Atlantic Region 2023 (Men's)

[bballfan03]

I've seen them in person several times. I think Gannon might be better this year.

Not a chance. I've watched West Liberty games this year and they're style is so much more fluid than Gannon is right now

[bballfan03]

I didn't get to watch ESU vs Gannon but heard your star big played just 8 minutes due to foul trouble. That had to play a big part (I'd assume). ESU is also very young this year, correct?

Oddly the team that just about beat Gannon (Lincoln) is typically more of an AAU-style, up and down team.

I knew the day Fee was hired he'd be a major headache in the West. That style is extremely difficult to play against when you never see it. It's obviously not unbeatable but it's very challenging at the D2 level. It will be very difficult for West teams still enthralled with 7-man rotations.

They are off to a great start. But, I'm not quite ready to annoint them yet. If Cal can get healthy their coach is very familiar with playing that system.

Gannon played better when he was on the court anyways lol he couldn't defend the quickness of play and it opened up good shots for Gannon. ESU made their big runs with him off. Although Tipton and Montano did their thing with and without him.

I don't think ESU is as great as predicted. VERY VERY GOOD, yes! But i still dont buy that Hurst is that good and ESU struggled with them. Elizabeth City State isn't anything impressive, Molloy is 1-7, Dyouville is 1-6.

This is also why preseason rankings are a joke. Alas, IUP and Hurst.

[TopperNation]

I saw perhaps the best DII college team I've seen since I was at the 2018 Elite Eight. Gannon is loaded with players who defend like their momma's life savings were at stake. They also can put 8 players in double digits on any given night. They change out their entire lineup at once, and they don't lose anything with their second unit on the floor. I wonder when everyone else will wake up on this team...

As other posters have said, I think it's way to early to crown Gannon the best of this region after only 7 games, but they are headed in the right direction though. I've watched Gannon play this year and I would say if they played WL right now they would be at least 12 point underdogs, as WL's bench is a little deeper not to mention the amount of big games the roster has played in. Playing the likes of Penn State -DuBois won't prepare you for that, but I get it.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

As other posters have said, I think it's way to early to crown Gannon the best of this region after only 7 games, but they are headed in the right direction though. I've watched Gannon play this year and I would say if they played WL right now they would be at least 12 point underdogs, as WL's bench is a little deeper not to mention the amount of big games the roster has played in. Playing the likes of Penn State -DuBois won't prepare you for that, but I get it.

Trust me, I've seen a lot of December champions in my life.

[Ship69]

Trust me, I've seen a lot of December champions in my life.

Especially in the PSAC, where the weird December break appears to rob some teams of their power while miraculously strengthening others.

[bballfan03]

I saw perhaps the best DII college team I've seen since I was at the 2018 Elite Eight. Gannon is loaded with players who defend like their momma's life savings were at stake. They also can put 8 players in double digits on any given night. They change out their entire lineup at once, and they don't lose anything with their second unit on the floor. I wonder when everyone else will wake up on this team...

There is a big overall difference between Gannons 1st line and 2nd line... only 2 players on 2nd line are consistently getting near double digits, if not over. Also, Fee has been playing first line a lot more recently. Very first game they all played right around the same minutes... lately its been starters 25-30 mins and reserves around 11.

Although, with the way Montano has been playing, I could see him sneaking into the 1st unit eventually to add more size to it. Evran is showing he can play a few minutes here and there and would be a capable replacement to give Montano a breather and Haughton could go to 2nd line to give another solid ball handler as well as stronger defender.

[boatcapt]

Not a chance. I've watched West Liberty games this year and they're style is so much more fluid than Gannon is right now

A lot of basketball yet to be played but a WLU v Gannon matchup is trending for a Regional final.

The Mike Tyson effect. Tyson was a dynamic fighter who just absolutely dominated his opponents with power, speed and force of will. Great...until he faced someone capable of doing it back to him. Then he fell apart like a house of cards. Gannon is beating teams with a style that leaves them whimpering on the floor. Yet to see what will happen to them when they face a team in WLU that can and will do it back at them. Will they crumble like Mike or will the game be a repeat of the WLU v Nova NC final from last year?

[bballfan03]

A lot of basketball yet to be played but a WLU v Gannon matchup is trending for a Regional final.

The Mike Tyson effect. Tyson was a dynamic fighter who just absolutely dominated his opponents with power, speed and force of will. Great...until he faced someone capable of doing it back to him. Then he fell apart like a house of cards. Gannon is beating teams with a style that leaves them whimpering on the floor. Yet to see what will happen to them when they face a team in WLU that can and will do it back at them. Will they crumble like Mike or will the game be a repeat of the WLU v Nova NC final from last year?

From having watched a bunch of games of both teams... if the 2 teams end up playing each other.. and both teams are full strength.. I truly believe WLU by at least 20. They have more size (height and weight) and their 2nd line is better than Gannons first. Gannon had a good "template" to build from but are nowhere near WLU level.

