Wichita State vs. South Carolina Pre-Game Discussion

[Kung Wu]

South Carolina is truly a toilet hole end-game basketball job. Martin got his Final Four run but they haven't capitalized off of it and have been nothing before or after that fluky year. And I believe Frank Martin is a hell of a coach. Just goes to show some places aren't made for winning even for the best of them (unless you count 1 fluky final four, and 7 years of non-relevance winning).

Yeah that discussion (of HC3GM ever being interested in S.C.) is loooong dead. But back in the early HC3GM years, there was speculation that he might want to return to S.C. and that would be an ideal (geographically speaking) gig for him. And then ... Cotton, Baker, and FVV happened.

[TheShocktocles]

Given SC's lackluster play against Gardner-Webb, I think we have this game in the bag.

That being said, why did we choose to have the Oral Roberts game on Saturday afternoon? A Tuesday/Wednesday slate of games that means a lot to our NCAA tourney at large bid hopes, and we decide to schedule a buy game for Saturday afternoon? Sounds like a lot of work for our guys that may be unnecessary, especially considering travel.

Anyways, Shox got this.

A game is never in the bag. Are you serious?

[ShockerPrez]

It's way past time for us to win one of these tournaments.

[WuShock Reaper]

Scouting Carolina’s Cancun opponents - 247 Sports

By JOHN DEL BIANCO
posted: 11/24/19, 2:pm cst

https://247sports.com/college/south-carolina/Article/South-Carolina-Gamecocks-mens-basketballl-Cancun-Challenge--139157210/

"...Below are three overview scouting reports on the three teams the Gamecocks are grouped with in the early season, non-conference tournament.

Wichita State (5-0)
The Shockers are undefeated through their first handful of games with wins over Omaha, Texas Southern, UT Martin, Gardner-Webb and most recently Oral Roberts (68-59). They defeated Gardner-Webb 74-52 three days prior to the Bulldogs coming to Columbia to play the Gamecocks.

Wichita State is averaging 76.4 points per game, shooting 42 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. Opponents are averaging 58 points per game, shooting 37 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. Three Shockers are averaging double-digit point totals, led by 6-6 junior forward Trey Wade’s 12.0 points per game.

The Shockers (22-15, 10-8 AAC) return three starters and seven of the top nine scorers from last year’s roster. The team won 14 of its last 18 games and reached the NIT semifinals.

“Gregg (Marshall) is phenomenal at what he does,” Frank Martin said. “What he’s built, rebuilt, because Wichita State has been good under several coaches, he’s real good. He’s a Greenwood native. I’m pretty sure he still wakes up and reads the local newspaper everyday. His teams play very disciplined basketball, very physical basketball. We’ve got to be really good in that game. We’re going up against (a program whose) level of success over the last nine years is right up there with the top 15 program in the country from a won-loss standpoint. That’s going to be a hard game for us, which is good.”..."

[Kung Wu]

Why didn't you schedule us home and home while at KState, Frank?

[Kung Wu]

Description: WICHITA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
When: NOV 26 (TUE) 5:00 P.M.
Where: CANCUN, MEXICO (HARD ROCK HOTEL RIVIERA MAYA)
Radio: KEYN 103.7 FM https://keyn.radio.com/
TV: CBS SPORTS NETWORK

Thank you for the great job you are doing starting these pregame threads! And thanks for having thick enough skin to let us rib you a little!

[shockrah]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Shox by a lot!

[pogo]

Thank you for the great job you are doing starting these pregame threads! And thanks for having thick enough skin to let us rib you a little!

Yes. Thank you for all you do

[wufan]

Scouting Carolina’s Cancun opponents - 247 Sports

By JOHN DEL BIANCO
posted: 11/24/19, 2:pm cst

https://247sports.com/college/south-carolina/Article/South-Carolina-Gamecocks-mens-basketballl-Cancun-Challenge--139157210/

"...Below are three overview scouting reports on the three teams the Gamecocks are grouped with in the early season, non-conference tournament.

Wichita State (5-0)
The Shockers are undefeated through their first handful of games with wins over Omaha, Texas Southern, UT Martin, Gardner-Webb and most recently Oral Roberts (68-59). They defeated Gardner-Webb 74-52 three days prior to the Bulldogs coming to Columbia to play the Gamecocks.

Wichita State is averaging 76.4 points per game, shooting 42 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. Opponents are averaging 58 points per game, shooting 37 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. Three Shockers are averaging double-digit point totals, led by 6-6 junior forward Trey Wade’s 12.0 points per game.

The Shockers (22-15, 10-8 AAC) return three starters and seven of the top nine scorers from last year’s roster. The team won 14 of its last 18 games and reached the NIT semifinals.

“Gregg (Marshall) is phenomenal at what he does,” Frank Martin said. “What he’s built, rebuilt, because Wichita State has been good under several coaches, he’s real good. He’s a Greenwood native. I’m pretty sure he still wakes up and reads the local newspaper everyday. His teams play very disciplined basketball, very physical basketball. We’ve got to be really good in that game. We’re going up against (a program whose) level of success over the last nine years is right up there with the top 15 program in the country from a won-loss standpoint. That’s going to be a hard game for us, which is good.”..."

Nice compliments from Martin.

