PSAC WEST

[Ship69]

That's not a problem unique to the PSAC.

The PASSHE 6-7 week holiday break is the killer league-wide.

In IUP's instance, the move to 3pm games instead of the 730pm Saturday games (that they had played for 35 years) has been a total disaster at the gate.

Cal and Millersville are drawing horrible despite having really good teams.

Add to it marketing blows chunks at all 18 schools.

I'm not sure how they count at some of the schools. Because I donate, I just show a card when I attend games. I've never seen anyone physically county me as I entered. I have no idea whether they account for a certain number of non-cash admissions, take a count of people in the stands, or do anything of the sort. It does look to me some nights as if we have more people there than is reported.

[boatcapt]

Hard to say. It can't help.

I think most of our schools have a bigger local / townie following than student.

I would speculate that that is the same even at the D1 level (except for a few blue bloods). For example, my D1 Maryland. For football they get about 5K students that attend home games...MANY more locals/alumni. TV focuses their attention of the student section because it's usually the most vocal, but the majority of attendees are not students.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'm talking long term vice one season over the next. If enrolment is down 50% over 10 years for example, a 50% decline in average game attendance wouldn't be outside the expected realm.

Hard to say. It can't help.

I think most of our schools have a bigger local / townie following than student.

[boatcapt]

That's not a problem unique to the PSAC.

The PASSHE 6-7 week holiday break is the killer league-wide.

In IUP's instance, the move to 3pm games instead of the 730pm Saturday games (that they had played for 35 years) has been a total disaster at the gate.

Cal and Millersville are drawing horrible despite having really good teams.

Add to it marketing blows chunks at all 18 schools.

I'm talking long term vice one season over the next. If enrolment is down 50% over 10 years for example, a 50% decline in average game attendance wouldn't be outside the expected realm.

[Fightingscot82]

I know official attendance numbers are a bit sketchy, but I wonder how these numbers track with enrolment declines at the various schools? There are some schools in the PSAC that have taken major enrolment hits over the last 10+ years. Wonder if average game attendance is down a similar percentage?

That's very well possible. I don't go to many games but it does seem like student attendance is down across the board. Likely to having more accessible entertainment options. My dad went to basketball games in college because they were broke & bored. I went to most basketball games in college because it was fun and I knew some of the players. When I watch a game now it seems like the students in attendance are other athletes, basketball hounds, or close friends & significant others of the players. Kids these days don't go because they have school spirit. I also noticed the drop off in attendance of the locals. Most of the ones I knew have moved away or passed away. But even they too have more accessible entertainment options. Towns like Mansfield and Shippensburg used to rely on the campuses for a sense of higher culture and civic pride. Not so much anymore.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I know official attendance numbers are a bit sketchy, but I wonder how these numbers track with enrolment declines at the various schools? There are some schools in the PSAC that have taken major enrolment hits over the last 10+ years. Wonder if average game attendance is down a similar percentage?

That's not a problem unique to the PSAC.

The PASSHE 6-7 week holiday break is the killer league-wide.

In IUP's instance, the move to 3pm games instead of the 730pm Saturday games (that they had played for 35 years) has been a total disaster at the gate.

Cal and Millersville are drawing horrible despite having really good teams.

Add to it marketing blows chunks at all 18 schools.

[boatcapt]

PSAC Attendance (Men's) through all games played 2/19/2023 (and compared to last season)

-

TEAM	23-24	22-23	Change Per Game
IUP	1,333	2,126	-793
East Stroudsburg	1,329	1,174	+155
Gannon	1,011	573	+438
Lock Haven	651	281	+370
West Chester	569	607	-38
Slippery Rock	551	609	-58
Mercyhurst	510	453	+57
Edinboro	405	324	+81
Pitt-Johnstown	370	474	-104
Shippensburg	338	260	+78
Shepherd	307	319	-12
California	292	376	-84
Millersville	283	320	-37
Bloomsburg	268	154	+114
Kutztown	249	296	-47
Seton Hill	207	310	-103
Clarion	197	172	+25
Mansfield	170	282	-112

