Atlantic Region Men's Basketball '25-'26

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I'll try and update this every 7-10 days or so ... but it's just a look around the Atlantic. We often hear early losses don't matter. They sure do come Selection Sunday.

For this initial post, I'll just include the teams from each league with the best records (for now, 3 losses or less). Eventually, I'll subtract out the D3 wins, etc.

As always when evaluating records on Dec. 30 ... not all non-conference schedules are created equal. Some have played a tough slate. Others have played drastically easier opponents. Some have a decent blend of the two.


CIAA

Virginia Union (11-1)
Shaw (9-2)


MEC

West Liberty (8-2)
Fairmont State (8-2)
Concord (7-3)
Wheeling (7-3)


PSAC

Gannon (10-1)
IUP (8-1)
Seton Hill (10-2)
Slippery Rock (10-2)
Pitt-Johnstown (9-3)
Millersville (7-3)
West Chester (7-3)
East Stroudsburg (7-3)

[IUPalum]

It's a good first look and this weekend could pose for some more damage with IUP hosting Millersville and West Chester.

[Ship69]

I'll try and update this every 7-10 days or so ... but it's just a look around the Atlantic. We often hear early losses don't matter. They sure do come Selection Sunday.

For this initial post, I'll just include the teams from each league with the best records (for now, 3 losses or less). Eventually, I'll subtract out the D3 wins, etc.

As always when evaluating records on Dec. 30 ... not all non-conference schedules are created equal. Some have played a tough slate. Others have played drastically easier opponents. Some have a decent blend of the two.


CIAA

Virginia Union (11-1)
Shaw (9-2)


MEC

West Liberty (8-2)
Fairmont State (8-2)
Concord (7-3)
Wheeling (7-3)


PSAC

Gannon (10-1)
IUP (8-1)
Seton Hill (10-2)
Slippery Rock (10-2)
Pitt-Johnstown (9-3)
Millersville (7-3)
West Chester (7-3)
East Stroudsburg (7-3)

It's striking to me that the top three in the PSAC East already have three losses, and we're barely into the conference season. There will be little margin for error the rest of the way for any East teams who have visions of making the regional tournament. The West looks to be well-balanced, so the shiny records of Seton Hill and Slippery Rock might not hold up. West Chester and Millersville will be making early January trips to IUP, which should provide an interesting look at how those teams stack up against what looks to be a strong IUP squad that handled ESU at East Stroudsburg.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's striking to me that the top three in the PSAC East already have three losses, and we're barely into the conference season. There will be little margin for error the rest of the way for any East teams who have visions of making the regional tournament. The West looks to be well-balanced, so the shiny records of Seton Hill and Slippery Rock might not hold up. West Chester and Millersville will be making early January trips to IUP, which should provide an interesting look at how those teams stack up against what looks to be a strong IUP squad that handled ESU at East Stroudsburg.

Millersville is a tough team -- and has played a tough schedule. They have scorers all over the floor.

The Marauders have a big, 82-66, win against Virginia Union.

They lost at Wilmington in 2 OT and lost to a really strong Gannon team by just 4 points.

The big item in the Gannon game is they controlled the pace and held an explosive team to just 74 points. It's not easy keeping that style in the mid-70s. It tells me they have really strong guard play.

The shaky loss was to Charleston (on the second day of a back-to-back after playing a physical Virginia Union team). You come out of those CIAA brawls beat up every time.

I'm very curious to see IUP host West Chester this Friday. In the past, WCU has tried to turn games against IUP into playground-style street fights. Joe tends to get sucked into that type of game. This current IUP team isn't overly built for a bang 'em style game (although they can rough it up a bit). If IUP can control the tempo and style, they could be OK. Either way, I suspect a single digit game. The Rams have good size and always have big, physical forwards.

At minimum, I'm hoping Joe can split this weekend. I think IUP would be a small favorite in both games in Las Vegas casinos. That said, this first game back is almost always sloppy.

Joe and Damien tend to bring out the 'best' in one another. Say a prayer for the officials.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's striking to me that the top three in the PSAC East already have three losses, and we're barely into the conference season. There will be little margin for error the rest of the way for any East teams who have visions of making the regional tournament. The West looks to be well-balanced, so the shiny records of Seton Hill and Slippery Rock might not hold up. West Chester and Millersville will be making early January trips to IUP, which should provide an interesting look at how those teams stack up against what looks to be a strong IUP squad that handled ESU at East Stroudsburg.

