PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The action returns tonight in a sea of empty gyms. That's too bad. There are some good games.


Bloomsburg at Mercyhurst - It's pretty rare for the Lakers to have (7) losses by Jan. 3. They also just had a player enter the transfer portal. The Huskies have lost (7) straight. Mercyhurst will get it done in the MAC, but Bloomsburg won't make it easy. Lakers -7.5

East Stroudsburg at Edinboro - Long bus ride for what should be a pretty easy game. The Scots are slowly getting better but will get overwhelmed in this one. ESU -18.5

West Chester at California - The Vulcans entered the holiday break at a perfect 11-0 -- without once playing at full strength. The Rams (7-4) show flashes of being a very strong team -- and other flashes of being pretty average. West Chester does play its best basketball in more free-flowing games, which is exactly what this will be tonight. Look for Cal to win -- but, it may be closer than many think. Say a prayer for the officials. Vulcans -7.5

Kutztown at Slippery Rock - This (very young) Kutztown team may be historically bad. At 1-10, the Bears haven't even been remotely competitive most nights. The Rock is a dissapointing 3-7, but does have the talent to perhaps start a run. SRU typically feasts on downtrodden teams. Rock wins this one. Big. Slippery Rock -23.5

Millersville at Seton Hill - If MIllersville was the best team in the East nobody knew about, the same argument could perhaps be made for Seton Hill in the West. The Griffins are a very under-the-radar 8-3 -- and are notoriously much stronger in Greensburg than on the road. The Marauders are fresh off a statement-making, hammering of then-undefeated Gannon. These two play a very similar style and are both welll-coached. This could be the game of the night. Ride the hot(ter) hand. But, remember, strange stuff happens in the McKenna Center. 'Ville -5.5

Shippensburg at Pitt-Johnstown - It's been a long time since these two have met in early January and neither is above .500. Both are incredibly young. The Raiders have played slightly better to this point, but UPJ can be pretty tough in Johnstown. Very tough game to pick. Ship -3.5

Shepherd at IUP - Just when things were looking up inside the KCAC, the bottom fell out over the holiday break. Two stars are gone. What remains is Ethan Porterfield and a rather odd cast of previous role players -- most now playing new positions. It's going to be a long winter for Redshirt Joe and the boys. IUP's makeshift lineup should look a little better tonight, but unless somebody aside from Poterfield can score the basketball, nearly every game going forward is going to be tough. Shepherd's star guard duo is going to cause all sorts of problems tonight. Rams -4.5 (Shepherd may win this game, 47-42).

Lock Haven at Clarion - If there's an East/West match this season, this combination is it. Buyer Beware moving forward. Both can bite you. Take the Golden Eagles in a likely thriller. Clarion -3.5

Mansfield at Gannon - Don't let the 3-7 record fool you. Mansfield is a pesky bunch. The Mounties have lost several close games to strong teams. That said, they are going to Erie at a horrible time. What should be a re-focused Knights team is waiting. Mansfield has enough to hang around for a bit, but will get worn out. Knights -19.5

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Millersville executed their game plan flawlessly. Easy shots, take advantage on Gannon misses and don't panic. Hopefully the Gannon players will learn from this as they looked absolutely horrendous. (Decision making and shot selection/ percentage).

Gannon may have started reading too many press clips, too. They'll be better because of it.

That system is unbeatable at this level right up until the night it isn't. Obviously it wins a lot.

As I mentioned last week, Millersville is the best team around nobody has talked about.

[Ship69]

Millersville executed their game plan flawlessly. Easy shots, take advantage on Gannon misses and don't panic. Hopefully the Gannon players will learn from this as they looked absolutely horrendous. (Decision making and shot selection/ percentage).

Easier said than done, but catch a press-and-run team such as that on an off shooting day and it limits their ability to play press defense. If you can combine that with controlling the boards to prevent them from getting second chances and pushing the tempo, the uptempo team can look very ordinary. That type of team usually either wins big or loses the same way.

[bballfan03]

Millersville executed their game plan flawlessly. Easy shots, take advantage on Gannon misses and don't panic. Hopefully the Gannon players will learn from this as they looked absolutely horrendous. (Decision making and shot selection/ percentage).

[Sec10-A-14]

Wonder if Manchel would let GU host the Regional at the MAC?

Very early, of course, but as noted schools must apply to host long before the end of the season (in the event they do get to host).

The MAC isn't ideal as its so small. However, on the first day typically only one of the four games draws much of a crowd. Same with Day 2. And, if the home team isn't playing Tuesday, there's about 87 people at the final.

There's always the Erie Ins Arena if they can sneak it in between the Otters.I don't bec I've never seen a game it Prep but i've been told with SRO its about 2,000. yhay should do it. then again some games years ago the fire Marshals wouldn't let any more fans in. Boro has decent capacity but lousy seating and PS-Erie, I've heard is 1700

[boatcapt]

Wonder if Manchel would let GU host the Regional at the MAC?

