Monmouth (0-4) at Wichita State (3-0) Game Discussion: Nov 18 (Mon)

[ShockerFever]

Every team has off nights. The F4 team's loss to Evansville has already been mentioned. Then there was Louisiana Tech. I don't recall anyone calling for Marshall's a$$ on a platter for those losses.

Uhh, actually go back and check the tape pal. There was plenty of coaching questioning during those games. Louisiana Tech is hardly similar to Monmouth and Marshall kinda gets a little bit of a pass based on his history, you know, restoring the program into a national contender.

It’s so funny how much you like to bash Marshall for things but Mills is off limits. I must’ve missed all of your complaining while WSU was hanging banners under Marshall. Guess it didn’t seem to bother you then.

[shoxrox89]

If losing 1 starter puts us a couple baskets away from losing to the 330th ranked team in the nation on our home floor, then we are fooked… and that’s on the coaches.

I cannot believe you are actually using that shitty excuse to justify that type of play last night. Absolutely mind boggling.

Was RD3 available the whole game? There are certain variables that have to be taken into account, I’m not disagreeing with you at all but at the same time I’m not ready to criticize Paul Mills coaching capabilities because we were short handed for one game THAT WE WON. I’d put more stock into the WKU game than this one when it comes to actual potential of what this team is.

[ShockBand]

If SNers were collectively the coaching staff, we would win every game by 100 points, right?

[Kung Wu]

If SNers were collectively the coaching staff, we would win every game by 100 points, right?

No, but it sure would be fun!

[wichshock65]

If SNers were collectively the coaching staff, we would win every game by 100 points, right?

Only if we played the end of the bench to close out the game.

[Topshock]

A former assistant coach under GM said something to this effect.

20% of the time a team will play above its head, 20% of the time it will play way below its' ability and the rest of the time the team will be who it is.

[ShockBand]

No, but it sure would be fun!

The game, or the fistfights between members of the SN coaching staff?

[pinstripers]

We've all seen games where the first guy downcourt fires up a 25-footer. First guy downcourt drives into the clogged lane, ain't much different.

[forevershockerfan]

No, but it sure would be fun!

Fun indeed Kung Wu. If FSF got paid for what I know about coaching, I'd be owing SN money. However, I ignore that detail during each Shocker game with visions of grandeur of coaching corrections needed. This will continue and also explains my METHODOLOGIES ON SN.

[Dan]

I just hope there's a film session where Mills shows the team that driving into a clogged lane should result in a kick out to one of the 2 or 3 open players. Same with passing the ball into the post. Don't take 8 dribbles while trying to back down another player, take 2 or 3 and either make a move or kick it back out. It's not that complicated.

[BostonWu]

I gotta say though, after a game like that, you have social media videos where there's celebrating and giving out the flying W chain to Bell...I would like to think most coaches would shut that sh** down. That was just 45 second snippet in the locker room after the game so maybe there was some ass chewin or difficult truths that were dished out that we didn't get to see. I certainly hope there was more reflection than good feels after a game like that.

This is what has me bothered. This is why I look beyond the final score. I mean what are the standards and expectations for the program? Killers like Fred, Ron, Tekele would have a completely opposite reaction than this social media participation trophy garbage. What's the old adage...a team takes on the personality of its coach.

[RoyalShock]

After having some time to let the game sink in, some thoughts . . .

Monmouth had a very low ranked defense (338th), mainly due to it's interior defense, which had been without 6'9 Jaret Valencia. Their perimeter defense looked serviceable, if not decent. So I think the coaching staff pushed a plan to exploit the poor interior defense Monmouth had shown so far this season by repeatedly attacking the basket. Our FT shooting has been good so far, so if they want to foul us, all the better. And there's always kicking out for threes.

But we had a confluence of negatives that thwarted that plan.

- Valencia returned (only played 11 minutes their previous game), played 24 minutes, bolstering their interior D
- Ballard was a game-time scratch
- DeGray got hurt and played 15 fewer minutes than his average
- The inside shots weren't falling at the expected at-the-rim rate
- The FTs weren't getting made in the 1st half
- Poor outside shooting (only made 3 shots outside the paint)

If we hit 2 more threes and a couple more 1st half FTs (putting both stats closer to our season avg, but still below, so a reasonable expectation), I think most of us would have still been a little disappointed in the victory margin (12 instead of 4), but without the harsh criticisms of the effort and coaching staff. Although I don't think we can scapegoat the rebounding away completely, even if not having Ballard (and DeGray for a half), is the significant reason.

So, I've come back off the ledge and chalked this one up to one of those games where enough things just didn't go right. I'm thankful it didn't result in getting Alcorned.

Monmouth was KenPom 272, so not 330-ish overall like some are saying. That doesn't change the fact we should have beat these guys by 15+. Some much better teams than WSU will lay bigger eggs this season if they haven't already. I'm sure an X search of "epitome of brutality" might yield some results.

[Kung Wu]

The game, or the fistfights between members of the SN coaching staff?

Yes!

[ShockTalk]

Obviously, we missed having Ballard, but we are also missing 6'9" Meeks who was good enough at the 5 at San Fransico that he got on Arizona State and who is an inside/outside threat on offense.

[WuShock Reaper]

...we have a game on Friday.