PSAC EAST

[Ship69]

I can tell you one thing, this is a race to see who gets pummeled by Gannon in the PSAC title game.

They are leaps and bounds above every other team in the league.

Gannon? I'm just happy to see Ship win a couple of games in the East this week. Cal certainly held its own with Gannon, and I don't think they beat Millersville all that badly. For sure they look like the best in the league at this point, but you just don't know what you're going to on a given night from college kids.

[Ship69]

Money shot by Michael Dickson for the Ship winner. Off-balance leaner from the foul line vicinity.

20 from Markus Frank, and Jackson Boone has the best game of his career thus far (12 points, 10 boards). For a size-challenged ballclub, the Raiders dominated ESU on the boards at points.

The Dickson shot was one of those classic, "What the heck are you doing. . . Nice shot!" That was for sure Boone's best game so far, and it was nice to see Gabe Romero-Sanz get a few minutes and pick up a couple of fouls that a few weeks ago would have gone to the other Ship forwards. A little depth is nice.

I don't know what to expect from this year's Raiders from one game to the next. This week sandwiched nice shooting performances on Tuesday and Saturday around a very ugly Thursday, but at least they were able to pull out the one on Thursday. It was probably their best week of the season in terms of playing a full 40 minutes every game. After watching the Millersville and East Stroud games this week, I find it confounding that this team managed to lose to Bloomsburg.

Boone, Figueroa and others did well on the boards, but I was really surprised that East Stroudsburg, given their size advantage, decided to toss up 27 three-pointers. I know they like to push the tempo, but that didn't seem like great strategy today. The Eastern Division is a mess this year.

[WarriorVoice]

The Dickson shot was one of those classic, "What the heck are you doing. . . Nice shot!" That was for sure Boone's best game so far, and it was nice to see Gabe Romero-Sanz get a few minutes and pick up a couple of fouls that a few weeks ago would have gone to the other Ship forwards. A little depth is nice.

I don't know what to expect from this year's Raiders from one game to the next. This week sandwiched nice shooting performances on Tuesday and Saturday around a very ugly Thursday, but at least they were able to pull out the one on Thursday. It was probably their best week of the season in terms of playing a full 40 minutes every game. After watching the Millersville and East Stroud games this week, I find it confounding that this team managed to lose to Bloomsburg.

Boone, Figueroa and others did well on the boards, but I was really surprised that East Stroudsburg, given their size advantage, decided to toss up 27 three-pointers. I know they like to push the tempo, but that didn't seem like great strategy today. The Eastern Division is a mess this year.

ESU is 4th in the PSAC in 3-pt FG attempts and makes. They average 25 attempts from behind the arc per game. It's who they are...

[Ship69]

ESU is 4th in the PSAC in 3-pt FG attempts and makes. They average 25 attempts from behind the arc per game. It's who they are...

All well and good, but sometimes you have to adjust to whom you're playing.

[jrshooter]

The Dickson shot was one of those classic, "What the heck are you doing. . . Nice shot!" That was for sure Boone's best game so far, and it was nice to see Gabe Romero-Sanz get a few minutes and pick up a couple of fouls that a few weeks ago would have gone to the other Ship forwards. A little depth is nice.

I don't know what to expect from this year's Raiders from one game to the next. This week sandwiched nice shooting performances on Tuesday and Saturday around a very ugly Thursday, but at least they were able to pull out the one on Thursday. It was probably their best week of the season in terms of playing a full 40 minutes every game. After watching the Millersville and East Stroud games this week, I find it confounding that this team managed to lose to Bloomsburg.

Boone, Figueroa and others did well on the boards, but I was really surprised that East Stroudsburg, given their size advantage, decided to toss up 27 three-pointers. I know they like to push the tempo, but that didn't seem like great strategy today. The Eastern Division is a mess this year.

