Wichita State vs Temple Game Thread

[El_Wu]

I was at the game and yes Marshall did make that mistake for telling ES to foul.

[Stickboy46]

IMO the crowd was off our game because of all the boneheaded turnovers by WSU, Temple constantly going one on one and throwing up circus shots that went in, dumb fouls by WSU, guys losing their man and allowing easy layups, uneasiness because we all knew what a loss would mean, and a general lack of belief in this team to pull out a close win.

I made the comment on the AAC board that Temple is much better at making trash shots than us. Both teams were taking them early on .. Temple was just making them.

[Topshock]

I was at the game and yes Marshall did make that mistake for telling ES to foul.

I suspect he told him to foul if the second free throw was missed and we were up 3, not to foul if it was made and we were up 4. Numbers are hard.

[BostonWu]

If you listened to Bruce and Jacob this morning the entitled fanbase needs to stfu. Pay no attention to how we're playing...we're a shoe in

[ShockTalk]

Turnovers, and points off turnovers.

This is part of it. At least over the last 3 games, of which we won 2 games, we have lost all 3 of the following categories in all 3 games: 2nd chance points, fast break points, and points off turnovers.

Totals for all 3 games:

2nd Chance Points: WSU 12 Opp 28

Fast Break Points: WSU 23 Opp 45

Points Off TOs: WSU 35 Opp 55

[Shockm]

I honestly don't know what to take away from last night's game.
I felt like we should have lost. In fact if not for a couple of calls going our way late (Rose was absolutely hammered on his arm on a jumper late with no call) we probably lose, to a bottom of the league team, on our home court, in a game that had to mean 10 times more to our team than theirs?

Calls went against us too. The goal tend in the first half was trash. I don’t think the referees were better one way than the other.

[im4wsu]

I think by today's standards they are bigs and I would include Antoine Carr and Xavier McDaniel. Antoine played inside and outside because he had to in different situations, and X played mostly inside but he could step outside too. Cliff and Sasha both played as much or more with their back to the basket and guarding bigs too. There were never 4 out and 1 in during those days. That is a recent phenomenon.

Bob Hodgson had a beautiful baseline hook with either hand from either side of the basket.

[im4wsu]

It is becoming clear we will have to take the bad with the good with ES as far as individual play is concerned. Tremendous physical talent and effort but little self ability to control it. My bigger concern with him, is the potential this type of player has to rub team mates the wrong way.

While GS is getting the headlines for being disgruntled, I believe ES has a lot to do with why he is disgruntled. Body language, particularly at timeouts, indicates there is not a lot of love for ES from GS and several other players.

During one time out late, ES and I another player were sitting at the end of the bench while the rest of the team were huddling with coaches. It may have been TW.

[JVShocker]

During one time out late, ES and I another player were sitting at the end of the bench while the rest of the team were huddling with coaches. It may have been TW.

Not an explanation, but ES was ill this past week. From what I was told he wasn't sure if he was even going to be able to go Thursday. Hopefully a better game from him next time.

[1979Shocker]

I looked at the goal tending call in the first half that they called against JE. It sure didn't look like a goal tend from what I could see from the video. It looks like the referee that called it was the one out front, who would have had the worse angle to see whether the ball was still in the cylinder.

[WSUwatcher]

I suspect he told him to foul if the second free throw was missed and we were up 3, not to foul if it was made and we were up 4. Numbers are hard.

Hope you're right, Top, because that would make perfect sense, whereas the actual play -- about the only thing WSU could have done in that spot to give themselves a chance to blow the game, possibly even in regulation -- made none whatsoever. It would also be a good gesture by Marshall to take the heat off his guy by taking blame for any confusion that might have arisen, regardless of how implausible it might be that anyone could actually get confused in that situation.

In any case, as someone else has observed, turnovers and points off them, plus the FT disparity resulting from Temple's superior aggressiveness most of the game, were clearly the story of the night and what's been described as an uneven crowd performance. I'm out of town and was listening online, so I didn't experience it in person, but I've certainly experienced games like that before, and it IS tough to stay excited under such circumstances. It was also interesting to hear Mike Kennedy, in real time, point to how the final and ultimately successful Shocker comeback arose from WSU's taking on the role of aggressor the last few minutes. Maybe they can find a way from here on out to reconcile aggressiveness with taking care of the ball. If so, this may yet become a season to remember, even though it certainly doesn't look that way at the moment.

Not a lot of eye tests being passed by the Shocks lately, but the good news is that at least they finally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat instead of the other way around. That's a step in the right direction.

[shoxilla]

I don't know about you but I love the roller coaster that is a Shockernet game thread like this one:
Page 1 - Masterful Kung Wu intro followed by 3 likes and a Jeeez
Page 2 - 1 ea Jeeez, MVC, horrendous
Page 3 - 1 ea done, horrible, tv bailout, and 1st WTF
Page 4 - regressed, deficient, BAD, and first Way to Go!
Page 5 - damn good, high ceiling, embarrassed
Page 6 - consistent, open, dunked
Page 7 - playground, intensity, Good feeling, good looks
Page 8 - atomic bomb, weak, TV bailout-back in, Ugh
Page 9 - close game, struggle, black hole, missed layups
Page 10 - brutal calls, and-1s, NIT
Page 11 - first Relax, chucking, turnover, inept
Page 12 - first troll sighting, ouch, grim, drought
Page 13 - only down 4, stops, we gotta call, refs hate us
Page 14 - WIDE open, Holy carp, Lets go!
Page 15 - late clock magic, My heart, got lucky, jacked up, Dazzle me....
Page 16 - integral, huge, redemption, sorcery, FOUL THEM!!!!!, oh dear God, 2nd WTF
Page 17 - Wow what a dummy, L........O.........L, Whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww,Well done Shox!!, We are idiots.
Page 18 - Huge win, Blamed it on the cat, etc etc

Folks at the game can't imagine what they are missing!