Wichita State vs East Carolina Pre-Game Discussion

[Cdizzle]

We are not Duke or Kentucky.

People underestimate how hard it is to win ALL of those games (many on the road), as WSU did for about 5 years.

[WuShock Reaper]

ECU at WSU.JPG


That #24 next our University sure looks nice.

[WuShock Reaper]

No. 24 Wichita State brings strong defense into battle with ECU

Posted: Dec 31, 2019 / 02:30 AM CST

https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/ncaa-basketball/no-24-wichita-state-brings-strong-defense-into-battle-with-ecu/

"After nearly two years, Wichita State has made its way back into the Top 25.

The Shockers (11-1) debuted at No. 24 in the Associated Press poll on Monday, and they will take their new-found ranking into their American Athletic Conference opener against visiting East Carolina on Wednesday. They have arrived at this point with program staples — defense and rebounding. Opponents have experienced difficulty with the Shockers’ physical defense, making just 38.1 percent from the field and only 32.4 percent of their 3-point attempts.

And Wichita State has closed out most defensive possessions by securing a rebound, carving out a plus-7 advantage per game. In short, it’s been a team that’s lived up to the “play angry” mantra that coach Gregg Marshall made famous when the Shockers went on a stunning run to the Final Four in 2013.The best part of this team for Marshall is that, in theory, it should only get better. There’s only one senior on the roster, center Jaime Echenique....

Meanwhile, East Carolina (6-7) enters with a four-game winning streak after an 82-74 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. The Pirates got 25 points and a season-high 14 rebounds from sophomore Jayden Gardner while producing their longest winning streak since they had two four-game runs in 2013-14.

“We need to make this an expectation,” coach Joe Dooley said of the recent success. “That’s building things over the course of time, and not taking winning for granted, either. It’s not easy. But I do think a little bit of confidence with four in a row … you’re getting a little bit of a familiarity of things.”

Gardner is averaging 20.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, both team highs, and he is the first East Carolina player with five straight 20-point games since Maurice Kemp in the 2012-13 season. But the Pirates only have only one other player averaging in double figures — Tyrie Jackson at 10.8 points per game.

“We are really clicking as a team and coming together as one,” Jackson said. “Every day we’re trying to focus on getting better at everything and coming together, and I feel like the guys around have really recognized where we’re at in the season and how important it is to win, and how important it is to be locked in every day in practice.”

This will be the teams’ fifth meeting since Wichita State joined the AAC before the 2017-18 season. The Shockers have won the first four by an average of 21 points per game, including a 73-57 decision last year in the conference tournament at Memphis, Tenn."

[WuShock Reaper]

Pirates set to ring in New Year in AAC play - Bonesville

By Brian Bailey
December 31, 2019

https://bonesville.net/2019/12/31/pirates-set-to-ring-in-new-year-in-aac-play/

"East Carolina wrapped up 2019 with a hard-fought win over a stubborn Eastern Kentucky team, 82-74. Just a month ago this was a game that the Pirates wouldn’t have won. Like Pirate coach Mike Houston in football, ECU basketball coach Joe Dooley is trying desperately to change the culture in his program. Instead of being upset at home just before the start of conference play, this Pirate team gutted out a win.ECU now heads to Wichita State riding a four-game winning streak. It’s the first four game win streak for ECU since 2013.

“We’ve talked to our guys that we need to make this an expectation, and that is by building things over the course of time,” said Dooley after the win Saturday night. “You can’t take winning for granted, either, because everybody says that it is not easy. I do think there is a little bit of confidence from winning four in a row, and at one point we’ll have eight of nine games here and you get a little bit of familiarity of things.”

Dooley’s Pirates aren’t anywhere close to where they hope to be this season. Still, winning solves a whole bunch of problems. ECU committed 15 first-half turnovers, but was still able to get over the hump and get the win. It’s obvious that these guys are finally getting to know one another. This was a completely new team featuring 11 new recruits this season, and that unfamiliarity reared its ugly head time and time again early on.

Tyrie “Pig” Jackson was one of Saturday’s heroes for ECU. Jackson scored 16 points and was 4-7 from the three point line.... Jayden Gardner continues to play like a 1st-team, All-American Athletic Conference performer. Gardner scored 25 points and hauled in 14 rebounds in his first game since being named as the league’s player of the week last week.

With all of the positivity of December, this Pirate team now goes on the road to open conference play at Wichita State on New Year’s Day. The Shockers are 10-1 to start the year with wins over the likes of South Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Virginia Commonwealth. Wichita State is unbeaten this year at home at 8-0. The Pirates are 0-3 on the road so far this year. Odds are certainly stacked against ECU in its American Athletic Conference opener. ECU will then have that next weekend off before hosting South Florida next Tuesday at Williams Arena in Greenville...."

[Bluzrover]

Whoever chose Toss-up should be Tossed off of SN.

