JotCast | Mike White's high school sports chat: 2.12.19

Mike White's high school sports chat: 2.12.19

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Mike White

11:01

Good morning. Busy day. Bob Palko new Mt. Lebanon coach. Will meet team later today. WPIAL playoff pairings meeting tonight. You wanna talk? Let's go.

John Steigerwald

11:01

One of the worst part about WPIAL Bracket Night is the coaches claiming they were ripped off. Too often, those teams bow out of the tournament early. Any teams you see with a nice record that will be on "upset alert" early in the tournament?

Mike White

11:02

Coaches always complain. It's in their DNA. I would love to get one coach one year who says, "I have no idea why we were seeded that high. We're not even close to being that good."

Cheetah Champ

11:02

Mikey, Latrobe should be seeded 1or 2. They haven’t lost to a W

Mike White

11:05

Were you about to say haven't lost to a WPIAL team? Yes, it's true, but so what. That doesn't mean anything. Other teams in 6A have more impressive resume. Just because you didn't lose to a WPIAL team isn't the reason you are given a higher seed than someone else. You have to look at everything. I'm not saying Latrobe isn't good. They are good. But looking at everything, I'd put Mt. Lebanon and Pine ahead of them. Give them No. 3 seed, which is really no different than 2.

Mike Maple- 'The Milk Man'

11:05

Mikey,

I know that it's been stated that Monday night games mean nothing, but Fox just picked up a 7th loss… Of the 7, two of them are really bad in North Hills and PCC… Do you believe that the committee really doesn't look at Monday's games? I see you backed off your pick of Fox at 4- smart move… But it seems that everyone had Fox with a shot at the 4 slot yesterday…. I thought it was a stretch and an insult to teams like USC and Butler to consider Fox Chapel before last night's game and now with them losing, it would be a crime!

Also, how much politics go into the decision of these seeds? Do you feel that the WPIAL does its due diligence in getting out to see all these schools play live before they meet, or is much of this the 'eye' test?

Mike White

11:08

First off, the WPIAL has said they don't consider Monday games. OK, fair enough. Teams might know play same lineup, etc. Yes, I originally had Foxes as No. 4 seed. Hard to ignore their victory over USC. But the more I thought about it yesterday, USC's full body of work is more impressive than Fox Chapel. Still hard to ignore that loss. But Fox Chapel lost to North Hills. And Latrobe beat them twice. USC had more quality wins. And FC loses to Central last night. I know WPIAL doesn't look at Monday games, but in special cases, maybe they should. That clinched it for me. USC should be fourth, Butler fifth and Fox Chapel sixth. I rethought things.

11:10

As for politics, I don't know about that. Lot of different people on that basketball committee from different levels. Mike O'Brien Fox Chapel AD on committee. Well yes, you think a person on that committee isn't going to get best possible thing for their team? Heck yeah. Most definitely some head scratching things in past, but criticism of brackets goes overboard sometimes. Coaches can't have objective view.

John Steigerwald

11:10

I notice that there are several teams with losing records in the WPIAL tournament. I think Blackhawk (one of the teams with a losing record) could be a tough out. Anyone else dangerous as their record may be deceiving?

Mike White

11:12

Without a doubt Blackhawk. You look at them. They lost a number of close games to good teams this year. Another team with a losing record that could make some noise is Shenango. Been impressive down the stretch. And don't overlook Beaver Falls.

Guest

11:12

Why do you think that Ralph Blundo has been so successful at New Castle?

Mike White

11:14

Number of reasons. First, he knows his stuff. Good coach. Secondly, he is perfect for that community. He understands the community, the kids, the area. And he has unusual ability to get most out of those kids, no matter their size. He's hard on them, but loves them, too. And let's not kid ourselves. It helps to have some players also. I think he's one of the best around.

North side Jim

11:14

Did Winchester Thurston do enough to move up to 3rd seed and avoid OLSH?

Mike White

11:15

Not in my eyes. I still have Sewickley No. 3.

Fred Claus

11:15

Since we are coming down to the end of the season and WPIAL Championships are on deck it would be interesting to see how on both the boys & girls side - how the individual scoring leaders success translates to team success. For instance in the top ten - how many will win a WPIAL Championship? Maybe a story for after??

Mike White

11:15

Thanks Mr. Editor. We will have to consider. ... But scoring lot of points doesn't equal success.

Greene County Fan

11:16

It should be a no doubter that West Greene girls grab the #1 seed in Class A, is it there time to win it and who provides the biggest threat against them?

