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

[WstateU]

Go vote Shockers fans… it’s a glorious day.
“I slept like a baby”…

Sorry, a little ‘Zack Top’ to start my day…

https://youtu.be/05xkiGF3guA?si=LJOOZPwCkn3fvQY3

[shock]

The problem with Bell is his shot selection and decision making. He just has a JUCO mindset. He got to the rim well in spurts. I don’t believe this will be his normal 3 point shooting clip, given his history. He does not look to pass the ball at all. He’s not good enough to be a guy we lean on. That’s my opinion.

What if high volume offense is a key component of the Mills system? I’m not staying Bell is the best player for that system, but somebody has to do it. High volume goes hand in hand with the type of play we’ve seen from bell, and it could be that he is just doing what’s asked.

I could be wrong, just looking for the other perspective.

[Aargh]

My vote in the poll was for a W by 5+. I was never certain I believed that, but I wasn't about to predict a loss.

Now that it's the morning after, I'm impressed. WKU's warmup game was against UAB. Our warmup game was against Emporia State. There's a huge difference there and that showed early in the game. The first 10 - 15 minutes were brutal and ugly. After the bad start things took a turn for the better until some missed opportunities to put the game away in the last minute and a half.

Considering the number of new players on the roster and the (rare) foul trouble for Ballard, there were a lot of reasons to not have a good showing - especially opening the season on the road against a projected conference champion. Beating WKU isn't like beating the conference champ of the SWAC.

While the players have to take it one game at a time, fans don't have to. I'm ready for Minnesota and expecting a "learning experience" with the next opponent in that tourney. I don't see a loss until the game against Florida or Wake forest. By the time we play K-State (Dec. 21) the team should have worked out some kinks, Bosnjak should have had some time to adjust to American D1 ball and I'm expecting a good showing, but not necessarily a W. Meeks could be "available" dor that game.

[Aargh]

What if high volume offense is a key component of the Mills system? I’m not staying Bell is the best player for that system, but somebody has to do it. High volume goes hand in hand with the type of play we’ve seen from bell, and it could be that he is just doing what’s asked.

I could be wrong, just looking for the other perspective.

I liked Mills' comment about Bell in the post game interview with Kennedy. Mills said Bell is confident in his shot and not hesitant to take it. That sounds like Bell will get to watch some film and have some conversations about shot selection.

[Dan]

Matej Bosnjak being cleared is indeed huge given Meeks' injury. Getting Hill in the portal was a recruting coup.

We can thank PJ Cousinard

[kcshocker11]

I was impressed with most of the 2nd half.. a great way to start the season.

[JVShocker]

Still happy about the win. I mean it was delicious.



I don't need a box score, just the final score. WKU is a damn good basketball team. And we beat them. That would have been a tough game for any team. The importance of the road win can't be overlooked despite breakdowns and bonehead plays, I mean, first game, right out of the box, on a super bowl night for WKU and the Shocks never really panicked - just kept playing. At any level of basketball, the offense will always be quicker and a step ahead of the defense, so breakdowns are just a part of the game. It wasn't a step, but a huge leap in the right direction. The Shocks won a total of 2 road games last year in countless attempts. Now, they've won 1 and we're only 1 game in. They're baby steps.

[SubGod22]

I couldn't watch the game but was following the box score. XB looked like he had a good game stat wise but not on shockernet? Why?

While he had no official turnovers, he had at least five horrible shots that might as well have been.

At one point we had a two on one fast break with he and Beverly, and Bell showing his low BBIQ, passes it up ahead way too early and doesn't make the defender think about anything leading to a horrible shot attempt by Beverly, who should have pulled it back out rather than try and throw up contested slop.

Those are just a few reasons he gets **** on. He and Beverly are the two most frustrating players we have and if dumb ****ing shot attempts counted as turnovers, they'd lead the nation.

[jdmee]

I couldn't watch the game but was following the box score. XB looked like he had a good game stat wise but not on shockernet? Why?

It seems like when XB does something it happens at the worst time. With about 4 minutes left and WSU up by 9, The WKU player had position and XB sealed off for an easy basket. XB fouls the guy when we just needed to let the clock keep running. Take Sub's post above. These things happed to other player all the time. It just seems that with XB it happens when the spotlight is on him.

[shocker43]

I don't expect Hill to score 30 every game, but if he can keep running the offense like he does, and play good defense, he's an upgrade over Colby.

Bosnjak does the things we liked about Pohto (post-passing) but is much better defensively. I imagine his offensive game will get much better throughout the year.

Edited to add: that set play for the McGinnis 3 in the first half was pretty.

[Kung Wu]

Beverly and Bell are probably going to be feast or famine. When they are both on, we'll look like we can beat anyone in the country. When they're both off we would lose to Alcorn State. When one is on and the other off, maybe we can hang with most teams now that we have Hill, Washington and Matej (as a backup)?

[pinstripers]

1. Hill's line is unbelievable
2. Washington and AJ Mac were not as good as advertised
3. Cortes is still starting?
4. Both big guys get lost on defense
5. That's a big win
6. Will we shoot that many threes every time?
7. Will we make that many threes every time?
8. Did we play 9 guys? All Seniors>?
9. Was the WKU dance team present?
10. Big crowd

[Seagull]

I think our depth was valuable last night. You could see WKU players getting fatigued at the end of the game, while we stayed pretty strong. This will be huge when we get into the grind of conference play.

[Topshock]

I have seen a lot of 1st games, and they are usually ugly, in fact almost always ugly. We showed a lot of toughness. We were down, I think 8 in the first half, withstood some very questionable calls, faced a very good team, hostile crowd, program treating this game as their super bowl and we won relatively easily.

Nothing about this team should be compared to last year's team.

I don't understand the criticism of Matej Bosnjak. I thought he was fantastic. Solid fundamentals, blocks out and rebounds very well and a great passer.

Extremely good start for this team!

[Topshock]

While he had no official turnovers, he had at least five horrible shots that might as well have been.

At one point we had a two on one fast break with he and Beverly, and Bell showing his low BBIQ, passes it up ahead way too early and doesn't make the defender think about anything leading to a horrible shot attempt by Beverly, who should have pulled it back out rather than try and throw up contested slop.

Those are just a few reasons he gets **** on. He and Beverly are the two most frustrating players we have and if dumb ****ing shot attempts counted as turnovers, they'd lead the nation.

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