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**1972Shocker** · November 8, 2018, 10:32 AM

Shocker Game Notes

I think predicting outcomes this year will prove to be much more challenging than usual. When you have team with two mercurial seniors ( or at least i hope they have some ups to go along with the downs). and a boatload of newcomers and freshmen they are going lay an egg now and then when you think they should win and they are going to surprise now and then when you think they have no chance.

**RoyalShock** · November 8, 2018, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by shoxlax View Post

My prediction is that we will get a nice tour of the Naval Academy.

And the White House, including meeting the POTUS.

EDIT: Apparently, the link is now dead. Fortunately I still had the page loaded in another tab.

EDIT 2: The story is back up with a different URL, which I've fixed in the link above.

By Paul Suellentrop

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Talking basketball with the President. Nobody at Wichita State knew Wednesday would end with a visit in the Oval Office with Donald Trump.

That door from the Roosevelt Room opens when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is a big Shocker fan. Pompeo's office helped arrange a White House tour for the Shockers and, after a wait in the room decorated with paintings of Theodore Roosevelt and his 1906 Nobel Peace Prize, a surprise chat and picture with President Trump.

"We didn't think, waking up, we were going to get see the President of the United States," Wichita State senior Samajae Haynes-Jones said. "That's something."

Trump asked Wichita State's record. He asked to identify the team's top player. He asked the players if Gregg Marshall is a good coach (they all nodded).

"Basketball is taking you places you never thought that you would go to," Wichita State freshman Erik Stevenson said. "He's the President of the United States, so he's kind of a big deal."

Marshall had to explain Wichita State is 0-1 after a loss to Louisiana Tech. He assured the President things will improve. On Friday, the Shockers play Providence (1-0) in the Veterans Classic at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

"There's a lot of potential," Marshall said. "I have a lot of work to do."

The President shook hands. He bantered with Marshall and the rest of the traveling party. The group of more than 25 crowded in for a picture with President Trump seated at his desk.

"That's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Wichita State senior Markis McDuffie said.

The Oval Office and White House tour ended a busy day that started with a morning charter flight from Wichita to Washington Dulles International Airport. A bus took the team to the United States Capitol, where staff members from the office of U.S. Representative Ron Estes led a tour.

In the National Statuary Hall, McDuffie posed with Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey, McDuffie's home. Morris Udeze, from Houston, took a picture with Texas' Sam Houston.

"You never get a chance to actually experience it – and we did that today," McDuffie said. "It was a great experience. All the stuff you learn as a kid, to see it in person was amazing."

After a look through the East Wing, they passed by the Rose Garden, where the 1989 College World Series champion Shockers met President George H.W. Bush. Their Secret Service guide escorted the Shockers to the Roosevelt Room, next to the Oval Office, where White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders greeted them.

Pompeo, a former Wichita businessman elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, described his job and his transition from Director of the Central Intelligence Agency to his current position. They told the story about Huckabee Sanders' chocolate pecan pie made for a skeptical media for a potluck dinner.

Mike and Susan Pompeo, his wife, talked basketball with the Shockers. Mike Pompeo wore his Shockers yellow tie and confirmed that the basketball games go on his schedule and his staff knows to ask before booking a conflicting event. Susan Pompeo described the challenges of conversation with a man whose daily routine, as CIA leader, was top secret and recounted that her husband played forward – power forward, he added - in high school in California.

Wichita State's Teddy Allen asked Mike Pompeo to elaborate on President Trump surprising him with a call to interview for the CIA job. Ricky Torres asked several questions. Marshall kept the conversation going with questions about Pompeo's travel to places such as North Korea and job duties as Secretary of State, a job he took in April.

After a 20-minute conversation, Mike Pompeo checked on the President's schedule, hoping to squeeze the team in between meetings.

A few minutes later, the door to the Oval Office opened and the Shockers met the President.

