WSU (9-11, 1-6) at Tulsa ( 2-5, 11-8) Game Thread

[SubGod22]

I've never understood the throwing the head back and getting a call. That's not a natural motion to most of the contact you see when it's used.

Why officials continue to grant fouls for it I will never know. I used to just internally shake my head when kids would try that one.

I have no problem with someone embellishing the contact a bit. That's part of the game, even though some of you will call it a flop when the other teams do it. But the pretending there's contact when there's none/little and flailing is beyond ridiculous.

[JMAN_KC]

It has a name....the "Cumberland Factor"

[JVShocker]

If we return all those guys we’ll be just as bad next year. We need a talent upgrade. Tulsa has freshmen better than our juniors. We need multiple guys that can handle the ball and shoot the 3. Plus a few bigs.

I have to agree with this. It's a matter of skills, BBIQ, and effort at this point. The Shockers have exactly two guys that can dribble penetrate. XB and HB Unfortunately, that doesn't win a lot of ball games if the guard doesn't recognize a potential turnover, rejection of his shot or misses an opportunity to hit an open man on the outside for an easy shot. That's BBIQ. Something the team is truly lacking. And there is exactly 1 potential threat from the perimeter on the team, but the defense played by the same guy is akin to a unlatched cattle gate that lets anyone pass through. How exactly is it that every team from Little Nook and Cranny Conference in the country has 2, 3, even 4 guys who are skilled and can make shots? Except in Witchitaw, of course. Somebody missed the boat. Somebody missed the ocean. You're telling me nobody, no one anywhere within the administration sees what the rabid die hards of this fine forum see? Mostly the lack of fire coming out at halftime? How was THAT not corrected many moons ago?

I don't care where you get them. Juco. Transfer portal. High School. Grad transfers.

Shockers needs: Speed. Dribbling. Passing. Shot making. Size. (can we please cease and desist with the undersized 6-5 or 6-6 guys who have high motors who are expected to play out of position and guard players 3, 4, even 5 inches taller?) I like HB (even if he is rusty at times) but I think he's a senior. I like Ballard. If you can keep him, please please please keep him. Get him some playmakers who know how to get him the ball in the right position. The life energy of Shocker Basketball is being drained out of Koch Arena with most of these guys. With that so goes that money that supports so much of what happens in the athletic department. If Mills doesn't see that, welp, 2-3 years from now the Shocks will have to make a change. Again. Time to clean house.

[Dan]

I have to agree with this. It's a matter of skills, BBIQ, and effort at this point. The Shockers have exactly two guys that can dribble penetrate. XB and HB Unfortunately, that doesn't win a lot of ball games if the guard doesn't recognize a potential turnover, rejection of his shot or misses an opportunity to hit an open man on the outside for an easy shot. That's BBIQ. Something the team is truly lacking. And there is exactly 1 potential threat from the perimeter on the team, but the defense played by the same guy is akin to a unlatched cattle gate that lets anyone pass through. How exactly is it that every team from Little Nook and Cranny Conference in the country has 2, 3, even 4 guys who are skilled and can make shots? Except in Witchitaw, of course. Somebody missed the boat. Somebody missed the ocean. You're telling me nobody, no one anywhere within the administration sees what the rabid die hards of this fine forum see? Mostly the lack of fire coming out at halftime? How was THAT not corrected many moons ago?

I don't care where you get them. Juco. Transfer portal. High School. Grad transfers.

Shockers needs: Speed. Dribbling. Passing. Shot making. Size. (can we please cease and desist with the undersized 6-5 or 6-6 guys who have high motors who are expected to play out of position and guard players 3, 4, even 5 inches taller?) I like HB (even if he is rusty at times) but I think he's a senior. I like Ballard. If you can keep him, please please please keep him. Get him some playmakers who know how to get him the ball in the right position. The life energy of Shocker Basketball is being drained out of Koch Arena with most of these guys. With that so goes that money that supports so much of what happens in the athletic department. If Mills doesn't see that, welp, 2-3 years from now the Shocks will have to make a change. Again. Time to clean house.

everyone is eligible next year except Germany, Rignal and we have the open scolly left by Jalen Ricks. I'd accept HB back, but he really needs to work on his shot.

[ShockHat]

everyone is eligible next year except Germany, Rignal and we have the open scolly left by Jalen Ricks. I'd accept HB back, but he really needs to work on his shot.

And his turnovers, defense, passing, everything else besides a really nice layup. In my eyes, Ballard and mayyyybe Pohto are the only safe ones. Other than them … chuuuuuurn it all. We need to clean this mess out. Particularly the guards. They have to majorly skill up or gtfo. HB has potential, so does Rogers if he can get better on defense. Everyone else? Bye.

[BostonWu]

And his turnovers, defense, passing, everything else besides a really nice layup. In my eyes, Ballard and mayyyybe Pohto are the only safe ones. Other than them … chuuuuuurn it all. We need to clean this mess out. Particularly the guards. They have to majorly skill up or gtfo. HB has potential, so does Rogers if he can get better on defense. Everyone else? Bye.

At this point in his career I don't think it's a reasonable expectation to think Rogers defense will change. It's not like he's a young, inexperienced player. Top that off with a coach who is not defensively inclined and what you see is what you get. This applies to other players on the roster as well.

[ShockHat]

At this point in his career I don't think it's a reasonable expectation to think Rogers defense will change. It's not like he's a young, inexperienced player. Top that off with a coach who is not defensively inclined and what you see is what you get. This applies to other players on the roster as well.

That’s fair. Then outside of Ballard, Mills has to consider cutting legitimately everybody loose. This was an AWFUL year and exposed so many of these players. I’m going to be pretty upset and disappointed if we don’t go hard to JUCO and portal.

