PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Omojafo two early fouls. Something to watch.

[Ship69]

Biggest game of year and the stream sucks. Lol. Go figure

Irritating since they streamed two games at the same site yesterday. You'd think they'd have things in place. Also is amusing is that they currently have the abbreviation for Lock Haven in the scorebox instead of Gannon.

[Scrub]

Biggest game of year and the stream sucks. Lol. Go figure

Not a great look for those of us from other conferences popping in for this heavyweight fight (that might actually include a fight if the last meeting is any indication).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Biggest game of year and the stream sucks. Lol. Go figure

[IUPalum]

The "look at me" crew is officiating the PSAC title game.

This will be a foul festival.

I hate this crew!

[Scrub]

The "look at me" crew is officiating the PSAC title game.

This will be a foul festival.

We've been lucky so far in the MEC tourney. One of the MEC refs sent his kids to WLU, so he has never once been assigned a WLU game. It just so happens that when crew assignments were made at the beginning of this tournament, that guy (with the WLU alumni kids) happens to be on a crew with my least favorite ref, so that means WLU has been able to avoid that guy all weekend. Hopefully that trend continues today.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The "look at me" crew is officiating the PSAC title game.

This will be a foul festival.

[Scrub]

Gannon had a total mismatch 24 hours ago. Millersville was overwhelmed -- and the Knights couldn't miss a shot. History says teams can't stay THAT hot for very long. Will it carry over to another day? Keep in mind down in the MEC, West Liberty hit 18 three-pointers Friday night -- and couldn't hit the side of a barn last night.

I'm hoping that same swing is true in Wheeling tonight. Charleston had their can't-miss-a-shot game yesterday against WVSU. Hopefully they are the ice cold ones tonight.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Championship Sunday. It's a day for all you degenerates to recover -- or, fall deeper in to debt. Happy gambling.



California at Gannon


These two reaching the Final seemed like an obvious choice to most. It's been pretty clear the past 45 days they are the two best teams in the PSAC. Week-long tournaments, however, don't always end up with the best teams playing. It did this year. That is a good thing. Odds are, these two may have a Round 4, but, we'll worry about that when it happens. As an added bonus today, the winner will likely host the Atlantic Regional.

Interesting series. Each won big on their home court. The Vulcans smashed Gannon in the Angelo Dome. The Knights returned the favor in February in the rent-a-gym.

It was the second game, however, that got the sparks flying. Recall how it ended. Gannon was up big with 15 seconds left and simply dribbling out the clock (a classy gesture). Cal's Zyan Collins decided to sneak up behind a Knights' player, steal it and dunk it (not a classy gesture). This lead to a heated scuffle (and we even got to see a famous Keith Palek flop during a pushing match).

It was an ugly scene that resulted from an ugly, boneheaded decision. Needless to say, that ending surely hasn't been forgotten in Erie.

Enter today, and it's clear this isn't just another game. A league title is on the line. These teams do not like one another.

Danny Sancomb, like him or not, brings out the best in home crowds. Few coaches rub a crowd worse than Sancomb. He's in the rare Kevin Reynolds category. Add to it the Collins dunk, and it should be a very amped up home crowd today.

Crowds only go so far, however. The players have to play.

Gannon had a total mismatch 24 hours ago. Millersville was overwhelmed -- and the Knights couldn't miss a shot. History says teams can't stay THAT hot for very long. Will it carry over to another day? Keep in mind down in the MEC, West Liberty hit 18 three-pointers Friday night -- and couldn't hit the side of a barn last night.

California had a much more difficult afternoon -- barely escaping a very pesky Lock Haven bunch. The Bald Eagles played well, but also play a much slower, half-court style. The Vulcans will have to deal with 40 minutes of chaos today. But, Cal plays its best in a faster game.

Millersville was exploited on defense. Their post players couldn't keep up and certainly couldn't guard the perimeter. The Vulcans bring a different element. Cal's forwards are more like hybrid guard/forwards. They are all fast and can go inside/outside.

No coach in the PSAC has more experience against this system than Sancomb. That's a VERY important factor.

March is all about momentum. The Vulcans won yesterday but didn't look great. Gannon looked like North Carolina. Could that lead to a little over-confidence?

The momentum is with the home team in Erie. Can Cal deal with a hostile crowd -- and a hostile press?

Yes, the Vulcans can. This is an experienced Vulcans team full of upperclassmen. Remember, pressure changes everything. Cal has been here before. Hosting this final game comes with a lot of added pressure.

California has to survive the bursts and ignore the crowd. The first 5-6 minutes are incredibly important for the Vulcans.


In the end, Cal has enough to go toe-to-toe -- and do just enough to agitate the home team in to some mistakes. It's hard to be convinced Gannon's shooting can remain that hot.


Cal -1.5




Prop Bets

(1) West Liberty was swept by Charleston this season. Round 3 is tonight in a de-facto home game for the Hilltoppers. Charleston -2.5

(2) California over or under 1.5 technical fouls

(3) Gannon will score over or under 86.5 points

(4) KJ McClurg will go over or under 19.5 points

(5) Over or under 0.75 player ejections (this is going to be a very chippy game)

[IUPbigINDIANS]

What’s the line today? How about some props?

Can we get some MEC action as well?

It's coming

[IUP24]

What’s the line today? How about some props?

Can we get some MEC action as well?

[Ship69]

I know one thing for certain - teams don't shoot like that for too long. I'll be curious if those shots fall tomorrow. If they stay that hot, Cal is in trouble.


The Vulcans' bigs are much more athletic than Millersville's post players - which are more traditional PSAC bigs. They were too slow to guard the perimeter.

The three-point shot simply controls the outcome of many games these days. Teams literally live and die with the shot, which can turn a game on its head within minutes. At Ship we had a perfect example this year in a game with Mansfield when Ship got a big lead as the Mounties went 0-9 from the three-point line in the first half, then got whacked in the second half when everything Mansfield tossed up went in. I'm not sure Millersville plays what I'd call a traditional PSAC big man outside of Stover, but they got outhustled Saturday. They quickly fell into Gannon's style of play and paid the price.

[jrshooter]

Well, the West certainly came up bigger today. Good final tomorrow.

[IUPalum]

I think most would agree the two best teams in the league are playing tomorrow. That's not always the case in these tournaments.

As a side note, the league title will stay in the West for the fifth straight year. This is also a second consecutive all-West final.

Definitely going to be heavy weight fight tomorrow.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think most would agree the two best teams in the league are playing tomorrow. That's not always the case in these tournaments.

As a side note, the league title will stay in the West for the fifth straight year. This is also a second consecutive all-West final.