**Jhook89** · November 8, 2018, 10:56 AM

Originally posted by Shock Top View Post

Starting Lineup

Hope
G - Burton
G - Stevenson
G - Dennis
F - Morris
F - Jamie

Likely
G - SHJ
G - Torres
G - Burton
F - Markis
C - AM

They start 4 guards. Morris would get destroyed at the 4. Brown would be a better matchup.

**pinstripers** · November 8, 2018, 10:59 AM

Before the last one, I posted that if we played like we did in the exhibition, that we would lose. Took some grief for that. Same story here. If we play as we did vs La Tech, we get blown out. Basically, as long as our Seniors take 20 bad shots a game, we will continue to lose. Let the kids play

**ShockRef** · November 8, 2018, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by RoyalShock View Post

And the White House, including meeting the POTUS.

This is the coolest thing I've read on here in a while. Think about it... The POTUS had to deal with that asshole Acosta, send Sessions on his way... and still had time to squeeze in a meet and greet with the Shocker Basketball team - all in one day!
Freaking awesome!

That is all.

**Dice260** · November 8, 2018, 11:38 AM

This is going to be a season when it's difficult to predict these games. We will lose games we shouldn't probably lose (La Tech), but I think we will steal some we probably shouldn't win. Why not let Providence be the first victim? Shockers by 4, and I'm sticking to it.

**1972Shocker** · November 8, 2018, 12:26 PM

WstateU commented
- 39 minutes ago
  Great photo of the future...

**W51shocker** · November 8, 2018, 12:28 PM

Hello shocker fans don’t post very often headed to dc today and am excited to see this team in person. Watched Louisiana Tech game and wow that wasn’t pretty. But I felt I saw alot of heart in these kids. Somewhere on one of the threads I read that someone compare this to the 90s almost. I have been a fan for over 50 years and was in Wichita during that time. These kids are nothing close to that let’s give them a lot of support they will be great in the future. PATIENCE!PATIENCE!PATIENCE!
GO SHOCKS!!!!

**1972Shocker** · November 8, 2018, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by RoyalShock View Post

And the White House, including meeting the POTUS.

MOVERS, SHAKERS, DOERS AND SHOCKERS!

**1972Shocker** · November 8, 2018, 12:53 PM

Markis and Samajae almost have to be better than they were against La Tech don't they? Maybe playing away from home will let them loosen up a bit and not press the issue so much although I am starting to wonder if that isn't just in their DNA and what they will always default to under pressure.

A Shocker win over Providence would result in a sesimic shift of outlooks for the season. Even a close loss would improve my spirits if it was a result of improved Shocker play and not just a bad night for Providence.

When a highly respected program stumbles a bit and opponents smell blood in the water they do not let up. Just ask Lambo. He said you can't believe how these AAC teams have celebrated when they beat the Lady Shocks this year in volleyball. This may not be such a big deal to Providence although the Shocks won both previous meetings with the Friars. You know it was a big deal to La Tech and it will be a big deal to a lot of teams this year.

**Chickenhawk hunter** · November 8, 2018, 02:24 PM

SHJ needs to play the off guard and lets throw Torres in there at PG and see what he can do. Bring JB off the bench if need be. This would be a great win just so we can get some confidence going. I would be good with a close loss and feel better about the way things are going to progress in the season. I do believe HCGM will get us on the right track soon. It's refreshing to see new faces out on the court and the potential that's out there.

**ShockerFever** · November 8, 2018, 03:13 PM

Welp another easy $100 coming my way unfortunately. Ridiculously low spread opening with Providence -4.5

Our name and rep is still carrying us in Vegas.

**60Shock** · November 8, 2018, 03:22 PM

We are most likely going to lose a majority of our games this year. I'm just hoping we see player and team improvement from game to game.

**wusphlash** · November 8, 2018, 03:32 PM

It will get better sooner than later. Just not this soon.

**molly jabali** · November 8, 2018, 03:55 PM

I 100% respect that this is not a political board, nor should it be, but BEYOND meeting the President, meeting a man from Wichita who is proud of his city HAS to be cool!!!

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