Strengths and weaknesses of this Wichita State team:

[wufan]

That depends on whether Ron Baker decides to stop making four 3s a game on 50% shooting. Besides, we have 5 good threats from deep on this team, including Early and White. I don't think the same can be said for the other schools that run their shooting through a couple of men.

We had the #1 3 point shooter in the conference last year and he graduated. As a team we were 5th last year. 8 of the 10 best 3 shooters return this year. Creighton returns 3 and UNI returns 2. Drake was 28-56 in their first game and exhibition. To be top 2 last year we would have to shoot 39.2% from 3…That's better than every returning player we have and better than Armstead did at Oregon and VanVleet did in HS and Cleanthony did in JUCO. Only Baker (high school) and Wiggins (40% as a sophomore) have shot that well. We will not be top 2 in 3 point percentage this year unless Baker takes 90% of them.

We will again be very good in FG% and FG/3 point defense as well as rebounding. That will be our bread and butter. We only need to be good enough from 3 to keep the opponent honest.

[1972Shocker]

Armstead certainly isn't Joe Ragland when it comes to the 3-ball, however I believe he might surprise some of us from long-ball range.

While I'm not expecting Malcolm to be the shooter Joe was, especially last year, I do remember Joe's Junior year where we were told he was a light's out perimeter shooter and we kept waiting and waiting for that to show up in games. It finally arrived later in his Junior year and from the get go in his Senior year.

27 games into his Junior year Joe was 18-64 (28.1%) and finished the year at 30-96 (31.3%). Of course he tore it up his senior year.

Unfortunately, Malcolm doesn't have the luxury of time. He did sit out a year and it may take him a little time to adjust to game speed, but let's hope he can get it going sooner than later.

[SB Shock]

For fun, I'm going to share what I feel are our strengths and weaknesses, one game into the season. We'll see how much this changes by the end of the year.

Strength: Perimeter Scoring

The Shockers have been good on the perimeter, especially freshman Ron Baker and sophomore Evan Wessel. Cleanthony Early hasn't hit his shots in the exhibition game or against NCC, but he can shoot the rock as well. I predict that we may be one of the top two in the Valley at shooting the 3 ball.

31% from 3 is not tearing it up. I think it is to early to tell whether this will be a strength or weakness.

Weakness: Handling Pressure

This could easily improve by the end of the season, but the game against NCC showed a weakness against the press. We just didn't pass the ball enough to avoid the inevitable traps, especially Wessel. Seems like we had an unnecessary number of turnovers against a team that really isn't known for a nasty press.

If this hold true, WSU will struggle in MVC play.

Strength: Interior Defense

We have been very solid protecting the interior. This has come mostly from the efforts of Early, Hall, and Orukpe. As a team, we blocked 7 shots against NCC, and held them to very low FG% numbers in the first half. Hall has improved as a shotblocker, and Orukpe is Orukpe. It should be harder to score on us from inside than last year.

This does look like a strength, but will the MVC refs reward WSU or just call fouls?

Weakness: Jump Shooting

We scored 4 points from pull up jump shots inside the 3PT line. Early is probably our jump shooter, and he really isn't hitting yet. Hall can shoot now, but prefers the inside game.

I think it is to early to judge either way.

Strength: Rebounding

Orukpe has improved on the offensive glass, and as a team we have good rebounding at every position. This should be a strength all year long.

This needs to be a strength, and I think it will be with the hustle of Baker, Cotton, Wessle will bring to the game beyond the WSU big men.

[CBB_Fan]

SB Shock - I was referring less to our percentages and more to the number of players with a trusty shot. The 3 ball should not be our offense, but it is great to have it as a weapon when we need it. I expect us to get better at handling pressure as the year goes on, just because our players are still in the process of getting used to each other. Once we get to the end of the season, we should have no problems (we actually were winning the battle for the turnovers in the second half versus VCU, for instance).

You bring up a good point on interior defense. Ideally, the refs would understand the difference between a clear block and a slight incidental contact foul, but that is almost never the case in the MVC. I'm not saying that the refs have a conspiracy to help the less athletic teams, but in general that has been the trend in the games I've watched. This could come down to a simple matter of eyesight; the more athletic a player is, the less likely the ref will be able to see the event clearly (just because a more athletic player will move faster). Hopefully, we won't give back all of those blocks and altered shots through fouling, but until we hit the MVC regular season no one knows.