[ShockTalk]

And his turnovers, defense, passing, everything else besides a really nice layup. In my eyes, Ballard and mayyyybe Pohto are the only safe ones. Other than them … chuuuuuurn it all. We need to clean this mess out. Particularly the guards. They have to majorly skill up or gtfo. HB has potential, so does Rogers if he can get better on defense. Everyone else? Bye.

That's an awful lot of assuming Mills can come up with everything we need. They will need to be "plug and play" and they won't know his system. What we need most is a real PG. Fastest way to get an experienced one is the portal or Juco. If so, there will still be that "adjustment time".

You'd keep Ballard and maybe Pohto, but they may not keep us. I hope they do. Rogers is our only real 3-point threat (.386). Despite his D, that could also be hard to replace. I feel we have 2 special recruits in Pipkin and Williams for more reasons than their potential skills.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

That’s fair. Then outside of Ballard, Mills has to consider cutting legitimately everybody loose. This was an AWFUL year and exposed so many of these players. I’m going to be pretty upset and disappointed if we don’t go hard to JUCO and portal.

If most of these guys come back I'm going to be debating even watching next season.

[forevershockerfan]

Haggerty shot and made all 14 free throws. The whole Shocker team shot 3. throws. The refs protected this Freshman like the Delta Smelt in sunny California. Wait just a minute. PJ, A Freshman, plays 33 minutes and helps overcome a 15 pt. deficit in the 2nd half? Are Freshmen supposed to start, play 33 minutes, and finish games? I thought the portal was where all the action is? Hopefully the bigger programs won't tamper illegally with this star Freshman already?

I'm so glad we get a rematch with Tulsa and we avoid a sweeping. The 2 incoming Freshmen that HCPM signed are a step in the right direction IMO as a foundational step to return to Shocker success. This Season so far is below what many expected which was at least 8th according to Lindy's Mag. They picked Tulsa 10th because they lost 5 key players off their 5-25 record team last Season. Little was said about PJ Haggerty.

HCPM was not on my short or long list for our Shocker coach. However, I hope he can regroup and make the needed choices to make the needed changes for next Season. As this Season marches on, there are winnable games and an upset win would thrill me. This recruiting class will be of essence and keeping our 6 best eligible players would help IMO.

[ShockHat]

Haggerty shot and made all 14 free throws. The whole Shocker team shot 3. throws. The refs protected this Freshman like the Delta Smelt in sunny California. Wait just a minute. PJ, A Freshman, plays 33 minutes and helps overcome a 15 pt. deficit in the 2nd half? Are Freshmen supposed to start, play 33 minutes, and finish games? I thought the portal was where all the action is? Hopefully the bigger programs won't tamper illegally with this star Freshman already?

I'm so glad we get a rematch with Tulsa and we avoid a sweeping. The 2 incoming Freshmen that HCPM signed are a step in the right direction IMO as a foundational step to return to Shocker success. This Season so far is below what many expected which was at least 8th according to Lindy's Mag. They picked Tulsa 10th because they lost 5 key players off their 5-25 record team last Season. Little was said about PJ Haggerty.

HCPM was not on my short or long list for our Shocker coach. However, I hope he can regroup and make the needed choices to make the needed changes for next Season. As this Season marches on, there are winnable games and an upset win would thrill me. This recruiting class will be of essence and keeping our 6 best eligible players would help IMO.

a win over Memphis would redeem everything for me. Us blowing up their chances to make the tourney would make me jump over the moon

[asiseeit]

Haggerty shot and made all 14 free throws. The whole Shocker team shot 3. throws. The refs protected this Freshman like the Delta Smelt in sunny California. Wait just a minute. PJ, A Freshman, plays 33 minutes and helps overcome a 15 pt. deficit in the 2nd half? Are Freshmen supposed to start, play 33 minutes, and finish games? I thought the portal was where all the action is? Hopefully the bigger programs won't tamper illegally with this star Freshman already?

I'm so glad we get a rematch with Tulsa and we avoid a sweeping. The 2 incoming Freshmen that HCPM signed are a step in the right direction IMO as a foundational step to return to Shocker success. This Season so far is below what many expected which was at least 8th according to Lindy's Mag. They picked Tulsa 10th because they lost 5 key players off their 5-25 record team last Season. Little was said about PJ Haggerty.

HCPM was not on my short or long list for our Shocker coach. However, I hope he can regroup and make the needed choices to make the needed changes for next Season. As this Season marches on, there are winnable games and an upset win would thrill me. This recruiting class will be of essence and keeping our 6 best eligible players would help IMO.

My pick six would be QB, KP, HB, and XB, ugh, make that a pick four. QB and KP are the two most important ! Both have more upside and I hope they find it here..........together.

[JVShocker]

If most of these guys come back I'm going to be debating even watching next season.

That is my worry. How many second half's have we tuned out this year? If the bulk of this group is back next year I expect grumbling from the a segment of the fan base. Another segment of the fan base is simply going to quit watching and slowly stop attending games. And I think you have a zero percent chance of attracting any new audience. You think the money flow is slow now? Wait till it trickles in.

[JVShocker]

a win over Memphis would redeem everything for me. Us blowing up their chances to make the tourney would make me jump over the moon

The Shockers are the reason for Memphis troubles. They'll (ab)use us as the cure-all.

[ShockHat]

The Shockers are the reason for Memphis troubles. They'll (ab)use us as the cure-all.

i never understand it. Memphis has owned us for a while now, from Marshall to IB to Mills. I’m so over it, especially with how clearly bad of a coach Penny is.