Who's still pumped for Saint Louis?

[jcdshocker]

I am pumped. We have a great shot. I would like to start a high-school style brawl with some Creighton students to fire up the Shocks. Who's with me?

Count me in!

[TheYeti]

Finally! The 14 hour drive begins in half an hour. Let's do this Shox!

[kstarheel]

I think the team is ticked off and will play with a new level of passion.

First tourney title since '87? Bring it!!!!

[pie n eye]

I'm still pumped. Even more so because I almost couldn't go this year.

Shocker Madness convinced me that it is our year to win this tournament. Injuries, inconsistent, head scratching play over the course of the season has lowered my expectations. Are we capable of winning? Absolutely. Are we capable of losing the first game to MSU or SIU? Definitely. I will make the trip free of expectations because, it's St. Louis, and I've seen some messed up stuff happen to the shocks there.

Either way ill be there in black and yellow watching hoops enjoying my favorite event of the year.

Is that all?

[Shox21]

I have a question -- If you are in St. Louis, can you get Mike Kennedy's broadcast of the game? If so, is it still on 1330 and will the radio work in the arena?

[garylee]

to all those making the trip i am envious, have a great time and be safe. i'll be watching
at fox&hounds.

[ky-mike]

I have a question -- If you are in St. Louis, can you get Mike Kennedy's broadcast of the game? If so, is it still on 1330 and will the radio work in the arena?

You can certainly get it if you have a smartphone. I don't know about local radio.

[jdmee]

FM 101.1 will be broadcasting the tourney locally.

[pinstripers]

gettin on the bus at daylight

[Shocktoberfest]

It's funny how optimistic I am every year we head to Stl. For what reason would any Shocker be optimistic? We have zero success to show for all our trips and have been part of some tragic misfortunes.

Yet here we hit the road tomorrow with warm feelings of potential and love of the black and yellow. This is our year!

[Dan]

we HAVE to win it one of these years and I want to be there when it happens. Might as well be this year.

[WuDrWu]

Honestly, it goes against pretty much everything I believe in to post in a DOFO thread, but nevertheless, I don't want to start a new one.


In about 6 hours I'll get out of bed and start loading up the car for the annual trek to Arch Madness. It's the Silver Anniversary of the last WSU Tournament Championship....that's right, 25 long, often painful seasons since the good guys in black raised the post season banner. It's been frustrating...at times it's been a resignation. We knew the Shocks weren't going to win. Other times optimism reigned supreme, only to have the bubble burst by crazy shooter, a lucky team, plain old bad play, and yes, an inattentive scorekeeper.

I'll wake my wife and daughter and we'll hit the road. 7+ hours and we'll talk about family, where my Dad is going to want to go for dinner, memories of past trips to St. Louis, the likelihood of winning, what our chances are of making the Dance and where we might be sent etc etc.

I'll look forward to seeing again @ShockRef: and his wife @RefChick: but miss The Mentor. I'll be thankful that @WstateU: is improving every day and is around to enjoy another Shocker postseason run. I'll wonder how @Shockfan8: is doing and pray that he finds strength in his family and the memories of his lost love. I'll hope this isn't the last Arch Madness my Dad will attend, but at the same time accept that it might be. I'll wish that @Downtown Shocker Brown: could be in attendance with his beautiful family but I'll know they are watching every second from their southern home.

I'll wonder if @KCShox: will actually celebrate when we finally win one of these or if he'll just worry about how a Valley Post Season Title just sets us up for bigger NCAA letdowns. I'll think about every time I've come to this fine forum and laughed at one of @Kung Wu: 's many brilliant posts. I'll lament the likely loss of Creighton from our league and with that the enjoyable (albeit private) discussions I've had with a few of their fans like @DoubleJayAlum: and @MoValley John: (who really is more of a WSU fan I believe). And so many others that I've failed to mention here...you are remembered and revered.

I'll remember the times with some of the great WSU players I've been lucky enough to meet, respect and get to know over the years, especially the more recent ones. Toure Murry, Graham Hatch, Matt Braeuer, Garrett Stutz, Carl Hall to name just a few. I'll remember the great comeback win against Creighton in 2009, the unthinkable loss to a winless Drake team, the infuriating defeat at the branches of the Trees when we had them dead in the water 5 minutes in. The cheap play of the Redbirds last season, Gregg getting tossed, the heartbreaking loss to CU in the semis in '03 when we led roughly 90% of the game, FINALLY getting to a championship game in '10, leading at half, only to have another one of our dreaded dry spells snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, the innumerable semifinal round losses etc etc.

I'll hope that Ron Baker gets to play this weekend, if only for a moment, and hope that I don't shed a tear when he's announced, but at the same time knowing that I'll fail.

And win or lose, I'll be proud to support this program, these coaches, this TEAM because they provide me with so much enjoyment and they do it with class and style and rarely if ever embarrass themselves or their University.

And I WILL enjoy the ride. Even if it ends in painful futility, I will enjoy the ride. Shocker fans at the Arch are the BEST of the best. The BEST! We'll cheer our team to the end whether in victory or defeat and we'll do it with every fiber of our existence.


And maybe.....just MAYBE, this year we will all take that long awaited cool drink from the Chalice of Victory.


GO SHOCKS!

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Doc,

You are a man among men!

Safe travels to all making the trip! Make sure you get to drink from the chalice!

[SB Shock]

So WuDrWU - can you wear a name tag so when pass you walking the arrests this weekend we can say "there goes the good doctor"? I will be the one wearing BLACK AND GOLD!

[HarpBros]

On the plane right now can't wait