Should we have stayed in the Valley?

[ShockTalk]

Gregg's overall winning percentage as a head coach is .726. With Chris Jans on the bench it's .710. With Greg Heiar on the bench it's .836. This year it's .772 against the toughest schedule in Gregg's career. Gregg and Chris's records suffered some because of their first few years at WSU. ACGH benefited from 6 NCAA reams. It was great to have Chris and Greg on the bench. However, for some to suggest that Gregg's coaching ability is completely tied to those two assistants does him and his current assistants a great disservice.

My comments about our previous assistants stands. For 9 years, HCGM had CJ, GH, or both on the bench, in practices, reviewing film, and so forth. They knew each other well, the assistants knew when to speak up (and needed to), most of the team were familiar with them (and the coaches with the players), and the staff could all rely on each other because of the years of service together. It was a bonus that they were probably pretty good damn coaches as well.

You just don't rebuild most of that over night or in 6 months, maybe more. I'm not saying that it won't happen. Coaches are getting use to a new coach while players all have to get use to that coach in place of the other 2 who may have even recruited them. This wasn't a case of replacing 1 coach, but having to replace 2 coaches with 1. Even when GH came on board, CJ was there. And all the while dealing with these relationships and trust, we're playing in a new, much better conference, where our coaching staff and players know next to nothing about the coaches and players they play as well. There is a lot more on HCGM's plate this year than he's had to deal with for quite a while.

This isn't a knock on Marshall, it's for us to understand the dynamics of all that's going on.

By the way, that's just totally unfair to include the first 2 years in your numbers, even if you did mention it. When CJ was here, in one capacity or another, we were between .808 and .818, depending on what years you want to count.

[ShockerFever]

shoxlax, change the poll to public so we can see who the wanker is.

[shoxlax]

shoxlax, change the poll to public so we can see who the wanker is.

Dude already Pmd me and said he voted yes by accident. I doubt no one will vote no even if they really believe it just to avoid the ass lynching

[Walker]

I've wondered about the move all along, but then again I'm a fairly weird old guy. Fond of the funky old Valley [ member 72 years], nevertheless the move to the AAC was a good one. After Creighton left, we probably needed to leave as well.
WSU is never going to dominate the AAC...we'll probably be middle-tier most years.

Maybe the Shocks won’t dominate in the way they did in the Valley with 30 point wins might in and out, but what in the world makes you think they will be middle-tier most years?

There’s no reason this team can’t consistently be one of the top dogs in this league.

[El_Wu]

Lol I hope that your poll was just to be funny.

[WstateU]

Lol I hope that your poll was just to be funny.

shoxlax is cleaver...

311fe7d824b902f7b24cde31299278ee.jpg

[ShockerDropOut]

Is my meter broke?

[WstateU]

Is my meter broke?

5fc.jpg

[Onegreatracer]

I voted no but starting to have doubts - this is a great move and I’m definitely glad we are here, but I’m beginning to think moving for the ‘18-‘19 season may have been better. This team could be 20-2 in the Valley, likely still top 10 if not better. After the run last years group had and the apparent dip in performance, although I will admit the assistants have a large factor in this, it may have been a case of “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”. Make no mistake, I would rather be here now than not have made the move at all. I’ll likely be eating crow around March when the team gels and makes some sort of run, but for now this is just some shower thoughts about the season.

[N Crestway]

Maybe the Shocks won’t dominate in the way they did in the Valley with 30 point wins might in and out, but what in the world makes you think they will be middle-tier most years?

There’s no reason this team can’t consistently be one of the top dogs in this league.

I just see WSU, more years than not long term, slightly above the pool that would include schools like Tulsa, SMU, UCF, and Temple. Top tier would be Cincinnati the current 800 pound gorilla followed by schools like Memphis, Houston, and Connecticut who are better situated for recruiting...an outcome a bit like what has happened to Creighton in the Big East. They can challenge but will rarely win the whole thing.
Admittedly we have more upside than Creighton and the mid tier AAC teams I mentioned so there is that. Perhaps under Marshall we can be a challenger but I'm also thinking post Marshall.

[DUShock]

Just going “on the record”, no, WSU is in a much better place.

[Dave Stalwart]

Memphis must be really excited about landing Lomax

[ShockerPrez]

If you arent looking forward to a couple of games against Cincy to cap off this year, then I dont know what's wrong with you.

If you ask me, we are finally back where we have always belonged. With Tulsa, Memphis and Cincy.

[Walker]

Hell yeah.

[Walker]

I just see WSU, more years than not long term, slightly above the pool that would include schools like Tulsa, SMU, UCF, and Temple. Top tier would be Cincinnati the current 800 pound gorilla followed by schools like Memphis, Houston, and Connecticut who are better situated for recruiting...an outcome a bit like what has happened to Creighton in the Big East. They can challenge but will rarely win the whole thing.
Admittedly we have more upside than Creighton and the mid tier AAC teams I mentioned so there is that. Perhaps under Marshall we can be a challenger but I'm also thinking post Marshall.

No doubt Cincy is as good as advertised, but with recruiting, we're starting get great recruits out of the places you mentioned being better situated for recruiting. We've got 2 of the top recruits out of Memphis, if not the very top one in Lomax for next year and we've been getting guys out of Houston for a while. While a lot of good programs had their legacies built ages ago, we're in the middle of something pretty special at WSU, he's helped build it into a great program, and these recruits are taking notice. Creighton could challenge more in the BE but Chewbacca is nowhere near the coach 3G is.

[1979Shocker]

I voted no but starting to have doubts - this is a great move and I’m definitely glad we are here, but I’m beginning to think moving for the ‘18-‘19 season may have been better.

If we waited until next year to move to the AAC, I'm guessing we wouldn't have Lomax and probably a couple of other recruits.