games this year.

[IUPalum]

Fortunately, for Gannon, IUP shot themselves in the foot with sloppy play early in 2nd half and GU finally hit some big shots to put it out of reach. Unfortunately, GU still looks like a shell of itself. Bazzoli did 5 man line changes for most of the game, but still had 2 shot clock violations called and many other possessions shots were taken under 5 seconds.

Good news is that GU got a solid performance from most everyone that played. Whether offensively or defensively or both. I fully did not expect this result at all.

Are there any other high performing freshmen in the PSAC or is Prosser a runaway for Freshman of the Year? Even though he only had 5 pts, had 19 rebounds and was just a nuisance on defense and a spark plug on offense. Hoping this kid stays all 4 years.

Kymani Merrero is the freshman of the year and it's not even close!

[bballfan03]

Kymani Merrero is the freshman of the year and it's not even close!

On paper, though, it is close.. very close lol

Merrero - 32.6 mpg, 13.9ppg (306/22), 4.1rpg, 100-56 A-TO, 0 blocks, 29 steals, 43.8% FG, 30.5% 3FG, 76.7% FT
Prosser - 28.7 mpg, 13.9ppg (333/24), 5.8rpg, 96-52 A-TO, 5 blocks, 44 steals, 46.9% FG, 40.9% 3FG, 81.4% FT