Very early, of course, but as noted schools must apply to host long before the end of the season (in the event they do get to host).

The MAC isn't ideal as its so small. However, on the first day typically only one of the four games draws much of a crowd. Same with Day 2. And, if the home team isn't playing Tuesday, there's about 87 people at the final.

Attendance is largely driven by how far the host team goes. I recall some very sparsely attended regional finals over the last few Regionals.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Gannon is also benefitting from Hurst being down this year. Erie had a good size of just general basketball fans and they've been going to Hurst games since essentially Reilly took over. Many are back at Gannon this year.

Wonder if Manchel would let GU host the Regional at the MAC?

Very early, of course, but as noted schools must apply to host long before the end of the season (in the event they do get to host).

The MAC isn't ideal as its so small. However, on the first day typically only one of the four games draws much of a crowd. Same with Day 2. And, if the home team isn't playing Tuesday, there's about 87 people at the final.

[boatcapt]

Gannon is also benefitting from Hurst being down this year. Erie had a good size of just general basketball fans and they've been going to Hurst games since essentially Reilly took over. Many are back at Gannon this year.

Fandom is tied to Ws and Ls with the number of long term fans tied directly to long term team success. Gannon was down for a while so fans of the team found other teams to pull for.

Us fans of other good teams are not as immune as we want to think we are. Let our teams go through protracted periods of sub-500 seasons and our fan base would shrink dramatically just as Gannon's did.

[boatcapt]

Gannon is also benefitting from Hurst being down this year. Erie had a good size of just general basketball fans and they've been going to Hurst games since essentially Reilly took over. Many are back at Gannon this year.

Fandom is tied to Ws and Ls with the number of long term fans tied directly to long term team success. Gannon was down for a while so fans of the team found other teams to pull for.

Us fans of other good teams are not as immune as we want to think we are. Let our teams go through protracted periods of sub-500 seasons and our fan base would shrink dramatically just as Gannon's did.

[bballfan03]

I do have to question the GU fan base. As a whole it hard core vanished here the past 8 years.

GU hoops got so bad Roddy crashed his site.

I understand all coming back out but this has a bandwagon feel.

What the hell ... Live it up. I know some of you stayed loyal. Some are bandwagons, however.

Gannon is also benefitting from Hurst being down this year. Erie had a good size of just general basketball fans and they've been going to Hurst games since essentially Reilly took over. Many are back at Gannon this year.

[bballfan03]

I do have to question the GU fan base. As a whole it hard core vanished here the past 8 years.

GU hoops got so bad Roddy crashed his site.

I understand all coming back out but this has a bandwagon feel.

What the hell ... Live it up. I know some of you stayed loyal. Some are bandwagons, however.

The live streaming plays a part, too. Once they started that - I've not been to a game since. Save my $5 + concessions, and watch from my bed or couch rather than those awful bleachers.

[IUPalum]

I do have to question the GU fan base. As a whole it hard core vanished here the past 8 years.

GU hoops got so bad Roddy crashed his site.

I understand all coming back out but this has a bandwagon feel.

What the hell ... Live it up. I know some of you stayed loyal. Some are bandwagons, however.

Fair weather fans!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Sean is a very old soul in general lol those aren't just used in Gannon games.. he uses very archaic phrases in real life too haha some are amusing and some feel like an old theology professor lecture

I do have to question the GU fan base. As a whole it hard core vanished here the past 8 years.

GU hoops got so bad Roddy crashed his site.

I understand all coming back out but this has a bandwagon feel.

What the hell ... Live it up. I know some of you stayed loyal. Some are bandwagons, however.

[bballfan03]

The kid is college student so I give some grace, except he screams on every single play. When you average over 100 it's a lot of screaming.

I can't do Amicucci. Never could. And I would say he knows fsr less than claims. The number of times he said jump balls on fouls, or opposite team fouls is just enraging. And he tries to sound like a 60 year old man with the oddest turns of phrases I've ever heard. Both did some decent interviews postgame at least.

It's unfortunate because we have a few local guys who are truly talented who were doing wbb and mbb in mid teens for the streaming and Lisa cast them aside for cheap Sean and Jack who talked more Notre Dame football and Cleveland and Pittsburgh pro sports than Gannon. The talented guys are now all at Penn State Behrend and do a great job.

Sean is a very old soul in general lol those aren't just used in Gannon games.. he uses very archaic phrases in real life too haha some are amusing and some feel like an old theology professor lecture

[bballfan03]

So sounds like Gannon could be looking for a home court 24-25. Renovations are "hopefully expected to be completed" by January 2025. But a strong chance it's not "ready" for play until March 2025.

Prep would only do a contract with Gannon through the Fall 2024 Volleyball season. Obviously a new one can be done if needed but doesn't sound like Prep is too anxious to do so.