Official -- Wichita State @ Missouri State predictions thread

[shoxlax]

For some strange reason, I think this game may be closer than expected. We have been fair to poor offensively the last three games, either because of turnovers or bad shooting. Maybe we break out, but maybe we don't. Cotton will be on Downing, that is one thing I'm certain about.

[shockmonster]

For some strange reason, I think this game may be closer than expected. We have been fair to poor offensively the last three games, either because of turnovers or bad shooting. Maybe we break out, but maybe we don't. Cotton will be on Downing, that is one thing I'm certain about.

I think that our halfcourt game will begin to improve including our outside shooting now that Hall is back. When we have to have a basket, we have a go to man who can get us a shot close to the basket or can pass outside to an open shooter that is stepping in when they doubleteam him. I think that we'll start improving and gaining some consistency from this time forward. However, we'll still lay an egg or two on the road prior to March.

[another shocker]

However, we'll still lay an egg or two on the road prior to March.

sad but true. hopefully that won't happen in springfield.

[1972Shocker]

For some strange reason, I think this game may be closer than expected. We have been fair to poor offensively the last three games, either because of turnovers or bad shooting. Maybe we break out, but maybe we don't. Cotton will be on Downing, that is one thing I'm certain about.

I certainly am not expecting a 20-25 point blowout that a handful of posters are predicting although I would love to see that happen. In our previous 3 Valley road games we have a 4-point loss to Evansville and wins over Drake and Bradley by an average of 9 points. Apparently, MSU's non-conference performance doesn't mean much as they have been playing much better in Valley play.

MSU beat SIU at home by 11. The Shocks beat SIU at home by 6.

MSU lost at Evansville by 3 in OT. The Shocks lost at Evansville by 4.

MSU best ILS at home by 7. The Shocks beat ILS at home by 12.

MSU lost at Bradley by 3 on a last second banked-in Hail Mary. The Shocks won at Bradley by 6.

MSU lost to CU at home by 22. The Shocks beat CU by 3 at home.

So other than the CU game their is nothing to suggest in looking at our common Valley opponents that the Shocks will go into Springfield and simply rollover the Bears.

For some reason Valley teams seem to rollover against CU and then play their best game of the year against the Shocks. No reason to think this trend won't continue. Furthermore, the Shocks are coming off a very tough, emotional win and you always worry about how much intensity and focus a team will bring after such a big win.

3G had litte, if any, work to do to get the team up for the CU game in that environment. Wednesday's game will be more of a challenge in that regard, but I think he will have the team ready to play.

While a blow-out win is possible, I think the odds are against that. My expectations are for a win by 6 to 8 points, but I will take any win, by any margin especially on the road.

:wsu_posters:

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I certainly am not expecting a 20-25 point blowout that a handful of posters are predicting although I would love to see that happen. In our previous 3 Valley road games we have a 4-point loss to Evansville and wins over Drake and Bradley by an average of 9 points. Apparently, MSU's non-conference performance doesn't mean much as they have been playing much better in Valley play.

You make very good points with your analysis of the scores, but remember in most of those game comparisons Carl wasn't playing.

[1972Shocker]

You make very good points with your analysis of the scores, but remember in most of those game comparisons Carl wasn't playing.

That's a very good point but blowouts on the road in Valley play are not very common. And as I said, for whatever reason Valley opponents seem to save their best efforts for the Shocks. I imagine MSU will draw one of its better crowds for this game also.

So far Valley home teams have won 24 games and road teams have won 11 games (which is actually a pretty good number of road wins). CU's 22 point win over MSU is the only win by more than 20. The average winning margin in the other 10 road wins is 8 points.

I would put the probability of a single-digit game at 60%, a win by 10 to 19 points at 30% and a win by 20+ at 10%.

With Carl back the Shocks should truly have an advantage on the inside vs MSU. It will be interesting to see if they can capitalize on that. If they do that and control MSU's perimeter game then maybe we do get a blowout win. It would be nice to see the Shocks really impose their will on the teams that will likely occupy the bottom half of the league.

[kcshocker11]

74 to 63 Da Shocks!

[rrshock]

I'm being too lazy to look. What channel is the game being aired on?

[1972Shocker]

I'm being too lazy to look. What channel is the game being aired on?

KS22

[rrshock]

KS22

Dangit! When are they gonna get on a real channel that all of us that can't get KS22 can get?

[Dave Stalwart]

Where is lusking? I want to hear the mosu outlook still.

[KC Shox]

Although we are supremely more talented than those wannabe's in SW MO, and we should beat these guys to a pulp, I don't think that's what is going to happen. Going on the road and our first game back from a very emotional win will rear its ugly head.

Interesting bit of information, 12 of the 13 SMS losses have come against teams with .500 records or better. It's not like they have been beat by a bunch of cupcakes, so for that, I'll give them a little bit of a pass.

We win 71 to 63.

[LuskingforGuttin]

You may laugh but I think this game comes down to the final possession just like your last game did.

Most of the intangibles favor us. You just won your biggest game of the season. Tough to get the kids motivated taking on a middle of the pack Valley team that your kids probably have little respect for. On the other hand we are so close, but just not quite tasting that sweet taste of victory each time out. I feel kind of like we are the Baltimore Ravens after the AFC championship game last year. But we have no Ray Lewis.

We always give you a good fight in Springfield. I don't know if that is because of the rivalry or what. It is tough to quantify. The metrics will show that you will be big favorites, but there is just something out there that causes this game to be close irrespective of the talent on each squad. This feels like our Super Bowl and the crowd and fellas on the team will play like it. We just have to be better than your boys for 40 minutes or maybe 45. I wish I could clearly lay out the matchups and concisely explain why I feel this way but I cannot. It is intuition. I think Scheer shoots the crap out of the ball and we hang until the bitter end. We shall see soon enough.

[wsushox1]

Always on KWCH 12.2 Digital would be an excellent option for the Shocker games, would get to a MUCH larger audience.

This needs to get done, people can live with out their weather for 2 hours.

[GoShockers89]

You may laugh

Done. 0% chance this comes down to the last possession now that we have the Beast back.