Emporia State at Wichita State: Oct 27 (Sun)

[ShockerExpress]

I don’t really buy the NIL or transfer portal crap on attendance.

Doesn’t seem to bother Dayton, VCU, Memphis, and could probably list several others too, all of which are in a similar position as we are, but seem to have a ton more asses in seats than we do.

A lot of those programs have been about as bad as we’ve been the past 5 years too.

Don’t have the energy to look it all up, but IMO there’s an apathy here that there isn’t in programs I’d like to compare Wichita State to.

[shockerfan]

I don’t really buy the NIL or transfer portal crap on attendance.

Doesn’t seem to bother Dayton, VCU, Memphis, and could probably list several others too, all of which are in a similar position as we are, but seem to have a ton more asses in seats than we do.

A lot of those programs have been about as bad as we’ve been the past 5 years too.

Don’t have the energy to look it all up, but IMO there’s an apathy here that there isn’t in programs I’d like to compare Wichita State to.

It's not 100% of the issue. But you can bet it plays a roll. Wichita is just different. Fans will come back. But it won't be to the levels we got used to. JMHO

[ShockTalk]

Even undefeated won't fill the place using one-and-done players

The new era of "one-and-done players" was just a recent happening that added to a number of earlier happenings that have led to this situation.

[wichshock65]

Sat next to a guy at the game who said he gave up his season tickets after 15 years. Said it was because of NIL but will come to games once in a while.

[pogo]

Sat next to a guy at the game who said he gave up his season tickets after 15 years. Said it was because of NIL but will come to games once in a while.

There are more than a few that feel this way but MK and DD put it out there tonight in the pre game portion of the broadcast...If a University chooses to participate in Division 1 sports then it will have to find support for NIL The level they will compete is in direct correlation to the amount of money they can raise. I will continue to do my small share in an effort to give WSU a chance to still represent itself at the highest levels of competition and not shake my head and lament the state of college athletics as it stands now.

[pogo]

Now back to the actual game tonight. The pace of play for the most part was played very up tempo. Quick outlet passes in an attempt to get a fast break opportunity. There were times in the offense that the ball seemed to stall in the hands of a player too long. Good ball reversal most of the game and strong defense was played for the most part. Free throw shooting looked like a whole new team of makers this game. The only one that I thought struggled some what tonight was Matej? especially close to the basket. Need to work on an offensive scheme to zone defense. In the first half they looked unsure of what to do. In the second half there was more penetration attacking the gaps and then finding the open shooter when it collapsed on the penetrator. Over all I liked the up tempo and the fact we didn't throw the ball away aa we were prone to do the last couple of years.. I'm sure there are others that will have better opinions of tonight's game but for me it was an enjoyable time against admittedly a lesser team but it was still fun to watch this team play together. Go Shocks

[ShockerFever]

I don’t really buy the NIL or transfer portal crap on attendance.

Doesn’t seem to bother Dayton, VCU, Memphis, and could probably list several others too, all of which are in a similar position as we are, but seem to have a ton more asses in seats than we do.

A lot of those programs have been about as bad as we’ve been the past 5 years too.

Don’t have the energy to look it all up, but IMO there’s an apathy here that there isn’t in programs I’d like to compare Wichita State to.

Check some highlights of Dayton and VCU exhibitions against D2 schools. You tell me if they're packed in to the rafters.

This was the wrong time to be making this complaint.

[shock]

So you are not getting any of that "Climate Change"?

We offer burnt tire sacrifices to the climate change gods Bill Gates and Greta in hope that they will once again turn their faces to us.

[ShockerExpress]

I really wasn't trying to hijack the thread about attendance, so that is my bad on that.

Positives (Usual obvious caveats of level of competition):

Man, Corey W has a chance to be real good. I liked that signing the most of all and he was impressive last night. A true kind of Shocker Basketball effort and motor, and hopefully it is infectious.

I continue to be much higher on Bijan than most on here. I was not surprised he started at the 2 and I think that is still his spot to lose moving forward. Was a > 40% career 3-point shooter entering here at the Big 12 level (somewhat limited action) and shot it about that clip the final couple weeks of the year. Need him to make one or two a game and I think he can.

Turnovers. Or lack thereof. Offense looks maybe significantly more under control and organized than a year ago. Personnel will help a lot, but I think that is a natural progression. Can't really expect immediate understanding of a system with all new guys. We retained quite a few, and that should be a big help.

Expectations. I also continue to be higher on Mills than most on here. It was nice to look OK in a scrimmage and score 99 points and still have your coach point out multiple aspects the team could do better on. He expects a decent amount out of this group, and that is great to see/hear.

I was shocked that Quincy had 12 points when I looked at the box. He was pretty quiet in my estimation, but still is just so good. We are in a good spot if we can keep retaining guys like him. NIL is important, and we won one there - Need to keep winning with those types of guys. (We lost with Rogers)

Meh's:

I doubt X is going to shoot that well from three usually, he cannot fall in love with that shot. Although it certainly could (should) be improved a bit.

Matej looks super hesitant. He is the newest of the newcomers, which surely has something to do with it. But, I have always felt that Europeans struggle here for a while, and he doesn't have a while to play here (if at all, lol). I have a good feeling that even if Matej plays Meeks will end up being the more impactful pick up. I could very easily be wrong, and hope that I am.

