They were Magnificent

[60Shock]

They were magnificent.

For five straight post season games the Shocks played some of the best basketball a WSU team has played in the last 20 or so years. And all five games were on national TV for the entire Shocker Nation to see and enjoy.

Earlier in the pre-season and during the regular season, I scoffed at the idea, whenever a comparison was mentioned, comparing this year’s team with our Sweet 16 team. And if you compare the regular season records of both teams, the 2006 team won the MVC season title against significantly much superior competition than we faced in the Valley this year. Perhaps, most compelling is that the MVC had four NCAA selections and WSU and Bradley both earned Sweet 16 berths. Based on regular season performance, the Sweet 16 team wins hands down.

But, the post season is an entirely different manner. Unquestionably, the NCAA far surpasses the NIT in every way - competition, notoriety, publicity, and money to name just a few. And no reasonable person can question that making the Sweet 16 is a most significant accomplishment. On the other hand, this year’s team ran the tables in the NIT and made us most proud by convincingly winning all five games and for bringing home our first National Tournament title. As far as competition in the NIT goes, our two wins against Virginia Tech and Alabama, in my opinion, may very well have been equal to or certainly very close to the wins against Seton Hall and Tennessee. Admittedly, I do not have any statistics to back this up, however, there is still today a lot of argument that VT and BAMA should have been selected to play in the NCAA.

My conclusion, based on post season performances of both teams is -

It would have been one hell of a game.

[tw805]

Re: They were Magnificent

They were magnificent.

For five straight post season games the Shocks played some of the best basketball a WSU team has played in the last 20 or so years. And all five games were on national TV for the entire Shocker Nation to see and enjoy.

Earlier in the pre-season and during the regular season, I scoffed at the idea, whenever a comparison was mentioned, comparing this year’s team with our Sweet 16 team. And if you compare the regular season records of both teams, the 2006 team won the MVC season title against significantly much superior competition than we faced in the Valley this year. Perhaps, most compelling is that the MVC had four NCAA selections and WSU and Bradley both earned Sweet 16 berths. Based on regular season performance, the Sweet 16 team wins hands down.

But, the post season is an entirely different manner. Unquestionably, the NCAA far surpasses the NIT in every way - competition, notoriety, publicity, and money to name just a few. And no reasonable person can question that making the Sweet 16 is a most significant accomplishment. On the other hand, this year’s team ran the tables in the NIT and made us most proud by convincingly winning all five games and for bringing home our first National Tournament title. As far as competition in the NIT goes, our two wins against Virginia Tech and Alabama, in my opinion, may very well have been equal to or certainly very close to the wins against Seton Hall and Tennessee. Admittedly, I do not have any statistics to back this up, however, there is still today a lot of argument that VT and BAMA should have been selected to play in the NCAA.

My conclusion, based on post season performances of both teams is -

It would have been one hell of a game.

It's hard to make such a comparison, but I think that win against Tennessee was better than a Virgina Tech and Alabama combined. Think about how good Tennessee was that year.

[another shocker]

This team ('11) is better IMO.

[cjp27]

This team might be better than 06, unfortunately it did not play like it during February. If the team played up to its abilities in February everyone may have been talking about WSU as opposed to VCU right now. Even though it wasn't the NCAA's, this is one hell of an accomplishment and one that we should be proud of.

[KC Shox]

Sure wish there was a dvd of all 5 games I could get my hands on.

[im4wsu]

WSU's stats in the five NIT games EXCEEDED the corresponding season averages in every category except turnovers. That's pretty impressive basketball.

[1972Shocker]

And offensive rebounds. But your illistration is a good one.

I would also point at that this was done against competition that on average was probably better than the regular season.

[forevershockerfan]

2006--Won the biggest games needed to Dance. They went 7-8 strong. MVP of the Valley and Valley Champs, won 2 big games at the Dance including Tennessee who beat Winthrop. We had several solid go to players that hit big-big shots that Season and at the Dance.

2010 and 2011--Did not win the Valley or big games needed to Dance. We go 10 strong--We had a player on 1st and 2nd Team all Valley. Coaches on the team above and this one seem quite close on X and O's. We did have some 'go to players' as well, but more so in the NIT. However, the edge here on go to players hitting big shots goes to the 2006 squad. I liked our mix of bigs on both teams.

If these teams played, it might very well be a toss up, depending on who was hot and who was not on any given night. If they played 10 times, my educated guess would be that each team would win 5 out of 10 games. The ONLY reason I did not give the 2006 the small edge, was the quality depth of this years team. However, if they played for 'all the marbles', my pick would be the 2006 Team.

Reply # 7

[wsushox1]

2006 Team.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

I think the 2011 team would have a bit of an edge IF they played 10 times. One game would come down to whether or not they could get Miller in foul trouble. I think they could.

[ShockBand]

All I'll say is watching the POSTSEASON versions of the 2006 and 2011 teams play each other would be a heckuva lot of fun to watch.

[ShockerPrez]

If you had to take one team to go into battle against KU, which team would you want?

I think I'd take this year's team.

[dregn]

2010-11 team on paper, 2006 team over the 10-11 regular season team, 2011 postseason team over the 2006 team

[lilshock]

Another shocker, did you just say "11"? haha

[another shocker]

Well, Wichita State WAS very big this year. :D This years edition could bang with Miller and Wilson, no problems. Michigan State (in a relatively down year for them at that time) handled the 05-06 team.. Connecticut (a Final Four type team, literally) counted their blessings after seeing this Shocker team up close and personal.. that trumps the Shockers near miss against Illinois.

I could go on in the similarities (loss at home to a CAA Final Four team etc.. although this years team got hosed).. but I think the difference is in the way this years team hit the defensive boards and then got out and ran in an organized fashion.. that style is a slight edge over the 05-06 team (that totally nosedived to 6th place in the Valley the next year, even with four starters returning) IMO. I don't know why it was (coaching, though, most likely), but this team was SO good on the MVC road this year, such a great style and manner of domination (something like we all saw in the NIT).