I know official attendance numbers are a bit sketchy, but I wonder how these numbers track with enrolment declines at the various schools? There are some schools in the PSAC that have taken major enrolment hits over the last 10+ years. Wonder if average game attendance is down a similar percentage?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

PSAC Attendance (Men's) through all games played 2/19/2023 (and compared to last season)

-

TEAM	23-24	22-23	Change Per Game
IUP	1,333	2,126	-793
East Stroudsburg	1,329	1,174	+155
Gannon	1,011	573	+438
Lock Haven	651	281	+370
West Chester	569	607	-38
Slippery Rock	551	609	-58
Mercyhurst	510	453	+57
Edinboro	405	324	+81
Pitt-Johnstown	370	474	-104
Shippensburg	338	260	+78
Shepherd	307	319	-12
California	292	376	-84
Millersville	283	320	-37
Bloomsburg	268	154	+114
Kutztown	249	296	-47
Seton Hill	207	310	-103
Clarion	197	172	+25
Mansfield	170	282	-112

[boatcapt]

You mean like now after the allegations about somebody with the most famous laptop in America were made up and the person arrested and the turd on Fake News who mentioned it nearly 100 times isn’t saying anything about the informant being arrested for the made up story?

Wrong forum but thanks for proving my point.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Updated MEN'S Standings

-

TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon *	17-2	23-2	W12
California *	15-3	21-3	W3
IUP *	13-5	16-8	W2
Slippery Rock *	10-8	12-12	W1
Mercyhurst	9-9	12-12	W1
Seton Hill	8-10	13-11	L1
Edinboro	6-13	7-18	L1
Clarion	5-14	7-18	L3
Pitt-Johnstown	4-15	6-19	L2

-

Two spots remain for the PSAC Tournament (West bracket). The (*) above indicates the team has already clinched a spot.

Big Games this week:

Wednesday:

Seton Hill at IUP - With Mercyhurst being an underdog on the same night, this is a huge opportunity for the Griffins. Seton Hill has never won in Indiana. IUP won fairly comfortable in Greensburg.

Gannon at Mercyhurst - The Lakers gave Gannon a pretty good fight in Round 1. Will the claustrophobic MAC play a role in Round 2?


Saturday:

IUP at Slippery Rock - SRU is very sporadic, but very good inside Morrow Fieldhouse (11-1). IUP has had issues there (some not of the ethical variety) over the years.

Edinboro at Seton Hill - The Scots are running out of time to get that final spot. This is likely do or die. Tough road enviornment.

Mercyhurst at California - Probably the worst possible game to work for a zebra crew. Tough week for the Lakers, but they are capable of pulling an upset this week.

[IUP24]

On paper, this sure doesn't appear to be a very exciting lineup. With a couple exceptions, this could be a day full of blowouts. Of course, that's where point spreads come in to play. Happy gambling, you degenerates.


Pitt-Johnstown at Slippery Rock - It's safe to say UPJ has reached disaster level. At 6-18, the Mountain Cats are all but mathematically eliminated from the PSAC Tournament. Slippery Rock is a team trending upward, having just lost another close game to division-leading Gannon. The first meeting was surprisingly close -- surprising because on paper SRU has a much better, bigger and deeper team. Regardless, the Rock won in Johnstown by a slim, 80-77 score. As previously noted, however, SRU is a much different team at home (9-1) compared to on the road (2-11). Round 2 today will not be close. SRU plays exceptionally well in Morrow Fieldhouse. A rough season will get even rougher for Bob Rukavina today. Rock -12.5

Clarion at Gannon - In theory, the Golden Eagles are still in the hunt for the final tournament spot. That said, Clarion better plan on winning out -- and getting some help along the way. This is not an easy week for the struggling Golden Eagles. Clarion was blasted at California 72 hours ago and now heads up north to play the red-hot Knights - winners of 11 straight. Gannon has had some struggles of late, however. Winning, yes, but there have been some really close calls (IUP, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock). There's almost no chance Clarion can win this game straight up. The Golden Eagles, while talented, are extremely young -- and have stretches of playing very sloppy. Against Gannon's pressure, sloppiness will get a team slaughtered. Gannon won the first meeting by 22 points. That sounds about right today. Clarion's size could cause some issues, but it's the spurts of sloppy play that will blow the game open. Knights -19.5

