Missouri Southern State (Exh.) at Wichita State Pregame/Game Discussion

[ShockerExpress]

In the moment it sounded good you dyk pooss.

I meant to quote that dummy ShockTheHeck. Not you. My bad.

[1972Shocker]

Starters = 41 points
Bench = 49 points

Did not see the game but from what portion of the game I was able to listen to sounds like there was some good and some bad. Should be a good teaching and learning experience.

I too liked HCIB's post-game interview.

[shocktown]

Glaring stat of the game…

Grant 18 minutes +24
Porter 18 minutes -2

[1972Shocker]

One thing about a 6:00 pm start is that it makes 9:00 pm seem late. And next Monday this will only by 8:00 pm.

[pie n eye]

I was a little unsure about what I saw at Shocker Madness. The first several minutes of this game looked unsettlingly similar with the added “bonus” of last years rebounding struggles.

But then Qua Grant came in and provided a breath of fresh air. Ok, I can’t say for sure that was the exact turning point but the team played much better after the first 5-7 minutes and maintained it the rest of the game with a few exceptions.

I’m much more optimistic about what I saw overall tonight.

[wufan]

For those in attendance, did Pohto look as good in the second half as he sounded?

[SubGod22]

Did Ricks and Abbide play? Haven't seen any comments on them

[Stickboy46]

Did Ricks and Abbide play? Haven't seen any comments on them

Ricks did. He look like a freshman .... A freshman with potential but still work to do.

I don't think Abbide played

[Stickboy46]

For those in attendance, did Pohto look as good in the second half as he sounded?

He was pretty solid on defense and chasing boards. Nothing from an offensive stand point besides some spot up 3s and a couple put backs. He did have one dunk where the defender went for a steal and he had an open one step dunk.

[1972Shocker]

Did Ricks and Abbide play? Haven't seen any comments on them

Ricks played 7.5 minutes. 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal. +11 +/-. Not bad for a true freshman.

Abbide sat out with an ankles sprain. HCIB said he was about 70%. Maybe would have played him if he was at least 80%.

[WuDrWu]

It's tough (at my advanced age) to remember all the details when I can't go back and watch the game again and break down everything.

That being said:

1. The crowd was better than I expected. Tons of corporate seats down low empty, but selling 8K plus and having around 4K+ in their seats, on the 1st, on a Monday when the Chiefs are playing, on a cold day and at 6pm.....I was initially discouraged but I think that's pretty good, and I thought the crowd was decent, all things considered.

2. I've been told there's a new staff running games, so there will probably be an adjustment period with a variety of things. The team entrance was botched. The hype video was sic but you couldn't hear it completely. JMO, but the cheer and dance team were ON POINT.

3. Did I miss the anthem? I got there about 9 minutes prior to tip off. Didn't hear the anthem.

4. There were some good and some bad about tonight.

5. Coach Marshall, if you're reading, we love you and miss you. I hope you're living a kick ass life every single ****ing day Gregg.

6. Coach Brown is doing well with what he has to work with.....but old farts like me are going to have to get used to things being done a different way. It's just going to be, and that's fine and good Shocker fans need to support these guys and this coach with the same gusto and vigor in which we supported the previous coach. And I loved his post game interview. There's really nothing not to like about IB. I hope he's wildly successful.

7. This is a small team. REALLY small when you compare to good D1 teams. Yes, Nova won a title with a small team. We aren't Nova.

8. Those of you concerned about rebounding.....you better buckle up. I'd have to go back 20+ years to remember as poor a rebounding team. And that might not be nearly far enough.

9. Again, we're going to have to learn to live with that. This team isn't going to win sending 5 to the D boards, then walking the ball up the court. They just aren't. We're going to be most successful when we're running and utilizing our athleticism. And that means releasing a guy or 4 when the shot goes up. In many ways, that's ok. You give up something to get something else.

10. Yes, it was brutally ugly early. But you have to give them credit for putting things together in spurts at least. This team is very unlikely to put 35-6 runs on people, we just can't defend well enough in the half court, and most teams aren't going to run with us the way these guys did tonight.

11. Tyson should NEVER turn down an in rhythm jumper, no matter the situation. If he's open and in rhythm then it needs to be shot.

12. I think we shot 50% or better. That's encouraging to me. We took some back shots, so making half means we can shoot it a little bit.

13. The one thing that did discourage me was the way 2 or 3 players, that we need to count on, carried themselves. Their body language was not good.

14. I was impressed with Grant. Strong. Can finish and shoot it. Needs to see the floor better. He's going to help us, a lot.

