Well, now we know...

[KC Shox]

I'm gonna laugh win Toure drains the game winner in the conference tournament -- putting us in the NCAAs.

Can you defend TM's play?

I can't. I can't even say he's improved since his freshman season. He's physically grown but skill wise, I just don't see major improvement in his game except free throw shooting perhaps. Still, we need him out there.

[ABC]

Much, much better rebounder.

[1972Shocker]

I'm gonna laugh win Toure drains the game winner in the conference tournament -- putting us in the NCAAs.

If that happens I'll probably be crying (tears of joy of course).

Or tears of insanity.

In my case, that goes without saying.

[1972Shocker]

I'm hoping Joe and Demetric are ready to shoulder the load at the point next year so Toure' can be moved to a more natural position for him, which I believe is actually the 3 (especially in the MVC).

He is a very good rebounder and a pretty good defender and would perhaps be even more effective defensively guarding other MVC 3-spot players. He and Ben would make an effective duo at that position I believe.

Toure could also swing to the 2 if needed. Hopefully, DK rekindles his game and claims that spot for himself. And we can mix Demetric in their as needed also.

Not sure Toure' will ever be a real good shooter but I think he can be an effective scorer if he is selective and makes good decisions. That, of course, seems to be his weakness at times.

[forevershockerfan]

The shots need to fall, just like the 2-25-30 footers by Mike Smith at the Battle Of New Orleans versus KU. The shots went up---I yell---no, no, no--yes yes yes as they both swished and the rest is History.

[shocks771]

Why doesn't Toure seem to want to take the last shot? I remember a 3 pointer to beat Missouri State and the three in STL against Creighton. I agree he shouldn't bring it up, but if he does, why doesn't he just take the shot? I guess this is only something he could answer, but has he lost that much confidence from his Freshman Year?

Why? Because he is one of our worst three point shooters. He's around 30%. Hell JT and Stutz have better numbers than him.

Maybe he got a big head after his freshman year and has never been the same. Maybe when he was trying to put more arc on his shot after his freshman year things changed. I dunno what it is but he's definitely not the same player. It's too bad Marshall hasn't realized this as well.

What baffles me is that 3 end game situations he has succumbed to the pressure and yet Marshall continues to have him out there. And then you have somebody else like DWill who makes a mistake and then he's benched the rest of the game or entire games. Absolutely mind-blowing.

The difference between the Toure that we saw during his freshman year and the Toure we are seeing this year is simple. Toure was just simply catching and shooting those last second shots his freshman year after dribble penetration by Clevin Hannah. Toure has proven over and over again that he cannot create his own shot and it is getting ridiculous that for some reason we still are seeing him with the ball in his hands with the clock winding down. That's flat out on the coaches in my mind.

[Kung Wu]

I'm gonna laugh win Toure drains the game winner in the conference tournament -- putting us in the NCAAs.

Can you defend TM's play?

No, he needs to SLOW DOWN. When the game gets tense he starts playing like a guy straight out of Juco and thrown into a high caliber D1 game for the very first time. He's going 100mph trying to force an athletic game instead of taking his time and being patient. Consequently he is playing so fast that he makes stupid errors and drives us all insane. He rushes his passes, he rushes his court vision, and he rushes his shot.

If he would just relax and slow down a bit under pressure he could be pretty dominant though, I think.

[Ricardo del Rio]

The shots need to fall, just like the 2-25-30 footers by Mike Smith at the Battle Of New Orleans versus KU. The shots went up---I yell---no, no, no--yes yes yes as they both swished and the rest is History.

Jones.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I like Murry at the 3.

[Kung Wu]

I like Murry at the 3.

Does Ben Smith have the goods to play the 4 in the MVC?

[tropicalshox]

I like Murry at the 3.

Does Ben Smith have the goods to play the 4 in the MVC?

I want a 6-4 PF like I want a hole in my head.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I like Murry at the 3.

Does Ben Smith have the goods to play the 4 in the MVC?

Oh yeah, good point.

I love Ben Smith, but I don't think he can play the 4.

Scratch my original post about Murry.

Well, maybe not. I like Murry at the 3 more than at the point.

[ShockTalk]

My guess is you'll see a 5 man rotation at the 1-3 positions in quality games. Murry will be the rover. At PG, Ragland 25 mpg, Murry about 5-10 mpg, and DWill 5-10 (less in the beginning, more later on), Kyles 25+ mpg at SG, DWill 10, and balance Murry, and at the SF Smith 25+ and Murry 10-15. Cotton may red-shirt, Wessel will play as needed or in lesser games.

This will give Murry 25+ mpg, Smith 25+, Kyles 25+, Ragland 25, and DWill 15-20.

[Kung Wu]

I like Murry at the 3.

Does Ben Smith have the goods to play the 4 in the MVC?

I want a 6-4 PF like I want a hole in my head.

Right that's the problem. We'd be pretty small, however it did work somewhat for SIU in years past. I hope Hall is healthy and good to go.

[pinstripers]

Murry might be a better choice at a small 4 than Smith.