ESU is dealing with some injuries. It sounds like they should get back Kevin Coleman in time for East play.

It was mentioned on the IUP/ESU broadcast he probably wouldn't be available this weekend. They'll be a much different team with him.

Once healthy, I'd fully expect the Warriors to challenge for the East crown. They gave IUP a good fight. That final score was deceiving. IUP pulled away in the final 4-5 minutes.

I do wonder when the last time ESU has had (3) home losses prior to NYE. That's a tough place to play.

[Scrub]

It's striking to me that the top three in the PSAC East already have three losses, and we're barely into the conference season. There will be little margin for error the rest of the way for any East teams who have visions of making the regional tournament. The West looks to be well-balanced, so the shiny records of Seton Hill and Slippery Rock might not hold up. West Chester and Millersville will be making early January trips to IUP, which should provide an interesting look at how those teams stack up against what looks to be a strong IUP squad that handled ESU at East Stroudsburg.

Good point. And the same is true in the MEC (where Fairmont and WLU typically make it through the non-conference unscathed). Ordinarily, we're counting to 7 or 8 in the loss column to determine who's on the outside looking in, and there is no unblemished sitting-pretty team right now. Some of these "top" teams are already 1/3 of the way to the magic number to be on the outside looking in.

VUU looks legit. Millersville looks legit. Gannon looks legit. I expect IUP, Fairmont, & WLU to be there in the end.

But Rock, Seton Hill, UPJ, Wheeling, etc. seem like smoke and mirrors at this point. The conference season will likely reveal some of those teams' true colors. We'll also see if Shaw can withstand the nightly beatings that commonly level the CIAA teams.

[Ship69]

ESU is dealing with some injuries. It sounds like they should get back Kevin Coleman in time for East play.

It was mentioned on the IUP/ESU broadcast he probably wouldn't be available this weekend. They'll be a much different team with him.

Once healthy, I'd fully expect the Warriors to challenge for the East crown. They gave IUP a good fight. That final score was deceiving. IUP pulled away in the final 4-5 minutes.

I do wonder when the last time ESU has had (3) home losses prior to NYE. That's a tough place to play.

Well, most of our teams deal with injuries at one time or another. You have documented some of the ones at Slippery Rock so far. At Ship, it isn't so much they've had a lot of people injured as that it's all been at the forward position. The is not overly big to begin with, and it's been tough to contend with tall, physical inside guys when you only have so many fouls to give. Injuries to one guy can obviously make a big difference. ESU, despite playing a lot of guys, wasn't the same team when McAliley wasn't on the floor last season, and even when healthy he was an aggressive player who often got into foul difficulty. These things might all correct themselves, but as you've said a loss is a loss, whether early or late.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, most of our teams deal with injuries at one time or another. You have documented some of the ones at Slippery Rock so far. At Ship, it isn't so much they've had a lot of people injured as that it's all been at the forward position. The is not overly big to begin with, and it's been tough to contend with tall, physical inside guys when you only have so many fouls to give. Injuries to one guy can obviously make a big difference. ESU, despite playing a lot of guys, wasn't the same team when McAliley wasn't on the floor last season, and even when healthy he was an aggressive player who often got into foul difficulty. These things might all correct themselves, but as you've said a loss is a loss, whether early or late.

Believe me I understand.

If IUP fans learned one thing in the disaster of the last two years ... it's that nobody gives a rats a$$ about injuries. Your team is the one on the floor - for better or worse. These losses now while banged up will haunt teams later.

But, there also is a reality to it. A sitting PSAC HC told me once in a candid conversation:

"Next man up at this level means you're F-ed"

He told me it sounds good in the paper and all but there's a harsh reality to it. You aren't going to be anywhere near as good in the vast majority of occurrences.

[Ship69]

Believe me I understand.

If IUP fans learned one thing in the disaster of the last two years ... it's that nobody gives a rats a$$ about injuries. Your team is the one on the floor - for better or worse. These losses now while banged up will haunt teams later.

