WSU VERSUS VCU REMATCH

[Shocker-maniac]

Question for VCU posters

I've watched some highlights of your season and I am very impressed by your team especially the athleticism. My question is how deep do you guys go on your bench? I would think that with your style of play that there is a lot of subbing to keep them fresh. What kind of bench productivity do you see with the Rams?

[shoxlax]

We've played NMSU twice. At the very beginning of the season they came into the Pit and worked us in front of a sold out crowd. At that point, we UNM fans thought that our team just sucked. But it turns out that NMSU is extremely solid.

I've watched them play a few times, granted in the WAC, but they play bigger than they are and seem to always dominate the paint. McKines is an absolute monster with inside/outside game. His beast-mode factor is increasing as the season progresses - virtually unstoppable.

They go to the foul line A LOT, but if they aren't hitting free throws or if your perimeter shots are falling then you can embarrass them. That's how we took our revenge on December 28 in Cruces when we shot our way to a 20 point blowout win.

Personally, I think the Indiana matchup is a toss up. If Indiana does not shoot particularly well, watch the Hoosiers get beat soundly.


P.s., we're all in Portland together. I'll be at WSU-VCU making some noise. Hope to see a large contingent of shocker fans.

Not to hijack this thread, but you kinda wonder why NMSU's coach isn't starting to get his name thrown in the mix for a few jobs. The guy can recruit.

Maybe Stepback can elaborate. BTW, I went with you guys over Beach and all the way to the Elite Eight.

[youvebeenrammed]

I've watched some highlights of your season and I am very impressed by your team especially the athleticism. My question is how deep do you guys go on your bench? I would think that with your style of play that there is a lot of subbing to keep them fresh. What kind of bench productivity do you see with the Rams?

Our first guy off the bench is G Rob Brandenberg, he gives about 20-25 minutes a game. After him we bring in F/G Treveon Graham and G (ballhawk) Briante Weber. Brandenburg and Graham can fill the bucket when hot. Graham is incredibly agressive and gets to the line a lot. Weber is a fantastic defender, who can also slash on the offensive end. After these three minutes fall off a little bit. Backup PG Teddy Okerafor has been getting more minutes recently, but still doesn't get more than 6-7. He's a fantastic passer, but is still getting used to the speed of the college game. He is dramatically improved from the beginning of the year though. He'll relieve Theus occassionally. If our big men get in foul trouble we'll put F David Hinton and F Jared Guest in the game. Guest is a great rebounder but still only a freshman who doesn't get a lot of minutes.

[ABC]

Brandenburg shoots .354 and Graham shots .392, so they must not get hot very often.

[WuDrWu]

If it's all bad, and it all ends tomorrow, man we've had some fun of late.

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/03/12/12/Dye-NCAA-bracket-busters-sleepers-and-fa/landing_msu.html?blockID=686000&feedID=3804

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/03/12/12/Dave-Dyes-2012-NCAA-bracket/streaming_mhsaapop.html?blockID=686006&feedID=8087

[kcshocker11]

If it's all bad, and it all ends tomorrow, man we've had some fun of late.

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/03/12/12/Dye-NCAA-bracket-busters-sleepers-and-fa/landing_msu.html?blockID=686000&feedID=3804

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/03/1...06&feedID=8087

Hope hes right. That would be an amazing ride

[KC Shox]

Bilas has us into the Sweet 16.

He's speaks from both sides of his mouth. Yesterday, he predicted the 5/12 upset would be VCU over the Shox. Like many experts, they feel obligated to pick a Cinderella team. If that mid happens to make it far, then they look good. If that mid doesn't, they weren't supposed to anyway so it doesn't matter to them. In this case, Jay is covering all his basis and it's so transparent.

He's going to gloss himself for picking the 5/12 upset if VCU wins, if the Shox start a streak, he's going to reference his Sweet 16 pick and I told you so will be spewed. C'mon Jay, you can't have it both ways!

[ABC]

He's speaks from both sides of his mouth. Yesterday, he predicted the 5/12 upset would be VCU over the Shox. Like many experts, they feel obligated to pick a Cinderella team. If that mid happens to make it far, then they look good. If that mid doesn't, they weren't supposed to anyway so it doesn't matter to them. In this case, Jay is covering all his basis and it's so transparent.

He's going to gloss himself for picking the 5/12 upset if VCU wins, if the Shox start a streak, he's going to reference his Sweet 16 pick and I told you so will be spewed. C'mon Jay, you can't have it both ways!

I don't think you listened to him very closely.

He said as a joke, if pushed, he might pick the upset based on toughness of the masot; a ram vs. somethat that didn't know what is us (Wu Shock)

[Shox21]

I don't think you listened to him very closely.

