PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Clarion and Slippery Rock both played exhibition games at Syracuse.


SRU got blasted but played without its two stars -- neither Ike Herster or Maceo Austin participated. Not sure what the deal was there.

Clarion lost by 28 but had some good stretches. If the Golden Eagles stay healthy they could be a tricky out this year. A lot of that big freshmen class from a couple years ago is still there. Depth, however, is a concern. I certainly don't see them as a West contender, but they could be a headache.

[bballfan03]

In this dog fight division, every one of those picks is +/- 2 spots.

With the exception of IUP, I don't see any other team in 1 or 2 than Cal and Rock.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

In this dog fight division, every one of those picks is +/- 2 spots.

That even may be conservative this year

[Fightingscot82]

In this dog fight division, every one of those picks is +/- 2 spots.

[bballfan03]

Coaches' Poll (Men's)

1. California (5)
2. Slippery Rock (3)
3. Gannon
4. IUP
5. Seton Hill
6. UPJ
7. Clarion
8. Edinboro

I'm thinking Gannon more like 4/5. The players that have come in, their resumes just aren't quite as impressive as the ones that came in last year. I could see them end up making a good run in playoffs - i just don't think they'll be as "hot" in the regular season.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Boro ended up 7/6. Justin is a good dude and really getting some decent players.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Coaches' Poll (Men's)

1. California (5)
2. Slippery Rock (3)
3. Gannon
4. IUP
5. Seton Hill
6. UPJ
7. Clarion
8. Edinboro

[Bballfan]

Double-edge sword for sure. The Ferris team that year was pretty darn good. They had some luck winning it all, but they pulled it off. Their big man than transferred to Xavier the following year (and played substantial minutes for them). That wasn't as common back then as it is now. Now, you have top players of teams going everywhere in the transfer portal. Things sure have changed in less than a decade!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yea they are one of the schools in a tipoff classic. They actually will have 3 games under their belt before the regular season even gets started. So definitely was time to get some scrimmaging in!

Those tip-off classics give you the advantage to start earlier than everybody else. The caveat is the games count. So, you better win. Or, at least split.

I remember the year after IUP played in the national title game they went and lost both games the following year in one of these tip-offs. They were clearly in a total rebuild year after having lost most of the great team from the year prior. Those two losses haunted IUP on Selection Sunday. I seem to recall that team finished with 8 losses and didn't get in.

Ironically, they lost to No. 1 Ferris State (who eventually won that year's national title) by two points in the second game. Neat experience for that team, but had they opened with their normal two so-so type teams and had two more wins, they'd have made the dance. They were playing catch-up all year after that opening weekend.

[Bballfan]

Yea they are one of the schools in a tipoff classic. They actually will have 3 games under their belt before the regular season even gets started. So definitely was time to get some scrimmaging in!

[Ship69]

A few schools play in tipoff classics at the end of next weekend! November 2nd. So yea, definitely not early.

Accoring to the PSAC composite schedule, Gannon is the league's only team opening before Nov. 8.

[Bballfan]

Opening Night is in 17 days.

A few schools play in tipoff classics at the end of next weekend! November 2nd. So yea, definitely not early.

[Bballfan]

The Mountain Cats' new HC is D'Wan Shackleford-Vickroy. She had an extremely decorated playing career at Ohio State and was most recently coaching at Ohio Dominican.

.

The Ohio Dominican women's team has been a train wreck for a couple of years. Now, I think a lot of that was attributed to the head coach there. But she is gone and Vickroy has this new position. Johnston Pitt didn't have a bad season last year, hopefully she can build on that success and improve the program.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Lost in the shuffle a bit but UPJ has a new women's head coach.

Mike Drahos resigned as the HC to become the new assistant AD at UPJ.

The Mountain Cats' new HC is D'Wan Shackleford-Vickroy. She had an extremely decorated playing career at Ohio State and was most recently coaching at Ohio Dominican.


Drahos had a pretty good run there but never quite got over the hump in the West. Many thought he was going to be in play for the IUP job after Tom McConnell left.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

By his Twitter account, seems like he'll be below .500.

THIRD time.

He's either playing his cards close to the vest -- or they have a pending disaster looming.

With Tony gone from the Gazette ... there hasn't been a lick of basketball coverage.

[IUPalum]

I'm hoping Joe is .500 by the time Santa visits.

By his Twitter account, seems like he'll be below .500.