After the ACU game, there’s no way Marshall’s Plan is overtaken by a bunch of Pirates. This could easily be a 30 point win for us but as is the norm, the walk-ons will see the court at the end of the game because this one will be decided before halftime.

[Blackmag]

Should win 10+, think we’ll take care of the ball better and hopefully play a bit more consistent. First game in league can be tricky, everyone’s season starts over. No let-up Shocks, 78-63

[WSUwatcher]

ECU at WSU.JPG


That #24 next our University sure looks nice.

One of the best things about is that if you're out of town as I am right now and following online, you can just look at the ESPN scoreboard without having to search for the American -- top 25 is the default. It's nice to get back to that status, which was pretty routine for several years there.

[ShockerPhi]

Guys I think we're gonna win this one. Just a hunch.

So excited for Conference play to get started. Shocks by 21

[WuShock Reaper]

the Captain vs. the Admiral.JPG

The Captain of East Carolina = 63

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard

The Admiral of Wichita = 81

https://www.wagonmasters.org/about

[WuShock Reaper]

https://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/las-vegas/line-movement/east-carolina-@-wichita-state.cfm/date/01-01-20

Vegas has the Shockers opening as 20.0 point favorites.

[WuShock Reaper]

ECU opens conference play with tough test at Wichita State - 247 Sports

By STEPHEN IGOE
Posted:12/31/19, 11:00am cst

https://247sports.com/college/east-carolina/Article/East-Carolina-Pirates-Basketball-Wichita-State-Preview-2020-Joe-Dooley-Jayden-Gardner-141371735/

"There will be no soft landing for East Carolina’s men’s basketball team to start conference play and the new year. The Pirates will take on No. 24 Wichita State in Kansas at Charles Koch Arena on Wednesday on New Year's Day at 3 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Shockers are 11-1 under head coach Gregg Marshall and just re-entered the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in two years. Wichita State has already defeated South Carolina, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and VCU this season. The team’s only loss came to West Virginia, which is ranked in the Top 25 as well. Marshall’s always-balanced team has six players averaging 8.8 points or more.

ECU head coach Joe Dooley has his team riding a four-game winning streak into Wednesday’s action, but Wichita State will present the toughest challenge the Pirates (6-7) have seen all season. “I’m excited. It’s a great atmosphere," Dooley said. "I think it’s a great test. Some people say it’s a hard conference opener, and it is, but it’s also a barometer to see where you’re going. Why not play one of the best teams right away?”...

“Great offensive balance,” Dooley said. “You see a number of guys averaging 8 points all the way up that can do a number of things. Very efficient offensively. Great defensive numbers, in the top 10 percentile in the country in points per game (allowing 62 points per game), so they’ve been off to a great start."

The Pirates faced Wichita State three times last season, losing all the meetings by 16 or more points. “They’re going to do what they always do,” Dooley said. “They defend. The game begins when the ball goes on the offensive backboard. They’re averaging 13 offensive rebounds. It’s a mentality for them. They chase the ball at a high level and we’re going to have to do the same thing.”

The Shockers are not scheduled to return to Greenville this season. Standout sophomore forward Jayden Gardner is the only scholarship player left on ECU’s roster who played Wichita State a season ago. “Just going over their actions, they are very diligent and they run their stuff to perfection,” Gardner said. “We’ve got to box them out on the glass. They have a lot of big men.”

[MelvinLoudermilk]

I think we win this game 8+ times out of 10. However Gardner is special. He is good enough on any given day to put a team on his back and will them to victory. Thankfully, Gardner doesn’t have much help.

WSU by 10

[Shockm]

I think we win this game 8+ times out of 10. However Gardner is special. He is good enough on any given day to put a team on his back and will them to victory. Thankfully, Gardner doesn’t have much help.

WSU by 10

Without Dexter (who man handled him last year) Gardner will be a tougher matchup. My instincts tell me that .............................................

-Wade is our best matchup but he gets into foul trouble easily (it hurts us when his offense and rebounding aren't in the game) and Gardner will take advantage of that.
-Poor Bear will get his opportunity but he isn't our best defender.
-Udeze may get a chance but he fouls too much too.
-Jamie will probably get a chance but he isn't as good at sliding against active big men who move around on the perimeter without fouling. The last player who may get a chance and isn't bad on defense is
-Dee Gordon. My fear about Gordon, is that he will be physically abused by a player like Gardner who knows how to use his body to push defenders around.

But fouls on Gordon and Udeze won't hurt us offensively as much.

-Well, final guess is that GM will utilize a combination of these players and play with the one who is most effective.

At least we have options.

[ShockerFever]

I'll be more than disappointed if we only win this game by 10.

[1979Shocker]

Whoever chose Toss-up should be Tossed off of SN.

After the ACU game, there’s no way Marshall’s Plan is overtaken by a bunch of Pirates. This could easily be a 30 point win for us but as is the norm, the walk-ons will see the court at the end of the game because this one will be decided before halftime.

Maybe they thought it was ACU against ECU. That would probably be a pretty competitive game.