You know, I was going to mention that about Romero-Sanz, because that's the first I've seen him for any extended time. I get the feeling that the inside game would have been quite a bit stronger if he hadn't been hurt about 97 percent of the time he's been at Ship. He plays a rather smooth game, plays smart.

I've got to say, I think this is at least a playoff team this year if they'd been healthy, especially given the current water level in the East.

[Ship69]

You know, I was going to mention that about Romero-Sanz, because that's the first I've seen him for any extended time. I get the feeling that the inside game would have been quite a bit stronger if he hadn't been hurt about 97 percent of the time he's been at Ship. He plays a rather smooth game, plays smart.

I've got to say, I think this is at least a playoff team this year if they'd been healthy, especially given the current water level in the East.

I think that Romero-Sanz being hobbled for most of his time at Ship, combined with Denzel Figueroa missing several games with an injury this year, was a drag on the team for a while. For one thing, as Saturday showed, there is someone else to bang with the other team's big guys and help distribute the fouls among more players. With those two back, if Jackson Boone can keep playing at the improved level he's displayed lately it could do a lot for the team's inside game. I'd still like to seem them pick up a bruiser for next season as we've been facing some real wide bodies going up against other teams this year. Yeah, I like the way Romero-Sanz moved about, set screens, and moved nicely to the basket for a couple of buckets. Ben Rill has some nice moments, but I think he has to muscle up a little for life under the college backboards. In addition to Rill, Sebastian Edwards looks as if he could develop into a decent all-round guy and Emonte Hill, although on the small side, seems to be a capable ball handler who can give Michael Dickson a rest at times. With Parker Smith coming off his RS next season, I like the potential of this year's freshman class.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

TEAM (MEN'S)	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
WEST CHESTER	6-3	12-4	W4
EAST STROUDSBURG	6-4	12-5	L1
MILLERSVILLE	6-4	11-6	L1
SHEPHERD	5-4	9-7	W1
LOCK HAVEN	3-6	7-9	W2
SHIPPENSBURG	3-7	8-9	W2
KUTZTOWN	2-7	5-9	W1
BLOOMSBURG	1-8	4-12	L3
MANSFIELD	0-10	1-15	L10

-

NOTES:

* Oddity: Lock Haven has won (4) straight against East Stroudsburg -- and 5 of the past 6 meetings. The two square off this week.

* Shepherd has become the clear 'don't catch them on the wrong night' team. The Rams can be really good on a given night -- or really pedestrian. Shepherd plays at West Chester in 48 hours -- another team known for sporadic stretches.

* Speaking of oddities, Millersville now sits with (6) losses. The Marauders should go 2-0 this week -- hosting Kutztown and Bloomsburg -- prior to next Tuesday's big trip to West Chester.

[Ship69]

TEAM (MEN'S)	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
WEST CHESTER	6-3	12-4	W4
EAST STROUDSBURG	6-4	12-5	L1
MILLERSVILLE	6-4	11-6	L1
SHEPHERD	5-4	9-7	W1
LOCK HAVEN	3-6	7-9	W2
SHIPPENSBURG	3-7	8-9	W2
KUTZTOWN	2-7	5-9	W1
BLOOMSBURG	1-8	4-12	L3
MANSFIELD	0-10	1-15	L10

-

NOTES:

* Oddity: Lock Haven has won (4) straight against East Stroudsburg -- and 5 of the past 6 meetings. The two square off this week.

* Shepherd has become the clear 'don't catch them on the wrong night' team. The Rams can be really good on a given night -- or really pedestrian. Shepherd plays at West Chester in 48 hours -- another team known for sporadic stretches.

* Speaking of oddities, Millersville now sits with (6) losses. The Marauders should go 2-0 this week -- hosting Kutztown and Bloomsburg -- prior to next Tuesday's big trip to West Chester.

The bottom half of the East table can't hope for anything outside of a PSAC tourney berth, but Ship, Lock Haven, and Kutztown have enough quality players to make it interesting for the leaders on any given night. The top four have picked up enough losses in their non-divisional games to have them skating on thin ice as far as an NCAA bid goes. Every game they play among themselves has become very critical. West Chester is about the only one that could afford a loss at this point in the season.

