PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Not the most attractive lineup tonight. The biggest game in the West tonight is probably on the Ladies' side (Edinboro at Gannon).


California at Seton Hill - The host Griffins are decimated by injuries. After a hot start, Seton Hill has dropped its past 4 games. The visitors are fresh off taking a beating in Erie. Danny's going to want to right the ship. That's bad news for the home team. The Griffins are a formidable foe at full strength. Until that happens, however, the losing streak will continue. Vulcans -14.5

IUP at Pitt-Johnstown - The Mountain Cats have dropped 4 of their past 5 outings. The lone win came against a dilapidated Seton Hill. The key factor in this neighborhood rivalry has typically been UPJ's familiarity with IUP. Even without Jay Rose, the Cats can still score the ball, and typically shoot extremely well in Johnstown. Add to it, IUP's latest defensive strategy was to give 4 players a green light (and hope they miss) while clogging the box. If IUP plays that way tonight, UPJ will shoot them out of the gym. This is typically a fairly close game. Expect another one tonight. UPJ star PF Baden Forup will go for 25-ish points, but IUP has a big depth advantage in Round 2. Crimson Hawks -4.5

Clarion at Slippery Rock - If you want to bet on this game -- between these two sporadic teams -- it might be time to seek some help. Given their current available players, Clarion is likely the safer play. But, SRU's makeshift lineup is fresh off a blowout win against a fairly decent UPJ team. The Golden Eagles have looked really good some games -- and really bad in others. Toss in the Morrow Magic/Corruption, and who knows. Clarion -3.5

Edinboro at Gannon - The Scots won't be seeing another version of the Jr. High Box-and-One tonight. They'll get the full throttle, in-your-face chaos for 40 minutes. Quite the change from one game to the next. The Boro hangs around most games, and tonight they should linger for 15 minutes or so. But, a short bench against Gannon means the game isn't going to end well for you. Look for the Knights to drop the hammer in the second half. Gannon -22.5

[Fightingscot82]

Ref show at the Mill!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's winding down. Updated Men's standings:

-

TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon *	14-1	21-2	W8
California *	13-2	16-6	W1
IUP *	12-3	17-4	W4
Slippery Rock	8-7	15-8	W2
Seton Hill	7-8	13-10	L5
Edinboro	7-8	11-11	L2
Clarion	6-9	11-12	L1
Pitt-Johnstown	5-10	11-12	L3

-

Up Next:

Clarion at California - Clarion won Round 1 but has been in a tailspin since

Gannon at Seton Hill - Griffins in a free fall. This won't help.

Edinboro at Pitt-Johnstown - Must win for UPJ

Slippery Rock at IUP - No magic scoreboards or clocks at the KCAC. IUP won Round 1 by 16 points. This one should be closer.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

This has to be the 'quick fix' version for the gambling addicts among us.


Clarion at Cal - Somehow, the Golden Eagles won Round 1. There's close to zero percent odds, however, of Clarion pulling a sweep. Redemption time for Danny. Clarion is also in a funk. Vulcans -8.5

Gannon at Seton Hill - Whomever plays or doesn't play for the Griffins doesn't really matter. This has slaughter written all over it. However, blowouts are tricky in the gambling world, where all that matters is the final margin. Knights -25.5

Edinboro at UPJ - This should be a highly entertaining game. Neither has a bench. Both play well in stretches. The Dirty J breaks the tie. Cats -3.5

Slippery Rock at IUP - Team Redshirt won by 16 in Morrow Field House. It likely won't be that lopsided today. SRU is sporadic. That's fitting, because Joe's team plays about 20 great minutes per game, 10 awful minutes per game and 10 so-so minutes. The KCAC will be packed (I think the locals think this is a football game). This is largely the IUP team that blew the streak as freshmen a year ago. I'd guess payback is the theme. Joe -4.5

[WarriorVoice]

In case anyone hasn't heard, there's a change in the PSAC Basketball Tournament format this season. After the 1st round, the crossovers begin for the Quarterfinals. Word has it the West Division schools threw their weight around to lobby for the change.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

In case anyone hasn't heard, there's a change in the PSAC Basketball Tournament format this season. After the 1st round, the crossovers begin for the Quarterfinals. Word has it the West Division schools threw their weight around to lobby for the change.

Wow. That is quite the change.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

In case anyone hasn't heard, there's a change in the PSAC Basketball Tournament format this season. After the 1st round, the crossovers begin for the Quarterfinals. Word has it the West Division schools threw their weight around to lobby for the change.

Well, the power has been in the West. The West has won the title 6 straight years.

That's the only logic I see them using to justify the added travel.

I'm for it. Avoid as many Round 3's as possible and see some new action.

