Atlantic Region - 2019-20

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Might one even call them "deceptively strong"? ; )

You'll have to ask WarriorVoice about that ...

[IUPbigINDIANS]

There's a long way to go ... but we're far enough along to have a pretty good idea of the MEN'S contenders and pretenders. And, those still stuck in the middle.

Those (currently) in the best shape to earn one of the 8 Regional spots:

IUP (10-1, 15-1) - Trip to Johnstown up next
Charleston (8-2, 14-2) - Round 2 on the Hilltop looms ... very strong team.
Shippensburg (10-1, 14-3) - Rolling ... and in great position to host the PSAC Tournament. Great SOS.
Fayetteville State (5-3, 16-3) - This is a deep, talented team. Legit regional title contender.
West Chester (8-3, 14-3) - Rams have lost 3 of past 4 outings after big start ... not sure what's up.
Pitt-Johnstown (9-2, 15-3) - Best team nobody talks about ...
West Liberty (8-2, 13-3) - Hilltoppers are rolling again
West Virginia State (7-3, 12-3) - Quietly putting together a nice run
Fairmont State (6-4, 11-4) - Has some nice wins and some bad losses



The Bubble

Mercyhurst (8-3, 10-5) - The Lake Show is hot ... and is always tough the second time through the West.
California (7-4, 11-6) - Three baskets away from being 14-3 instead of 11-6 ... plays the two Erie schools this week.
Wheeling (6-4, 9-5) - Upcoming schedule (West Liberty twice) doesn't bode well for the Cardinals
Virginia State (6-1, 12-6) - Solid team but having some consistency issues
Johnson C. Smith (5-3, 11-5) - Tough upcoming slate ... some big wins on the resume but has also been blown out a couple times.


The 'Long Shots' based on already-accumulated losses, but teams capable of making noise -- perhaps even those capable of having a magical run in the conference tournaments:

Virginia Union (4-2, 10-8) - Fresh off 20-point win over Virginia State
Bowie State (3-3, 11-8) - Bowie is famous for getting hot at the right time -- and the CIAA Tournament is famous for the favorite not winning
East Stroudsburg (5-6, 9-7) - Very young team getting more experience by the game
Lock Haven (5-6, 8-7) - The Bald Eagles have won 4 straight including a victory over West Chester
Slippery Rock (4-7, 8-9) - The best sub .500 team in the country. If they figure out how to close games ... we'll see.
Gannon (6-5, 7-8) - Up. Down. Up. Down.
Glenville State (9-7, 6-4) - Scores a ton. Gives up a ton, too.
Kutztown (6-5, 8-9) - Golden Bears have won two straight.

[boatcapt]

Fairmont...Really BIG wins...and some head scratching losses. Teams that they have beaten so far this year:

Slippery Rock - Some say they are the best sub .500 team in the nation!
University of Charleston - Hottest team in the region.
WV State - Don't get much hype on this board, but a very solid and quietly VERY good season thus far.
Shippensburg - Current message board darling getting hyped by some as "the best team in the region."

And let's look at their losses that are supposed to be so very, very bad:

WLU - Clearly this is not a bad loss.
D&E - Yea, that was a bad loss.
Glenville - As negatively as we seem to want to talk about Glenville, hard to believe they are actually +.500 at 9-7. This loss was more unexpected than BAD.
NDC - At NDC...How many ways can you say "grudge game??" Former HC left to go to a conference rival in his first game back at his old school. As they say, W/L record goes out the window in games like this.

So really, Fairmont has had one and MAYBE two questionable losses. I think the good wins far out weigh one bad loss!!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Fairmont...Really BIG wins...and some head scratching losses. Teams that they have beaten so far this year:

Slippery Rock - Some say they are the best sub .500 team in the nation!
University of Charleston - Hottest team in the region.
WV State - Don't get much hype on this board, but a very solid and quietly VERY good season thus far.
Shippensburg - Current message board darling getting hyped by some as "the best team in the region."

And let's look at their losses that are supposed to be so very, very bad:

WLU - Clearly this is not a bad loss.
D&E - Yea, that was a bad loss.
Glenville - As negatively as we seem to want to talk about Glenville, hard to believe they are actually +.500 at 9-7. This loss was more unexpected than BAD.
NDC - At NDC...How many ways can you say "grudge game??" Former HC left to go to a conference rival in his first game back at his old school. As they say, W/L record goes out the window in games like this.