Jump shooting is another thing where I was evaluating tendencies more than percentages. We don't have enough information to tell where we will end up as a team percentage wise, but it doesn't take a lot of data points to see how our players want to play. Last year, Toure Murry was our jump shooting specialist, and he was consistently able to use his length to shoot over smaller defenders from just inside the 3PT line. This year, no one has really stepped up in that role yet. This isn't necessarily a horrible thing, because midrange jumpers are a low efficiency shot anyways, but it probably will be something we don't score a lot of points from.

We should be the best rebounding team in the Valley, bar none. Marshall's Shockers have been good rebounders in the past, and that should continue this year. Orukpe has obviously gotten better at the technical parts of rebounding (blocking out his man, jumping at the right time, etc.), and that will be important. But go down our lineup, and every player is good at rebounding for their position. Hall may not be 7'0", but he is just nasty with the ferocity he brings to the glass. Cleanthony Early may be the most talented rebounder on our roster. Wessel catches rebounds and 50/50 balls like a wide receiver (wonder why?). Armstead is strong PG that gets a lot of rebounds. And so on. We need to be strong on the glass because it is one area that we have a lot of strength in.

[wufan]

SB Shock - I was referring less to our percentages and more to the number of players with a trusty shot. The 3 ball should not be our offense, but it is great to have it as a weapon when we need it.

In the thread starter you stated, "I predict that we may be one of the top two in the Valley at shooting the 3 ball." That's just not going to happen.

[CBB_Fan]

In the thread starter you stated, "I predict that we may be one of the top two in the Valley at shooting the 3 ball." That's just not going to happen.

True. I made the mistake of not checking out the rest of the conference's shooting numbers. I never remembered other teams shooting all that great (other than Creighton), but they may have just been our defense last year. Still, we should have outside shooters as respectable as anyone in the Valley. I would be surprised if our percentages are not high by the end of the season.

[Ricardo del Rio]

We had the #1 3 point shooter in the conference last year and he graduated. As a team we were 5th last year. 8 of the 10 best 3 shooters return this year. Creighton returns 3 and UNI returns 2. Drake was 28-56 in their first game and exhibition. To be top 2 last year we would have to shoot 39.2% from 3…That's better than every returning player we have and better than Armstead did at Oregon and VanVleet did in HS and Cleanthony did in JUCO. Only Baker (high school) and Wiggins (40% as a sophomore) have shot that well. We will not be top 2 in 3 point percentage this year unless Baker takes 90% of them.

We will again be very good in FG% and FG/3 point defense as well as rebounding. That will be our bread and butter. We only need to be good enough from 3 to keep the opponent honest.

I admire a man, who speaks with facts.

[Shocker91]

I know some are sold on Wessel as a starter, but I am in a wait and see mode.

Count me among those who are sold. I don't care if he averages 6-8 PPG all year. That's not the reason he plays high minutes. Evan is smarter, tougher, and an all-around winner. He wins 50-50 balls, will take one in the chest, and plays within his role. He is worth a high number of minutes simply for the mistakes he WON'T make that someone else in that position will. Plus, this board has seemed to sleep on him because of a 5-point game to start the season. Was his solid offensive performance in the exhibition really all that long ago? He's shown that he's got tools offensively; for some reason, people have forgotten this.

What is your alternative, RDR? Demetric? Who guards the 3 spot then? Baker? Certainly you don't want to play Wiggins yet. I just don't see who you play there if not Wessel.

[SHOXAAC]

Count me among those who are sold. I don't care if he averages 6-8 PPG all year. That's not the reason he plays high minutes. Evan is smarter, tougher, and an all-around winner. He wins 50-50 balls, will take one in the chest, and plays within his role. He is worth a high number of minutes simply for the mistakes he WON'T make that someone else in that position will. Plus, this board has seemed to sleep on him because of a 5-point game to start the season. Was his solid offensive performance in the exhibition really all that long ago? He's shown that he's got tools offensively; for some reason, people have forgotten this.

What is your alternative, RDR? Demetric? Who guards the 3 spot then? Baker? Certainly you don't want to play Wiggins yet. I just don't see who you play there if not Wessel.

