TEMPLE (9-17, 2-11) at WSU (11-16, 3-11) GAME THREAD

[1972Shocker]

Surely Mills will improve his record next year. That alone will get him a 3rd year. He does need to improve by more than a couple games though. Maybe he's a genius by setting his starting bar so low.

Unless the athletic department improves its financial position between now and the end of next year Mills will get a 3rd year regardless how bad the team is next year. And that improvement needs to be more than a couple of (hundred thousand) dollars.

[ShockHat]

Okay Shockhat, I've asked this several times - name me three D1 backup centers with better numbers than KP? No one has done it yet. You are in the group that don't understand his value especially with QB having questionable stamina and/or persistent health issues. Also, compare KP's numbers to all the other players on our current team. The center position is not the team's problem.

I don’t need to name them because I agree with you. He makes a great backup center, *provided* that he’s not trying to rip his jersey and storm off the court the second the game ends. I think he has tremendous potential, and I get disappointed that he doesn’t live up to it. That’s why I dig into him, I focus on him more bc I know he’s capable, as opposed to most everybody else on the team that just plain sucks and will be gone next year.

on the whole, I do agree. The center position isn’t the problem (disregarding Pohto’s attitude and lackadaisical response that’s popped up occasionally these last couple games). The rest of the team, especially the guards, is the major problem. Our number of turnovers is inexcusable, and our inability to knock down free throws and an open shot is abysmal.

[asiseeit]

I quoted his stats after the first nine games and he was closer to an "A" until PM made him back up, but I'm glad that you recognize his value. His productivity fell off quite a bit as a reserve. I suspect he wasn't happy with not starting and quite naturally lost some confidence / intensity as a result. I blame PM for that. KP should never have been relegated to the bench. He CAN play both PF and C and should be. We are weak at PF and guards as you mentioned. Would like another 5 mpg out of QB and 5-10 additional minutes for KP at PF

[Stickboy46]

I quoted his stats after the first nine games and he was closer to an "A" until PM made him back up, but I'm glad that you recognize his value. His productivity fell off quite a bit as a reserve. I suspect he wasn't happy with not starting and quite naturally lost some confidence / intensity as a result. I blame PM for that. KP should never have been relegated to the bench. He CAN play both PF and C and should be. We are weak at PF and guards as you mentioned. Would like another 5 mpg out of QB and 5-10 additional minutes for KP at PF

The first 9 games were also against mostly overmatched opponents though. Stats were swayed heavily by a few big scoring games vs 200+ teams. He tends to play big vs those types of teams.

[ShockTalk]

I'm very late to this thread, so bare with me.

Mills is questioning the players abilities and/or desire as a (or the) problem? Yet, 4 of the 5 top players are not his recruits and the one that is in that group, imho, is one of the least disciplined players on the team. He also is 4th in 3-point attempts while shooting a team worst .188. I think Ridgnal and DeGray should get more of Beverly's minutes. If he inherited a group of underachievers, what do you call his recruits?

[Kung Wu]

Ballard has to be carrying an injury or significant fitness issue.

Did y'all know Ballard logged minutes in a Sweet 16 game? Only 2 minutes, but was a true freshman at Florida State in 2020-2021 and they went to the Sweet 16. I bet he want's a little taste of that again!

But he was broken goods when he came to Wichita State with a on-and-off back injury but he sure seems healthy to me now, based on his movement and production. He isn't a foul machine which is a first indicator to me for a big man that he's getting tired/winded, so I honestly don't think that's why he sees limited time. I think HCPM is just trying to strategically use Ballard and Photo.

[ShockTalk]

Did y'all know Ballard logged minutes in a Sweet 16 game? Only 2 minutes, but was a true freshman at Florida State in 2020-2021 and they went to the Sweet 16. I bet he want's a little taste of that again!

But he was broken goods when he came to Wichita State with a on-and-off back injury but he sure seems healthy to me now, based on his movement and production. He isn't a foul machine which is a first indicator to me for a big man that he's getting tired/winded, so I honestly don't think that's why he sees limited time. I think HCPM is just trying to strategically use Ballard and Photo.

OK. I've got to say it. Strategically!?!?

[Stickboy46]

OK. I've got to say it. Strategically!?!?

