WSU vs. VCU game thread

[JaminShock]

We chardged once and they got called for a block, but they missed the Early call for sure.

Sub, or ShockRef, thoughts on the Early charge? I thought they missed the call, and even Elmore on the broadcast said he thought the defender was late/not set.*

[SHOXAAC]

Whose stat line would you have rather he had tonight? If it was either hall or early you would be berating him for missing so many shots... Do you feel no big had a good game tonight? I agree eo was crazy overhyped, he will not be the dominant double double guy many on here wanted to see. But reading your posts, he's not even serviceable. He's a liability. He's a foul waiting to happen followed by a to every time he touches the ball. So far he has proven he can play reliably when we need him. Yeah he had the turnover, but he also made good decisions in a few press breaks when he got the ball. That is more than I expected at least and am sure you marked it a turnover as the pass got to him.

You hit it on the head about the gross "overhype." My apologies if I come across meaning EO isn't serviceable. He absolutely has a role on this team and can contribute to our success. I just get tired of these posters who think he is the second coming. Does anyone believe 3G spent all that time, effort, money and energy to get EO here to see him play 5 minutes as a So & 7 minutes as a Jr? He'll no. He had much greater hopes than what he got, I will assure you. He is reliable as long as the game is not on the line. Yes, last night he did participate in continuing the flow of the offense as we broke their press. Yes, I was holding my breath as he got the ball and made a successful pass (if the truth were told each SNer was too). I will continue to enjoy watching EO play and celebrate at his continued development. I have just chosen to keep koolaid aid drinking fans in check. For that I get vilified, which is totally fine with me. Although I don't have the thickest skin in the world, I can take a punch.

Go Shox & go EO...we have a bunch more winning to do together.

[scottie924]

End of game

Am I wrong in thinking that after the lane violation with half a second left, whoever was inbounding for WSU took a few steps to the side when he shouldn't have been able to move at all? Maybe he didn't take a step like I thought I saw and maybe he was allowed to, but I thought that he couldn't in that situation. I am a WSU fan, just thought we got lucky that it didn't get called. Hopefully we can have a great season so that if VCU does well from here on out, they will help our RPI if it matters. But first things first, we have to continue to win.

[GoShockers89]

wrote a dissertation defending his snipes at EO

You're attacking an army of straw men at this point. Nobody here has said EO is the second coming for like 2 years, but you still act like it's the majority viewpoint. Cold's trolling doesn't count.

You were earlier than most and correct in your initial assessment of him. I'd just let it go at this point.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I watched it again overnight, and while admittedly I am flipping exhausted, I had Fred for 1 turnover only, and frankly outstanding minutes. He played under control and when attacking the press made mostly outstanding decisions including dropping a sweet dime to Early for the flush, then again on the slip screen he hit Early perfectly for an And One that the ref totally blew and called a charge.

He also had by my count 5 near or assisted steals.

Fred's minutes were sensational imho, and I am becoming more excited by the minute. If he can play like that in game 2 against a top 40 club on the road......

Thank you, Lord. And you too, Dr. Wu!

My recall of Fred's performance is close to your accounting of his performance.

I will watch the video later today.

In a wild and sometimes frenetic game, I imagine the offical scorers' task is not easy.

[SHOXAAC]

3. Last game, he didn't get rebounds because he wasn't close to the rim and Reddic was the only person on the court that could make shots. VCU deliberately kept EO's man near the perimeter to keep him away from the paint, and it seemed like he never got opportunities on offense (no idea why, we missed plenty of shots).

If you we're a trial atty you would be quickly unemployed. In 16 minutes there were more than enough opps for him to get more than one rebound when the opponent shoots 34%. We only shot 35%, so there were plenty of offensive rebound opps as well. You're giving Shaka way to much credit, plus you are reaching. Reddic wasn't the only one shooting while EO was on the floor. So you're telling me Shaka spent considerable time convincing his assistants that totally changing their offensive scheme & rhythm to get EO way from the basket was a good idea. Then rolling that idea out to the players so they could practice this brilliant idea. So you are also saying all coaches moving forward will see this brilliant idea on tape and say "hey, let's do what Shaka did & totally take EO away from the basket at all times resulting in 1 rebound for the big fella." You must be smoking the same stuff Cold is. I'll go back to my corner now and see how this plays out on Thusday.

[pinstripers]

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ricardo del Rio]

He played under control and when attacking the press made mostly outstanding decisions including dropping a sweet dime to Early for the flush, then again on the slip screen he hit Early perfectly for an And One that the ref totally blew and called a charge.

I remember that call well. Ask Señora Rio. She thought I was a mad man. It was an awful call.

[WuDrWu]

Just for fun, Realtime RPI has us 11, projecting out at 27-2 (@ UT and @ CU). We are up 104 spots from yesterday.

[calfan]

That was a BIG WIN last night for the Shocks. VCU is going to be a good team.
Really liked the way the team played defense last night.
If WSU is on the bubble in March, this should look like a marque win.

Big win for the Shocks and the MVC.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Am I wrong in thinking that after the lane violation with half a second left, whoever was inbounding for WSU took a few steps to the side when he shouldn't have been able to move at all? Maybe he didn't take a step like I thought I saw and maybe he was allowed to, but I thought that he couldn't in that situation. I am a WSU fan, just thought we got lucky that it didn't get called. Hopefully we can have a great season so that if VCU does well from here on out, they will help our RPI if it matters. But first things first, we have to continue to win.

That is a damn good question. Maybe ShockerRef and Sub will share some light because I am in the darkest of dark on the question.

[SHOXAAC]

We are up 104 spots from yesterday.

If only the stock market could make this kind of positive jump.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I have to admit I thought our chances of winning this game were slim to none. But this team just might have something our boys have lacked early in the season in the past--the ability to gut it out and win close games. I offer Connecticut and Temple as prior year examples. If this is what we're capable of doing the second game of the season, I'm even more excited than I was before about the last half of the season. It's going to be a lot of fun watching this team develop.

[shockerfan]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/67040/best-and-worst-of-the-2012-tip-off-marathon

Hall was mentioned under the "honorable mentions". Our game was listed as the biggest upset.

[small tyme baller]

Great win for the SHOX! Glad we were able to avenge (to some point) our two losses to VCU the last couple years. I know everyone has hit on most the key points from the game but I'll list off my top few:

1. Our Defense: WOW ... our defense is so much farther along than I thought it'd be at this point in the year. We were swarming last night - a great sign considering all the young and new guys on the squad. Its tough getting everyone on the same page playing tough defense this early in the year.

2. Ron Baker/Carl Hall/Malcolm Armstead - I feel will be the 3 most important players to our team having success this year. (yes, its early, and things might change ... but that's the early feeling I have)

3. Shaka Smart whines the MOST out of any coach I've seen lately. Yes, I respect him as a coach and the way he gets his guys going on the Defensive end ... but sh!t, cry a little more after every play and have the refs review a few more plays why dont you? ... he single handedly slowed that game to a crawl in the 2nd half.

4. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT & I LOVE IT! GO SHOX