WSU VERSUS OHIO STATE PREDICTIONS AND PREGAME DISCUSSIONS

[1972Shocker]

This has been signficant year of "firsts" for Shocker Athletics.

First Sweet 16 for the Shocker VB team.

First MVC Regular Season Valley Championship, first MVC Tournament Championship and first NCAA appearance for Shocker WBB.

The Shocker men have several firsts still within their grasp but it will be anything but easy.

Aliphine also has a first I am hoping she can achieve this Spring.

Go Shocks!

[garylee]

This is for Ohio State. We are way over rated and playing way over our heads. We don't have any multiple star HS recruits on the team, were slow and not very good shooters. You should handle us easily. Good luck in the final four. OSU 85 - WSU 57.

[1972Shocker]

X factor: The Shockers' defense held Pittsburgh to 35.2 percent shooting from the field, Gonzaga to 35.6 percent, and La Salle into 35.7 percent.

Not sure I like the way that is trending. Coach Marshall needs to get the guys re-focused. :bball_spin:

[KC Shox]

This bracket breaks down the financials of each program. It is updated to the Elite 8. OSU v. WSU is interesting.

http://www.newyorker.com/sandbox/business/ncaa.html

[1979Shocker]

Iowa is the common opponent.

WSU 75 Iowa 63 on 11/21/2012 at neutral site
OSU 72 Iowa 63 on 01/22/2013 at home

[casbern]

Hey Shox,
As a Panther fan and MVC compatriot, I just wanted to wish you guys the best of luck and know that I'll be rooting for a win.

Keep up the awesome work.

Cheers!

[The Mad Hatter]

The big challenge that OSU presents on the offensive end (other than Craft running the point) is the fact that they have 3 guys in the 6'7"-6'8" range who are capable of hitting from the outside as well as scoring inside:

Deshaun Thomas - 6'7"
PPG - 19.7
FG% - .447
3FG% - .355
FT% - .838

LaQuinton Ross - 6'8"
PPG - 8.0
FG% - .475
3FG% - .398
FT% - .754

Sam Thompson - 6'7"
PPG - 7.9
FG% - .500
3FG% - .418
FT% - .704

This presents some difficult matchups, but not insurmountable ones. We need Cle to play well defensively (and not pick up silly fouls) since he is the most natural matchup with these guys. Ron will give up a couple inches, but should be strong enough to play (given that he is actually heavier than two of those three guys and it is all muscle). Tekele gives up a lot of height, but played very well against McDermott, so we know that he can defend taller inside-outside forwards.

[wsushox1]

The big challenge that OSU presents on the offensive end (other than Craft running the point) is the fact that they have 3 guys in the 6'7"-6'8" range who are capable of hitting from the outside as well as scoring inside:

Deshaun Thomas - 6'7"
PPG - 19.7
FG% - .447
3FG% - .355
FT% - .838

LaQuinton Ross - 6'8"
PPG - 8.0
FG% - .475
3FG% - .398
FT% - .754

Sam Thompson - 6'7"
PPG - 7.9
FG% - .500
3FG% - .418
FT% - .704

This presents some difficult matchups, but not insurmountable ones. We need Cle to play well defensively (and not pick up silly fouls) since he is the most natural matchup with these guys. Ron will give up a couple inches, but should be strong enough to play (given that he is actually heavier than two of those three guys and it is all muscle). Tekele gives up a lot of height, but played very well against McDermott, so we know that he can defend taller inside-outside forwards.

Was about to post something very similar.

How do you guard that? I guess you're gonna have to ask Cle to play the best defensive game of his life. As you said, he's gotta stay out of foul trouble for us to win this game. This might be a game where we need his defense more than his offense. It's a tough match-up for us. I'd say start Cle on Thomas, then run Cotton and Baker at him. Look for OSU to run gobs of Pick-and-Pops as they did at the end of the Arizona game for threes with Ross and Thompson, potentially even Thomas.

However, I truly believe Armstead will be able to handle Craft tomorrow night. For years we have been exploited by perimeter players who seemingly can get to the rim at will under control, and we finally have one that can do that, and can finish in a variety of ways once he gets there. I know Craft is very good defensively, but I haven't seen many a player be able to keep Malcolm in front of them - especially recently.

This is a game where a couple of Transition three's going down, like Ron's last night will be needed. If we can get an open shot in transition, we gotta take it. I don't care who it is. Put that pressure on OSU to have to run back and scramble to try and recover.

I've been toying with the idea of Hall on Thomas in my head. Hall is a perfect match up for him Build wise, even though he probably gives up a few inches to Thomas in all reality, I just don't know if he is fast enough to stay with him or if he can guard a perimeter oriented big guy. We saw Hall on McDermott in Omaha and I remember Hall giving McD too much space a couple of times from 3 just because, IMO, he isn't used to guarding on the perimeter and had a mental lapse.

[RefChick]

Having grown up in Central Ohio, this game has me in a quandary. Until I met ShockRef, I’d never heard of Wichita State (shoot, I’d never heard of the Missouri Valley!). I grew up watching the Buckeyes (I’ve been accused of bleeding scarlet and gray), had all my Buckeye memorabilia. Then I met ShockRef, started watching the Shox and fell in love with the team, the school, Wichita and even Wu :) Now I have my Shox memorabilia side-by-side with my Buckeye “stuff”. ShockRef and I have always joked about what colors would I wear, who would I root for should the two teams ever have the opportunity to play each other. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would actually happen. So come Saturday night, the teams will face each other in a sure-to-be-exciting Elite 8 matchup and he and I will go out to our favorite sports bar to watch the game. What colors WILL I wear? Well, as much of a Buckeye fan as I am and always will be, the Shox have me believing so I’ll be wearing my Shocker colors complete with my lucky Wushock earrings and lucky Shocker socks.

