WSU vx. Evansville GAME THREAD

[Kung Wu]

Jake White is standing there in the lane since before he was born, teacupping his family jewels for all the ladies on live TV, stiff as 10 day old roadkill, face scrunched up like he ate a lemon with Tabasco sauce poured over it, butt puckered tighter than Justin Bieber's guitar string, and getting rolled like a M1A2 Abrams Tank in a glass factory, and for what?

So that some zebra striped goombah with a gamblin' problem on the side can protect his long shot wager in Vegas by calling a phantom blocking call, before his wife leaves him for being so shamefully a crappy referee that he has completely tarnished his family name for even generations that haven't even been born yet. That's what.

[ShockTalk]

We are predicted to have a SoS rank of #117. You don't get a lot of freedom with that type of schedule. I just don't want to be the team at the end of the year that is 26-4 or 25-5 at the end of the season and on the bubble because the Valley is so cannibalistic.

RPIForecast.com, prior to the Evansville game, had WSU projected at 14-4 in the Valley (25-5 overall) and an overall RPI position of #16. Going 13-5 and 24-6 projects out to a #27-29 position finish.

[C0|dB|00ded]

We got beat today by a very good team that plays very tough at home. No biggie. We aren't going to win them all. I for one am very thankful for how well we adjusted to losing 3 and sometimes 4 players over the last half a dozen games. The bright side about losing today is that we are going to be more focused for ISU and BJ.. both of which we need to beat for a variety of reasons. We go 2-0 over the next couple of games and all this is forgotten.


T


...:cool:

[DUShock]

I think @ShockRef: is going to have to admit we should of had a jumpball.

Understandably SR will remain silent on this matter, he is a gentleman.

At the end of the day our Shocks gave the Aces the ammunition to execute the victory regardless of calls points off turnover was key.

Go Shocks!

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Understandably SR will remain silent on this matter, he is a gentleman.

At the end of the day our Shocks gave the Aces the ammunition to execute the victory regardless of calls points off turnover was key.

Go Shocks!

ShockRef did post that it was a blown call. Look back a ways.

[forevershockerfan]

The Colt did lot's of positives today and is a tough player. If he gets any open look, forget about it. While I feel like we have faced tougher defenses this Season, today we were seldom allowed to run many plays and get off enough good shots or throws. Thus, we were playing too much 1 on 1 with few team assists. No matter who you are, losing 3 starters is a killer but yet we are 6-1 with these 9 warriors. Thus, it was a class act for 3G to tell the world how proud he is of his team doing so well under adversity. Few teams could do what we have done. Now we get back to the drawing board, get back to work, improving along the way and continue to win our fair share of games, as we eventually get back to 11 players at least.

[AZ Shocker]

Evansville played REALLY well to beat the #23 team in the country. Congrats to them on the victory. Yes the foul disparity has been beat to death....BUT the Shocks had the momentum in the last minute or so. Had that jump ball and/or traveling been called....who knows what would have happened. I love the game...but man it sucks when a ref misses a critical call in the stretch. A little "home-cooking" at the end end. Whatever....the kids have played AWESOME without their 3 starters!!! This team will keep grinding! GO SHOCKS!!!

[shockerfan]

This one didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. Sure it sucks to lose, but it happens. I would bet good money that Creighton will lose some soon also. It happens. Look at this weekend, all kinds of upsets happened. It's conference play, it's expected. The key is to get back and make sure the Shox go on another run. Truthfully if I was a ISUr fan I would be worried even more now that the Shox lost today. These men won't be too happy and will LOVE to take it out on some redbirds. I also feel this team will play the game of the year on Saturday to follow up the win on Wednesday. It will take the game of the year as well, but that is just how I see it. I guarantee these young men HATE losing. They are some of the most competitive and driven players we have had in a Shocker uniform. They will get it done. This conference race is FAR from over. I still think the Shox finish 14-4 on the year. Will that be good enough for 1st in the conference? Most years, yes. This year? Maybe or maybe not. Regardless it will be good enough for top 2 and an at-large bid. Won't matter anyway, cause this is the year the Shox take St Louis. This is the kind of team, both physically and mentally, that can accomplish that.

I'm lovin this year so far and this team. Can't wait to get out and support them to a big victory on Wednesday. GO SHOX!!!! I'm proud of them!

