WICHITA STATE (3-0) at COASTAL CAROLINA (1-0) Game thread

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

Take aways:

• Overall pleased with the win. Great team game and watching this team compared to last years team is night and freaking day.
• Getting out rebounded by that team is a bad sign. The bigs lack of aggressiveness at times is alarming. Both on the offensive and defensive ends. Too many bunnies missed and guys out of position.
• 11 assists, 5 steals to 6 TO's for the starting guards is very good, IMO. Would I love to have Abmas, yes, but he isn't walking through that door.
• Bell's improvement continues to amaze me. He is a much more confident player than last year. He is likely to be the leader for this team.
• Ridgnal looks like a steal at this point, especially so late in the recruiting cycle. The staff deserves some props for that.
• The drive and basket by Beverly with 2:30 left in the second half was a complete work of art.
• Abidde will be an effort and hustle guy all year for this team off the bench. He is earning his playing time with hard play and willingness to do the intangibles.

[ShockingButTrue]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzwDI...RlODBiNWFlZA==

He's a 'slasher.' Cornbread...

[1972Shocker]

I have to say I am very happy to see Xavier Bell playing so well. He took quite a bit of criticism last year and no doubt he struggled most of the season although he did show improvement late in the season. Seems like a really fine young man from a good family with the added icing on the cake of being a local kid.

I thought he was excellent on his post game interview after the Coastal Carolina game. While I don't expect many stat lines like he put up against Coastal I hope he continues with the much improved level of play.

[WstateU]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzwDIyhL_zf/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[pogo]

I’m so glad to see this is still happening. There was a lot of black and yellow in the stands and the ESPN crew made a point to show it during the breaks. How many of the 1,417 in attendance were Shocker fans I wonder?

Pretty sure the attendance was tickets sold but 300 were loud Shocker fans. We did Wichita proud

[pogo]

Well the weather outside is warm and humid and not uncomfortable but inside it was cold. I dad a hoodie sweatshirt and was cold. The wife who can’t stand to wear a sweatshirt will wear one tonight. The athletes weight room was upstairs outside the gym so maybe they keep it comfy for the athletes but yes it was very chilly

[Bluzrover]

The crowd was loud and supportive last night. We do travel well.

I’m so glad to see this is still happening. There was a lot of black and yellow in the stands and the ESPN crew made a point to show it during the breaks. How many of the 1,417 in attendance were Shocker fans I wonder?

[WuDrWu]

pogo what was the story with the local weather/gym conditions? They kept showing fans that appeared to be freezing inside, especially during the final game. Unusually cold or or did Iceburgh give the thermostat a hard turn?

[pogo]

The crowd was loud and supportive last night. We do travel well. Proud of all that are here to share these times with. Sun is out for the first time since we got here so I hope that is a good omen. The team is playing like I hoped they would play like but it will be a long season and for all of the concerns that have been voiced. HCPM is a calming person on the sidelines and during breaks. I really like what he brings to the program. Tonight’s game will be tough and a win isn’t out of the question but our Shocks will have the fans to push them on. Go Shocks

[Atxshoxfan]

This coaching staff is the most impressive thing about the team so far. Excellent development so far, just hope it continues and grows to the inside game as well.

Beverly has gotten a little abused on SN, and he may deserve some of it, but I saw someone compare him to Joe pleasant.......That is a joke if I ever heard one. Beverly has way more to work with.

Bell is doing great, but wish could find the open man when defenses collapse 2 or 3 guys on him in the lane. somebody should be cutting the baseline by the time he's 10 ft out from the hoop, and others should be posted up in their 3 point hot spots.....just find them a few times and the lane will start opening up.

[Blackmag]

Team hung in and won with a Cush. Bell has improved big over last year. Been pretty impressive so far. KP big second half and along with Ballrd we have more than enough size to play against other big teams. I like our guards we seem to take a better grade of shots this year. ( coaching perhaps). Like Abbide and Raginal coming off the bench with some serious energy. Both really helping us win and playing important minutes. Need to develop another player or two because we know about players getting hurt or foul trouble. All in all I like what I’m seeing.

[Aargh]

While Bell's improvement is impressive, the improvement of Ballard and Abidde is off the charts. Last year Abidde was lost on both ends of the court. This year he's a stud. A 6'8" skywalker shooting 45.5% from 3 is a pretty rare player. Ridgnal is hitting 54.5% of his 3's. The two of them coming off the bench bring a lot of energy and are defensive matchup nightmares.

I think we were hoping Ballard could eat some minutes and give Pohto some time to rest. Mr. Ballard chose to disagree with that idea. Last year he looked like he belonged on the bench. This year he looks like he belongs on the court.

Perhaps we are seeing why Acy was a player development guy for an NBA team. Two guys looking like they're going to have break out years and both are working with a former NBA forward. then throw in that Bell is having a breakout year.

Mills has some rep for working with guards. Acy is going to have SERIOUS rep for working with posts. That could put Mills in a good recruiting position (and possibly retention).

The short bench is a problem this year, but you can bet that other coaches in the AAC are seeing what Mills is doing.

[Aargh]

Winner winner chicken dinner.
Its win and nothing Is better than winning. However, looking ahead, better teams will be problem.
Pohto shooting treys is a problem. If this continues, heartburn will follow.
Just wondering where this would be if Ricks hadn't' packed his bags and Ridgnal didn't show up.
Really glad Abidde didn't follow and stayed the course.

Anyhow having trouble thinking Ballard isn't Orupke 2.0?
Offensive flow looks so much better. HCPM didn't need much time to improve on last years offense.
Pohto is a needed component. But needs to eat some spinach.

That is all.

Ballard can catch the ball and pass the ball. He has some post moves. I think Orupke was more intimidating. They seem fairly even as shot blockers.

Pohto is hitting 36.4% of his 3's. That would have been the best % on the team two years ago - ahead of Etienne, Porter, Dennis, Council, and others. That's good enough that he has to be guarded on the perimeter, which gives Bell and Beverly better space for driving to the basket.

[WstateU]

https://x.com/tayloreldridge/status/1725296183298445317

[WstateU]