GO SHOX!!

[Rlh04d]

We have ALREADY played this team and won once: See video of us playing Pitt. They are practically the exact same team. Whatever the game plan was against Pitt, do that again please!!

Seriously, check this out. Unless you think we got lucky against Pitt, this is a very winnable game.

That's awesome and incredibly interesting. According to the stats, they're essentially the same team, except Ohio State plays faster. Pitt is slightly better on offense, and they're basically the exact same team on defense.

I do think you have to take into account that Ohio State played a vastly tougher schedule, though ... tOSU at 11 overall, Pitt at 71.

It's not going to be an easy game, but it's absolutely winnable. Our weakness is zone, they play man. They've got a much better defense than offense ... good defenses haven't stopped us yet (VCU, Pitt). They play at a similar pace to both Pitt and Gonzaga. They have the size advantage, but we have the depth advantage.

Ohio State should win this game ... there's no doubt about that, but the pressure is on them. We've been playing with house money since we beat Pitt. And we can absolutely win this game.

[chicagoshocker]

Having grown up in Central Ohio, this game has me in a quandary. Until I met ShockRef, I’d never heard of Wichita State (shoot, I’d never heard of the Missouri Valley!). I grew up watching the Buckeyes (I’ve been accused of bleeding scarlet and gray), had all my Buckeye memorabilia. Then I met ShockRef, started watching the Shox and fell in love with the team, the school, Wichita and even Wu :) Now I have my Shox memorabilia side-by-side with my Buckeye “stuff”. ShockRef and I have always joked about what colors would I wear, who would I root for should the two teams ever have the opportunity to play each other. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would actually happen. So come Saturday night, the teams will face each other in a sure-to-be-exciting Elite 8 matchup and he and I will go out to our favorite sports bar to watch the game. What colors WILL I wear? Well, as much of a Buckeye fan as I am and always will be, the Shox have me believing so I’ll be wearing my Shocker colors complete with my lucky Wushock earrings and lucky Shocker socks.

GO SHOX!!

Love it!! Go Shox!

[Kung Wu]

Aliphine also has a first I am hoping she can achieve this Spring.

If you're into fast women, you can't do any better than Aliphine!

[mproviz]

This made me giggle.

ESPN Tournament Challenge "who picked whom" for Elite 8:

OSU: 44.2%

WSU: 0.2%

Needless to say, I'm in the 0.2%.

[OSU87]

Good post. Ohio State should win but a WSU win isn't unreasonable. OSU has played a tough schedule and has won 11 straight. The Buckeyes have picked up scoring along the way from some very highly recruited guys that weren't performing up to expectations yet. By the end of the season, OSU was probably the top 1 or 2 best all around teams up there with Louisville.

That being said, I see WSU as capable of outrebounding OSU and using 2nd chance points to build a first half lead like Arizona did. But you have to hit threes.

As for the athleticism vs Arizona.........perhaps UA was more athletic but. I'm not so sure. Craft was the quickest player out there and Thompson had the best vertical as evidenced on his crucial rebounds in the 2nd half . It was comical watching Craft get around Lyons and he other UA guard even though they knew it was moving. Craft is THAT quick and strong.

I'm sticking with:
OSU 72
WSU 69

That's awesome and incredibly interesting. According to the stats, they're essentially the same team, except Ohio State plays faster. Pitt is slightly better on offense, and they're basically the exact same team on defense.

I do think you have to take into account that Ohio State played a vastly tougher schedule, though ... tOSU at 11 overall, Pitt at 71.

It's not going to be an easy game, but it's absolutely winnable. Our weakness is zone, they play man. They've got a much better defense than offense ... our losses have come to the opposite. They play at a similar pace to both Pitt and Gonzaga.

Ohio State should win this game ... there's no doubt about that, but the pressure is on them. We've been playing with house money since we beat Pitt. And we can absolutely win this game.

[jocoshock]

The big challenge that OSU presents on the offensive end (other than Craft running the point) is the fact that they have 3 guys in the 6'7"-6'8" range who are capable of hitting from the outside as well as scoring inside:

Deshaun Thomas - 6'7"
PPG - 19.7
FG% - .447
3FG% - .355
FT% - .838

LaQuinton Ross - 6'8"
PPG - 8.0
FG% - .475
3FG% - .398
FT% - .754

Sam Thompson - 6'7"
PPG - 7.9
FG% - .500
3FG% - .418
FT% - .704

This presents some difficult matchups, but not insurmountable ones. We need Cle to play well defensively (and not pick up silly fouls) since he is the most natural matchup with these guys. Ron will give up a couple inches, but should be strong enough to play (given that he is actually heavier than two of those three guys and it is all muscle). Tekele gives up a lot of height, but played very well against McDermott, so we know that he can defend taller inside-outside forwards.

Definitely challenging. I could definitely see Nick getting more PT, but both Nick and CLE are going to have to play tough, smart defense... we sure could use Evan...at 6'5"... Jake will be a factor too as long as hit foot speed (healthy or otherwise) doesn't make him a liability...