For the most part, this should be a week with lots of blowouts. However, there are a handful of big games.
This week in the PSAC:
California will take the long ride up to Pitt-Johnstown in 48 hours. Division-wise, this is the biggest game of the week. Both are tied for second in the West with 11-4 conference records. The loser falls three games behind IUP -- and likely loses any hope of a West title. Host UPJ is fresh off a heated, emotional loss inside the Hammermill. The Vulcans have won four straight. The first meeting this year was a blowout in the Angelo Dome. UPJ won by 20 points and held Cal to just 57 points. Times have changed since then.
West Chester travels to Shippensburg. The Rams stopped the bleeding by pummeling a hapless Mansfield. The Red Raiders are coming off a rare home loss at the hands of East Stroudsburg. Could WCU's big win over a bad team be just the spark the talented Rams needed? Or, was it just a big win over a poor opponent? Shippensburg won Round 1, 79-70, at West Chester. The Rams have won just two games since that initial setback -- both against Mansfield. Pending something miraculous West Chester is out of the East's top seed running, but it is still in contention for an NCAA bid -- barely. A win Wednesday night could turn what was becoming a sinking season around.
In an odd twist, could Clarion actually be favored in Morrow Field House on Wednesday night? Sounds strange until you consider SRU has lost its past two games by a combined 48 points. Clarion has lost three straight but has battled hard at IUP and California. The Rock has become very reliant on the deep shot. When it's not there - like the past two games - they are a train wreck. In most years teams use Clarion as a slump buster. We'll see if that's the case. It may not be.
Turning to the weekend, overall, it's a pretty vanilla Saturday.
Millersville heads to East Stroudsburg for a game with certain PSAC Tournament implications. The winner can start to position itself for a potential Round 1 bye. Both teams are starting to play their best basketball of the season.
Slippery Rock visits IUP -- and will attempt to end one heck of a long losing streak in Indiana. The last time the Rock won at IUP was in 1991. They came awfully close several times. Perhaps none closer than the infamous Kevin Reynolds technical foul affair in 2013. Joe Lombardi's squad should be back to as full strength as its going to get. Senior forward Chucky Humphries is expected to rejoin the team after missing the past three weeks with a broken bone in his left hand. IUP won Round 1 at Morrow Field House in a tightly-contested battle. The Rock may be puttering along down the stretch but they'll be up for this one. So will the KCAC crowd. SRU, however, won't have the advantage of that infamous scorers' table in this one.
Gannon and Mercyhurst are both hot. They both also can enjoy easy weeks. Gannon should have simple road trips to Edinboro and Seton Hill. Mercyhurst travels to Seton Hill and hosts Clarion.
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Wise has a real big mouth. Always has.Originally posted by bballfan03 View Post
Johnson did throw the ball at him as they were walking off. That seemed to give things yet another spark.
UPJ vs Gannon Round 3 would be must-see TV (if it happens).Leave a comment:
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The ONLY thing I could see them tagging Johnson for would be prolonging the incident. Wise walked away and Johnson kept making his way back to him. However, you can tell when they approach in line Wise does say something that sets Johnson off again.Originally posted by Golden89 View Post
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It might be a new low for PSAC if they aren't able to make a decision by mondayOriginally posted by CALUPA69 View PostLeave a comment:
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I watched it a few times now and,not saying it didnt happen, but I dont see it. Wise is at an angle that if he spit at johnson it looks it would have hit Johnson in the back of his head, not his face. Unless it happened just before that and Wise slyly did it without really moving his body much (like his head didnt move like someone spitting). But itll be interesting to see what happens.Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS View PostLeave a comment:
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I'm told the league is now getting involved in the end of the Gannon vs UPJ game. There was an alleged spitting incident which sparked the handshake line fireworks.
If it's true and the UPJ player did spit at a player ... should be automatic 3-game suspension.Leave a comment:
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Holy cow ... been that long? Wow.Originally posted by CALUPA69 View PostLeave a comment:
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Updated WOMEN'S Standings
WEST PSAC OVERALL STREAK IUP 15-0 20-1 W18 Gannon 13-2 17-4 W6 Edinboro 9-5 11-7 W4 California 9-6 15-6 W2 Seton Hill 7-8 12-8 L6 UPJ 7-8 12-9 L1 Mercyhurst 5-10 5-16 L2 Slippery Rock 3-12 5-16 L3 Clarion 2-13 4-17 W1 EAST PSAC OVERALL STREAK Shippensburg 11-4 14-7 W1 Shepherd 10-5 16-5 W5 East Stroudsburg 10-5 14-7 L1 Kutztown 9-5 12-8 W1 Lock Haven 7-8 10-10 L3 Bloomsburg 6-9 9-10 W1 West Chester 6-9 8-12 W1 Millersville 4-11 7-13 L1 Mansfield 1-14 3-18 L10
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Updated MEN'S Standings
WEST PSAC OVERALL STREAK IUP 13-2 18-2 L1 Pitt-Johnstown 11-4 17-5 L1 California 11-4 15-6 W4 Mercyhurst 10-5 12-7 W2 Gannon 9-6 10-9 W3 Slippery Rock 6-9 10-11 L2 Seton Hill 3-12 4-14 W1 Clarion 3-12 4-17 L3 Edinboro 2-12 5-13 L9 EAST PSAC OVERALL STREAK Shippensburg 13-2 17-4 L1 West Chester 9-6 15-6 W1 Millersville 9-6 12-9 W4 East Stroudsburg 8-7 12-8 W2 Kutztown 7-7 9-11 W1 Lock Haven 6-9 9-10 W1 Shepherd 5-10 9-12 L2 Bloomsburg 5-10 8-13 L2 Mansfield 4-11 5-15 L3
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I almost took the refs whistle though... god, Carlo missed two blatant fouls on Malik 3 points attempts. McIntyre traveled every time he dribbled into the paint. Frustrating!!! Joe insisted on playing Hurst tempo the first half and Hurst couldn't miss. They picked up the tempo and it worked in the second half. Three times in the second half Hurst had shot clock violations with the ball not touching the rim and the table reset the clock. Absolutely disgusting!!!Originally posted by IUPbigINDIANS View PostLeave a comment:
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Do you have any eligibility left? Joe could add you as a walk-on. Of course, you'd have to redshirt per program policy.Originally posted by IUPalum View PostLeave a comment:
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The Dylan Benton show starts in just over 2 hours. Hope to see you all there.Leave a comment:
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