NORTH TEXAS (7-5, 0-0) at WICHITA STATE (8-5, 0-0) Game Thread

[WuShock16]

This was my first home game of the season. Fortunately was able to sit near Doc, Mrs Doc, and Daughter Doc. Always good company when I’m with them.

I hadn’t bought a StubHub ticket in awhile, so you can imagine my surprise when my $11 ticket had nearly $10 of fees added to it. Probably won’t be doing that again this year.

I felt like the crowd wanted to get into it, but team couldn’t get over the hump. Being down 26-11 at the Under 12 made me fear that we’d get Hundyed at home.

I like Coach Mills but have to ***** at something that drew my wrath last season. I was seeing a few timeouts that had little give-a-damn. Coaches (namely HCPM) weren’t coaching. Player energy was dull. Kenny in particular seemed to be staring off into space. That’s not acceptable. You (the team) want sellout crowds back? You want to hear the roar of raucous crowd? It’s a direct reflection of the team on the court. Show some more fire. I know a couple former coaches who would have MFed some people down 26-11 at the under 12. That kind of fire grabs the attention of the fans who will feed off of that.

That said, even with all the fire, we just aren’t very good. Can’t shoot (Why TF can’t effing guards make effing free throws??), can’t ball handle, aren’t strong enough, aren’t tough enough. The offseason can’t get here soon enough.

It still amazes me. Doc, ShockRef, RefChick and I celebrated with some drinks at the team hotel after beating Dayton in 2017. Imagine hearing then that we would not win another NCAA Tournament game for AT LEAST 7 seasons. My beloved program’s downfall is just stunning to me.

[Maizerunner08]

Imagine hearing that we’d not win another NCAA Tournament game for AT LEAST 7 seasons. My beloved program’s downfall is just stunning to me.

This is a bigger gut punch than losing to UNT. Guess I didn't realize it's been that long.

[shock]

Doc, ShockRef, RefChick and I celebrated with some drinks at the team hotel after beating Dayton in 2017.

Jealous

[WuShock16]

Jealous

I don’t exaggerate when I say that Doc was my hero that week. I was in a really rough place in my life and had no business being in Indy…except that Doc invited me along to help with driving. I’ll never ever Ever EVER thank him enough for that reprieve, even it was only for a few days.

[RoyalShock]

This team has a serious guard problem. Two of them (Bell and Rogers) primarily look to score. When they do pass out it's either above the recipients head or at his ankles.

The guard who does look to pass (Cortes) tries to throw it through multiple defenders.

Beverly just doesn't have the talent to be a consistently successful player. He and Bell get a few assists mainly for passing to Rogers or Ballard.

I was miffed that Mills started the 2nd half with Degray in for Ballard. What??? It should have been Ridgnal for Pohto. What game was he watching?

The last two games I've attended were this one and the Intrust debacle. I don't think I can waste any more money on this team.

[Singeril]

This was my first home game of the season. Fortunately was able to sit near Doc, Mrs Doc, and Daughter Doc. Always good company when I’m with them.

I hadn’t bought a StubHub ticket in awhile, so you can imagine my surprise when my $11 ticket had nearly $10 of fees added to it. Probably won’t be doing that again this year.

I felt like the crowd wanted to get into it, but team couldn’t get over the hump. Being down 26-11 at the Under 12 made me fear that we’d get Hundyed at home.

I like Coach Mills but have to ***** at something that drew my wrath last season. I was seeing a few timeouts that had little give-a-damn. Coaches (namely HCPM) weren’t coaching. Player energy was dull. Kenny in particular seemed to be staring off into space. That’s not acceptable. You (the team) want sellout crowds back? You want to hear the roar of raucous crowd? It’s a direct reflection of the team on the court. Show some more fire. I know a couple former coaches who would have MFed some people down 26-11 at the under 12. That kind of fire grabs the attention of the fans who will feed off of that.

That said, even with all the fire, we just aren’t very good. Can’t shoot (Why TF can’t effing guards make effing free throws??), can’t ball handle, aren’t strong enough, aren’t tough enough. The offseason can’t get here soon enough.

It still amazes me. Doc, ShockRef, RefChick and I celebrated with some drinks at the team hotel after beating Dayton in 2017. Imagine hearing then that we would not win another NCAA Tournament game for AT LEAST 7 seasons. My beloved program’s downfall is just stunning to me.

I saw that standing around during a time out while just staring at his notes or whatever it is that was on that piece of paper. It went on for nearly half the timeout. Then one of the assistants said something to him, got the word from coach, and went in and started coaching the players. I wonder what the players think during those times…”gee, is he going to say anything to us”? “Is he going to coach us”? Frustrating to see.

[ShockingButTrue]

There are pieces on the current team to be successful. And that's about it.
HCPM and staff have their work cut out for them. I have a lot of confidence in them to get it done.
But its going to take some patience of Shocker faithful, cuz the shitpile left to this staff by the previous staff is deeper than once thought.

That is all.

Oh, bull***t. WSU was a few missed free throws from beating K-State in Manhattan last year. And Photo sure looked like a better player last year, to most intelligent college basketball followers that is.

We all saw how HCPM performed last year against the best of the AAC. He was hired to improve this basketball team, bottom line. No excuses...

[Dan]

My point is with no NIL this is the caliber of players we will always have.

UNT has no NIL, their best player was hired by KState

[Ta Town Shocker]

Pohto, Beverly, and Bell had their worst game of the season. I've seen enough of them this season to recognize this isn't the norm. I'm more concerned as to why the team looks completely out of sync. Seems to me it's more of a coaching issue.

[Dan]

Pohto, Beverly, and Bell had their worst game of the season. I've seen enough of them this season to recognize this isn't the norm. I'm more concerned as to why the team looks completely out of sync. Seems to me it's more of a coaching issue.

A good defensive team will expose players. Good players can adjust and overcome, mediocre players get exposed.

[JMAN_KC]

If the team spent as much time in the weight room as they spend in the beauty salon we might have something.

[Shocktoberfest]

Hide the women and children, next home date is Memphis on the 14th

Is it just me or does it seem like we have had huge gaps in our home schedule? More so than usual? And I'm not saying that's a bad thing.

[Shocktoberfest]

Oh. After careful analysis I have finally figured out why we are struggling this season:

WE CAN'T SHOOT!

[molly jabali]

I'm adverse to singling out college age kids for criticism, but Bell cost the team pretty big right before half....two missed free throws then a costly turnover,....I know there is not a lot of love for Bijan but the ball does not die in his hands....

Frankly, I'm not a fan of the offensive style...not much movement....

[shocker43]

I thought there were some good defensive possessions last night. But, it took the team being down by 10+ for those possessions. I wouldn't be so frustrated with losses if we played defense, every possession, like we played the last half of the first half. I get if we lose because the other team is better, but losing because we don't play with effort or energy is unacceptable.

If you're on the "KP needs to be the focus!" train, you're either trolling and it's a bit, or you just aren't watching. He can't hold onto the ball when he's playing against real teams. He can't back anyone down. He can't create his own shot. He's not a threat from the perimeter. He can hardly rebound and box-out. He's too slow to play the 4. KP is not Nikola Jokic and acting like he will eventually become that type of player is insane. Ballard needs to take the bulk of the minutes at the 5. Pohto needs to come off the bench. DR should be the starting 4.

At the end of the day, we can't run real offense because we have ONE guy that can consistently make a jump shot. Everyone else relies on driving. Even if Bell passed out, if it's not a pass to Rogers, the result of the play will be the same as him driving.