WSU-MSU Game Thread

[XManCometh]

I Thought:

Weems acted like a playground punk
Creekmore was a whiney punk
The officitating was mediocre
We made way too many bad decisions (again) especially in the first half
David should have been in more the first half
Joe played pretty solid
We can't afford for Ben not to be a factor offensively
Leonard's last three was a tough shot just like the one in Wichita
This game should not have been for the Valley championship

The last one's on us.

Actually, the last 6 are on us.

[notquiteBWing]

Also I'd like to say, I didn't have any (major) problems with their fans. I showed them respect and for the most part they were pretty respectful.

And 95% of the people in that arena didn't look like they had anything to do with meth.

Just because we lost to them, doesn't mean we have to call them all methheads.

They're just like any fanbase. Pretty normal. Mostly respectful, a few dbag students, some bad apples...

Whatever.

It's over. And while i didn't lose any respect for their fanbase, I lost all of it for their team.

Here's to them crying in the Lou!

[XManCometh]

No fan base can be any worse than the Denver Broncos fan base.

Case closed.

[kellykemnitz]

Report on the trip to Springfield (first road game for me, not counting St. Louis):

Lambert's is where all Missouri stereotypes can be found. However, great food, large portions, and inexpensive dining.

It's nice that the campus has actual parking garages (and free too), that makes the trek to the arena fairly short. Of course, received a few death stares as I was parking in said garage.

Not previously familiar with the JQH Center, I thought I was walking towards a large airplane hangar. Not attractive on the outside, but was surprised by the large concourse areas and variety in concessions. Although, I'm assuming it was built by the same contractors that designed IBA.

Missouri State fans around us (Section LL, Row 11) were very friendly and talkative. Even complimented our team in some aspects. However, the gentleman in front of us was apparently not pleased with our respectful cheering. He chose to combat with obsessive swearing (directed at the play on the court, not us as fans) in front of his 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter.

Overall fan experience was more catered to entertainment than what is experienced at Koch Arena. Similar to what is seen in St. Louis. In fact, I believe the PA announcer for the Shoney's Bears may do the PA for Arch Madness?

Game:

Officiating was pretty terrible, in my opinion, but we didn't play well enough to take it to 'em. Toure' Murry forces nearly everything, even amidst teammates stepping up (Blair and Williams). JT Durley, please do not take any more trifectas. Sighfecta. Creekmore may be the new Charlie Sheen. Not a great actor, yet somehow gets the job done until the flaws come full-focus. Weems deserved a T after his chest-bumping and hand action of throat-slitting. Unacceptable behavior, regardless of team. He's a great player and a beast, but I'm glad he's not a Shocker. Kyles. Wow. He was cutting through screens like I haven't seen him do in quite some time. Working hard and creating space, even just for a slight moment. It was just pure athleticism.

Overall, just too sluggish in the first half and the beginning of the second. It's as if we have teams on a leash, but don't shorten it until it is much too late. Our guys play with passion and fire, so I do not question that. Just disorganization at times, which good teams take advantage of. Sure hope we can put the pedal to the metal in St. Louis, as we cannot afford to just coast anymore.

[SekShocker]

I have to agree that my experience was better than expected as far as the fan base goes, JQH is nice enough inside but looks like crap from the outside. No respect for Weems at all, his flexing and chest pumping was ridiculous, it was Leonard that killed us not him, but you would of thought he single handily won the game. Did anybody else see someone holding up a Chanpionship belt ala Green Bay? I thought that was as ridiculous as Weems antics. Win in STL and we still get what we all want.

[BOBB]

Yes the Weems acts like a playground player. The kind of player rlthat doesn't worry about having next game because he holds court. Who gives a damn what the fans said, players did, or officials misse? Yet another national TV beatdown. MSU has beaten us twice.

[WINGdingBALLfling]

I was at the game and also think that what Weems did was unacceptable. Before the game I had said to the person next to me that i wish we could have gotten him... right when that happened i said "they can keep him". Also Creepmore is a d bag. The arena is nice, happy i went.

[shoxlax]

You guys all act surprised about the way Weems acts. He has been doing that for three years. His fat ass better enjoy himself now because next year without Cuonzo and his four seniors, he will be staring a Thursday night play in game followed by a career at Nu Way as a 6-6 chili stirrer smack dab in the face.

