NCAA Selection Show: WSU Bust or Boom?

[SB Shock]

As far Michigan State, though, that's just a bad pick. I didn't watch the ESPN show, so I don't know if anyone told us whether WSU was the first team out

The committee chairman listed the first 5 teams left out - WSU was not one of them.

[WSUwatcher]

The committee chairman listed the first 5 teams left out - WSU was not one of them.

Thanks, SB. As I said, I didn't see the show, and WSU's absence from that list reassures me that more than just geographic / conference prejudice worked against the Shocks. Frankly, I'm glad to have been wrong about that, although I still suspect I'm right about the anti-MVC reflex (a four-bid league? No way!) -- wonder if it will make Kemnitz feel any better after he's had a chance to think about it.

In any case, the bottom line remains that the Shocks could have put themselves into the final at-large discussion by stepping up any number of times, including at the end, and they didn't. And it would have been interesting to see what would have happened had they won one more against Indiana State, with its resulting effects on the conference tournament. But that's the way it goes: you lose enough at key times, and bad things happen.

Maybe next year -- gee, that's what they're saying in Austin, too. Glad to see the Texas Red Herrings (at least in our discussions here) out as well. It's kind of amusing that when UT got in this year, it was Arlington and not Austin.

[1972Shocker]

I have mixed emotions about be left out. I really did not expect the MVC to get 4 teams in and I didn't expect the Shocks to be picked over MSU and INS. So I am not that surprised they were left out.

I'm not really that upset that they were left out either. After the lackluster effort in Springfield not sure I wasn't somewhat on relieved the season was over. OTOH, it might have been nice to see if the Shocks could bounce back from their no-show in the MVC Tournament in a regional. I'm not real confident they would have, but it was not totally out of the realm of possibility either had they been selected.

Paul Suellentrop tweeted the following this weekend:

What's next for WSU? Shockers need a dominant Friday pitcher, improved offense. Coaches expect Johnny Coy and Cale Elam to return.

Not sure if that is solid or just wishful thinking on the part of the Coaching staff, but having both of those guys back next year would certainly be a big boost to our prospects for next year.

[JJClamdip]

I have mixed emotions about be left out. I really did not expect the MVC to get 4 teams in and I didn't expect the Shocks to be picked over MSU and INS. So I am not that surprised they were left out.

I'm not really that upset that they were left out either. After the lackluster effort in Springfield not sure I wasn't somewhat on relieved the season was over. OTOH, it might have been nice to see if the Shocks could bounce back from their no-show in the MVC Tournament in a regional. I'm not real confident they would have, but it was not totally out of the realm of possibility either had they been selected.

Paul Suellentrop tweeted the following this weekend:



Not sure if that is solid or just wishful thinking on the part of the Coaching staff, but having both of those guys back next year would certainly be a big boost to our prospects for next year.

Sullenthrop must be drinking the same Kool Aide that Kemnitz is snorting.

[1972Shocker]

Sullenthrop must be drinking the same Kool Aide that Kemnitz is snorting.

Paul said we need a dominant Friday pitcher and an improved offense. Can't really argue with that too much.

As far as Coy and Elam returning he was just reporting what the Coaches expect, not necessarily what he thinks will be the case.

He may well be drinking the same Kool-Aid, but not sure you can conclude that from that two-line tweet.

We'll just have to wait and see what happens with these guys and our incoming class of recruits. Not sure if there are any hot draft prospects there or not.

[SubGod22]

I've read some talk where college JRs may get pushed back in the draft due to the new CBA draft system that only allows teams to spend a certain amount of money. Could that push Coy/Elam back enough and limit their bonus that they'd return?

[WuDrWu]

Something is rotten if Michigan State gets in AND Wichita State isn't in the discussion of the last 5. Personally, perhaps only so that I will sleep well, I don't think the NCAA talking heads have a "list" of first five out to discuss at the end of the process.

Their choices, imho, can ONLY lead an intelligent person to say that, at least in baseball, they DO in fact look at conferences getting bids. There is just no logical basis for Michigan State to get in over WSU except either "Do the Big 10 a favor" or "We can't give a 4th bid to the Valley".

By the way, it hasn't been mentioned much on here, but other than conference finish (which for a seeing eye single in any of about 6 innings on the road at Indiana State the standings would have been reversed, so there is no big difference) there is little if any reason to put ISU ahead of WSU. I get the conference finish, and I am not saying diminish that, but it was razor thin and their non conference was AWFUL and horribly different than WSU's.

[1972Shocker]

Not sure why that would push them back, although sounds like it could very well impact signing bonuses available. That's going to be the case next year also when Johnny will have even less leverage as a Senior. Cale OTOH is just a sophomore so he would not really lose any leverage by waiting another year.

I suppose if one or both of them declared that it would take a certain amount to sign them and that amount is well above where a team would otherwise draft them then they might fall from there if teams think they might be unsignable.

Here is the link to the slot money for 2012:

http://ht.ly/aYdTS.

This may not eliminate the draft and follow strategy used in the past but it might certainly slow it down a great deal. Depends on how much of their available teams use on signing their top 10 round picks.

Also, the draft is being reduced from 50 rounds to 40 rounds which probably isn't a big deal. Most of those picks in the last 10 rounds are more or less courtesy picks.

[SubGod22]

I don't know why it would either, but it's been mentioned in a couple different articles that college JRs could get pushed back in favor of more HS kids. Perhaps because of the leverage factor of college guys and that it's more difficult for a HS kid to pass up the money and avoid going to school? Either way, signing bonuses aren't going to be what they once were.

[Ta town]

I just assumed Coy would be gone regardless, figured he graduated this year being a redshirt junior. Maybe he didn't or maybe he wants to go ahead and play all four years I don't know. What I do know is Suellentrop tweeted that the coaches expect Coy and Elam back. I on the other hand expect them to leave and I couldn't blame them one bit.

http://twitter.com/#!/PaulSuellentrop/status/207157600356274177

If Coy returns and the pitcher from Eastern Oklahoma is a weekend quality starter there is hope for next year. Still does anybody want WSU going to a regional once every 4 years?

[1972Shocker]

I don't know why it would either, but it's been mentioned in a couple different articles that college JRs could get pushed back in favor of more HS kids. Perhaps because of the leverage factor of college guys and that it's more difficult for a HS kid to pass up the money and avoid going to school? Either way, signing bonuses aren't going to be what they once were.

This guy opines that this year's high school class has more risk to it then teams would normally be comfortable with. Also an interesting comment about a change in the way players are evaluated with more emphasis on speed and defense than in recent years.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1199117-2012-mlb-draft-power-ranking-top-10-high-school-players-in-this-years-class

[_kai_]

*sigh*

[WuDrWu]

Gotta be honest with you @_kai_: ......that hurts and is borderline inappropriate on this board.

[1972Shocker]

If it doesn't hurt you don't care. Hopefully, the players will get to see that and I hope hurts enough to provide some motivation for next year.

[_kai_]

Gotta be honest with you @_kai_ ......that hurts and is borderline inappropriate on this board.

I contemplated on which thread to throw it in.

This one or the Fire Gene thread.