Shocker91 - you are wise beyond your years...and I don't even know how old you are.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Count me among those who are sold. I don't care if he averages 6-8 PPG all year. That's not the reason he plays high minutes. Evan is smarter, tougher, and an all-around winner. He wins 50-50 balls, will take one in the chest, and plays within his role. He is worth a high number of minutes simply for the mistakes he WON'T make that someone else in that position will. Plus, this board has seemed to sleep on him because of a 5-point game to start the season. Was his solid offensive performance in the exhibition really all that long ago? He's shown that he's got tools offensively; for some reason, people have forgotten this.

What is your alternative, RDR? Demetric? Who guards the 3 spot then? Baker? Certainly you don't want to play Wiggins yet. I just don't see who you play there if not Wessel.

I did not suggest an alternative. I merely stated that I am not sold on Evan as yet.

The game is basketball, not football.

We shall see what we shall see.

[1972Shocker]

I did not suggest an alternative. I merely stated that I am not sold on Evan as yet.

The game is basketball, not football.

We shall see what we shall see.

I wished Evan had taken 3G's advice and redshirted last year. However, he didn't but from what I can see so far this year he really worked hard on his game in the off-season.

My questions to you RDR, is how would you compare Evan to Graham Hatch at the same point in his career?

I think Evan's intangibles may be equal to or greater than his tangibles. The kid clearly is not used to nor do I suspect he likes losing one bit and according to 3G he is a very intelligient kid and a quick study. There is a reason he is starting over the JUCO All-Americans.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I wished Evan had taken 3G's advice and redshirted last year. However, he didn't but from what I can see so far this year he really worked hard on his game in the off-season.

My questions to you RDR, is how would you compare Evan to Graham Hatch at the same point in his career?

I think Evan's intangibles may be equal to or greater than his tangibles. The kid clearly is not used to nor do I suspect he likes losing one bit and according to 3G he is a very intelligient kid and a quick study. There is a reason he is starting over the JUCO All-Americans.

I do not know as yet. I am sure they compare similarly, when considering physical play and toughness.

I would like to see more about Evan's rebounding, guarding, 3 ball makes and free throw makes against stiffer competition than North Carolina Central.

[Shocker91]

I did not suggest an alternative. I merely stated that I am not sold on Evan as yet.

The game is basketball, not football.

We shall see what we shall see.

Of course you did not suggest an alternative; there isn't a good one.

I am also unaware as to how comments about Evan's basketball IQ, physical and mental toughness suggest I am talking about football. Are intangibles suddenly unimportant in basketball? Even after a game in which he didn't look all that great, he still justified his starting spot in my mind. Didn't make mental errors, got to loose balls, and played tough. What many on here don't realize is the effect that defensive savvy has on a game. Sometimes, a 6 PPG guy is a better option than a 10 PPG guy because of the errors the 6 PPG kid won't make defensively. A kid who isn't good off the ball, doesn't bump cutters, show properly, talk defensively, switch hard, know the scout, close out well, initiate a box out, dive on the floor, etc. can cost you a whole heck of a lot of points.

However, I don't see an alternative who would be a whole lot better offensively anyway, so it's not even worth a discussion.

[CBB_Fan]

Scratch 3 ball shooting, but we don't lose when EO makes all his shots at the line!

Also, scratch handling pressure as a weakness. All hail Armstead, who will lead us to the promised land of easy buckets after breaking the press.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Of course you did not suggest an alternative; there isn't a good one.

I am also unaware as to how comments about Evan's basketball IQ, physical and mental toughness suggest I am talking about football. Are intangibles suddenly unimportant in basketball? Even after a game in which he didn't look all that great, he still justified his starting spot in my mind. Didn't make mental errors, got to loose balls, and played tough. What many on here don't realize is the effect that defensive savvy has on a game. Sometimes, a 6 PPG guy is a better option than a 10 PPG guy because of the errors the 6 PPG kid won't make defensively. A kid who isn't good off the ball, doesn't bump cutters, show properly, talk defensively, switch hard, know the scout, close out well, initiate a box out, dive on the floor, etc. can cost you a whole heck of a lot of points.

However, I don't see an alternative who would be a whole lot better offensively anyway, so it's not even worth a discussion.

Lecture noted.

Picking a food fight noted.