WSU VERSUS VCU REMATCH

[ShockerFever]

Well, the NCAA tourney has only been around for 73 years, and didn't have 32 teams until 1975. This is our 7th tournament (and best seed since seeding began in 1979) in the past 38 years. We would have had two more higher seeds except for the probation in 82 and 83. We had VERY good teams in the 60's that didn't make the NCAA tournament because only the conference winner was invited (and the MVC champ also happened to be the best team in the nation). In the 60's and early 80's we had a very blueblood like success that makes an invite seem "second rate."

Ok, so how many appearances in the last 20 years? Would this season be a complete failure if we lose our first game?

I'll be pissed and unhappy that we lost but I don't think that would erase the season that we've had.

Come on, stop acting like we're Kentucky.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Correct me if I'm wrong but this is only our 9th NCAA appearance out of what? Over 100 years of basketball? Let's not pretend like this is some common thing we've done because it isn't. I said this is "one" of the greatest times in our program's history. If you don't, then I guess that means we haven't had a lot of great times.

We're also a 5 seed, the highest seed weve ever been for a tournament. Again, I think that is something great. This season has been a great one, despite not having even played a game in the dance yet.

Wow, I'm embarrassed... and we have guests on this forum. Perhaps it's one of the greatest times in our program's history if our history starts around 1991. Watching four years of X-man (the first NCAA player to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding) tops anything that has happened in the last 20 years. During that era we knocked KU out of the tournament in the Sweet Sixteen (one of their top 10 most painful losses to date), garnered a pre-season #1 national ranking, went to an Elite Eight, had 3-4 NBA players on our roster at one time (several were NBA all-stars), and most likely would have been a favorite to win it all if we hadn't been banned from post-season play (thanks Kansas).

I'm not even going to bring up pre-1980's, which arguably might be a time period that was loaded with more stars than even the 80's. Not to mention that during that time period, the NIT was often more prestigious than the NCAAs. All I'm saying is, to call getting invited to a tournament with nearly 70 teams one of the greatest times in our program's history with no All-Americans or NBA lottery players on our roster causes a lot of fans who have been around longer than you, to wince.

Respect the tradition, all of it... and it spans 100 years.


T


...:cool:

[1979Shocker]

The 10 first-round NCAA tournament games you can't miss

1. (5) Wichita State vs. (12) VCU: The team that made the run to the Final Four last season matches up with one of the trendy picks to do so this season. Shaka Smart’s Rams believe in “havoc”, a style of play that brings about a frenzied level of play within each possession. In Wichita State they’ll have to deal with a team that’s got good guards (led by Joe Ragland) and takes care of the basketball. Gregg Marshall also has a seven-footer in Garrett Stutz, who was a First Team All-MVC selection. D.J. Haley and Juvonte Reddic will need to play well inside if the Rams are to win, and the battle to control the tempo will be a game within the game.

[rrshock]

Hence the reason it is in the prime spot on CBS.

[C0|dB|00ded]

The thought of us playing a team that employs SIU-C's "Ugly Ball" methodology is disappointing. I would like to apologize ahead of time to the college basketball fans of the world for what will most likely be the ugliest game of the tournament... *sigh*


T


...:cool:

[Mr. Obvious]

Good luck Shocks in the NCAA. Hope the MVC gets mutiple wins!

[wufan]

Ok, so how many appearances in the last 20 years? Would this season be a complete failure if we lose our first game?

I'll be pissed and unhappy that we lost but I don't think that would erase the season that we've had.

Come on, stop acting like we're Kentucky.

You asked for a correction "if you were wrong." In the past 20 years we've had 4 invites. We were gawd awful for 12 of those. This season would not be a "fail" if we lost in the first game. I'd also be unhappy about the result, but not the season.

Funny you bring up Kentucky, because the two periods I mentioned in my post (mid-sixties and early eighties) we were basically Kentucky. Similar number of appearances and similar success in those years (no national titles, a final four and an elite 8). I believe that Kentucky had another final four in there (1984 maybe), but I think the Shockers could have expected similar results in 82 and 83.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Ok, so how many appearances in the last 20 years? Would this season be a complete failure if we lose our first game?

I'll be pissed and unhappy that we lost but I don't think that would erase the season that we've had.

Come on, stop acting like we're Kentucky.

WTF?!! You need to hush. Seriously.