AJ did not make a three. We will need him to make threes consistently, but we did not last night.

[SubGod22]

Also in regards to attendance, the Chiefs were playing the Raiders which didn't help. Not sure what time the Chiefs game ended, but most people would have missed most of the first half if they tried to leave after the game to get to campus. That's not worth it, especially for a D2 exhibition game.

I haven't seen much mention of Pipkin in this thread and he's the one I was most excited to get feedback on.

[JVShocker]

It's just my opinion. I say play Matej if he figured to be in the rotation and is a solid contributor in practice. I wouldn't care if the Shockers won 25 games and had to forfeit them in a year or two. I want to see the best basketball WSU can put on the floor. At this point the list of programs who've had to vacate wins is probably close to the number of programs that have never had to vacate wins. One thing is certain, the program needs to get going in the right direction.

I think the Shocks win by 25+. Wouldn't be shocked if they won by considerably more than that. I think the defense will be key in the game. I'm looking for probably 4 or 5 blocked shots and a more than a number of picks from our guys. Hopefully the Shockers can find some "makers", but I get the feeling they are more likely to score from inside the arc than outside in this exhibition, particularly layups, dunks, put backs and FTs. It's usually against those "supposed" mismatched opponents that a team doesn't come out firing from outside.

And go Shocks!

Margin: 46
Blocked shots: 4
Steals: 9
2pt FG pct: 60%
FTs: 21 (21?? Amazing)
Pct. of scoring from 2 ball land and FTs: 69.7%







and now...

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[ShockerExpress]

Also in regards to attendance, the Chiefs were playing the Raiders which didn't help. Not sure what time the Chiefs game ended, but most people would have missed most of the first half if they tried to leave after the game to get to campus. That's not worth it, especially for a D2 exhibition game.

I haven't seen much mention of Pipkin in this thread and he's the one I was most excited to get feedback on.

I thought he looked good for a freshman, pressed a bit probably on both ends. Threw in a desperation three and made a couple other buckets.

Also feels like Joy will demand some PT this season, even though we are deepest at the guard spot. He seems good enough to be a rotation player at our level next few years.

Chiefs probably do have something to do with it, I get it with the run they're on.

[shockrah]

Taylor's postgame story:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/emptying-the-notebook-a-new-defense-improved-shooting-among-wichita-state-takeaways/ar-AA1t3rPZ

[1972Shocker]

RH: Complimentary Basketball - Shockers Commit To Cutting Back on Mistakes

Wichita State basketball coach Paul Mills hasn't hidden the to-do list for the Shockers to improve in his second season.

He's talked a lot about defense and backed that up with a heavy emphasis on stops in practices. The Shockers turned the ball over way too much last season. They missed too many foul shots and ranked ninth in the American Athletic Conference in three-point percentage at 33.3.

Have the Shockers improved those areas? Sunday's 99-53 win over Emporia State doesn't offer definitive answers, but it showed the Shockers understand and are moving in the right direction.

"There's some good things," Mills said. "Seventy-five percent from the free-throw line is good, especially this early in the year. Only having five turnovers for the game. We've got a number of things to clean up."

Start with the defense and turnovers, two areas that often interlock. WSU's turnover percentage of 17.8 ranked No. 228 in the nation and those turnovers too often handed the opponent easy baskets. The Shockers committed 71 more turnovers than their opponents.

Sunday, the Shockers played like a team that listened. They didn't commit a turnover until 12:06 remained in the first half. They didn't commit another until 8:57 minutes remained in the game and finished with five.

Guard Bijan Cortes handed out three assists and didn't commit a turnover. He blended the smart and the flashy to produce a solid point-guard game, and made both of his three-pointers.

"Obviously, turnovers was a main thing," Cortes said. "Making the right reads and not making a big play when you can make a simple one."

That is what Mills preaches. He mentioned the competition in practice – another theme of the summer – with sharpening the focus. The competition for playing time, with the addition of Georgia transfer Justin Hill and freshman Zion Pipkin, means a player who turns the ball over isn't guaranteed minutes. Cortes, in 18 games last season, didn't have one without a turnover.

Running the offense to get good shots pays off after the shot. Wichita State, because it wasn't put in scramble mode on defense by a bad pass, set its defense regularly against the Hornets. While Mills wasn't totally pleased with the defense, especially stopping penetration into the lane, the Shockers played aggressively and forced 13 turnovers, resulting in 25 points.

"I didn't think we were aggressive as we needed to be, especially early," Mills said. "They got into paint way too easily. We were just able to out-personnel them."

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If the Shocks are successful in keeping the mistakes and turnovers to a minimum, playing much better defense than they did last year and making their free throws that will go a long way towards a much better season. Sharing the ball and, hopefully, better 3-point shooting will be icing on the cake.

We will have a much better feel for this after the season opener against a solid Western Kentucky team.

[Kung Wu]

Margin: 46
Blocked shots: 4
Steals: 9
2pt FG pct: 60%
FTs: 21 (21?? Amazing)
Pct. of scoring from 2 ball land and FTs: 69.7%







and now...

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Recognize!