2022-23 Expectations for Shocker Basketball – “Falltime Edition”

[calfan]

I meant team.

[Regul8te]

Watched a practice last week. Color me cautiously optimistic. The coaches have a lot of work to do with the new faces but there is a lot of talent and athleticism. I think the coaching staff succeeded in bringing in better shooters. The players were enthusiastic, plus the coaching staff was animated and vocal. Still, with all the new faces this team will take some time. I suspect we will have some early unexpected results, good and bad.

This mirrors what I saw a couple months ago. You can tell the coaches are coaching for their jobs.

[Regul8te]

I guess a repeat is in order for those having trouble comprehending.
If Ballard was making the grade and was determined by the FSU coaching staff as a fixture on their team and they had confidence would make a significant contribution, he would still be there.
He isn't and there is a legit reason why not.

Collegiate coaching staffs recruit players they feel will be major contributors on their team.
Sometimes they swing and miss. When they do, they wish the player all the best in their future endeavors.
Happens all the time.
Hey, Ol Fogler said that Phil Mendelson from Colorado was sure fire all conference stud. Said he "got hard just watching him play!"
We all know how that turned out. About the same as the Euro trash twins, Darrin Duggar and John Askew.
Like I said, happens all the time.

That is all.

Dude you said “A bunch of castoffs” and have only referenced Ballard. You can’t use the word “bunch” to describe one or even two people.

[shock-it-to-me]

I meant team.

A: you can edit your posts. Don’t need to create a whole new one to correct your spelling
B: you said only two players return with experience. Chandler does have WSU experience. No it wasn’t last year but experience none the less

[ShockRef]

Somehow, I have a feeling that a 7’ FSU cast off is better than a 7’ WSU castoff from the 90’s. You forgot Jerry Stewart.

Dan,
Jerry Stewart. Dude, you got me on that one. He's right up there with Kevin Gwaltney, Lance Kroll and James Bunch. I think they made a big deal about Kroll for driving around Wichita in the middle of winter with a busted out car window. Yea, that certainly made him a tough guy.
The fact you can remember Jerry Stewart puts you in rarified air. I thought the John Askew mention would be more than enough to make junior SNers start typing his name in to find out when he was attempting to patrol the paint. In reality, he spent most of his time patrolling the cafeteria.
Do remember Askew was a Purdue cast off and certain Shocker fans had a case of the goo when he was signed.

Geez the 90's were tough on even hardcore Shocker fans. Why does this season seem so similar to those days???

That is all.

[ShockRef]

Dude you said “A bunch of castoffs” and have only referenced Ballard. You can’t use the word “bunch” to describe one or even two people.

Reg,
If they were doing their thing at another school and didn't pass the smell test, thus were granted their walking papers, they are now considered somebody elses cast off.
Pretty basic stuff here.

That is all.

[Kung Wu]

Ricky Council is a cast off?

[mattdalt]

Dan,
Jerry Stewart. Dude, you got me on that one. He's right up there with Kevin Gwaltney, Lance Kroll and James Bunch. I think they made a big deal about Kroll for driving around Wichita in the middle of winter with a busted out car window. Yea, that certainly made him a tough guy.
The fact you can remember Jerry Stewart puts you in rarified air. I thought the John Askew mention would be more than enough to make junior SNers start typing his name in to find out when he was attempting to patrol the paint. In reality, he spent most of his time patrolling the cafeteria.
Do remember Askew was a Purdue cast off and certain Shocker fans had a case of the goo when he was signed.

Geez the 90's were tough on even hardcore Shocker fans. Why does this season seem so similar to those days???

That is all.

Didn't Askew suffer a knee injury, maybe his senior year? And to honor all 6 seniors, including Askew, Fogler started the last home game with all 6 seniors on the floor, and then got a technical. I believe I remember that right.

[Kung Wu]

Why in the heck did we cast off Austin Reaves!?!

[Dan]

Malcolm Armstead was a pretty good cast off

[ShockRef]

Why in the heck did we cast off Austin Reaves!?!

Kung,
Big difference between a known quantity starter and end of bench dudes from a lower level program.

