WSU vs Creighton GAME THREAD

[shockmonster]

I replayed some of the game and I don't think that the game plan or coaching strategy was at fault. However, execution was a problem especially in the second half. I think that the players that played were our best players and the most ready for a game of this caliber. When EO played in the first half, they backed off of guarding him and he had an unguarded lay up and still couldn't convert. Anacreon isn't ready to play in a game like this and would have gotten eaten up inside. You don't experiment with players you aren't confident in.

A few problems that could have made the difference for a Shocker win:
1. In the second half, we didn't do a good job of stopping the dribble drive especially from Young and Gibbs. We weren't as aggressive and sometimes we pushed them to the baseline where there wasn't any help.
2. Stutz wasn't an offensive factor down low and missed several easy shots and didn't post up aggressively. We have to have offense from Stutz to be successful. Too much pressure on Hall and they were doubleing him down low.
3. Murry wasn't aggressive to the rim and driving the ball. They took him out of his strength. Really,
If we just do a better job of any of these things, the last few minutes of missed three balls aren't a facto

[another shocker]

Anacreon should have got some minutes.

[shockmonster]

Anacreon should have got some minutes.

We disagree. He does some good things in blow out games and he is athletic. We don't see him in practice. This isn't a game to experiment. You win and lose with those that the coach has confidence in.

[shockerofandover0943]

11-43 from the 5 seniors tonight. That is where the game was lost. That is all. Either those 5 find a way to step up and find ways to win, or it is another NIT trip for them.

It was the same old show, and I felt like all of our seniors played their parts perfectly. They refuse to step up during the regular season. The only person who didn't get the memo about not showing up was Carl Hall, and I was very proud to have him on our team tonight.

[WSUwatcher]

Very disappointing game and effort. Carl Hall was the best player on the floor -- for either team (who'd have thunk it?) -- and yet the Shocker seniors were bad enough that he couldn't bail them out. I'd say "who'd have thunk it" about that, too, except that at some point even a confirmed optimist like me starts to wonder if these guys will ever be able to be counted on in a big regular season home game. I thought the UNLV win might have been a positive sign in that regard, but maybe not.

Two guys need to have their hands on the ball every time WSU has a half-court possession with the game on the line: Ragland and Hall. Not necessarily Murry, who again diisappointed when it mattered most; if WSU is going to play offense and defense late in the game with Murry and Cotton, they may want to consider reversing them and using Cotton on offense. And certainly not necessarily Stutz, who might as well have stayed home. It's time to show up every night, big guy.

Still, it's two games in and way too early to panic or overreact. There are sixteen to go, and the Shocks are capable of winning in Omaha if need be. Mainly, they now just need to put this one behind them (after first watching some film to remember the importance of going inside-out) and take care of business. The key is still to avoid losing to the bottom five. Do that; go at least 4-4 against CU, UNI, MSU, and IndSt; and get to the finals in St. Louis -- and they'll be fine come March. Who knows? One of these times, if they get to the Valley tournament finals, they may even win it and render everything else irrelevant (although not by shooting 33% overall and sub-20% on too many threes).

The sun will rise tomorrow, even though it's disappointing to go from .6234 and 20th (Warren Nolan) to .6096 and 29th. It absolutely was an opportunity lost, yet again. But there will be more opportunities to come.

[pinstripers]

It seems pointless to pay officials if they will not call fouls.

That was the roughest game that I have ever watched in person.

I assume Toure has the flu.

Stutz was awful. The game was too rough for him.

Would have liked to see Cotton with more minutes.

No earthly idea why Murry fired up a bad shot from the corner with 30 to go on the clock, but that was the end of any chance we had.

Creighton is better than I thought.

A whole lot of idiots called Coach Jans of the Locker Room show. I was ashamed.

[JJClamdip]

Antoine Young grabbed a rebound from Stutz, head to head.

Stutz should have pulled that ball away with his arm attached but he is just a big *****, if it had been Carl Hall, Youngs arm would have been broken.

[another shocker]

Embarrassing to watch that, JJ. That one play defined the game for me. or..

WSU shot 28.6% in the second half. my,my..

[ripemupshocks]

Well they HAVE to do something now.. NIT beckons. Yes, that sh*t sandwich looked like Alabama and Temple all over again. Stop peeing down your legs, guys.. it's easier than you think it is.

Exactly what I was thinking. Just like Alabama and Temple. Poor defense. Poor shot selection. Poor movement without the ball leading to poor ball movement.

