Atlantic Region Men's Basketball '25-'26

[Topper_Hopper]

My general take has always been that teams in that league are way too one dimensional. They are all assembled to play one particular style. In the macro it works; those teams all put up great numbers in their league and stack tons of wins in the regular season. Their league hosts the regional a lot because of it.

I don’t want to say that those teams don’t have success in March (WL and Fairmont have both faired very well out of the Atlantic - WL in particular). But it’s fairly clear to me at this point that the league as a whole struggles against other good programs in one game formats which have different visions of how to play basketball.

I don't disagree that the PSAC is better than the MEC this year, but I don't think dimensionality is the cause. Gannon has been dog-walking the PSAC for the past three seasons playing a one-dimensional style.

[boatcapt]

I recall last offseason suggesting that a stylistic change would be good for West Liberty, but was mostly balked at. I said that deviating from what they’ve done well would perhaps give them a better opportunity to win the national championship. I said assembling a team that’s more “hybrid” might drop a few games playing the typical frenetic pace in the MEC, but would likely be more capable against more of the types of teams they would see in the tournament.

I recognize they shot poorly today, but West Liberty tends to have trouble when two things pop up (specifically in March)…

1. They play a team that’s strong in the front court and can control the boards.

2. They play a team that’s able to take them out of their tempo (because they’re consistently uncomfortable when they have no ability to make a team play a million miles an hour).

Again, they shot really poorly today from outside and that aided VUU’s ability to settle in. But they seem very unwilling to assemble a roster that’s capable of playing multiple styles in a winning fashion.

For the WLU Style to succeed, you need to shoot the 3 very well. Don't do that, and you become very average quickly. Period! WLU 3 point shooting is in the morning dat of a disturbing downward trend. Not good.

I too have argued for a supplemental "style" that is more big focused. Not something you employ every game or even for long stretches in games that you do use it. Use it enough to be proficient in it so that on nights where the 3's just aren't falling, or when you are playing a team that is eating your lunch inside, you've got an answer. Like you, when I suggest such a thing I am roundly criticized and reminded of that time we played a team with two bigs and we won which I guess is supposed to prove that we aren't sustainable to teams with talented bigs.

For the record, here's what I hope for WLU leading into 2026-27:

1. Recruits that are part gym rats/coaches sons/110% performers/3 point shooters.
2. At least two more truly legit 3 point spot up shooters.
3. Drum roll...a secondary offense that is built around bigs playing like bigs.

[IUP24]

I don't disagree that the PSAC is better than the MEC this year, but I don't think dimensionality is the cause. Gannon has been dog-walking the PSAC for the past three seasons playing a one-dimensional style.

The Gannon teams I’ve seen the last few years have more size and length than I think typical MEC teams have. At least that’s my perspective. I think when they have to play a more physical team, or when they have to slow down some, they manage to adapt to that and have been successful.

[EyeoftheHawk]

Three of the final four teams being from the PSAC West shows us all that maybe we were a little down on the PSAC this year for no good reason. IUP had a good year, but none of us would say this is one of Joe’s historically great teams yet they straight up beat the MEC #2. Looking at it now, five of IUP’s seven losses are to Cal and Gannon and one of those two will be likely cutting down the nets in a couple days.

It’s worth pointing out that Virginia Union came into that game having lost two of their last three games including in the first round of their tournament to a team that had previously beaten by 52 points!! One could make a pretty strong argument that with the time to prepare, West Liberty was badly outcoached yesterday.

[TopperNation]

WL has got to get better 3 point shooters, and I mean maybe around 43 to 45 percent. I mean VUU didn't set the world on fire either with their offense, but this grind and pound style has become WL's kryptonite. On that note, I'm interested in seeing what the roster looks like next year, because with only 1 senior on the roster there has to be some change in the way it's constructed. Hopefully next years juniors and seniors have more of an impact then they did this year, as having 7 or 8 guys averaging 8 points a game sounds cool, but we need a dominate scorer in the mid to upper teens to lead this team.

[bballfan03]

My general take has always been that teams in that league are way too one dimensional. They are all assembled to play one particular style. In the macro it works; those teams all put up great numbers in their league and stack tons of wins in the regular season. Their league hosts the regional a lot because of it.

I don’t want to say that those teams don’t have success in March (WL and Fairmont have both faired very well out of the Atlantic - WL in particular). But it’s fairly clear to me at this point that the league as a whole struggles against other good programs in one game formats which have different visions of how to play basketball.