[WarriorVoice]

TEAM (MEN'S)	PSAC	OVERALL	STREAK
WEST CHESTER	6-3	12-4	W4
EAST STROUDSBURG	6-4	12-5	L1
MILLERSVILLE	6-4	11-6	L1
SHEPHERD	5-4	9-7	W1
LOCK HAVEN	3-6	7-9	W2
SHIPPENSBURG	3-7	8-9	W2
KUTZTOWN	2-7	5-9	W1
BLOOMSBURG	1-8	4-12	L3
MANSFIELD	0-10	1-15	L10

-

NOTES:

* Oddity: Lock Haven has won (4) straight against East Stroudsburg -- and 5 of the past 6 meetings. The two square off this week.

* Shepherd has become the clear 'don't catch them on the wrong night' team. The Rams can be really good on a given night -- or really pedestrian. Shepherd plays at West Chester in 48 hours -- another team known for sporadic stretches.

* Speaking of oddities, Millersville now sits with (6) losses. The Marauders should go 2-0 this week -- hosting Kutztown and Bloomsburg -- prior to next Tuesday's big trip to West Chester.

Shepherd is no Johnny come lately. They've been a tough opponent for at least the last few years...

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Shepherd is no Johnny come lately. They've been a tough opponoent for at least the last few years...

No doubt. But, that's been their M.O. since the MEC days. They can be really tough on a given night ... or, not so much. In my opinion they are kind of the East's version of Slippery Rock.

If you look back the past few years, you see the pattern (of perhaps underachieving):

Current: 9-7
Last year: 21-11
2023-2024 - 13-15
2022-2023 - 14-15



When you take a look at the Rams this season:

On one hand, you can say they don't have any bad losses. Of course, you can also say they've lost 7 games to good teams.

[Ramhead]

No doubt. But, that's been there M.O. since their MEC days. They can be really tough on a given night ... or, not so much. In my opinion they are kind of the East's version of Slippery Rock.

If you look back the past few years, you see the pattern (of perhaps underachieving):

Current: 9-7
Last year: 21-11
2023-2024 - 13-15
2022-2023 - 14-15



When you take a look at the Rams this season:

On one hand, you can say they don't have any bad losses. Of course, you can also say they've lost 7 games to good teams.

Frustrating team to watch. They can look unbeatable one game and then look awful the next. I saw Cole Paar in pregame warm - ups against Mansfield last Saturday. He is 6 10 and would make a big difference if he can come back from injury.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Frustrating team to watch. They can look unbeatable one game and then look awful the next. I saw Cole Paar in pregame warm - ups against Mansfield last Saturday. He is 6 10 and would make a big difference if he can come back from injury.

Massive difference. He's a beast.

[Ship69]

No doubt. But, that's been their M.O. since the MEC days. They can be really tough on a given night ... or, not so much. In my opinion they are kind of the East's version of Slippery Rock.

If you look back the past few years, you see the pattern (of perhaps underachieving):

Current: 9-7
Last year: 21-11
2023-2024 - 13-15
2022-2023 - 14-15



When you take a look at the Rams this season:

On one hand, you can say they don't have any bad losses. Of course, you can also say they've lost 7 games to good teams.

They were a load last year when they had those two big Paar brothers.You don't see a PSAC team with the kind of overall size they had too often.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

They were a load last year when they had those two big Paar brothers.You don't see a PSAC team with the kind of overall size they had too often.

I wouldn't place a bet on the East winner even with your money.

[WarriorVoice]

A nice bounce-back win for ESU tonight. 6 players in double digits, and two double-doubles. Jalen Pichardo had 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Keni Williams scored 11 and dished out 10 assists. ESU is at Kutztown Tuesday and hosts West Chester next Thursday.