Mike White

11:17

Yes, it's West Greene time. It says so on my watch. I think they win a title. Greensburg C.C. and Rochester get No. 2 and 3 seeds.

Joe

11:17

Think we are getting to the point where there will be buyouts in HS coaches' contracts?

Mike White

11:18

Hopefully not. Besides, lot of high school coaches get one year contracts.

Cheetah Champ

11:18

Mikey, Latrobe should be seeded 1 or 2, they haven’t lost to a WPIAL team all year. MT Lebo a 3 seed followed by USC at 4 and the 5th seed should be Butler. The Foxes belong at 6 with 7 losses. If the Foxes get the 4 seed it’s because their AD is on the committee. politics at its best. My pick to win it all is the Wildcats from Latrobe coached by Brad Wetzel. This will be the first team to win the Wpial out of our section since The 1988 Norwin team.

Mike White

11:21

We've already been through the stuff about Latrobe getting higher seed because they haven't lost to a WPIAL team. Give me a break. Well then seed them No. 1 then. Do you really think they should be No. 1? C'mon. Pine-Richland has a loss to a WPIAL team. Just put Latrobe No. 1. Being unbeaten against WPIAL teams doesn't prove anything. Again, yes Latrobe is good. Yes, they could win it all. Brad Wetzel has done a terrific job there. But they don't deserve a higher seed just because they haven't lost to a WPIAL team. Look at their entire schedule and those of other teams. I like Latrobe's team, but they aren't my pick to win it all. And yes Norwin is last team to win from that section. The Rasp brothers. Coach Rich Polczynski.

Beaver county native haha

11:21

Do you see the possibility of the semis in class 4a being all from section 2? Also who do you think has the chance to win it?

Mike White

11:23

I don't project Blackhawk getting to semis. Uniontown is very intriguing team. How good are they? I don't know. Haven't seen them. I think either Quaker Valley, Ambridge or New Castle will win it. But I will say this: Quaker Valley or New Castle is not as good as past two years. 4A is not very good, either, as far as depth of quality teams.

Ernie

11:23

Mike, are you aware if the WPIAL keeps individual records for Boys/Girls basketball on things like, career points, season points, 3 point shots, etc. If they do, is it on their website.

Mike White

11:23

They do not. WPIAL keeps no records. I keep a lot of them.

Skippy

11:23

I see Bishop Canevin Girls had their assistant coach suspended for recruiting. Does their probation effect their WPIAl or PIAA Championship playoffs? If not what does probation mean?

Mike White

11:24

Nope. Does not affect them. And probation is nothing more than a slap on wrist. Just means you better be a good boy or good girl for the next year.

WPIAL MAN

11:24

Between Boys and Girls who has best chance of coming winning WPIAL and coming home from Hershey with some Gold?

WPIAL BBALL

11:24

Early predictions for 6A Boys b-ball championship game? Any upsets?

Mike White

11:25

Kind of hard to predict upsets without knowing who is playing who. I'll take Pine-Richland to win 6A.

5A Fanatic

11:25

Mars, Moon, PH, WH & CV all have go to scorers.
Who are some of the 2ndary scorers on these teams that could help win the 5A title?

Mike White

11:27

CV and Penn Hills top scorers are around 19 to 20. Not high 20s. Mars does not have a big scorer. No one at 20. Recchia is at 17. That's not a big scorer. I think a big scorer is 25 or more. Moon has Ryan twins. Penn Hills has the big beard - sophomore Wes Kropp.

Mike Hauncho

11:27

Can Peters Township or Canon-Mac make a run this year?

Mike White

11:28

They are dangerous. They aren't championship caliber but I wouldn't be surprised if they won a game. Two at the most. I think Canon-Mac gets anywhere from 7 to 9 seed. Seeds 7, 8, 9 can be dangerous. Just like NCAA tourney.

WPIAL Man

11:29

Girls basketball question. Do you believe that NA's strength of schedule will overcome their 1 loss by 1 point , compared to Peter's unblemished record for top seeding?

Mike White

11:29

Peters will get No. 1 seed.

Mike Maple- 'The Milk Man'

11:29

Any 6A match-ups that you're anticipating?

Mike White

11:29

Whoever Butler plays, whoever Peters Township plays and whoever Canon-McMillan plays.

SingleA

11:30

Is section 1 going to have 4 of the first 5 seeds in class A? How about section 1 in 2A? Will their 4 playoff qualifiers be in the top 7?