I concur with that analysis

[gman16506]

Cal vs Gannon

Round 4


That is going to be a wild one.

Wondering what type of adjustments that Bazzoli will make on their pressure defense as Cal really destroyed it in the last meeting. Is Bazzoli the kind of coach that can find the answers and make The System work against a team like Cal? Another factor for the game..........Idiaru needs to stay out of foul trouble! Something that one cannot count on!

[Scrub]

My general take has always been that teams in that league are way too one dimensional. They are all assembled to play one particular style. In the macro it works; those teams all put up great numbers in their league and stack tons of wins in the regular season. Their league hosts the regional a lot because of it.

I don’t want to say that those teams don’t have success in March (WL and Fairmont have both faired very well out of the Atlantic - WL in particular). But it’s fairly clear to me at this point that the league as a whole struggles against other good programs in one game formats which have different visions of how to play basketball.

You're probably 100% right. And you might have been right about the style change suggestion as well.

That said--and I might be in a total minority here--I'd trade the shot at the National Championship for consistent yearly winning in the league. In other words, for a school like WLU, I suspect the macro is more important.

If you change styles, chase athletes, create hybrid rosters that can compete in the regular season AND postseason, you inevitably end up with up years and down years. Stretches of success and deserts of middling performance. The one thing that "The System" does is create consistent sustained success (the macro as you referred to it), and that's evidenced by the record 18 straight NCAA appearances (or whatever the number is at this point).

My take is this: a program like WLU at a school like WLU--that is literally in the middle of nowhere--can't afford any down years. The rabid fan base of 1,000 that packs the ASRC and creates a meaningful home court advantage is likely unsustainable through a "rough patch" of middling performance. Down years would likely mean the ASRC would look like Seton Hill most nights. We simply don't have the population (on campus or off) or location to be a consistent draw as "affordable family entertainment" if the program isn't winning. I could be wrong (and I hope I am), but I shudder to think what it might look like in the ASRC if the consistent winning ceases.

So for the sake of the school, campus, and general WLU community, I'll take the consistent, sustained "macro" every time. Maybe you get a shot at a National Championship once in a great while (had a shot on two occasions so far), but you get a thriving enjoyable community on the isolated Hilltop every year from November to March. I'll take that in the grand scheme of things.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I don't disagree that the PSAC is better than the MEC this year, but I don't think dimensionality is the cause. Gannon has been dog-walking the PSAC for the past three seasons playing a one-dimensional style.

Gannon is built, roster-wise, much differently than WL.

Gannon's offense is equally dangerous inside and outside - perhaps more inside. They are also built to bang, per se.

Their pressure system is built with very physical players. They don't rely on the outside shot. Toss in they have legit size.

They are a matchup nightmare for fast teams and slow teams. They can physically ragdoll most teams, too.

Cal is really the only team they can't physically dominate. Hence the results (Cal has won 2 of 3).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Special Sunday Gamblers' Delight for all you degenerates.

Not many took IUP +1.5 yesterday. The Crimson Hawks won outright. Nobody took Virginia Union.

So, the gambling crowd has some pressure today. Good luck.

Gambling problem call 1-800-GAMBLER



IUP vs Virginia Union

It's rumored IUP won the scrimmage back in November. That's fairly meaningless today, but both teams have a feel for what is coming. If you want flash, sizzle and 190 combined points ... this isn't the game for you. This will resemble a 1990s PSAC first-to-55 type game. VU is going to have a size advantage. IUP should have a shooting advantage. One key item in this game will be the FT line. There are going to be a lot of fouls today. Massey is predicting IUP to win, 69-64. Those scoring totals seem a bit high. It's well known IUP can't play against up-tempo, trapping teams. But, the Hawks can play against slower-paced, zone teams. That's actually Joe Lombardi's bread and butter. The question is can IUP score enough against the nation's No. 1 (D2) scoring defense? Virginia Union also went through two hours of chasing West Liberty around yesterday. IUP has deep ties in the Erie area and should have somewhat of a homecourt advantage. Will it be enough? IUP -1.5


