2017 Predictions

[1972Shocker]

I know I'm one of the few who believe this team can finish strong.

The Valley doesn't look to be overly strong this year so yes, in terms of wins and losses, they could finish "strong". Whether that will be that meaningful remains to be seen. Most likely the Shocks will need to win the Valley Tournament to play in the NCAA.

[ShockerFever]

The Valley doesn't look to be overly strong this year so yes, in terms of wins and losses, they could finish "strong". Whether that will be that meaningful remains to be seen. Most likely the Shocks will need to win the Valley Tournament to play in the NCAA.

Most likely??

Well, I guess mathematically they're still alive for an at-large bid but let's be real.

[shockfan89_]

IIRC I think you have until the day before your season starts to finalize your 35-man roster. That would be on February 16th. But as you point out we may never actually see a final roster published anywhere.

I guess we can take the roster on goShockers.com and check off the players that are suited up and figure it out at some point.

Sorry it has taken me so long to revisit this, and I doubt anyone cares at this point, but the following players were the ones cut to get down to 35.

Maison Stites 3B  6-2 190 R/R Fr. Lee's Summit. Mo./Lee's Summit North HS
Preston Minor RHP 6-2 185 R/R Fr. Frisco, Texas / Frisco Wakeland HS
Trent Allen   LHP 6-5 200 L/L Fr. Southlake, Texas / Carroll Senior HS

[Cdizzle]

Can't believe we cut a 6'5" lefty. Now I know why we suck!

[1972Shocker]

What's the thinking on the over/under for the number of Shocker wins this regular season at this point. I'm going to say 29.5 the way things are going and with what they have left on the schedule but they have got to avoid the self-inflicted implosions like they had against KU last night.

[ShockerFever]

I'll put a big fat Benjamin on the under.

[ShockerFever]

Also, what happened to onegreatracer?
I hope he leaves the prediction-making to professionals. WSU is gonna finish closer to 12-44 than 44-12.

[ShockTalk]

Also, what happened to onegreatracer?
I hope he leaves the prediction-making to professionals. WSU is gonna finish closer to 12-44 than 44-12.

Unfortunately, just barely making that true will probably not be enough get done what needs to happen.

[shockfan89_]

What's the thinking on the over/under for the number of Shocker wins this regular season at this point. I'm going to say 29.5 the way things are going and with what they have left on the schedule but they have got to avoid the self-inflicted implosions like they had against KU last night.

Funny, I did my review and also came up with 29.5 for where I would set the over/under. I'm thinking 29-26 unless we makeup the OSU game, then 29-27. With a win in the MVC tourney we COULD finish above .500 at 30-29 or 30-28. I'm assuming Fever's bet did not include the MVC tournament?

[1972Shocker]

Funny, I did my review and also came up with 29.5 for where I would set the over/under. I'm thinking 29-26 unless we makeup the OSU game, then 29-27. With a win in the MVC tourney we COULD finish above .500 at 30-29 or 30-28.

That's not funny. It's brilliant. Have a Guinness!

[SB Shock]

I see them going 12-11 for 28-27 record, then going 1-2 in the MVC tournament for 29-29 record.

[shockfan89_]

After our 1-3 week our RPI dropped 23 points to 159 and our NPI is 183. The MVC also had a rough week and is now tied for 13th/14th in RPI with an NPI of 17th and an overall record of 99-117. WSU is right in the middle of the pack tied with DBU at 3-3 for 4th/5th place.

The one tiny bit of good that came from the weekend is we picked up 1 win against an RPI top 100 team (and we should save a little money on the travel/meal budget for the remaining road trips). We are now 2-14 against the top 100. The sad part is I predicted we would sweep, and Bradley has very little chance of staying in the top 100 as 11 of their last 18 games are against teams under .500.

We have 20 games remaining (possibly 21) and we are 17-18. We have to finish 11-9 to finish over .500.

One other sobering fact, 35 games into the season we have 1 win against a team over .500.

[Cdizzle]

One other sobering fact, 35 games into the season we have 1 win against a team over .500.

This sort of thing is much more usual in basketball than baseball. Baseball lends itself to outlier wins and losses, due mostly to starting pitching having such a large impact from game to game. I suppose more than anything (if anything) this demonstrates that WSU doesn't have a dominant starter capable of just winning a game against a good team by himself.

[Onegreatracer]

I was pretty wrong

[shockmonster]

I listened to Bruce's morning talk show the other day, and a caller was on the air talking about what ADDB meant when he said our coaches needed to step up in the American Conference next year. The caller interpreted that comment to perhaps be for basketball and HCGM.

In fact, if you listened closely to the American Introduction news conference, the question from the reporter was prefaced on the other sports (seemed to have baseball and maybe golf connotations). He said that we had sports and coaches who needed to step up because the American Conference was stronger than the Valley in some sports. He also said that the move was made in large part because the basketball program had stepped up it's game so much, they deserved the move and as we all know, the other sports are along for the ride.

So WATCH CLOSELY (baseball program) this year (he may be giving them another year in the American), because they certainly aren't on the level of the American Conference at this time nor have they been the past several years. Coaching changes are necessary and it appears that ADDB may get it.