Official WSU vs VCU Game Thread - NCAA Tournament Second Round

[1972Shocker]

Well, Garrett had a distinctive end to his college career that he will never forget. He will only wish he could.

Yeah, hate to see such great young man go out on such a sour note.

Still, it was a very good year. Thank you and good luck to this very fine senior class.

We apparently peaked just a little too soon at the end of the year.

[wu_shizzle]

I know it's an excuse, but I hated this match-up. I would have preferred any other 12 seed than VCU. Just a terrible match-up for us.

[Shoxfan11]

VCU was 6-22 from 3pt; we were 5-17. Incredibly close stats across the board.... We just dug ourselves a hole (again like last year) that we couldn't get out of... Disappointing, but I am at least glad to see they fought to the end.

oh yea.... Hall had a double double with 10 and 10... Seems like several of his best games were Ls for the team..

I'm an optimist just like you... but there's absolutely nothing good to really be glad about related to this game, minus the fact that we had a great season and a clean program. Really, really sucks that our season has to end this way.

[RoyalShock]

Some of you seem to forget there is another coach telling his players how to defend that last play and they executed better than our guys executed. We're not likely to learn what that last play was supposed to look like.

But I agree that we lost this game in the first half, and that was a total team effort. Have to play two good halves if you want to win in the dance.

Kudos to Cotton for his valuable minutes. Hall was the beast we wanted to see game-in, game-out. Garrett will replay that missed bunny 50 times a day for the next month. Kyles' explosion got us back into it and Ragland did all he could. Murry hit a big three to give us the lead and just missed a few he normally hits. I really figured Williams' speed would be an asset tonight but he was mostly a non-factor, except for 2 turnovers.

[ABC]

You are telling me it takes over 28 minutes to adjust your game to the tempo of the opponent and that isn't coaching?

You're telling me your last shot of the season is a kick into the backcourt with 12 seconds to go and a desperation shot by a 7' all after coming out of time out?

Give me a frickin' break.

HCGM had his lunch handed to him and it was obvious.

Please let us know when you apply for a coaching position.

[ShockRef]

You know, I can't say Stutz had the best game ever, that much is obvious. However, our program has been indelibly enriched by having a person of his character at our school. I can't understand how someone would be so willing to let him go.

Couldn't agree more.

His character is off the charts and then some.

And the last shot was not his fault. He should have never been put in that position and it is not fair to pin it on him at all.

But you can't keep missing 2 footers, especially when your 7'.

[Dshocker]

You don't think they know that? I said it all came down to execution and we didn't tonight. I guarantee you no one feels worse than the men in the locker room right now. And they have a lot to be proud of moving on in whatever they decide to do. It's just a basketball game man. Would of loved to see them win, sure. We all would. But there is no reason to hang your head and feel sorry for yourself.

Sorry, man. Respectfully, I disagree. They played scared. They can be proud of a championship last season but not proud of a half-arsed performance in the NCAA tournament this season. If you believe it's "just a basketball game", then you're clearly not the same kind of fan that I (or most of the other folks on this board) am.

[AndShock]

Stutz is trending on twitter and it isn't very nice.

[TheYeti]

Let the meltdown begin.

Ok, half an hour to cool down. (ask my wife, it was ugly) Great season guys. Always moving forward. NIT last year, NCAA appearance this year. $*&tty draw. Still moving forward. Great recruiting class coming in next year. Have a beer, take a deep breath, and relax. Now if I were a REALLY good sport, I'd wish VCU well the rest of the tourney, but alas that I cannot do.

[ShockerFever]

Did Williams play anymore after that double team tie up? I didn't remember seeing him in there anymore.

No, but other players were out there after turning the ball over multiple times. I don't understand why a player like Williams does something wrong, he's in the doghouse the rest of the game. But if certain other players do the same, it's no biggie.

[XManCometh]

Coaches on this board are marvelous. I'm sure EVERY time you draw up a play in your college coaching careers, it is ran to perfection, and the guy you try to get the ball to is always open, and he always makes it.

I'm not going to argue about this with you. I thought the play was ****, you thought it was marvelous. Agree to disagree.

[jocoshock]

Debatable. Shaka seemed to completely own Gregg for 28 minutes, then Kyles resuscitated us single-handedly.

Love HCGM, but Shaka's out-X&O'd twice now pretty hard.

Total BS. VCU played their game plan that they played all year. Our players did not respond in the first half. They did in the second, but it was too little too late. HCGM was not outcoached. LIke you said, Kyles got us (his teamates) back in the game. This one was on the players... much as it pains me to say it....

[ShockerPrez]

BS we should have won and we didnt. Sugar coat it anyway you want. We didnt come to play in the first half. We had them in the 2nd half and choked. Choked.

Whatever. Good season, but underachieved. We shouldbe to the point where we are judged on our performance in the NCAA and we failed. Sorry.

[NCAABound]

Another missed opportunity during the Marshall era. They seem to outnumber the made opportunities by a wide margin.

[ShockerFever]

Well, in the biggest game of the Marshall era, it happened. Does it really matter if it happened before?

Yes. Because if it hasn't happened before, it likely doesn't happen again in the biggest game of the era. Can you please elaborate on how the last play went down?