Cal at Gannon

Round 4 games are typically a total crapshoot. There are no surprises at this point. These two teams know each other well -- and dislike each other. The Vulcans have been the Knights' (only) kryptonite this season. Gannon's physical bully ball doesn't work as well against Cal - a team just as big and just as physical. Rest-assured, Danny Sancomb was checking the officiating crew early this morning. If this game is called tight (like the PSAC Championship), it will give Cal a huge boost. If it's a free-for-all (and all the hooking and grabbing is allowed) it will heavily favor Gannon.
Massey is predicting Gannon to win, 87-77. That sounds about right. The Highmark Events Center is going to cause all sorts of problems for the visitor. It should be rocking come 7:30 p.m. The Vulcans won't make it easy, but GU is the clear favorite. Knights -7.5

[bballfan03]

Wondering what type of adjustments that Bazzoli will make on their pressure defense as Cal really destroyed it in the last meeting. Is Bazzoli the kind of coach that can find the answers and make The System work against a team like Cal? Another factor for the game..........Idiaru needs to stay out of foul trouble! Something that one cannot count on!

They all need to. Losing Precious, Sekasi or Callaway (or anyone else) to foul trouble is a huge drop off - but those 3 ste the ones who have had consistent issues with fouling.

[Topper_Hopper]

Gannon is built, roster-wise, much differently than WL.

Gannon's offense is equally dangerous inside and outside - perhaps more inside. They are also built to bang, per se.

Their pressure system is built with very physical players. They don't rely on the outside shot. Toss in they have legit size.

They are a matchup nightmare for fast teams and slow teams. They can physically ragdoll most teams, too.

Cal is really the only team they can't physically dominate. Hence the results (Cal has won 2 of 3).

I watched them (Gannon) the last two years when they played West Liberty. I have not watched them this year.

The styles looked similar to me. I didn't see a true multi-dimensional team when WLU was ahead by 20 points with around a minute to go in the regional final last year (and similarly, when they handily beat WLU in the 2nd round the prior year).

If WLU were to have played in the PSAC for the past three seasons (or if Gannon were to have played in the MEC for the past three seasons), I don't think we'd see much of a change in either team's end-of-season record.

Again, have not watched Gannon this year, so maybe they overhauled things into the unit that you described.

[Ship69]

His comment didn't age well.

I was going to ask when the last time WL score under 70 but under 50??? Yikes! That was a lot of physicality in that game today.

The PSAC East was rather hollow this year, and I think some of the perception might have come from that. Because of the slump in the East the PSAC didn't have its usual depth, but I think the West Division was well balanced and creditable this year, and the three teams at the top (Gannon, California, IUP) are good, with Gannon being a cut above overall. The MEC probably matched the PSAC in depth this year, but their flagship programs didn't appear to be as dominant as usual, and the first round of regionals appeared to show that. It's always dangerous to speculate after a few crossover games that one conference might be "better" than another.

[Ship69]

Wondering what type of adjustments that Bazzoli will make on their pressure defense as Cal really destroyed it in the last meeting. Is Bazzoli the kind of coach that can find the answers and make The System work against a team like Cal? Another factor for the game..........Idiaru needs to stay out of foul trouble! Something that one cannot count on!

Not sure I agree that Cal "destroyed" the Gannon defense in their last meeting. Cal has the size and physicality to trouble Gannon, but they had to work hard to get through the defense, And for all the success they had, remember that Gannon, even though not shooting especially well, was ahead going into the final seconds of that game and only lost because of a late foul on a three-point shooter.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The PSAC East was rather hollow this year, and I think some of the perception might have come from that. Because of the slump in the East the PSAC didn't have its usual depth, but I think the West Division was well balanced and creditable this year, and the three teams at the top (Gannon, California, IUP) are good, with Gannon being a cut above overall. The MEC probably matched the PSAC in depth this year, but their flagship programs didn't appear to be as dominant as usual, and the first round of regionals appeared to show that. It's always dangerous to speculate after a few crossover games that one conference might be "better" than another.

Of course we'll speculate. That's the purpose of this board -- to bicker, complain, argue and occasionally talk about actual basketball.

The reality is all three leagues are pretty good. The PSAC West was pretty strong this year. Those not watching it closely probably put too much stock in the records -- because the teams were just beating each other up all season. I had a pretty strong feeling the West was going to get 3 of the final 4 teams in the Regional. I really liked IUP's match-up against Fairmont State.

Funny everybody keeps calling Gannon a 'cut above' when they are 1-2 vs Cal this year.

But, I know what you're saying. Cal had several inexplicable losses.

The Vulcans seem to be a 'big stage' team this season. In other words, they tend to show up when the lights are bright. They sure took some other nights off.

I will be very surprised if Cal can go into that hornets' nest tonight and win.

As for IUP ... they have a shot. It won't be easy.