PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Boro and LH headed to OT

Cal up big on Bloom


Update

Millersville blasted Clarion to remain undefeated..

Rock over Mansfield.

[Golden89]

Gannon handles Shepherd 68-60. Olesen back. Clancy still out. 21 points / 10 boards for LA Paul.

GU Ladies suffer first loss of season to still undefeated Shepherd.

Hurst men win 80-67 at Ship.

So nice to have PSAC hoops back!!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Mercyhurst over Ship, 80-67.

IUP over Kutztown, 86-73

ESU hammered Seton Hill


Looks like UPJ will take down WCU

[Ship69]

Great lineup of games tonight. Several I'd love to watch. Unfortunately, they all start at the same time.



Seton Hill (0-5) at East Stroudsburg (0-3) - Something has to give here. The Griffins were playing competitive basketball prior to getting walloped by Salem in their last outing. ESU's press should make the difference. Seton Hill isn't deep at guard. Warriors by double digits.

Gannon (3-1) at Shepherd (4-1) - Rams are 2 points away from being undefeated. Gannon is tough, although banged up. With a few key players' statuses up in the air ... call this one a PICK 'EM

UPJ (4-2) at West Chester (5-0) - The Rams come in undefeated, but UPJ will be by far their biggest test of the season. The Mountain Cats have been in a few tussles already this year. It's tough to win at WCU, but UPJ is more battle-tested at this point. It will be tight, but UPJ pulls it out. Mountain Cats by 3.

Mercyhurst (5-0) at Shippensburg (2-2) - The Lakers are cruising -- and punishing teams. The most points Mercyhurst has given up so far this year is just 63. They've also played a couple (D3) cupcakes. Tonight will be an opponent who can hit back. If Jake Biss plays, it will be a huge boost. Without him, not sure the Raiders have enough to keep up for 40 minutes. The Lakers should leave town with a win. Tough to project a margin with player unknowns (Biss).

Clarion (4-1) at Millersville (5-0) - The Golden Eagles have ravaged two D3 teams. They've also beat two pretty bad D2 teams. Against their only legit opponent (Lake Erie) they got blown out. So, logic says tonight probably won't be a good night. Clarion has some nice players, but not nearly enough to stay in this game. Marauders turn this in to a tune-up for UPJ's visit tomorrow. Millersville by 15+

Slippery Rock (3-2) at Mansfield (1-5) - The Rock seems to be better than many thought. Single digit losses to Notre Dame (OH) and Charleston and a win over East Stroudsburg have shown they are legit. Mansfield is off to a lethargic 1-5 start. Things will get worse for the Mounties tonight. SRU wins by double digits.

Edinboro (2-2) at Lock Haven (3-0) - Interesting game here. The Bald Eagles enter tonight 3-0, but the Fighting Scots will be their biggest test to date. Tough one to pick. Edinboro has not looked good in its two losses. Lock Haven by 1.

IUP (5-0) at Kutztown (2-3) - The Golden Bears enter with a disappointing -- and very odd -- 2-3 record. The roster is talented and deep. Sooner or later, things will click. IUP is hoping that 'click' just isn't tonight. Tough place to play, but IUP will be favored until they are knocked off. Crimson Hawks get the W, but it will be closer than many think. IUP by single digits.

California (4-1) at Bloomsburg (1-3) - This is likely the mismatch of the night. The Huskies defense hasn't looked too hot. That's a bad recipe for playing this run-n-gun Vulcan team. Cal by 15+

Pretty good analysis. I'll be checking in at the Ship-Mercyhurst game. Even if Biss plays, it will be his first game action in two years and he obviously hasn't practiced much in recent weeks, so beating what looks to be a very talented Mercyhurst team is a big ask. Hope springs eternal. If Ship loses this one, the game Saturday with Gannon becomes very big as road games with Clarion, UPJ and IUP will remain in December.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great lineup of games tonight. Several I'd love to watch. Unfortunately, they all start at the same time.



Seton Hill (0-5) at East Stroudsburg (0-3) - Something has to give here. The Griffins were playing competitive basketball prior to getting walloped by Salem in their last outing. ESU's press should make the difference. Seton Hill isn't deep at guard. Warriors by double digits.

Gannon (3-1) at Shepherd (4-1) - Rams are 2 points away from being undefeated. Gannon is tough, although banged up. With a few key players' statuses up in the air ... call this one a PICK 'EM

UPJ (4-2) at West Chester (5-0) - The Rams come in undefeated, but UPJ will be by far their biggest test of the season. The Mountain Cats have been in a few tussles already this year. It's tough to win at WCU, but UPJ is more battle-tested at this point. It will be tight, but UPJ pulls it out. Mountain Cats by 3.

Mercyhurst (5-0) at Shippensburg (2-2) - The Lakers are cruising -- and punishing teams. The most points Mercyhurst has given up so far this year is just 63. They've also played a couple (D3) cupcakes. Tonight will be an opponent who can hit back. If Jake Biss plays, it will be a huge boost. Without him, not sure the Raiders have enough to keep up for 40 minutes. The Lakers should leave town with a win. Tough to project a margin with player unknowns (Biss).

Clarion (4-1) at Millersville (5-0) - The Golden Eagles have ravaged two D3 teams. They've also beat two pretty bad D2 teams. Against their only legit opponent (Lake Erie) they got blown out. So, logic says tonight probably won't be a good night. Clarion has some nice players, but not nearly enough to stay in this game. Marauders turn this in to a tune-up for UPJ's visit tomorrow. Millersville by 15+

Slippery Rock (3-2) at Mansfield (1-5) - The Rock seems to be better than many thought. Single digit losses to Notre Dame (OH) and Charleston and a win over East Stroudsburg have shown they are legit. Mansfield is off to a lethargic 1-5 start. Things will get worse for the Mounties tonight. SRU wins by double digits.