But, there also is a reality to it. A sitting PSAC HC told me once in a candid conversation:

"Next man up at this level means you're F-ed"

He told me it sounds good in the paper and all but there's a harsh reality to it. You aren't going to be anywhere near as good in the vast majority of occurrences.

True enough. It's certainly trouble when you're going down to the next man up too often, but it's an even bigger problem when there is no "next man" to fill the position. Sometimes when you're at a height disadvantage it's as simple as having a guy with a wide caboose you can send it to hack the other team's 6-9 center and keep your starter out of foul trouble. Certainly one guy can make a difference. While Ship wasn't going anywhere last year, I'd say the absence of Michael Dickson for almost the entire season probably cost them 2 or 3 wins. I'm not saying injuries don't affect teams, but there are probably very few teams in the league who've put out their best potential lineup for every game in recent years. I wouldn't personally wish an injury on anyone, and it's not as satisfying when your team wins if the other team has a short roster. It will be interesting to see who can stay healthy this year and how that wil affect the divisional races.

[bballfan03]

Anyone know anything about Montano at Fburg State? He was injured and on bench for a few games, but last 3 hes not been on bench. First 2 were away so I thought maybe he just wasnt traveling.. but last night's was home and still not there.

It makes me wonder becausebecause his downfall at Gannon was that he didnt think he should have to come sit at practice when he was hurt and couldn't do anything - so Bazzoli went after him. Then they had a huge blowup when Montano was cleared to practice and he was permanently demoted from starter to blowout sub. So curious if similiar thing happened again.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Anyone know anything about Montano at Fburg State? He was injured and on bench for a few games, but last 3 hes not been on bench. First 2 were away so I thought maybe he just wasnt traveling.. but last night's was home and still not there.

It makes me wonder becausebecause his downfall at Gannon was that he didnt think he should have to come sit at practice when he was hurt and couldn't do anything - so Bazzoli went after him. Then they had a huge blowup when Montano was cleared to practice and he was permanently demoted from starter to blowout sub. So curious if similiar thing happened again.

He's still on the roster so who knows.

Most schools remove immediately if something happens.

[bballfan03]

He's still on the roster so who knows.

Most schools remove immediately if something happens.

He could be sick, too.

[Scrub]

Anyone know anything about Montano at Fburg State? He was injured and on bench for a few games, but last 3 hes not been on bench. First 2 were away so I thought maybe he just wasnt traveling.. but last night's was home and still not there.

It makes me wonder becausebecause his downfall at Gannon was that he didnt think he should have to come sit at practice when he was hurt and couldn't do anything - so Bazzoli went after him. Then they had a huge blowup when Montano was cleared to practice and he was permanently demoted from starter to blowout sub. So curious if similiar thing happened again.

I was just looking at Frostburg's site in advance of tonight's matchup with WLU and was wondering some of the same. Frostburg was sorta clicking early on in the season with both Montano and Trey Simmons among league leaders in scoring. But in the last handful of games, they appear to be down two starters--Montano and Traveling Whippen #2 (who, for all we know, is deep into another game of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?").

With a full complement of players, Frostburg has a decent season outlook. But I'm not sure they have the depth to absorb big personnel losses.

It'll be interesting to see what happens tonight (and, more to the point, who shows up tonight) when the two top-scoring offenses in the high-scoring MEC Conference confront each other.

(Classic trap game for WLU, too, with a trip to Joe Retton looming on Saturday.)

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I was just looking at Frostburg's site in advance of tonight's matchup with WLU and was wondering some of the same. Frostburg was sorta clicking early on in the season with both Montano and Trey Simmons among league leaders in scoring. But in the last handful of games, they appear to be down two starters--Montano and Traveling Whippen #2 (who, for all we know, is deep into another game of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?").

With a full complement of players, Frostburg has a decent season outlook. But I'm not sure they have the depth to absorb big personnel losses.

It'll be interesting to see what happens tonight (and, more to the point, who shows up tonight) when the two top-scoring offenses in the high-scoring MEC Conference confront each other.

(Classic trap game for WLU, too, with a trip to Joe Retton looming on Saturday.)

They won't be anywhere near the same without Montano. He can be pretty special.

[bballfan03]

Im going to assume it was illness.. Montano is back on bench