Shox vs Bradley

[wusphlash]

Winners make plays, we make plays, therefore, we are.

Again, a total team effort.

[ShockerFever]

Shocks were kicked in the balls all day. Now, they're even.

[forevershockerfan]

We did it!!! The 2nd half for Early begin with a premature 3 that 3G benched him for followed by another foul when he returned. Couple that with Bradley getting wholesale throws and playing very tough and we had a barn-burner. We can be assured that Bradley will win lots of home games. They are really improved. If they run into a ref crew that calls all the bumping and grabbing, it wont be as easy for them. However, they do play tough defense and have some fine players.

Early is never late. EO was quite a defensive force tonight!!! WOW!!!. Cotton was off on offense shooting but always plays the D. and hustles. D-Will, FVV (1st half) and Armstead gave us a lift when we needed it the mosst.

[shocks771]

Williams didn't do anything on that play. The ball went down between Lemons legs and Demetric grabbed the ball, then Lemons pulled the ball forward and Demetric didn't let go and it looked to me like he grabbed his leg not his pistachios. :) We watched it in slow mo a couple of times to try and figure out what set Lemons off.

[im4wsu]

After the game, I read this entire thread. It looks like an exact transcript of what I was yelling from the sofa. Watching on TV is tough on me...at least in person the rest of you are yelling with me.

[shox1989]

Williams didn't do anything on that play. The ball went down between Lemons legs and Demetric grabbed the ball, then Lemons pulled the ball forward and Demetric didn't let go and it looked to me like he grabbed his leg not his pistachios. :) We watched it in slow mo a couple of times to try and figure out what set Lemons off.

Just watched it a few times in slow motion. I agree with you.

[im4wsu]

Listening to the game, did Bradley really have 38 steals. Box score says WSU had 10 and Bradley 8. Huh?

[CBB_Fan]

Thoughts on the game:

Gregg Marshall was amazing. We all know what the officials were like the whole game, but he was able to make adjustments to keep guys out of foul trouble (no one had more than 3!!!) and to try and reduce the impact of those free throws. Did I mention the fact that we actually made more free-throws than Bradley? We did, despite committing 50% more fouls. He ran a 3-2 zone way more than in other games, and while it had holes it definitely helped whenever we couldn't afford to foul. He called plays out of timeouts that were perfect (DW at the end, for example), and he kept control of the game even when a lesser coach or a lesser team would have crumpled. Big props to Gregg Marshall.

Cleanthony Early. Just huge. Big shot after big shot after big shot after big shot. He had 24 points today, but almost all of those points were momentum changers. And while he only had 4 rebounds, 3 of those were crucial offensive rebounds. Most amazing was the fact that he did his damage in 24 minutes, scoring a point per possession BY HIMSELF!

Ehimen Orukpe has become what we always wanted. He is not going to dominate with 20 points in a game, but he is one of the best players in the country at intimidating a shot. He totally wrecked havoc on their inside game, and probably had 10 shots altered to go with his 3 blocks. It has gotten to the point where I am silently urging for him to come back in the game every time he goes out, the opposite of what I felt last year.

Demetric Williams is interesting for the Shockers. His box score looks very bad (4-10 from the field, 1-6 from 3), and yet I'd say he had a good game. I think he steps up in big time situations and makes baskets when we need them. And for all the love for Bradley's ballhawks, Demetric Williams contributed to us winning the steal battle 10 to 8. Every starter had at least 1 steal, and DW and Armstead had 3 each.

Malcolm Armstead needs to keep that floater in a time capsule. He pulled it out a few times when we needed it most, and it seems to be his best offensive weapon. He turned the ball over too much, but I was generally pleased with his shot selection.

Fred van Vleet was a big factor in the first half, but didn't play much (or at all) in the second half. Good game from him in limited minutes; he really plays well in his home state.

The officiating was bad, but we played through it. That is a big positive.

Those announcers were big homers for Bradley, but I thought they did a good job when they did analysis. Still, it was a little weird that they said basically nothing about the Shockers success or their injury situation. It would have been nice to get some love from MVC announcers on national television, but we let our play speak for itself.

I thought Geno Ford did a tremendous job coaching Bradley. They are lucky to have him.

[mumdaddy316]

I sure hope somebody has extra cash and writes up an extension for this man. Becausw he is coaching his behind off! Wouldnt be as good as we are or where we are if he isnt coaching...imo

[forevershockerfan]

Both teams were going after loose balls urgently--we got our fair share, eespecially when it counted. We are indeed resilient because we overcame some serious adversity and found a way to win. With all of our players, it would not have been so dramatic.

[fairbanksfan]

Games like these sure do make for some good reading! Another gutty performance by a young, beat up, team with a crapload of moxie! Proud Shockaholic here!

[newshock1234]

on the Bradley board, they said there were 4 NBA scouts to watch Cleanthony Early

[forevershockerfan]

Games like these sure do make for some good reading! Another gutty performance by a young, beat up, team with a crapload of moxie! Proud Shockaholic here!

Fairbanks--did it remind you of your days back in Clearwater? There are Shocker fans everywhere. Shocker Nation is very elated tonight.

[forevershockerfan]

on the Bradley board, they said there were 4 NBA scouts to watch Cleanthony Early

Cle is never late and delivered as he has all Season long

[insaneykaney]

Cle is never late and delivered as he has all Season long

haha good one I get it never late :p