RICHMOND (4-2) at WICHITA STATE (6-1) Game Thread

[JVShocker]

And was it worth it?

Yep. Wasn't our first game this season. I've beaten this dead horse to a pulp, I know, but the team is fun to watch on the court.

As far as future games.....

[newshock1234]

This was the 2nd lowest attended game of the season smh

[newshock1234]

Very impressed with Beverly, he is an outstanding defending, he made King work all night for every one of his 17 shots. On offense, I see what Mills what saying about him seeing the floor as a passer, easily our best passer we have right now. I do think him sitting out the SLU game helped calm him down a little bit.

[JVShocker]

This was the 2nd lowest attended game of the season smh

I thought there were between 4000-5500 last night. Coming off a Thanksgiving week with all the family gatherings, and now everybody getting colds and the other thing, it was alright. Crowd was into it for the most part. If the guy behind us somewhere has to say "down in front" because we're standing-clapping-cheering, then I did my part.

[Stickboy46]

Very impressed with Beverly, he is an outstanding defending, he made King work all night for every one of his 17 shots. On offense, I see what Mills what saying about him seeing the floor as a passer, easily our best passer we have right now. I do think him sitting out the SLU game helped calm him down a little bit.

Early in the year he had a really bad habit of trying to whip cross court passes that were easily picked off. I haven't seen him try that in the last few games, which is really nice to see.

[shockrah]

Taylors story on attendance, "We're going to make them"!:

https://www.aol.com/going-them-wichita-state-players-110000301.html

[WuDrWu]

Lots to like last night.

There seems to be a "measured" level of enthusiasm from the program, which I appreciate. I think we all love unfettered passion at the right moment, but it can lead to dramatic ebbs and flows....the way this program (coaches, players, staff...everyone) seems to be on the same wavelength in their responses...I don't know if it's intentional or not, but it's clearly working for the most part. Maybe it's a calmness of confidence...not sure.

The staff of managers behind the bench are almost as must see as 3G twirling his watch...ALMOST.

One of Gregg's many strengths was finding guys that fit. He wasn't perfect, no one is, but he was right a lot more often than he was wrong. He got junk yard dogs with an edge that could take the fight and turn it on the opponent. I think Paul might be just as good, but he has a different guy in mind to add to equation. He seems to have done a damned good job getting or keeping 7 kids that fit (so far), especially given basically no time.

He also seems to be skilled at putting the guys in position to be successful. Don't ask them to do things they aren't good at, ask them to do things at which they excel. XB is a perfect example of that. Colby Rogers is going to drop 35 on someone and there will be nothing they can do about it.

I talked to some intelligent basketball guys last night (one a former P5 player) and while not big WSU fans, they are supporters of the program, just not regular attendees. They see more talent than I do...that's encouraging. I hope Bev stays healthy (his post game comment about his own weight was interesting) because I think that kid can be a superstar in the next 2 seasons. I can't get over how far Ballard has progressed. We don't have a lot of "whole" pieces, but we've got a bunch of guys with some pieces. 2 of them also know quite a bit about Cortes and think he's way underrated and really want to see where he can help this team get better, perhaps a lot better.

7-21 from 3...acceptable for sure and on a night that I didn't think we took a lot of good 3s. BUT.......25-41 from 2. THAT is taking OUTSTANDING shots. I cannot convey the absolute love I have for numbers like that. Those are layups and dunks and the right guys taking the right shots. 8 games in and we're bought in at that level already? Big smiles here.

FTs 9-17 doesn't work but that's a one off. Not worried at all. So not worried, I regret even mentioning it.

Post to post passing...yum.

Harlond Beverly was great and as I mentioned before, even better behind the mic. Quincy was great last night too.


While I know the A10 is competitive, I find it difficult to believe there are 10 teams better than Richmond. Especially missing a starter. And they are fun to watch.

When it's all said and done, maybe I'll have the worst preseason prediction, and if I do, no one will be happier about it than I. Very proud of what this program has put out there so far.

Did it seem to anyone else that introducing a recruit at halfcourt was an NCAA violation waiting to happen, or was it just me?


I don't know that they sold a lot more tickets last night, but a lot more people that had tickets showed up. And if one of those people was disappointed, then I feel bad for them.

As others have said, HCPM egging on the crowd, the crowd getting into it....that felt good. I wish more were there. I know they can't, but part of me wishes they'd just give away about 20K to the Intrust game to get enough in the door to give this program the support they deserve right now. These guys are busting their tails.