If you want to become a fan of teams that get invited to the tournament, be a Creighton fan. They are the king of one and dones. For this year to even be relevant in the scheme of things, we need at least a Sweet Sixteen. Wichita State has a history of competing nationally in multiple sports. Nobody that knows anything about this program gives much weight to how many times we beat NIU, Drake, Evansville, et al. in a season. Wins against most of the Valley programs only provides relief.


T


...:cool:

[ShockerPrez]

Id be disappointed if we lost, but believe that this is going to be the start of several appearances in a row.

[C0|dB|00ded]

You asked for a correction "if you were wrong." In the past 20 years we've had 4 invites. We were gawd awful for 12 of those. This season would not be a "fail" if we lost in the first game. I'd also be unhappy about the result, but not the season.Funny you bring up Kentucky, because the two periods I mentioned in my post (mid-sixties and early eighties) we were basically Kentucky. Similar number of appearances and similar success in those years (no national titles, a final four and an elite 8). I believe that Kentucky had another final four in there (1984 maybe), but I think the Shockers could have expected similar results in 82 and 83.

History lessons like these should be repeated often. Outside pressure from the BCS cartel can take their toll on a program like Wichita State which finds itself trapped in a mid-major conference. When I see "knowledgeable" WSU fans marginalize the tradition of our program as if they are mouthpieces for the ones aligned against us, I shed a tear.

I know this guy does too...


wushock_trans.gif


T


...:cool:

[thegalen]

The thought of us playing a team that employs SIU-C's "Ugly Ball" methodology is disappointing. I would like to apologize ahead of time to the college basketball fans of the world for what will most likely be the ugliest game of the tournament... *sigh*


T


...:cool:

Hah. Y'all aren't UNI and we aren't SIU-C. Shaka inherited and expanded upon a system built by a fellow graduate of the Billy Donovan School for Assistants who you'd probably rather not have had to play this year. Our Defensive Scoring, steals and TOs will keep us in this game. Your margins and Offensive Scoring are excellent, but I'm not worried about being out-rebounded if we can push the tempo into a full-court sprinting match following every miss. If we do this and use mismatches to draw contact from Stutz in the space created by perimeter defense, then we have a solid shot at the W. That is if we hit our FTs (which we have not been of late). Either way, I'll be rooting for the winner of this game to make a run. :D

[WuDrWu]

UNLV (remember those guys beat a little ole team called North Carolina?) thought they could run with us too.

We're NOT UNI, in more ways than 1. Get into a transition game with us at your own risk. This WSU team is as surgical as any team I can remember in transition.

[rialaigh]

The facts are

WSU
POINTS PER GAME 77.7 15th OVERALL

REBOUNDS PER GAME 38.0 28th OVERALL

ASSISTS PER GAME 14.8 45th OVERALL

FIELD GOAL PCT .485 13th OVERALL

VCU
POINTS PER GAME 68.4 169th OVERALL

REBOUNDS PER GAME 33.7 215th OVERALL

ASSISTS PER GAME 12.2 225th OVERALL

FIELD GOAL PCT .410 286th OVERALL


ESPN has a 85% favorite to win which is better than most of the 4 and 3 seeds chances...

a 20+ point win would not shock me.

[NattyMat]

Looking forward to this one Shocker fans. Was prepared to root for you guys to go far until we drew you guys in our first round game. Win or lose, I hope whoever takes this one wins the whole damn thing.

I love your team's talent and experience, and love just how under the radar we're flying right now. I don't think it's crazy to say we're better than we were last year just as you guys are (better record, better RPI, better defense). Hope to see a few of you in Portland!

[VCUJamaicanGuy]

The facts are

WSU
POINTS PER GAME 77.7 15th OVERALL
REBOUNDS PER GAME 38.0 28th OVERALL
ASSISTS PER GAME 14.8 45th OVERALL
FIELD GOAL PCT .485 13th OVERALL

VCU
POINTS PER GAME 68.4 169th OVERALL
REBOUNDS PER GAME 33.7 215th OVERALL
ASSISTS PER GAME 12.2 225th OVERALL
FIELD GOAL PCT .410 286th OVERALL

ESPN has a 85% favorite to win which is better than most of the 4 and 3 seeds chances...
a 20+ point win would not shock me.

Remember that game we played against GTown last year? GTown was a 73% favorite to win. ESPN's "Accuscore" ran 10,000 simulations and VCU won about 100 of them. Just a little fodder for you guys to consider...