PSAC WEST

[IUPbigINDIANS]

UPJ escapes SRU

Mercyhurst wins a tight one at Gannon

[Ship69]

And if not postponements, you get what I'm watching right now in the WLU women's game. They're playing with 7 players (I assume the 7 who tested negative). And those 7 only include 2 regular starters. Gonna be a long night for the Lady Hilltoppers. But this is where IUPbig was talking about the need for depth.

There are very few teams in the PSAC, women's or men's, who wouldn't be devastated by the loss of 2-3 starters for a game. Early season results for Shippensburg and IUP have shown what a difference the absence of even one star player can make. I think we'll all just basically be crossing our fingers for the rest of the season and hoping our teams can muddle through with reasonable results.

[Scrub]

And if not postponements, you get what I'm watching right now in the WLU women's game. They're playing with 7 players (I assume the 7 who tested negative). And those 7 only include 2 regular starters. Gonna be a long night for the Lady Hilltoppers. But this is where IUPbig was talking about the need for depth.

[Ship69]

That surely helps Gannon with their current issues.

Ship-Seton Hill women's game postponed tonight (Dec. 5). Already posted this on the PSAC East thread. So far the men's game is still on.

[IUPalum]

Gannon vs Edinboro ... this Saturday has been PPD (Men's).

That surely helps Gannon with their current issues.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Gannon vs Edinboro ... this Saturday has been PPD (Men's).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Call your bookies (or, 1-800-Gambler). We're back to having some live heat -- and not against Pitt or PSU branch campuses.



IUP at California - Big one in the Mon Valley. IUP has won 14 straight in the series, but that all may change tonight. The Crimson Hawks are no longer built to run-n-gun. The Vulcans are at their best in a fast tempo. Neither team is very deep at the current time. Who controls the pace and who stays out of foul trouble? Figure that out and you'll have the winner. Cal is at home -- and a little deeper. Vulcans end the streak. Cal by 3.

Shepherd at Millersville - The Marauders are a perplexing 8-3. The record sounds decent enough -- until you delve in to it. In its three toughest games (UPJ, IUP and Cal), Millersville lost all of them -- two by blowouts and the other to a Brent Pegram-less California squad. The talent is there. Shepherd has a lost a lot of close games. The Rams lost by 20 in a low-scoring game at IUP, but then followed it up by losing to a then-winless Seton Hill. Shepherd 'should' be much better than its 5-6 record. Millersville has tanked when the lights have gotten bright. Home team gets the edge, but, not by much. Millersville has to push the pace and not play Shepherd's grind-it-out style. Marauders by 4

East Stroudsburg at Mansfield - This has 30 Burger written all over it. Warriors win. Big. ESU by 30+

UPJ at Slippery Rock - A tough week for the Mountain Cats starts tonight with a trip to Morrow Fieldhouse. California visits Johnstown on Saturday. UPJ enters West play with an 8-3 record. They've lost to 3 of the 4 strong teams they've played but have battled some injury issues along the way. The Rock is a couple layups away from being undefeated. UPJ's style always presents a test, but SRU is historically tough at home. Take the Rock in a tight one. SRU by 3

Mercyhurst at Gannon - The days of first to 42 are gone. But, this one may be first to 65. The Lakers' vaunted defense got lit up in its last outing. The Knights have won 3 straight, albeit against the East doormats. Word on the street is there are some injury concerns on the Gannon side for this affair. Add to it, it's awfully hard to beat Gary Manchel when he gets this long to prepare. Lakers make the short trip across town and secure a win. Mercyhurst by 5.

Bloomsburg at Lock Haven - After an impressive 4-0 start, the Bald Eagles have come crashing down. Lock Haven has last 5 straight. Bloomsburg is just 2-7 -- but, they have played a couple good teams pretty tough. Lock Haven is a strange gym to play in, but take the road team tonight. Huskies pull out a dog fight. Bloomsburg by 4

Seton Hill at Shippensburg - This will be the other blowout of the night. Seton Hill has nowhere near the guard play to stay in this one. Red Raiders by 25+

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Today's PPD games:


MEN

Edinboro at Clarion

West Chester at Kutztown


WOMEN

IUP at Cal

Edinboro at Clarion

Shepherd at Millersville





This is as of 8:30 a.m. I believe they test this morning. So, hold your breath.

[Scrub]

Figured that ... Am I the only one frustrated that asymptomatic, vaccinated players get tested? Fans don't get tested - the arenas can be full. People using the fitness center don't get tested. Athletes seem to get singled out in these kinds of things. Will the schools adopt the CDC guideline of only a 5-day quarantine?

Your frustration is warranted--I wouldn't argue that. But I suspect the reason the athletes get tested and the dudes using the fitness center don't is that the dudes using the fitness center aren't scheduled to travel (with their germs) all over Western Pennsylvania over the next few months. If the dudes in the fitness center get sick, their circle of viral influence is pretty limited to campus. But if a basketball player takes COVID with him on a trip to, say, East Stroudsburg, PA, the spread is quite a bit further reaching. I think that's the logic. But logic aside, it's all still very frustrating for both the athletes and the fans.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Figured that ... Am I the only one frustrated that asymptomatic, vaccinated players get tested? Fans don't get tested - the arenas can be full. People using the fitness center don't get tested. Athletes seem to get singled out in these kinds of things. Will the schools adopt the CDC guideline of only a 5-day quarantine?

It's frustrating for sure. After football season with what our teams all suffered through ... just kind of got used to it.

At least in basketball they can probably make up the games. Football it was a lost cause. No free weeks to reschedule.

[Golden89]

Not sure about basketball. Football (D2) randomly tested about 20% - 25% of the whole program weekly (every Wednesday) throughout the entire season.

If you tested positive you were gone 10 days automatically (no team activities).

Basketball rosters and staffs are so much smaller they may be testing all of them every Wed.


The group of dudes playing pick-up don't get tested.

Figured that ... Am I the only one frustrated that asymptomatic, vaccinated players get tested? Fans don't get tested - the arenas can be full. People using the fitness center don't get tested. Athletes seem to get singled out in these kinds of things. Will the schools adopt the CDC guideline of only a 5-day quarantine?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Not sure about basketball. Football (D2) randomly tested about 20% - 25% of the whole program weekly (every Wednesday) throughout the entire season.

If you tested positive you were gone 10 days automatically (no team activities).

Basketball rosters and staffs are so much smaller they may be testing all of them every Wed.


The group of dudes playing pick-up don't get tested.

[Golden89]

[IUPalum]

Fairmont closed their doors to fans I think.

[Ship69]

Daemen's trip to Clarion yesterday was cancelled due to Covid concerns. The game will not be rescheduled.

This is not looking good.