AR was a starter and obviously a legit player. He wasn't asked to leave and I'm not getting into the shiitshow that ensued upon his departure.
RC also a starter and one every poster on SN wanted to stay, but left on his own accord due mostly to the green lettuce of salvation AKA, NIL.

Two totally different scenarios from what WSU has grabbed. You are smarter than that and surprised you would use those two as examples.

That is all.

[Kung Wu]

Kung,
Big difference between a known quantity starter and end of bench dudes from a lower level program.

AR was a starter and obviously a legit player. He wasn't asked to leave and I'm not getting into the shiitshow that ensued upon his departure.
RC also a starter and one every poster on SN wanted to stay, but left on his own accord due mostly to the green lettuce of salvation AKA, NIL.

Two totally different scenarios from what WSU has grabbed. You are smarter than that and surprised you would use those two as examples.

That is all.

Ah, covid just has me in a smart-ass mood. I get your point, and if you say we should temper expectations regarding Ballard, then we should temper expectations regarding Ballard. You're rarely wrong on the "scout".

[BAShocker]

Speaking of Ballard, anyone notice the soft cast on his hand in Saal’s social media posts from last nights get together at his house?

(Well, I think it was Ballard…still not up to speed on all the new shocks).

[TrackSuitAndTie]

Speaking of Ballard, anyone notice the soft cast on his hand in Saal’s social media posts from last nights get together at his house?

(Well, I think it was Ballard…still not up to speed on all the new shocks).

I think that was Jaykwon Walton but I am also not an expert on the new faces.

[SubGod22]

So, what I took away from Taylor's article.

Xavier Bell - Had ok stats for an eh Drexel team. Should be consistent at what he is, but don't expect anything special. Solid bench piece.

Jalen Ricks - If he can defend, he should be able to stretch defenses as our best outside shooter. Could be a solid bench player to potential starter depending on his D.

Craig Porter - The most important piece of this team.

Colby Rogers - If eligible, could be a good starter or very good bench player depending on his defensive effort.

Jaron Pierre - Eh stats for a bad team. Has the shot discipline of last years Etienne without the history to back it up. But he's hard for defenses to stay in front. If he learns discipline, could be a solid get. If not, he could be the most hated player on the team by fans who get fed up with selfish play, especially when it's unproductive.

Jaykwon Walton - Possibly the most promising new guy that could be a game changer if he makes a quick adjustment from JUCO to D1. Should be a starter.

Kenny Pohto - Bulked up and working on his shot and post moves. Will finally get the PT he deserves and should be a solid and valuable starter.

Melvion Flanagan - Great walk-on. Possible emergency guard that may not kill a team.

Trevor McBride - Simple walk-on.

Quincy Ballard - All about potential. Has done nothing at the D1 level, but is uber athletic for a big guy. Should be a defensive presence when on the court. Anything offensively is a surprise.

Henry Thengvall - Simple walk-on that busts his ass.

Shammah Scott - OK stats as a backup PG on one of the best JUCOs in the country. Banking on him learning under Porter and being a solid part time player this year. Promising.

Gus Okafor - Undersized PF who plays hard at all times. Should be a fan favorite and probable starter. Seems to be solid at most everything, but not spectacular.

Isaac Abidde - Best athlete. Lots of potential. Unknown.

James Rojas - Very undersized center with nothing spectacular in his time on an OK Bama team. Hopefully a solid bench player

Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler - Walk-on. Effort has always been a question. But he gives a big practice squad body.


Time will tell how this all shakes out. I'm not expecting much. A lot of new guys and most were just OK at their previous stops.

Projected Starters by me:

PG - Porter
SG - Rogers (if eligible)/Ricks
SF - Walton
PF - Okafor
C - Pohto

I will say that the starters above wouldn't be horrible. It really depends on how Porter handles being a bigger focus of opposing teams and how the new guys adjust to D1 or a higher level. Lots of questions at SG too. Good potential there, but not a lot in the way of guarantees.

The bench has a lot of questions. Some possible potential, but there are a lot of guys who haven't really done a lot and mostly at lower levels. Sometimes a change of scenery works or a change in styles. I'm still not high on the leadership of the coaching staff right now so I'm not sure that's a good thing. If we had a proven coach who I felt could definitely get more out of people, maybe I'd feel better about this group, but IB hasn't done much to instill confidence.