ALSO, I don't make a habit of blaming the players for bad play. I prefer to put the blame the guys making all the money, so keep that in mind when I say this; Watching GS play is sometimes like watching the rebirth of FiFi. Halfway through his SR season and He's still soft. Somebody needs to teach that kid to quit screwing around with those one or two foot bunnies. He's 7'0 tall, 255 Lbs. By God act like it. Catch the ball down low, spin around and slam it home with both hands. And when the defender is laying there on the floor trying like hell to dislodge the ball from his mouth, look down on him with that; Because I'm The Baddest SOB To Ever Walk Thru The Valley, look. Maybe 3G could write a check to the X-Man to come in here for one day, and teach GS that look.

[1979Shocker]

Stutz should have pulled that ball away with his arm attached but he is just a big *****, if it had been Carl Hall, Youngs arm would have been broken.

Stutz is the way he is. He's just not that athletic. He can be aggressive sometimes, but he's not athletic. He'll always have problems against big athletic players. Luckily there aren't that many in the league.

Here's what I wish Stutz could have developed during his first three years here: 1) a jump hook. It seems like he gets his shot blocked a lot, especially against athletic players. The jump hook would eliminate a lot of that. 2) a mid-range jump shot. It seems like the only shots he takes are either at the basket or at the 3-pt line. He needs to stay completely away from the 3-pt shots unless the shot clock is about to expire.

Also, does Stutz have a jump shot? It seems like all his shots are set shots.

[1972Shocker]

Stutz is the way he is. He's just not that athletic. He can be aggressive sometimes, but he's not athletic. He'll always have problems against big athletic players. Luckily there aren't that many in the league.

Here's what I wish Stutz could have developed during hisa first three years here: 1) a jump hook. It seems like he gets his shot blocked a lot, especially against athletic players. The jump hook would eliminate a lot of that. 2) a mid-range jump shot. It seems like the only shots he takes are either at the basket or at the 3-pt line. He needs to stay completely away from the 3-pt shots unless the shot clock is about to expire.

Also, does Stutz have a jump shot? It seems like all his shots are set shots.

Regarding Stutz not having a jump shot refer back to your 1st sentence. He does not and, as you say, he is what he is and that is not very athletic. If he did have a jump shot it probably would be unnoticeable in terms of elevation. I agree with you about developing a hook shot, jump or otherwise. I've always found it interesting that not many, if any, big men have developed a consistent hook after Kareem made himself a Top 10 player all-time with his sky hook, one of the most effective, unstoppable moves all-time.

Perhaps Kareem's shot is just much more difficult to master then he made it loook.

Garrett is a very fine young man, but when it comes to basketball he is a finesse player. He simply is not a banger nor an above the rim kind of player. Still, in the right match ups he can be very effective at times. In a real physical game against a physical team he can look overmatched on occassion. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of great options behind Garrett at this point other than going small.

[pinstripers]

Game would have changed if EO would have charged into Erkel and stuffed the ball, rather than clang it off the board.

[shockmonster]

Regarding Stutz not having a jump shot refer back to your 1st sentence. He does not and, as you say, he is what he is and that is not very athletic. If he did have a jump shot it probably would be unnoticeable in terms of elevation. I agree with you about developing a hook shot, jump or otherwise. I've always found it interesting that not many, if any, big men have developed a consistent hook after Kareem made himself a Top 10 player all-time with his sky hook, one of the most effective, unstoppable moves all-time.

Perhaps Kareem's shot is just much more difficult to master then he made it loook.

Garrett is a very fine young man, but when it comes to basketball he is a finesse player. He simply is not a banger nor an above the rim kind of player. Still, in the right match ups he can be very effective at times. In a real physical game against a physical team he can look overmatched on occassion. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of great options behind Garrett at this point other than going small.

Stutz has been pretty consistent this year. One game does not make a trend. He did fine against the UNLV post men and all three of them were big and 6'10 or 6'11. Last night, for the most part he lacked aggressiveness and was thrown off of his game, especially in the second half. He made one good strong move when he drove from the top of the key and made a three point play in the first half. He made another strong move or two but missed the close shots. But most of time last night, he was just not effective.

[shock-it-to-me]

another really huge moment was our last possession of the first half, we're up 11 and could have made it 13 or 14, but we didn't even get a legitimate shot off, then Creighton comes down and gets the 3 pt play, and now its only 8.

[Kung Wu]

If Toure had stopped the first three offensive rebounds, we'd be talkin' about a win right now.