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WSU vs. WKU. Thursday night. WKU 17-16 record last year. Lost 5 of their last 8 for some reason. So consider that. Star guard McKnight transfered to Xavier (he had some big games last year over 30 points.)
A lot of new faces for WKU. They have some size. Just defeated Kentucky Wesleyan in their opener 90-64. Only led by 7 at the half, but put up 53 points in the second half. Don't know what to make of it personally, because KWesleyan is D2. Take note, a week ago D2 KWesleyan upset Louisville at Louisville in their opener. One of those "on any given night things, I guess. I'm sure that result got the attention of the WKU coaching staff and players.
Just going by statistics from their first game, they had 9 steals (22 total turnovers for KWesleyan), so maybe they are a bit handsy, and the Shocks may or may not have a sure fire ball handler yet. Couldn't find any video highlights. WKU had 16 turnovers themselves, to only 15 assists for the A/TO analyzers on Shockernet. LOL. And WKU sure didn't outrebound them by much (rebound margin of 7).
I see the two teams (WSU and WKU) as being fairly equal at this point in the early season. Hopefully the Shocks will continue to rebound as they have in the first game (or 2 if you count the exhibition). I think it will take a more concentrated effort obviously against WKU. It may come down to something as simple as free throws and who can keep down the silly turnovers. I don't know that Lipscomb ever "got hot" in the game to rattle WSU. Hopefully the visiting team's "got hot" moments are on the wane under this new regime. If I had to guess, WSU will open as a 3 or 4 point favorite. Anything more and I would probably be a little anxious about WKU having bulletin board material. I think WSU will need crowd support and probably a player (Beverly, Abbide, or RIdgnal having a shining moment, or even four or five shining moments). I'll pick WSU 70, WKU 65.
A lot of new faces for WKU. They have some size. Just defeated Kentucky Wesleyan in their opener 90-64. Only led by 7 at the half, but put up 53 points in the second half. Don't know what to make of it personally, because KWesleyan is D2. Take note, a week ago D2 KWesleyan upset Louisville at Louisville in their opener. One of those "on any given night things, I guess. I'm sure that result got the attention of the WKU coaching staff and players.
Just going by statistics from their first game, they had 9 steals (22 total turnovers for KWesleyan), so maybe they are a bit handsy, and the Shocks may or may not have a sure fire ball handler yet. Couldn't find any video highlights. WKU had 16 turnovers themselves, to only 15 assists for the A/TO analyzers on Shockernet. LOL. And WKU sure didn't outrebound them by much (rebound margin of 7).
I see the two teams (WSU and WKU) as being fairly equal at this point in the early season. Hopefully the Shocks will continue to rebound as they have in the first game (or 2 if you count the exhibition). I think it will take a more concentrated effort obviously against WKU. It may come down to something as simple as free throws and who can keep down the silly turnovers. I don't know that Lipscomb ever "got hot" in the game to rattle WSU. Hopefully the visiting team's "got hot" moments are on the wane under this new regime. If I had to guess, WSU will open as a 3 or 4 point favorite. Anything more and I would probably be a little anxious about WKU having bulletin board material. I think WSU will need crowd support and probably a player (Beverly, Abbide, or RIdgnal having a shining moment, or even four or five shining moments). I'll pick WSU 70, WKU 65.
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