Wichita State (0-0) at Western Kentucky (0-0) Game Thread: Nov 4 (Mon)

[Signman]

Does CBS replay this game anywhere? I just can't seem to find it.

Me either. Anyone know where to replay the WKU game?

[RoyalShock]

You might try the CBS Sports app.

[Veritas]

RH: The Hill Topper - Justin Hill Excels at Frist Impressions

Road wins are quite often about having the best player on the court in your jersey. It helps when that best player is also the guard who runs the game and scores in tense moments.

On Monday, Wichita State enjoyed the benefits of great guard play in its 91-84 win at Western Kentucky. Senior Justin Hill, in his first game as a Shocker, scored 31 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out six assists.

While Western's Babacar Faye also played a superb game, he went scoreless for almost nine minutes late in the game when the Shockers limited him with their defense. Faye scored 28 points, but only five in the game's final 13 minutes.

Hill, with the ball in his hands almost all the time down the stretch, helped the Shockers build a lead and then hold off a rally by the Hilltoppers. Good guards – Wichita State fans know several from recent seasons – give a coach that comfort.

Hill, a senior transfer from Georgia, scored WSU's final seven points at the foul line. He scored nine of Wichita State's final 13 points. He made perhaps the game's biggest basket, a step back jumper after shaking a defender, with 3:53 to play to give the Shockers an 80-71 lead. The Shockers didn't commit a turnover in the game's final eight minutes. Hill, dealing with a full-court press much of that time, kept the Shockers from making game-changing mistakes.

Not many Shockers have made a better first impression. Hill's career-high 31 points are the most for any Shocker in their debut game, topping Bob Wilson's 29 in 1972 at Oregon State. He tied Jamie Thompson's 1965 scoring performance against New Mexico State for No. 4 on the list of most points in an opener.

That is the type of guard play needed to win on the road, especially against a 2024 NCAA Tournament team picked second in Conference USA. Mills chose to open on the road against a solid opponent to express confidence in a veteran bunch and get an immediate read on their capabilities and grit. Hill played a large role in making that bet pay off.

"You never win pretty on the road," Mills said on the radio. "We're a lot better than what we showed. I wanted to challenge them. We'll get a lot of confidence from it."

Winning on the road is the hardest things to do in college basketball. The Shockers, when many teams open with an overmatched opponent in their home gym, elected to do it the hard way. They played their first opener on the road since a loss at Alabama in 1992 and won an opener on the road for the first time since 1984 at Lamar.

Good guard play can make hard things look a little bit easier, as Justin Hill and the Shockers showed on Monday.

Any of you gray wolves remember Bob Wilson playing?
Had to look him up.
That was a long lasting record,

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wichita-state/men/1973.html

[shockrah]

Me either. Anyone know where to replay the WKU game?

If you're in the Tulsa area, come on by. I have it recorded via YouTubeTV.

[ShockTalk]

Any of you gray wolves remember Bob Wilson playing?
Had to look him up.
That was a long lasting record,

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wichita-state/men/1973.html

Ahhh, back in the days of Neil Strom and Wild Bill Lang.

[1972Shocker]

Any of you gray wolves remember Bob Wilson playing?
Had to look him up.
That was a long lasting record,

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wichita-state/men/1973.html

Good player. 6-3 guard. Juco transfer played 2 years as a Shocker. Played 4 seasons in the NBA.

[ABC]

On a side note, I bet $150 on the shocks, and won $130. So there is that.

[ShockRef]

Thanks '72!!! Damn...our new point is gooooood!!!

Hill's step back and draining the bucket was huge. Key point in the game. Plus....It was also nasty stuff!

That is all.

[WstateU]

[asiseeit]

His potential has not been tapped into yet. Want to see him and QB on the floor together using a 3-2 zone. Team seems to have significant upside. I like the chemistry so far.

[molly jabali]

All caps? Trying to emulate LESTER COLLIE?

Rough day.... forgot to check... I'm an idiot?

[forevershockerfan]

Rough day.... forgot to check... I'm an idiot?

No unless I am too. Once in a great while, I have done that too, but Royal frowned on it . I'm not sure on the great KUNG WU.

[WstateU]

[forevershockerfan]

Bob Wilson was very good. Always wise to keep a scrutinizing recruiting watch on awesome Juco players.

[Aargh]

Stat stuffer PG's get NBA looks. Mills is fielding questions about Ballard from NBA scouts.

Hill's scouting report is going to be out and he's going to be blanketed. That should free up Washington, Beverly, or Bell (yes, Bell) for better looks.

Ballard was a bust at his previous school. Now he's a potential G-Leaguer. Hill was a role player at his previous school. Now he's likely to get NBA looks. Stuff like that makes recruiting and retention easier.