And frankly, I don't really even care about the wins and losses. I am fully cognizant of our thinness for a margin of error. But I love they way we're getting after it and the results are simply icing on the cake at this point. Keep playing this way, the right way, and everything else should eventually fall into place.

[SubGod22]

According to ESPN attendance was 6,195.

Considering how things started and whatnot, that doesn't seem too horrible. A lot of damage was done during the IB era.

[shockerfan]

Taylors story on attendance, "We're going to make them"!:
https://www.aol.com/going-them-wichi...110000301.html

They certainly deserve more than they have been getting. And they are right, although I think winning is the 3rd most important to WSU fans, which is why this is a special fanbase. Most important is play HARD and play TOGETHER. They continue to do those 2 things alone...fans will come back and show enthusiasm no matter what.

Now, there will come a time where fans will expect wins...and lots of them. But right now, just play hard, play together and show growth. That will do it for this year.

[SubGod22]

One thing I was disappointed in last night is that Joy didn't find any time. I really think getting him some court time, even if it's just a few minutes here and there with the starters would be a good thing for him and his development and therefore it would be good for the team as a whole in the long run. Especially when we opened up a bit of a lead. Get him a few minutes. Get him some game touches. He showed that he can be a valuable asset in Myrtle Beach. Let him build off of that. Having another athletic guy like that on the court could only end up being a plus for this team down the road.

[Shockm]

If you mix in talented players (at least they've shown talent in the past) like Cortes and DeGray to the 7 that are in the rotation, and we probably have a Championship contender? Germany's been a disappointment, but we probably aren't that far away.

[SubGod22]

They certainly deserve more than they have been getting. And they are right, although I think winning is the 3rd most important to WSU fans, which is why this is a special fanbase. Most important is play HARD and play TOGETHER. They continue to do those 2 things alone...fans will come back and show enthusiasm no matter what.

Now, there will come a time where fans will expect wins...and lots of them. But right now, just play hard, play together and show growth. That will do it for this year.

This is the big reason 3G was successful. Even early on when he didn't have the roster he wanted, he got guys that would sacrifice everything to make a play or get a loose ball and play defense. Shocker fans love that kind of energy and effort. It's why we've had teams lose games in the past and get a standing ovation as they left the court. This is still a blue collar town and they respect the hell out of a blue collar effort.

[kcshocker]

["Did it seem to anyone else that introducing a recruit at halfcourt was an NCAA violation waiting to happen, or was it just me?"]

Who was this?

[Shockm]

["Did it seem to anyone else that introducing a recruit at halfcourt was an NCAA violation waiting to happen, or was it just me?"]

Who was this?

He is signed and delivered. Not a committed recruit anymore. Although he could use his one time transfer?

[ShockBand]

I got to my first in-person game last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it. This team is a lot of fun to watch! Especially last night seeing some sharp passing and good defense.

Kenny amongst others just had the yips at the FT line last night. I'm not worried. I think of Tin Cup - give me another ball!

Harlond Beverly is so smooth on offense, and I thought very quick and active on defense.

Colby Rogers has been getting his points for sure, but I think he is still yet to go nuts on someone and just rain 3s endlessly. Please let it be KU and/or K-State!

Xavier Bell actually drove and dished last night! And for a 3! Yay!

I don't know why, but QB makes me think of Dikembe Mutombo. I want to see more of those swatted shots! Probably should hold off with any finger wagging, though, lest he get flagged for 15 yards for taunting.

I was sitting on the courtside seating side this time, so I got to really hear the Shocker Sound Machine. Love how that program has grown! I totally dig that they are now singing Hail Wichita! On my walk back to my car, a couple of the sousaphone players walked by me. I told them they did a great job tonight, and mentioned that I played sousa in the last WSU marching band. One of them said "oh, wow". I said back, "yeah, I"m old." But I've gotta tell you, walking across campus, even as much as it has changed from the mid to late 80s, always makes me feel young again. At least until my knees chime in about that thought!

I don't have season tickets anymore, mostly due to cost and having to miss too many games due to work and family stuff, but it was great to be back in the house of round last night. The crowd got into it a bit more in the second half, and it had echoes of the good ol' rockin' roundhouse. We do have tickets for the Intrust game and the K-State game in KC, and I'm sure we will go to a few more home games. This is a team that has earned more support. Go Shocks!