[CBB_Fan]

RPIForecast.com, prior to the Evansville game, had WSU projected at 14-4 in the Valley (25-5 overall) and an overall RPI position of #16. Going 13-5 and 24-6 projects out to a #27-29 position finish.

I'm just looking at it like the NCAA selection committee will. We are in the Valley. Missouri State was left out with a #21 RPI despite finishing second in the Valley. Ever since, I've been of the opinion that we cannot just hope to earn a spot, we have to be unquestionably in the dance. That means playing so well that our schedule and losses don't even become a concern. The NCAA selection committee has not been kind to Valley teams that give it even a hint of doubt.

The good thing is that our team is good enough to get us past the selection committee, but even with a 15-2 record right now it won't be easy. We can't take games off, and we have to approach every game with intensity.

[WSUwatcher]

Bottom line, we played badly. We are now a month, if not two, from getting back in the rankings.

vs. Illinois State is a must win. Lose, and there goes your nice at-large bid.

Gregg should make the players run a mile of sprints for each turnover they had.

5 each for Malcolm Armstead and Williams.
4 for Early
3 for Cotton
1 for Orukpe, Lufile, White, Van Vleet, and Wiggins.

This is not acceptable. We shot almost 10% better than them from the field and 20% better from the line. We outrebounded them by 14. But we fouled them 24 times (to their 14), and turned the ball over 22 times.

You CANNOT give shitty teams a chance to beat you. Because they will beat you, and they revel in it. They love nothing more than ruining the aspirations of other teams because they have none of their own. This lose to Evansville will decimate our RPI. We just had our one hiccup, and we walk a razor's edge from here on. We will not get another loss. If we are 26-4 with losses to Creighton and one other team, we are probably going to have a hard time getting in to the tournament. The Valley is that bad.

vs Evansville is beyond a must win. It is a must crush. We are tied with them now, and they may take the 3rd spot if we fall to Creighton.

Okay, CBB, step away from the ledge. Yes, 22 turnovers is unacceptable -- embarrassing, frankly -- especially when 10 come from your two main ballhandlers. And a -13 turnover margin, on the road, will get you beat far more often than not.

But some of your comments are downright hysterical, especially coming from a person who likes to present himself as thoughtful and analytical about facts and stats.

1. This is not an RPI killer loss. I looked at Warren Nolan before he had posted the result, and WSU was 20th at .6331. As I write this, with the loss factored in, WSU is 22nd at .6254. Not disastrous by any means -- definitely disappointing, mostly because it was a missed opportunity to get a road win over a team that came in 10-6 and is now comfortably in the top 100, but not seriously damaging. As hard as you find it to accept, Evansville is not a horrible team. They've won four straight, are 8-2 at home, frequently give WSU fits, and the Shocks won't be the only upper division Valley team to lose there.

2. The idea that 26-4 "with losses to Creighton and one other team" would somehow put WSU on the bubble is almost surely silliest postgame comment of the day. I haven't scanned the entire thread and don't plan to squander as much of my life as it would take to do so, but suffice it to say that if you were on the call-in show, Dennis would be hard-pressed to top it. Just to refresh your memory, last year WSU lost at Drake (final record 17-16, RPI rank 142nd) without the injury problems they have now, and finished slightly worse (25-4 heading for St. Louis, where the Shocks split two games) -- and the only questions they had while watching the selection show were what seed (5th, it turned out) and where.

So, get a grip. If WSU can make it to St. Louis 15-3 and 26-4 this season, and avoid a truly bad loss for their third one in MVC play, their biggest worry will be the possibility of another of those infamous 5-12 pairings in which they're the #5 team. Marshall probably would hesitate, if you could guarantee him that record right now, because he'll be aiming higher and wouldn't want to concede two more losses. But speaking as a fan, I'd take it in a flash and certainly wouldn't be the least bit worried about getting in -- nor should you be.

Next time you feel the need to post right after a disappointing loss, grab the Prozac instead, take a few deep breaths, and close your computer. Walk away for an hour or so. You'll be doing yourself and the rest of us a favor.

[ABC]

MSU being left out in 2006 with an RPI of #21 is such an outlier, it is hardly worth mentioning.

In case folks forgot, the MVC had THREE invites instead of MSU. The 5th place MVC team, Bradley, rec'd an invitation.

