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**SubGod22** · February 8, 2023, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by MadDog View Post

Shocks will take UCF, SMU, and USF for sure. And 1 and possibly 2 of the remaining games. Memphis in Wichita is not off the table, nor is Tulane on the road. Maybe you all have missed it but the Shocks have been playing good ball of late. They’ve taken their last two road opponents to the woodshed and played the #3 team in the country down to the wire before they ran out of gas. They may even be able to slide into fifth place in the conference (unlikely I’ll admit).

I like your optimism. I think it's farfetched, but I like it.

It's really hard for me to say we've really turned a corner. We took two really shitty teams to the woodshed (winning by 13 and 11). I'm not sure I'd call those woodshed beat downs. If those are woodshed caliber, then our 8-10 point losses are us being beaten soundly and we have six of those, including the Houston game that we played them close... but bad teams will often get up for games against top opponents. Hell, we saw that a number of times in the Valley when bad teams would play us or Creighton tight and then go lose to a bottom dweller by 10 the next time out. Granted, we beat our bottom dwellers, but I need to see more from this team before I believe it.

Could we beat UCF? Sure. I wouldn't put any money on that game either way. It's definitely a game we could very well lose.

Should we beat SMU? Yup. They suck.

Can we beat Temple? Unlikely. Even more unlikely in Philly.

Can we beat Memphis? I don't see it. They have more depth and athleticism and a better coach. I'd put money on Memphis in that one.

Tulane on the road? Very unlikely. I'd put money on Tulane to win that one at home.

At Houston? No ****ing way we win that.

USF at home? Losing that game should be a fire-able offense.

I think 3-4 is pretty much the best case scenario to finish out this awful season. 2-5 is more likely.

If they play really well and beat UCF, I might change my view. At least that's a mid level team that has played decently that we might see where we actually stand.

**asiseeit** · February 8, 2023, 11:50 AM

I'll be optimistic here. We are trending in the right direction so I will go out on a limb and say 4-3. If that happens a little credit has to go to IB - I just hope it's not enough to keep him.

**SubGod22** · February 8, 2023, 11:51 AM

After learning about the Durr injury, I would alter my thoughts on the UCF game to a should win.

I still think 3-4 is best case and now more likely.

**MadDog** · February 8, 2023, 02:54 PM

Sub, we had ECU down 27 and Tulsa down 23 on their home courts with about 5 minutes left. Thats taking them to the woodshed. Now if IB pulls the starters and goes to the bottom 5 on the bench too early, and they lose 10 points off the lead in 30 seconds as they did in those two games, IB should be fired before he gets back to the locker room! So unacceptable. That being said the Shockers totally dominated those games when it mattered and I dont think the last five minutes take away from the overall dominating performance. I’m hoping to see some more of that tonight!

**SubGod22** · February 8, 2023, 03:20 PM

I don't care what the leads were while the game was still going. Tulsa took us to the woodshed and lost in our first meeting then. Cincinnati had us down 20 with five minutes left. We only lost by 9 but we must have been taken to the woodshed since we were down 20 with five left to play.

Finishing is an important part of the game.

**MadDog** · February 8, 2023, 06:24 PM

Tulsa played their best players the entire game and gave up a big lead with those players. The game was always in doubt because it was unlikely we would play that poorly for the entire game. WSU gave up an 18 point lead to Tulane. The game was always in doubt. Obviously Tulane didn’t go to the woodshed, but nobody thought the game was over with a first half lead. And yes, Cincinnati took us to the woodshed even though the final margin was not indicative of the total beat down it was.

Trying to finish a game with the bottom of the bench only indicates one thing. The game for all intents and purposes was over (assuming the subs don’t completely melt down, which of course they did).

**Regul8te** · February 8, 2023, 06:56 PM

I’d rather see the back of the bench get some pt late in blowouts even if it hurts the final margin of victory. Not many chances left on the schedule to see what they bring and Houston exposed our lack of depth. Can’t develop depth if they never play.

**SubGod22** · February 13, 2023, 01:52 PM