[boatcapt]

Good comparison game on the 13th....Gannon at Salem. WLU players and beat Salem 111 to 82 at Salem last week. Good opportunity to compare both teams against a common for at roughly the same point in the season.

5:30 tipoff.

[TheMadLibs]

Good comparison game on the 13th....Gannon at Salem. WLU players and beat Salem 111 to 82 at Salem last week. Good opportunity to compare both teams against a common for at roughly the same point in the season.

5:30 tipoff.

I'll equally be interested because Gannon saw Salem in Charleston at the regional tip off tourney where GU beat Glenville St. and Charleston. Agreed that I've had this one on circled the last few weeks. The Charleston loss tonight is interesting comparator as well, though UC was without the Colbert in the GU game.

[IUPalum]

I'll equally be interested because Gannon saw Salem in Charleston at the regional tip off tourney where GU beat Glenville St. and Charleston. Agreed that I've had this one on circled the last few weeks. The Charleston loss tonight is interesting comparator as well, though UC was without the Colbert in the GU game.

Charleston also saw the gimmick a second time already. Adjustments???

[Scrub]

Charleston also saw the gimmick a second time already. Adjustments???

Nah. Charleston sees WLU 3 times a year most years (if you count conference tourney too). They're not surprised by any of it (and likely weren't surprised by Gannon). And they're always among the most disciplined in responding to the system. It's a credit to Coach Osborne that they always seem to remain disciplined in the face of the system.

WLU, on the other hand, was undisciplined last night and instead of moving the ball just resorted to playground BS. And the result is the result. If WLU plays their game (instead of reverting to AAU crap), they can beat Charleston (and have proven that 8 of the last 9 times out).

And I agree with MadLibs that Colbert definitely does make a difference.

[boatcapt]

Charleston also saw the gimmick a second time already. Adjustments???

The components of WLU's Style is no longer a gimmick in basketball. Shooting 3's, pressure full court press, harassing defense, multiple passes in the offensive end with every player empowered to take open shots are fundamental parts of todays game (at least for top tier teams). Now the WLU Style is unique in pulling it all together which not a lot of teams can do.

More gimmicky these days is walking the ball up and pitching it into the low post were the big backs down for a lay-up as the shot clock expires and then settle into a 2-3 zone in the defensive end...You know, PSAC ball!!

I will say that skilled bigs that play a more traditional big game are WLU's historic kryptonite. We don't often lose, but when we do, it is often to a team with multiple strong bigs. That's what happened against UC...We lost to THEIR "gimmick" offense.

[TheMadLibs]

Yep, Charleston impressed me in Nov., it was clear they knew the system, gaps created by it, and how to exploit such as breaking the press and feeding in the post would lead to quick buckets and foul trouble. WLU is more disciplined than Gannon. My one takeaway watching part of the game last night was I think Gannons guard play may be a bit faster than WLU, which could have been because it was an off night for WLU. But Omojafo is special with a faster first step than I think even I realized coming into the year. I'm not sure who in the PSAC at least is going to trip him up, but Charleston did in their first half as I recall... That should be no surprise.

The PSAC style frankly has become boring. I've paid far less attention to men's hoops in the psac since around 2013 when I went down to the regional at both West Lib and Cal for the men's and women's. I distinctly remember watching WLU speed, agility, and ball movement and realized that the region would likely often be handed over to WLU and this sort of style until teams started focusing more on presses, fast break execution, and having perimeter scorers 1-5. IUP, Hurst, and East Stroudsburg did, to a degree. This year they all look a bit like shadows of their former selves, though, even when they all land over .500 at seasons end.

IMO Gannon's success will partly hinge on the system's newness in conference, their non conference schedules preparation for postseason, health, and the development of bench players 8-12.

Fee said in an interview last night he's pleasantly surprised at how quickly they've grown in season so far. That tells me more than any eye test my novice eye may assess 😂.

[boatcapt]

Nah. Charleston sees WLU 3 times a year most years (if you count conference tourney too). They're not surprised by any of it (and likely weren't surprised by Gannon). And they're always among the most disciplined in responding to the system. It's a credit to Coach Osborne that they always seem to remain disciplined in the face of the system.

WLU, on the other hand, was undisciplined last night and instead of moving the ball just resorted to playground BS. And the result is the result. If WLU plays their game (instead of reverting to AAU crap), they can beat Charleston (and have proven that 8 of the last 9 times out).

And I agree with MadLibs that Colbert definitely does make a difference.

One of the side effects of the upgrade in overall skills WLU has gone through is that every player on the roster thinks he can win the 1on1 street/AAU game against his opponent so when the WLU Style is struggling, there is the possibility that the player(s) can go rogue and start with the AAU Style. WLU players of old knew they COULDN'T win 1on1 so there was no temptation. This seems to happen a couple of times a season for a few games. But typically, it starts a little later than this year.