OT: DII National Championship game

by **squirrel** » March 24th, 2023, 8:30 am

This is a special matchup even if the game is a bust. If I was anywhere near Evansville, I'd be there.

Jim Crutchfield built West Liberty (WV) into thrilling, fast-paced, high-scoring national powerhouse, but could never get over the hump. He eventually left for the warm climate of Nova Southeastern. A former WL player and assistant coach took the reins at the WV school and continues to employ the same system.

They meet this weekend for the D2 National Championship. Nova Southeastern enters unbeaten in what is very much a legacy game for Crutchfield.

He has received national attention for his approach, but still remains a somewhat obscure figure that has had a pretty significant influence on CBB in the last 10 years, as more coaches have begun to take pieces of what he does to benefit their own teams and programs.

He was one of the five finalists for the Bradley job when Wardle was hired. Indiana State's Schertz uses a lot of the same stuff.

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