Edinboro (2-2) at Lock Haven (3-0) - Interesting game here. The Bald Eagles enter tonight 3-0, but the Fighting Scots will be their biggest test to date. Tough one to pick. Edinboro has not looked good in its two losses. Lock Haven by 1.

IUP (5-0) at Kutztown (2-3) - The Golden Bears enter with a disappointing -- and very odd -- 2-3 record. The roster is talented and deep. Sooner or later, things will click. IUP is hoping that 'click' just isn't tonight. Tough place to play, but IUP will be favored until they are knocked off. Crimson Hawks get the W, but it will be closer than many think. IUP by single digits.

California (4-1) at Bloomsburg (1-3) - This is likely the mismatch of the night. The Huskies defense hasn't looked too hot. That's a bad recipe for playing this run-n-gun Vulcan team. Cal by 15+

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Updated (West) MEN'S Standings (handful of non-conference games were played this week)

TEAM	RECORD	STREAK	This Weekend	Upcoming Notes
IUP	5-0	W5	@Kutz, @WCU	Tough back-to-back
Mercyhurst	5-0 (1 D3 win)	W5	@Ship, @LH	Big one tomorrow at Ship
California	4-1	W1	@Bloom, @ESU	Should be 2-0 weekend
Clarion	4-1 (2 D3 wins)	W1	@Mil, @Shep	Need a split
Gannon	3-1	W3	@Shep, @Ship	Two tough games ahead
UPJ	4-2 (1 D3 win)	L1	@WCU, @Mill	Brutal weekend ahead
SRU	3-2 (1 D3 win)	L1	@Mans, @Bloom	Should be 2-0 weekend
Edinboro	2-2	L1	@LH, @Mans	LH should be good game
Seton Hill	0-5	L5	@ESU, @Kutz	SH/ESU only winless

[Golden89]

More of an inside joke ... the West for years and years was famous for having games played in the 50s.

For some schools (JR Gannon) a game in the 50s was a track meet. Gannon is going to score points this year. Played well this weekend despite missing two starters in Braden Olesen and Chris Clancy. Should be fun. We deserve it after last year.

[Ship69]

Basketball attendance is off to a, well, awful start. Some got stuck with the dreaded Thanksgiving break home dates, which almost always draw terrible.

SCHOOL	AVERAGE PER HOME GAME
IUP	1,208
UPJ	669
Mercyhurst	473
West Chester	433
Millersville	417
Shippensburg	375
Gannon	372
California	326
Shepherd	309
Kutztown	295
Edinboro	257
Slippery Rock	244
Clarion	217
Lock Haven	193
Mansfield	168
Seton Hill	155
Bloomsburg	133
ESU	No home games yet

I'll give IUP credit for drawing more than the average at a good facility. Not much to choose among the rest. Student support has waned over the years, and I don't think Covid is helping this season, especially if this Omicron variant turns into a thing. Ship has a weird schedule. After this weekend's Mercyhurst-Gannon doubleheader, the Raiders are done at home until Jan. 2.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

UPJ (men) took a tough loss last night out at Malone, 102-84.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Basketball attendance is off to a, well, awful start. Some got stuck with the dreaded Thanksgiving break home dates, which almost always draw terrible.

SCHOOL	AVERAGE PER HOME GAME
IUP	1,208
UPJ	669
Mercyhurst	473
West Chester	433
Millersville	417
Shippensburg	375
Gannon	372
California	326
Shepherd	309
Kutztown	295
Edinboro	257
Slippery Rock	244
Clarion	217
Lock Haven	193
Mansfield	168
Seton Hill	155
Bloomsburg	133
ESU	No home games yet

[Ship69]

More of an inside joke ... the West for years and years was famous for having games played in the 50s.

Got it.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Those averages likely will drop when they start playing each other.

More of an inside joke ... the West for years and years was famous for having games played in the 50s.

[Ship69]

Here's a stat the old-time West fans probably never thought they'd see ...

The top-scoring PSAC teams as of today are all in the West.

1. IUP - 95.6 ppg
2. Cal - 91.0 ppg
3. Mercyhurst - 89.6 ppg
4. Gannon - 87.8 ppg
5. UPJ - 86.8 ppg
6. SRU - 86.0 ppg


Long way since JR and KR having boxing matches to the tune of 41-37, and Mercyhurst was winning shootouts, 38-33.

Those averages likely will drop when they start playing each other.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Here's a stat the old-time West fans probably never thought they'd see ...

The top-scoring PSAC teams as of today are all in the West.

1. IUP - 95.6 ppg
2. Cal - 91.0 ppg
3. Mercyhurst - 89.6 ppg
4. Gannon - 87.8 ppg
5. UPJ - 86.8 ppg
6. SRU - 86.0 ppg


Long way since JR and KR having boxing matches to the tune of 41-37, and Mercyhurst was winning shootouts, 38-33.

[Fightingscot82]

Slippery Rock just lost at Charleston, 78-72.

SRU is likely the 6th or 7th team in the West this year and Charleston is picked very high in the MEC.
.

It is going to be a wild winter.

Joe said this is the best West of his tenure.

Reminds me of 2003 through 2005 where it was a dogfight at the top.