IUP at Edinboro - The Fighting Scots just pulled off a season sweep of neighbor Mercyhurst. Not many had that on their bingo card back in November. The Lakers had tortured Edinboro for years. Today's guest in McComb has also not been kind. IUP has largely dominated this series for the past 15 years. The Fighting Scots are now 2 games out of the final spot in the West -- but they do own the tie-breaker against Mercyhurst (should it come to it). Winning today won't be easy. IUP mostly had its way with Edinboro last month. The Scots do play much better at home. Expect to see a confident Edinboro team cause IUP some issues today. The Crimson Hawks are fresh off a rare easy game, but have had some issues in McComb in the past -- not losses, but challenging games. Hopefully they pack the uniforms. IUP -9.5

Seton Hill at Mercyhurst - The game of the day in the West. Both currently sit with 8-9 records in divisional play. The winner will take over the 5 spot. The Lakers won a thriller in Greensburg on a Jeff Planutis walk-off three-pointer. Mercyhurst was dead in the water with 2 minutes to play before pulling off an improbable rally. This will be 40 minutes of zone vs zone. Two pretty even teams. Take the Lakers coming off a rare loss at Edinboro to right the ship today in the MAC. But, it won't be easy. The Griffins are used to playing in a claustrophobic gym - and likely want some payback. Mercyhurst -4.5

Mansfield at Millersville - The Marauders are the best team in the Atlantic Region that nobody talks about. Millersville has a roster full of size, shooters, speed and upperclassmen. Mansfield's season has sent most gamblers to rehab. The Mounties are a sporadic bunch. On certain days, they can hang around with almost anybody. Other days they get hammered. Today will likely be the latter. Millersville won the first game by 20+ ... and, that very well may happen again today. The Mounties have just a one-game lead for the final tournament spot. They need this one. Easier said than done. The 'Ville -16.5

Bloomsburg at Kutztown - Thmeeting, 80-78. Bloomsburg's roster is different today, however. In Kutztown's two recent outings, the Golden Beis one isn't likely to sell many tickets, but a Golden Bears win today could get Kutztown out of the East basement. These two have a combined 8-39 record. Both show some life at times. Both get blown out of the gym at times. The Huskies won the firstars lost by 41 at Shippensburg, and then naturally nearly won at West Chester, losing 84-79. Here's to assuming we'll see the most recent version of KU. Golden Bears -1.5

East Stroudsburg at Shippensburg - The first game was about as ugly as ugly can get for Chris Fite. The Warriors destroyed the Raiders, winning 118-63. Today will likely be another blowout, but perhaps not as bad in the Raiders' gym. ESU just has too much for this young Shippensburg team. Warriors -18.5

Lock Haven at Shepherd - It took awhile, but the Rams are playing pretty well of late. Shepherd just about knocked off Millersville this week. Lock Haven is on the NCAA bubble and cannot afford a loss today. Shepherdstown can be a sneaky place -- and, these Rams are famous for some late-season upsets. The Bald Eagles won the first affair, 84-72. It may be closer today. In fact, this is the upset alert game of the day. Lock Haven should win, but, don't be shocked. Bald Eagles -5.5

If you bet the favorites yesterday, you were sleeping in the poor house. Sharp lines.

[IUPNation]

That seems to be pretty normal now days... we'll spend years on the accusing but when it comes to actual real evidence... crickets.

You mean like now after the allegations about somebody with the most famous laptop in America were made up and the person arrested and the turd on Fake News who mentioned it nearly 100 times isn’t saying anything about the informant being arrested for the made up story?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The Clarion women's team is now 0-25.

Can anybody recall a PSAC basketball team going winless?

Slippery Rock is also awful this year but the other (7) West teams are all strong. Brutal year to be down.

[boatcapt]

That's your opinion but I can tell you that myself and BigIndians are right more than 95% of the time on this board. Do what you want with the info but our latest posts are 100% true.

Often wrong...But NEVER in doubt!

[IUPalum]

He was a walk on who played his way into starting.

On a terrible team!