WSU VS. DETROIT Predictions and Pregame Discussions

[WuDrWu]

The real question is whether the Detroit players will escape after the game by running into the stands like in the movie Victory?

Victory!

[jocoshock]

I predict another close game down to the wire (ala George Mason and VCU). Detroit will be every bit as tough as GM or VCU...

I am predicting we prevail. I can't see another team coming in hear, beating us on a last second shot or free throw, then advancing to the Final Four...

Malcom, Fred, DWill, and Tekele all have to step up on Saturday and show what they are made of... No lackluster starts in the CKA. Start strong... finish stronger...

[jocoshock]

Shocks haven't done great in BB games, although we played very well a Davidson last year. Time to say farewell to BracketBusters with our best game in the series.


:poster_shocks:

That is especially true at home...

[forevershockerfan]

Detroit has their own agenda and is better than advertised IMO. History lesson. GMU? Nope, we are NOT digging on that Cinderella Gig " This is our house and we shant go there with Detroit. We will play 'MTXE Angry' and throw that glass slipper against a concrete wall if need be. This is not Burger King at 21st and Hillside. No, Detroit can't have it their own way. I repeat!!! This is Our House!!!!

YES, Detroit is comin to 21st and Hillside. NO, our beloved Shocks are not 'sleepin at the wheel' but rather we are "primed and ready and prepared" to help the Dance decision makers to be more absorbed with where to seed us rather than whether to even punch our ticket to the Dance. Book it!!!!!!!

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

We just need to treat this one like a BB return game. We're money in those.

[KC Shox]

So that's 2 ESPN commentators that have us losing this game. Another good opportunity for the Shocks. Let's take advantage of it.

Any possibility that Detroit will not be able to make it in due to the winter storm?

Not only the Detroit team but how about the officials. @ShockRef: and @SubGod22: please be standing by just in case.

Perhaps they are factoring in our poor BB history into their predictions.

[1972Shocker]

Perhaps they are factoring in our poor BB history into their predictions.

Could be, although you may be giving them too much credit.

[Dave Stalwart]

I got the impression they are picking Detroit because Detroit is very athletic and has a potential nba guy on their roster.

That sounds pretty familiar.

The other things I saw pointed out that they are a high powered offense up against our high powered defense and that something's gotta give. Apparently they say the defense is what will give.

I guess we'll see...

[WuDrWu]

Apologies if mentioned previously.....Cle on the front page of ESPN MBB page.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/

#WatchUsBustBrackets

[forevershockerfan]

I got the impression they are picking Detroit because Detroit is very athletic and has a potential nba guy on their roster.

That sounds pretty familiar.

The other things I saw pointed out that they are a high powered offense up against our high powered defense and that something's gotta give. Apparently they say the defense is what will give.

I guess we'll see...

Few people get it. We were missing 3 starters but kept winning as the days flew by. VCU and Creten were sure to beat us but fell short. Most everybody we play think they can beat us as well. Thus, a hot, talented team comes knockin with a NBA prospect, thus the so called experts think the Titan's will be rockin. Ooops, not here, not now, not gonna do it. It is not as easy as it seems obviously. The Shocks know this game will be tough but we will be primed, prepped, and prepared. PPP= angry MTXE Shocks and winning here is like pullin hens teeth.

[forevershockerfan]

Apologies if mentioned previously.....Cle on the front page of ESPN MBB page.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/

#WatchUsBustBrackets

Cle with the "Shocker Salute."

[150946shox]

As a Titan fan, I'll say I think the Shocks will win. But the Horizon League is a defensive conference. Horizon conference play is really built around fundamentals. Teams play good defense, and 5 of the top 75 teams in the country in scoring defense are among the Horizon's 9 teams. Besides the Horizon teams, Detroit this year has played Miami, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh, which are all in the top 30 nationally in scoring defense. Wichita has a lot of size and blocks lots of shots, but the Titans in the last 12 months have played 7 games against teams in the top 12 in the nation in blocked shots (St. Johns, Kansas, Akron, Syracuse, and 3 against Youngstown State).

Besides defense, the Horizon is known for point guards. There are lots of good point guards in the Horizon, so that turnovers are low. Teams tend to be very good foul shooting teams (4 of the top 56 teams in the country right now).

Detroit is an unusual Horizon team in that it relies much more on pure athleticism, and a gambling, high risk defense that forces lots of turnovers but also gives up lots of easy buckets. Detroit can be awesome in transition. http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...of-the-night-2 (by the way, ESPN has it wrong in this clip - Detroit's 2 guard, Jason Calliste, not Ray McCallum, is the guard passing to Anderson.) With McCallum at the point, Detroit does handle the ball very well, with one of the country's lowest turnover rates, and one of the best turnover margins. But the Titans are prone to big defensive lapses, and now and then go into these offensive funks where everyone stands around.

I think Detroit will have real trouble with Hall and Early when the Shockers have the ball, especially if your guards can hit a couple three early. And Wichita's defense will likely keep Detroit below its season average in points, just as Syracuse, Pitt, and Miami did. But Detroit scored more than most opponents against all of those teams. They've seen defenses as good as Wichita's and they'll put point on the board.

Thank you for the insight. I for one appreciate your input and I feel like this is a game that the Shox will need to take very seriously to win. I'm predicting a win, but I know that if the Shox are too focused on the Valley and not enough on this game, it could be bad.

[calfan]

Commish, your insights are right on the money.
I watched two of their games on TIVO yesterday and they are very good. If WSU takes them for granted, Detroit could easily come away with a win. Ray McCallum is a really good point guard and NBA prospect. The rest of the team isn't bad either. It will be a very fun game for fans to watch.

[Ixiah]

For those curious - here is the Detroit message board:

http://detroittitanhoops.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2

[tropicalshox]

Detroit is scheduled to fly into Wichita Friday afternoon. Is the airport open and expected to be open then?