There are actually five (not three) Shockers averaging double digit point totals:

Wade, 12.0
Burton, 11.8
Stevenson, 10.8
Etienne, 10.2
Dennis, 10.0

Sherfield and Udeze are both averaging over 8.

[WuShock Reaper]

Getting to know the opponent: Wichita State • GamecockCentral

By Collyn Taylor
Posted: 11/24/19, 2:30am cst

https://southcarolina.rivals.com/news/getting-to-know-the-opponent-wichita-state

"...The Gamecocks start the on-site part of the Cancun Challenge Tuesday with a game against Wichita State with a chance to notch a big resume-building win early in the season. They hosted to Cancun Challenge games this week, going 1-1 with a win over Gardner Webb and a loss to Boston University, and will play the Shockers and either West Virginia or Northern Iowa on a neutral floor before returning home Thursday.

Before they do, though, here's a look at their first opponent of the trip.

The skinny: Wichita State is ranked as the No. 57 team in the country by KenPom, compared to South Carolina's 81 overall rank. It's also a big game given Gregg Marshall, who coached at Winthrop and cut his teeth coaching, is from South Carolina and still has ties there. The Shockers have been one of the more consistent teams the last 10 years with seven tournament appearances that includes five trips to the second round, two to the Sweet 16 and a Final Four run in 2013. This year, they're a perfect 5-0 to start with their biggest win coming over No. 165 Oral Roberts by nine. The only common opponent so far has been Gardner Webb, and they won that game 74-52. The Gamecocks will be their biggest test of the season so far.

KenPom prediction: The Gamecocks (4-1) are given a 42 percent chance to win by KenPom with the site predicting a 68-66 Shockers win in Cancun.

What they do well: Wichita State is always known for its defense, and this year really isn't much different. They're the 28th-best defensive efficiency team in the country, holding teams to just 89.3 points per 100 possessions.They don't turn the ball over a lot, with their 13.7 turnover rate the 11th-best nationally. They're also good at limiting opponent two-point field goal percentages (39.6 percent). Defensively, they're allowing just 58 points per game with opponents shooting just 36.7 percent from the field.

What they don't do well: It's hard to find something they're really bad at, but the Shockers don't take a lot of free throws and their two-point percentage (46.1 percent) isn't great. Their average experience is less than a year, which is 345th out of 353 teams, which means they're young. Opponents are shooting 32.1 percent against them, which is right around average, which means the Gamecocks could have more open three-point opportunities.

Player to watch: Trey Wade, F
Wade is one of the few more experienced guys on the team and is currently leading the team in points (12) and rebounds (8) per game. He's shooting 42.6 percent from the field, including hitting seven of his 14 three-point attempts. He also has six blocks already on the season. After starting his career at UTEP, Wade is playing his first minutes this season for Wichita State after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. In terms of more advanced statistics, he has a 54.8 effective field goal percentage, which means he doesn't take bad shots usually and converts a majority of the time. He rebounds the ball incredibly well on the defensive end of the court and rarely turns it over in the post with the 29th-lowest turnover rate (4.1) among Division 1 basketball players. He's used a lot (21.5 percent of possessions when on the court) and plays exclusively at the four spot, which means it will likely be up to Maik Kotsar to try and limit him."

[wsushockerdude]

A game is never in the bag. Are you serious?

Just being optimistic, asshat.

[Bluzrover]

We rank 345th out of 353 teams in terms of average experience? I knew we were still young but damn, that’s bad news for the rest of the American the next couple of years. Of curse, not sure we can trust Collyn’s research, he’s reporting that Trey has to sit out a year after transferring from UTEP. But seriously, this is a very young team that is already exhibiting the key traits of of a Gregg Marshall Play Angry BB team. We stay healthy and this team gets to the second week of the dance.

But let’s get past the next two opponents with wins. Go Shocks!

[FadedCrown]

We rank 345th out of 353 teams in terms of average experience? I knew we were still young but damn, that’s bad news for the rest of the American the next couple of years. Of curse, not sure we can trust Collyn’s research, he’s reporting that Trey has to sit out a year after transferring from UTEP. But seriously, this is a very young team that is already exhibiting the key traits of of a Gregg Marshall Play Angry BB team. We stay healthy and this team gets to the second week of the dance.

But let’s get past the next two opponents with wins. Go Shocks!

He is right, we are 345th in Experience and 230th in Continuity. Our team is highlighted by 2nd year players, remember that. (Dennis and Echenique)

[WuShock Reaper]

Marshall's Retirement State = 62
Marshall's Current State = 73

Go Shockers!!!

[ShockerPrez]

We rank 345th out of 353 teams in terms of average experience? I knew we were still young but damn, that’s bad news for the rest of the American the next couple of years. Of curse, not sure we can trust Collyn’s research, he’s reporting that Trey has to sit out a year after transferring from UTEP. But seriously, this is a very young team that is already exhibiting the key traits of of a Gregg Marshall Play Angry BB team. We stay healthy and this team gets to the second week of the dance.

But let’s get past the next two opponents with wins. Go Shocks!

No doubt. We are playing Sophs and Frosh. Once Etch comes back and logs minutes that will go down a bit, but still. Lots to look forward to and a lot of improvement to be had for a team that, IMO is already hovering on the bubble. So I am really, really starting to think it is more likely than not that the Shox start another NCAA tourney streak sooner rather than later.