So really, Fairmont has had one and MAYBE two questionable losses. I think the good wins far out weigh one bad loss!!

Unfortunately there isn't an asterisk for losing to a 4-12 Notre Dame team. I get what you're saying but it is what it is. Losing to D&E in Fairmont is a bad one. Thus, two bad losses. Keep in mind Edinboro won at ND this year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The Atlantic Women's Race (four losses or less included):

IUP (11-0, 16-1)
Notre Dame (9-1, 15-1)
Bowie State (5-1, 15-2)
Virginia Union (6-1, 13-2)
Lincoln (6-1, 16-3)
Glenville State (8-2, 12-4)
Gannon (9-2, 13-4)
California (7-4, 13-4)
Charleston (7-3, 12-4)
Seton Hill (7-4, 12-4)
Concord (8-2, 11-4)

[boatcapt]

Unfortunately there isn't an asterisk for losing to a 4-12 Notre Dame team. I get what you're saying but it is what it is. Losing to D&E in Fairmont is a bad one. Thus, two bad losses. Keep in mind Edinboro won at ND this year.

Aw come now...people on this message board use non criteria all the time to justify were a team "should" be relative to others. In fact, I postulate the NCAA has occasionally used non criteria at times when making playoff selections and seedings.

[boatcapt]

Massey has the current rankings:

1. IUP
2. Charleston
3. WLU
4. Ship
5. Fayetville
6. UPJ
7. Hurst
8. Va State

9. West Chester
10. Fairmont

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Massey has the current rankings:

1. IUP
2. Charleston
3. WLU
4. Ship
5. Fayetville
6. UPJ
7. Hurst
8. Va State

9. West Chester
10. Fairmont

Interesting they have 5-loss Mercyhurst and 6-loss Virginia State both ahead of West Chester.

Were those as of today?

[boatcapt]

Interesting they have 5-loss Mercyhurst and 6-loss Virginia State both ahead of West Chester.

Were those as of today?

Yes.

I note that Massey uses criteria that are different than the NCAA At its heart, Massey is a betting tool.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll (Men's)


1. IUP (5)
2. Charleston (1)
3. Shippensburg
4. West Liberty
5. Pitt-Johnstown
6. West Chester & Fayetteville State (tie in points)
8. Fairmont State & West Virginia State (tie in points)
10. Mercyhurst


Votes: Johnson C. Smith (3), Virginia State (1)

[Scrub]

On the National level, the last of the unbeatens falls, as UIndy knocked off Bellarmine last night. Look for IUP to potentially scoot up in the NABC rankings this week.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

On the National level, the last of the unbeatens falls, as UIndy knocked off Bellarmine last night. Look for IUP to potentially scoot up in the NABC rankings this week.

Could be short-lived with a tough trip to Johnstown tomorrow.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

NABC Top 25 (Men's / thru games played Jan. 19)

7. IUP
21. Charleston
22. West Chester



Votes: Shippensburg (13), UPJ (10), West Liberty (6)

[Scrub]

NABC Top 25 (Men's / thru games played Jan. 19)

7. IUP
21. Charleston
22. West Chester



Votes: Shippensburg (13), UPJ (10), West Liberty (6)

Kinda surprised after their awful week that WCU didn't swap places with Ship in this poll. Can't believe the Rams hung on to their Top-25 spot after losing 3 of 4 (and two of those are likely viewed as "bad losses"). Ship continues to get disrespected on the national level, but they won't take anyone by surprise in the PSAC tourney. No one wants to see the Raiders on the bracket line in March.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Kinda surprised after their awful week that WCU didn't swap places with Ship in this poll. Can't believe the Rams hung on to their Top-25 spot after losing 3 of 4 (and two of those are likely viewed as "bad losses"). Ship continues to get disrespected on the national level, but they won't take anyone by surprise in the PSAC tourney. No one wants to see the Raiders on the bracket line in March.

Especially because the EAST hosts this year. Remember the PSAC rotates from East to West yearly (not neutral site like many conferences).