He didn't say it was a winning strategy

[JVShocker]

Unless the athletic department improves its financial position between now and the end of next year Mills will get a 3rd year regardless how bad the team is next year. And that improvement needs to be more than a couple of (hundred thousand) dollars.

Good post. That is exactly where I see the Shocker athletic department right now.

[WuShock16]

My concern is we'll have a much weaker non-con schedule so he can try to get a few more wins. In theory, we should get a few more in conference next year as well as we aren't going to be playing all of the top teams twice and we will instead have a H/H schedule with Temple, UTSA, Tulsa, and Rice for sure. Granted, that hasn't helped us much this year, but it is what it is.

Is the Mizzou series over? K-State owes us one more I believe, but I wouldn't be surprised if they work a buy out of that so Tang doesn't have to kick Mills ass.

Are we locked into any others? Do we have a MTE scheduled yet?

Going to Western Kentucky and DePaul. I will be ****ing pissed if K-State buys out of the last game.

Yes, we do have the MTE scheduled.

[Onegreatracer]

Going to Western Kentucky and DePaul. I will be ****ing pissed if K-State buys out of the last game.

Yes, we do have the MTE scheduled.

Good destination? Time to start saving miles, it’s been a few years.

[Shockthemonkey]

Fwiw (don’t shoot the messenger), during last night’s radio show (paraphrasing), Mills indicated that QB didn’t play much in the 2nd half and overtime due to defensive matchups.

Honestly, I’m tired of other teams dictating the matchups or who we elect to put on the floor. We should be dictating that.

Earlier in the season there was either an article by TE or an interview with PM that talked about how Ballard had recovered from his back issues from the previous season (or more) and his work with ACY had lit a fire (which we obviously see) that had helped him have some of the better stamina on the team. I too was surprised to read that because when you looked at him in the past you could tell he was struggling to move and keep up.

Watching on Sunday the difference between when QB was in vs. KP was like night and day. In fact WSU was +11 in QB's 18 min and -15 in KP's 25. If you watched closely when Temple was on D when KP was in, #33 was all over him to the point he should have been called for a foul nearly every time by placing both hands on him. He wasn't and that's another problem, but you could clearly tell that they had been coached that being physical takes KP off his game. When QB was in the game either #33 wasn't in or they were guarding him differently because they seemed to respect his ability to get the passes above the defense which are almost automatic when the guards actually take the time to make that pass. Again, another topic of frustration for this team.

I'm not sure our group of 4 (in the stands) have ever been as frustrated with a WSU team as we were on Sunday. Watching Mills stare at his note cards on the sideline while KP continued to struggle was embarrassing. If it was defensive match ups, did he not see that KP couldn't defend any of them anyway? The last play of the first half when Temple had the ball and was driving to the basket as the clock was running out of time KP was actually looking in the wrong direction as the ball and player were driving the lane he was standing in. For as well as KP played during the Tulsa game, he just didn't have it on Sunday and it's up to the coaching staff to realize that and adjust. This staff doesn't seem to do that well at all.

I don't think it is a physical issue with QB keeping him out of the games. Until proven wrong, I will continue to feel it's a staff/trust issue and while someone is proving me wrong on that, please tell me how KP has earned the trust to be the one they leave in when the game is on the line? It just hasn't made sense and seems to be getting worse as his confidence fades.

To be completely honest, my fear is that with QB's great improvement over this past season, it would seem that someone with his size and new abilities would garner much more attention in the portal than any other player on the team. My only hope is that Acy's connection to QB will be the glue that brings him back and that during the off season this staff can begin to learn from their mistakes and use him more effectively.

[AZ Shocker]

Watching on Sunday the difference between when QB was in vs. KP was like night and day. In fact WSU was +11 in QB's 18 min and -15 in KP's 25.

Not good. Doesn't make a whole helluva lot of sense either. C'mon coach...

[rjl]

Watching Mills stare at his note cards on the sideline while KP continued to struggle was embarrassing.

Investigative report of what's on Mills' note cards:

[shocker43]

It made sense to me to take Ballard out. He can't defend on the perimeter, and Temple was bringing our bigs out to the perimeter every play. It negated the biggest defensive advantage to having Ballard in. Pohto is supposed to be a better defender that far out, but he got cooked which is why we went small in OT.