[Bri-man]

Sad, sad day. I really feel for the seniors.[/quote]

These seniors are the ones responsible for this underachieving team. I'm concerned about the leadership of the team going forward. It's pretty apparent that these seniors don't provide it.

[ISASO]

Does our future Navy Seal not provide leadership? He looked very disappointed on the bench in the last two minutes.

[ShoxFan963]

Sad, sad day. I really feel for the seniors.

These seniors are the ones responsible for this underachieving team. I'm concerned about the leadership of the team going forward. It's pretty apparent that these seniors don't provide it.

JT, Gabe, and Aaron didn't "underachieve" this season. JT has been the most consistent player this year, a true leader. Gabe has been huge because of his rebounding and hustle. Aaron does a lot of the dirty work, behind the scenes kind of stuff that goes unnoticed and his offense has improved a lot this year. Hatch struggled a little bit this year, but it didn't really affect the team too much. They did really miss him against VCU. They would have won the game if Hatch wasn't hurt, Imo.

All four of them bring leadership qualities to the team. If anyone is too blame, it's the juniors: Murry has been off for quite a while. Kyles finally found his game for the first time since the tulsa game. Stutz has been on and off again since the beginning of the season. The team needs Murry, Kyles, Ragland, and Stutz to step up if they want to win in St. Louis.

[Bri-man]

Sad, sad day. I really feel for the seniors.

These seniors are the ones responsible for this underachieving team. I'm concerned about the leadership of the team going forward. It's pretty apparent that these seniors don't provide it.

JT, Gabe, and Aaron didn't "underachieve" this season. JT has been the most consistent player this year, a true leader. Gabe has been huge because of his rebounding and hustle. Aaron does a lot of the dirty work, behind the scenes kind of stuff that goes unnoticed and his offense has improved a lot this year. Hatch struggled a little bit this year, but it didn't really affect the team too much. They did really miss him against VCU. They would have won the game if Hatch wasn't hurt, Imo

This goes way beyond stats...

A team needs someone to stand up and get in a teammates face when they aren't performing. Especially in a Championship game. Ramon Clemente had that, Jamar had that. Matt was that tough. I'm afraid this team doesn't push back.

All four of them bring leadership qualities to the team. If anyone is too blame, it's the juniors: Murry has been off for quite a while. Kyles finally found his game for the first time since the tulsa game. Stutz has been on and off again since the beginning of the season. The team needs Murry, Kyles, Ragland, and Stutz to step up if they want to win in St. Louis.

[BOBB]

Does our future Navy Seal not provide leadership? He looked very disappointed on the bench in the last two minutes.

A fair question. Mr. Intangible indeed.

[Dan]

Sad, sad day. I really feel for the seniors.

These seniors are the ones responsible for this underachieving team. I'm concerned about the leadership of the team going forward. It's pretty apparent that these seniors don't provide it.

JT, Gabe, and Aaron didn't "underachieve" this season. JT has been the most consistent player this year, a true leader. Gabe has been huge because of his rebounding and hustle. Aaron does a lot of the dirty work, behind the scenes kind of stuff that goes unnoticed and his offense has improved a lot this year. Hatch struggled a little bit this year, but it didn't really affect the team too much. They did really miss him against VCU. They would have won the game if Hatch wasn't hurt, Imo.

All four of them bring leadership qualities to the team. If anyone is too blame, it's the juniors: Murry has been off for quite a while. Kyles finally found his game for the first time since the tulsa game. Stutz has been on and off again since the beginning of the season. The team needs Murry, Kyles, Ragland, and Stutz to step up if they want to win in St. Louis.

And people think we're going to compete for the top spot again next year. I don't see it. We have veterans coming back but they just aren' that good. The only bright spot is we have a true leader in Ragland running the show. We have to hang our hats on Carl Hall and pray that the kid from Minnesota or Tekele Cotton are ready for prime time.

[wusphlash]

The Seniors have each gotten better during their careers. However, each had a ceiling based on athletic ability and/or killer instinct. Was there an enforcer in the group? Was there a real team leader that everybody knew was going to make the tough plays in tight situations? I think that they tried, I think they wanted to, but this was a huge intangible missing from this team.

I'm hoping that Joe Ragland takes a position that this is his team for the next year and a few games. That he leads these guys both verbally and by example. That sort of point guard leadership would solve a lot of issues.