He said as a joke, if pushed, he might pick the upset based on toughness of the masot; a ram vs. somethat that didn't know what is us (Wu Shock)

Thank you for clarifying that. I didn't want to say that KC was wrong, but I, unlike some, like Bilas so usually listen when he is speaking and I know I didn't hear him say anything like VCU upsetting WSU. I missed the mascot quote (just didn't have the tube on at the time I guess) but I DEFINITELY heard him say he had Wichita State in his Sweet 16. One can only hope he is right. Now this Dave Dye guy ------

[jocoshock]

Didn't see this posted. The timestamp on the Eagle is 4:22 pm.

Dealing with VCU

http://blogs.kansas.com/shockwaves/

[jocoshock]

He's speaks from both sides of his mouth. Yesterday, he predicted the 5/12 upset would be VCU over the Shox. Like many experts, they feel obligated to pick a Cinderella team. If that mid happens to make it far, then they look good. If that mid doesn't, they weren't supposed to anyway so it doesn't matter to them. In this case, Jay is covering all his basis and it's so transparent.

He's going to gloss himself for picking the 5/12 upset if VCU wins, if the Shox start a streak, he's going to reference his Sweet 16 pick and I told you so will be spewed. C'mon Jay, you can't have it both ways!

These analysts are talking to so many people they can't keep track of what the said 10 minutes before. You are right on target...

[wufan]

Hold on there fellas...Bilas DID pick us to the sweet 16. When he was specifically asked, "Which 12-5 match-up is most likely to end in an upset," he said "VCU over WSU as the Rams defense could force the Shockers into an uncomfortable offensive situation." Then he joking said something about the mascot. Basically, he feels that this is the most intriguing 12-5 match-up due to strength of team and style of play. I'm guessing he's got all of the 5 seeds beating the 12s in his bracket this year.

[Rlh04d]

Saying that the VCU/WSU game is the most likely upset but predicting us to make the Sweet 16 are not mutually exclusive.

I think the Giant Killers series on ESPN did the same thing. However, they only gave VCU a 25% chance to win the game. So even though they think that is the most likely upset, they still have us as a 75% chance to win. Why? Because the other games are statistically marked at less than 25%. I don't get what is hard to see about that.

The consensus is that we should win. But that we are playing the best 12 seed by far, and thus the team most capable of pulling off an upset. Not the better team between us and them, but the better team compared to other 12 seeds.

Personally, I think Temple is the most likely upset, but they got an easy draw.

If I pick the #1 seed most likely to lose in the first round, it doesn't mean there is a chance in hell I think one of them will lose. Just that one is slightly more likely to be upset, even if it is only a 2% chance. I can pick that one but still say all four would make the final four (although I wouldn't say that).

[jocoshock]

Going back an looking at VCU box scores it boils down to two things:
1) Limit turnovers
2) Get to the FT line more than they do and hit our normal percentages.

[RamTough]

I've watched some highlights of your season and I am very impressed by your team especially the athleticism. My question is how deep do you guys go on your bench? I would think that with your style of play that there is a lot of subbing to keep them fresh. What kind of bench productivity do you see with the Rams?

VCU has 3 bench players that will see significant minutes.

Rob Brandenburg is usually first off the bench subbing in for Haley about 3 minutes in. He is a quick defender and a streaky shooter. He hit a terrible slump early in the season and it lasted far too long. The coaches tried tweaking his shot and it failed miserably. His outside shots have no arc but lately he has been on. Had he played a bit better in the CAA final he would have been Tourney MVP instead of just on the All-Tourney team. Brandenburg may not start but is typically on the floor at the end of games.

Treveon Graham is an offensive minded small forward. He has a knack for getting to the rim and gets to the line more times per minute than anyone on the team. He is freakishly strong and typically muscles his way into the lane. He can shoot the 3 but he isn't great at it. Good enough to make you respect it but not great.

Briante Weber is simply a bundle of energy. Offensively he has a decent pull up 15 footer and is a pretty good free throw shooter but his outside shot other than the pull up is awful. He can drive the lane because he is so fast but he is thin and struggles to score on those drives because of his size. Weber is in for his defense and he is something to behold on that end. At least 2 coaches I am aware of told opposing players to not even attempt to dribble against Weber. If you have someone that can penetrate on him he does tend to gamble so you can get to the lane on him at times.

Teddy Okearafor will see spot duty spelling Theus and may see a few minutes in this game but I think this game is too big for him at this point. Jarred Guest and David Hinton will see spot but could play more if our bigs are in foul trouble.

Like other VCU fans I am not pleased with this matchup. While I think you guys are properly seeded (you could argue for a 4) I think VCU is underseeded and should be a 10 or 11. I do like your team and fans and will be rooting for whoever wins this game from here on out.

Best of luck..... after the game