15. The surprise though, of the evening had to be Kenny Pohto. Folks, this young man is the real deal. Yes he needs to get stronger and we're going to be forced to put him in some uncomfortable positions out of necessity, but he can PLAY. And not just because he can shoot it. Which he really can. But he has a feel for the game that almost no incoming freshman has, and I'd venture that almost none of his teammates possess, at least not at his level. He has feel. It's natural. He moves his feet well and understands positioning. He understands the importance of reversing the ball. It's natural. Seriously, this guy is game ready right now. He's WAY better than I ever dreamed he'd be. And he's a big. He's one of the best passers on the team. He's one of the best shooters on the team. He's decent defending in the half court. He can help with the press. Guys need to learn how to use his pick (and he needs to get better setting it) but that will come with time. If you haven't figured it out, I am impressed with number 11.

16. Too many of the guys seem to forget it's a team game. Especially the younger players (not surprising) BUT Kenny is NOT one of those guys.

17. If we play Michigan, they will make us weep, uncontrollably.

18. We will need to make a lot of 3s to be successful, and I think we will make a lot of 3s. These kids can shoot it. There are enough makers out there.

19. Please, PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU....if NOTHING else, dribble with a purpose folks. 4 between the legs, 2 in and out burgers, 2 hezzies & 4 bings while not moving a foot may make you feel good about your hype video, but it's losing basketball.

20. There's plenty to work on and there were some good things too. Not a bad beginning. If we can pass and see the floor better, we could be pretty good.

[ShockTalk]

Surprise of the game for me was Pohto; 9 points, 3-5 FG, 2-2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks (I think he had 3), 1 foul, a +15 and all in 18 minutes.

On the other hand, I was not very pleased with some of Udeze's play: 0-2 3pt (they were UGLY), 22 minutes, 3 rebounds and 3 TOs.

Porter got off to a bad start and had 2 or 3 TOs early (finished with 4). On the plus side 4-4 FG, 1-1 3pt, and 6 rebounds (tied with Jackson and Pohto).

While Jackson did not score, he was a +21 with 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, no TOs or PFs.

ETN, I thought, was just OK for him. 3-10 FG, 2-7 3pt, but did have 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 TO.

Council finished strong after a slow start. 15 points, 5-6 FG, 1-2 3pt, 4 rebounds, a block, a steal, and 2 TOs in 20 minutes.

[WuDrWu]

For those in attendance, did Pohto look as good in the second half as he sounded?

I don't know what he sounded like on the radio, but I would speculate he was better than he sounded. He's really really good. He's going to play a lot. And he will at times be a real problem for the opposition.

[pie n eye]

All the usual caveats about it’s only one exhibition game, etc…

-I’ll just echo what everyone else has already said about Qua Grant. He was the newcomer I was the most excited about. Everything I saw out of him tonight reinforced that excitement. He’s built like a running back, has smooth handles that he uses to break down the defense and score or dish, his body control to finish at the rim is impressive and showed the ability to stay between his man and the basket on defense while pestering the ball handler with strong hands. It’s going to be tough to keep him off the court.

-He still needs to put on some weight and strength but Kenny Pohto was as fundamentally sound and smooth as advertised. He played good positional defense, I don’t remember him missing a box out and he had a couple blocks and affected a couple more shots. Oh, and he knocked down a three and hit all his free throws. Can he do it against bigger and better players? We’ll see but I’m encouraged by what I saw tonight.

-Dexter was aggressive going to the rim and hit a three. Hopefully this means we don’t see a slow start again.

-Ricky is still an athletic freak and had some nice post up moves. He’s still pretty loose with his handle but he scored from every level.

-Joe was as advertised and is going to fill in quite nice for Trey. He hit his open look and made a nice dish to a teammate for an open three.

-Porter was easily outplayed by Grant BUT after a terrible start he turned it around and had some nice moments. Way too many turnovers.

-I don’t know how soon but Jalen Ricks is going to be a player.

[WstateU]

Did Ricks and Abbide play? Haven't seen any comments on them

I wasn’t at the game, so my ears are my eyes.

Ricks played. Mike and Dave said he has all the tools to be a big-time player. He was fouled on a three attempt late in the game and calmly made all three free-throws; that’s a positive in my book.

Abbide didn’t play and is recovering from a sprained ankle (currently at 70%); coach IB said he’s a Dexter and Ricky type athlete. We may struggle at times, but seem to have a handful of ‘long’ thoroughbreds.