IUP used to play UPJ in Round 2 for what seemed like a decade. It got boring.

I still do not like rotating yearly. Top seed hosts. It should be that simple.

[IUPalum]

In case anyone hasn't heard, there's a change in the PSAC Basketball Tournament format this season. After the 1st round, the crossovers begin for the Quarterfinals. Word has it the West Division schools threw their weight around to lobby for the change.

Butthurt!!!

[Ship69]

Well, the power has been in the West. The West has won the title 6 straight years.

That's the only logic I see them using to justify the added travel.

I'm for it. Avoid as many Round 3's as possible and see some new action.

IUP used to play UPJ in Round 2 for what seemed like a decade. It got boring.

I still do not like rotating yearly. Top seed hosts. It should be that simple.

It's great for the West right now, but of course the balance could go the other way in the future. Right now, the East is saddled with a couple of programs that haven't been competitive. Mansfield and Bloom haven't been there for a while (and whether Mansfield can get there is questionable), Kutztown is down recently, and a Ship team that has competed well on a sporadic basis this season has now gone two games without its star player. And next year a Lock Haven team that has been decent at times will be replaced with an unknown quantity in Lackawanna. But this isn't like football where you need to bring in a boatload of studs to dominate. An addition of 2-3 quality players, especially with the portal as it is now, could turn things around in a hurry. Right now, the big question for PSAC teams seems to be whether any of them can slow the Gannon express.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's great for the West right now, but of course the balance could go the other way in the future. Right now, the East is saddled with a couple of programs that haven't been competitive. Mansfield and Bloom haven't been there for a while (and whether Mansfield can get there is questionable), Kutztown is down recently, and a Ship team that has competed well on a sporadic basis this season has now gone two games without its star player. And next year a Lock Haven team that has been decent at times will be replaced with an unknown quantity in Lackawanna. But this isn't like football where you need to bring in a boatload of studs to dominate. An addition of 2-3 quality players, especially with the portal as it is now, could turn things around in a hurry. Right now, the big question for PSAC teams seems to be whether any of them can slow the Gannon express.

Cal is the only team in the PSAC with a chance to beat Gannon.

And, that day would have to happen somewhere besides Erie.

They will steamroll everybody else.

[IUPalum]

Cal is the only team in the PSAC with a chance to beat Gannon.

And, that day would have to happen somewhere besides Erie.

They will steamroll everybody else.

Bully Ball

[Ship69]

Cal is the only team in the PSAC with a chance to beat Gannon.

And, that day would have to happen somewhere besides Erie.

They will steamroll everybody else.

The record would certainly indicate that.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Updated Men's Standings

-

TEAM	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
Gannon	15-1	22-2	W9
California	14-2	17-6	W2
IUP	13-3	18-4	W5
Slippery Rock	8-8	15-9	L1
Edinboro	8-8	12-11	W1
Seton Hill	7-9	13-11	L6
Clarion	6-10	11-13	L2
Pitt-Johnstown	5-11	11-13	L4

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's great for the West right now, but of course the balance could go the other way in the future. Right now, the East is saddled with a couple of programs that haven't been competitive. Mansfield and Bloom haven't been there for a while (and whether Mansfield can get there is questionable), Kutztown is down recently, and a Ship team that has competed well on a sporadic basis this season has now gone two games without its star player. And next year a Lock Haven team that has been decent at times will be replaced with an unknown quantity in Lackawanna. But this isn't like football where you need to bring in a boatload of studs to dominate. An addition of 2-3 quality players, especially with the portal as it is now, could turn things around in a hurry. Right now, the big question for PSAC teams seems to be whether any of them can slow the Gannon express.

I assume the same thing is happening on the women's side?

If so, that's huge for the West teams. There's a massive power divide between the East and West this year on the women's side.

[Ship69]

I assume the same thing is happening on the women's side?

If so, that's huge for the West teams. There's a massive power divide between the East and West this year on the women's side.

It would appear to speak well for recruiting in the West (and perhaps booster backing) that such a disparity exists at the moment. There is certainly no other reason the top teams in the East shouldn't be up there with the West in both men's and women's ball. West Chester and East Stroud in particular are located in fertile recruiting areas. I expect it is a cycle that could shift someday, especially as changing demographics and prioities influence PSAC schools. Ship, which has had plenty of good women's teams in the past, has one of the least successful teams in its history this season. It's a combination of departures, with the resulting influx of first-year players, plus the fact that a couple of the team's best players, including the probably point guard, have sat out the entire season with injuries. Word is that some good players will be coming in next year. They are badly needed. Catholic schools, at least in my experience, have usually benefitted from strong CYO programs and often field first-division teams.