WSU vs Alabama Predictions and Pregame Discussions.

[Kung Wu]

If Dandy Randy gets in this game the Shocks will either be cruising to a win or will be getting crushed.

Where's that animated head bobbing up and down furiously icon?

[Kung Wu]

Alabama looked scary long against Maryland, loads of 6'5" to 6'8" guys with tons of athleticism. Maryland looked pretty bad most of the game, but I think a lot of it had to do with Alabama's defense and aggressive play.

We're going to have our hands full tonight. To win we'll need to do the same things that were necessary to beat them last year; play solid D, rebound, and get some shots to fall. If we can do those things then we'll have a shot. The problem is that we don't look anywhere near the form we were in when we last saw these guys, and they look exactly how I remember them at MSG.

Maryland is Turgeon's team now and with a very bare cupboard I assume he was forced into an MVC style defense -- play to not lose and try like hell to keep the opponents from running the score up. I didn't get to watch the game, but I can't see where he could have used any other strategy? Can anybody confirm that is what he tried to do? Was Maryland trying the old Drake/UNI ugly as hell and no-transition-what-so-ever sag defense?

[forevershockerfan]

That poem above by Kung Wu was ingenious and will deem humorous to Shocker Nation.

[Snapshot9]

Shockers - 64
Tide - 61

[Kung Wu]

Good luck again vs. Alabama. Enjoyed watching game last night. Have to tell you though as a fan of a conference foe would be expected to...........I don't remember WSU going inside in the first half.......shooting too many jump shots too quick. They did get the message to go inside after the half. Looked better but Stutz is by himself in there.

We got off on the wrong foot. Hi SycamoreFanatic, glad you enjoyed the game and I agree the inside game could have been a better first half, but it was Carl Hall's first _full throttle_ D1 game so it will take a few matches for him to get in sync like most juco players.

The Shox game doesn't strike any fear in me at this point in time. I will admit that our Sycamores aren't back to form after two games either.

Don't worry about irrational fears so early in the season. That gut wrenching feeling that you will be required to play WSU won't set in until about the beginning of January. It is about then that your anus will start to pucker slowly until you feel a slow burn, your stomach will start to twist as if hungry for a month, and the full weight of the Shocker experience will be bearing down on your very being while you cower in a fetal position in the corner of your dark and lonely bedroom.

Until then, enjoy!

[RampageWSU]

Here are my thoughts:

Re: the win last night - I was happy we won (as predicted), but I couldn't help but feel the sense of "We should be killing these clowns" the entire game. There were some ridiculous passes attempted, and a few ill-advised perimeter shots. I'm sure a lot of this was knocking the rust off, so to speak, but I still felt mildly disappointed.

Tonight will be a slobber-knocker if there ever was one. Obviously, the biggest match-ups will be at the post. I think our bench could help here. Stutz / Hall / EO will probably be rotated frequently, and I even think we'll see White get some minutes. In my opinion, we can "rope-a-dope" the post positions by rotating every 4 minutes or so. Garrett gets a quick foul? Pull em. Let EO pickup one or two, then rotate Stutz back in. He gets another? Move Hall to the 5, bring in White for a bit.

I expect a huge night out of Smith again, and I expect to see him emerge as a "Glue" player for the season, much like Hatch down the stretch last year. Evan, I hope you're taking notes.

Shox by 4

[LoneStar48]

I really liked what I saw last night, especially the drives to the basket, GS's getting the ball inside in the 2nd half, and the way none of the guys backed down when Colorado would get a little steam. I see these guys getting a lot stronger as the season goes on. Of course they aren't as good right now as last year's team was in the NIT, but they are a lot different team from that one, and they only have room to get better.

Can't believe I get to see them two nights in a row! I think they will win a close one tonight.

Oh, and just my 2 cents; I didn't think Sycamorefan was trying to be insulting. Seems like he's had some good posts on here before.

[WuDrWu]

Best signature line EVER.


Kung Wu say: For clean NIT championship t-shirt, Shox use Tide!

[KraRam]

Tide readies for Wichita State rematch tonight

http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2011/11/18/2571321/tide-readies-for-wichita-state-rematch-tonight

[tropicalshox]

Shoud be a real war tonight. First big test for two teams that could be very, very good. Alabama hasn't played anybody up to the Shocker's quality. Same could be said about us facing the Tide. To me it's pretty much a toss up so I'll take my team in a defensive struggle, 62-60.

[Shoxfan11]

I think we're gonna be in for a pleasant surprise after last night and Carl Hall is going to show us exactly how good he is in a physical battle.

[LoneStar48]

Tide readies for Wichita State rematch tonight

http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2011/11/...ematch-tonight

"Is it just me,

or is the guy to the far left doing the shocker wrong?" From the link

So is he?

[WuDrWu]

"Is it just me,

or is the guy to the far left doing the shocker wrong?" From the link

So is he?

I am going to say this one time and one time only, as I've held my tongue since seeing this picture. Gabe is being a 10 year old smartass and I hope someone dressed him down for that. Nice class Gabe. What, you couldn't do "bunny ears" behind Hatch??

He's doing the obscene "shocker" and not the "W" that is done by the cheerleaders and some fans.

Anyone that wants to muddy the line between the 2 obviously is either mentally slow or so wildly immature that you shouldn't be allowed out past dusk.


If you can't tell, Gabe's stupidity has been a burr in my ass for 6 months.

Rant over.

[shockerfan34]

Last night the guards did most of the heavy lifting for the win (though partially because they had trouble letting the bigs go to work). I think coach will let them hear about it and tonight the bigs will step it up and carry the shocks to victory.

Shocks 72
Bama 66

Player of the game: Stutz with 19 and 10

[LoneStar48]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Doc.