[CBB_Fan]

Okay, CBB, step away from the ledge. Yes, 22 turnovers is unacceptable -- embarrassing, frankly -- especially when 10 come from your two main ballhandlers. And a -13 turnover margin, on the road, will get you beat far more often than not.

But some of your comments are downright hysterical, especially coming from a person who likes to present himself as thoughtful and analytical about facts and stats.

1. This is not an RPI killer loss. I looked at Warren Nolan before he had posted the result, and WSU was 20th at .6331. As I write this, with the loss factored in, WSU is 22nd at .6254. Not disastrous by any means -- definitely disappointing, mostly because it was a missed opportunity to get a road win over a team that came in 10-6 and is now comfortably in the top 100, but not seriously damaging. As hard as you find it to accept, Evansville is not a horrible team. They've won four straight, are 8-2 at home, frequently give WSU fits, and the Shocks won't be the only upper division Valley team to lose there.

2. The idea that 26-4 "with losses to Creighton and one other team" would somehow put WSU on the bubble is almost surely silliest postgame comment of the day. I haven't scanned the entire thread and don't plan to squander as much of my life as it would take to do so, but suffice it to say that if you were on the call-in show, Dennis would be hard-pressed to top it. Just to refresh your memory, last year WSU lost at Drake (final record 17-16, RPI rank 142nd) without the injury problems they have now and finished slightly worse (25-4 heading for St. Louis, where the Shocks split two games) -- and the only questions they had while watching the selection show were what seed (5th, it turned out) and where.

So, get a grip. If WSU can make it to St. Louis 15-3 and 26-4 this season, and avoid a truly bad loss for their third one in MVC play, their biggest worry will be the possibility of another of those infamous 5-12 pairings in which they're the #5 team. Marshall probably would hesitate, if you could guarantee him that record right now, because he'll be aiming higher and wouldn't want to concede two more losses. But speaking as a fan, I'd take it in a flash and certainly wouldn't be the least bit worried about getting in -- nor should you be.

Next time you feel the need to post right after a disappointing loss, grab the Prozac instead, take a few deep breaths, and close your computer. Walk away for an hour or so. You'll be doing yourself and the rest of us a favor.

Read further through the thread please. I have already somewhat discussed this. Don't forget that a good RPI or win-loss record is no guarantee in the Valley. We still have to go out and win those games, especially the games this week.

[proshox]

Bottom line, we played badly. We are now a month, if not two, from getting back in the rankings.

vs. Illinois State is a must win. Lose, and there goes your nice at-large bid.

Gregg should make the players run a mile of sprints for each turnover they had.

5 each for Malcolm Armstead and Williams.
4 for Early
3 for Cotton
1 for Orukpe, Lufile, White, Van Vleet, and Wiggins.

This is not acceptable. We shot almost 10% better than them from the field and 20% better from the line. We outrebounded them by 14. But we fouled them 24 times (to their 14), and turned the ball over 22 times.

You CANNOT give shitty teams a chance to beat you. Because they will beat you, and they revel in it. They love nothing more than ruining the aspirations of other teams because they have none of their own. This lose to Evansville will decimate our RPI. We just had our one hiccup, and we walk a razor's edge from here on. We will not get another loss. If we are 26-4 with losses to Creighton and one other team, we are probably going to have a hard time getting in to the tournament. The Valley is that bad.

vs Evansville is beyond a must win. It is a must crush. We are tied with them now, and they may take the 3rd spot if we fall to Creighton.

Dude, you need to go see "the dude" and chill out. Peace

[CBB_Fan]

MSU being left out in 2006 with an RPI of #21 is such an outlier, it is hardly worth mentioning.

In case folks forgot, the MVC had THREE invites instead of MSU. The 5th place MVC team, Bradley, rec'd an invitation.

MSU is the ultimate outlier (literally, the record holder), but it serves as a warning. Nothing is guaranteed in the Valley. You can find a fair number of other examples. I know I sound paranoid, but ultimately it comes to down to focusing one game at a time and trying to win every game. Starting with the Illinois State game. We need to finish at least second in the Valley and avoid bad losses (and man does this league have a lot of chances to pick up a bad loss), both for seeding and tournament chances.

[RomeoCrennel's Belly]

Very disappointing loss. Just horendous on offense. What plays does Marshall draw up? Oh that's right, NONE!

Need to be better. Much better.

At least we get an 0-5 team next.