How large is the athletic gap between Wichita State and the rest of the league?

[CBB_Fan]

The MVC as a whole last year rated 31st last year in blocks and 29th in steals, according to Kenpom. There are 34 basketballs conferences in NCAA D1, if you count independents as a separate conference, so take that into account when considering those numbers. I think blocks and steals are decent (not great) measurements of a team's overall athletic abilities; teams that are considered more "explosive" tend to average more blocks while quicker teams tend to average more steals.

At the very best, the MVC is one of the 5 least athletic conferences, perhaps a bottom three conference for athleticism. Wichita State, on the other hand, is a team built around athleticism. Without regards to player skill, I think Wichita State lines up favorably to most BCS schools when it comes to height/athleticism/quickness. Maybe we wouldn't beat out Kentucky, but against a team like Iowa we should be the team with the better athletes.

So, how large IS the gap between the rest of the Valley and Wichita State, going solely by athleticism? Consider:

Malcolm Armstead (will likely lead conference in steals)
Nick Wiggins
Cleanthony Early (best pure athlete in the conference)
Carl Hall
Ehimen Orupke (if he gets 16 minutes a game, he leads the conference in blocks)

and that even our least athletic players can make players like the ones Baker and Wessel did in the exhibition game. I'd say the gap is perhaps one of the largest gaps in any conference, perhaps even "the" largest gap between a single team and the rest of the conference.

[C0|dB|00ded]

It's quite a bit...


T


...:cool:

[RoyalShock]

For the past decade and a half the MVC achieved success by having experienced, skilled, high b-ball IQ and senior-laden teams. There were good athletes scattered here and there. During the Turgeon era the only guys I would classify as high-level athletes was Howard and Couisnard. Marshall had definitely upped the ante with players like Ellis, Murry, Kyles, Blair, Orukpe, Early, Wiggins and Lufile.

[1972Shocker]

Illinois State is probably the only team close. Not sure how deep they go though.

I don't think CU and UNI aren't nearly as athletic but they have very good basketball players.

Hopefully, the Shocks will prove that they have both very good athletes and very good basketball players.

[1972Shocker]

For the past decade and a half the MVC achieved success by having experienced, skilled, high b-ball IQ and senior-laden teams. There were good athletes scattered here and there. During the Turgeon era the only guys I would classify as high-level athletes was Howard and Couisnard. Marshall had definitely upped the ante with players like Ellis, Murry, Kyles, Blair, Orukpe, Early, Wiggins and Lufile.

Loved PJ. Not only was he a very good athlete I thought his BBIQ was outstanding.

Jason Perez was another guy with outstanding BBIQ.

Two of my favorite over-achieving Shockers. I hope Ron Baker and Evan Wessel join that club in a few years.

[CBB_Fan]

One thing I'd like to make clear:

I have nothing against high BBIQ, experienced teams. They can be very good and beat more athletic teams.

But in basketball it is always nice to athletes. It doesn't make TOO much of a difference on offense, because so much of offense comes from skill rather than sheer athleticism. But defensively, it makes a huge difference. Illinois State should get some credit, they will have some athletes to compete with us. I think basketball usually comes down to three factors (not counting coaches, just players):

Athleticism/Skill/Size

Or A/S/S. Players with good A/S/S are almost always very good players. Players with a disproportionate score, like Early: A/s/S can be good, but a player with a /S/ will have a mismatch in terms of skill (referring to learned skills, ie BBIQ in this case). Give up size, and you'd better have good A/S/, like VCU did in its tournament runs. Having one prong, like A/s/s or a/S/s generally means a mediocre team that cannot force mismatches. Having none means a bad team.

[moshock]

Or A/S/S. Players with good A/S/S are almost always very good players.

There are so many directions this thread can go now. WstateU ???

[CBB_Fan]

There are so many directions this thread can go now. WstateU ???

If only Orukpe had good A/S/S.

[Dave Stalwart]

How long till this thread becomes about the volleyball team?

[another shocker]

For the past decade and a half the MVC achieved success by having experienced, skilled, high b-ball IQ and senior-laden teams. There were good athletes scattered here and there. During the Turgeon era the only guys I would classify as high-level athletes was Howard and Couisnard. Marshall had definitely upped the ante with players like Ellis, Murry, Kyles, Blair, Orukpe, Early, Wiggins and Lufile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzUFz-58PPA

[moshock]

How long till this thread becomes about the volleyball team?

If it does, I predict that it will be longer than the EO thread

[CBB_Fan]

If it does, I predict that it will be longer than the EO thread

I think the same criterion certainly applies to volleyball. That is another sport where size, athleticism, and skill are very important.

Short shorts helps too. Has the opposite affect on basketball though.

[molly jabali]

is the EO thread the longest in Shocker history? think we've had two presidents since it started!:)

[KC Shox]

Athleticism is overrated (see EO). If we want to be great, we need a combination of athleticism and BBIQ. Besides, take a note from Mean Gene's recruiting philosophy, he like to recruits athletes, but that hasn't exactly worked out too well of late. Yeah, yeah, different sport, but just thought I would throw that out since I'm still salty about our state of the baseball program. You can be fast, strong and able to jump out of the gym, but if you can't shoot worth a damn, you're a liability.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Athleticism is overrated (see EO). If we want to be great, we need a combination of athleticism and BBIQ. Besides, take a note from Mean Gene's recruiting philosophy, he like to recruits athletes, but that hasn't exactly worked out too well of late. Yeah, yeah, different sport, but just thought I would throw that out since I'm still salty about our state of the baseball program. You can be fast, strong and able to jump out of the gym, but if you can't shoot worth a damn, you're a liability.

Coach Denny Crum, former coach of the Louisville Cardinals, might disagree with you.

His famous quote (in his day) was "I want players, who can run fast and jump high. I can teach them the rest."