Bakers turn

[shocksrbest]

Looks like it's Ron's turn for a little press. Let's see...we have had Fred and Cle--now Ron. Got to love the attention.

http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/12_college_basketball_sophomores_on_the_spot_for_2013_14/14080382

[wufan]

Great PR. Interestingly two other Kansans made the list in Perry Ellis and Willie Cauley-Stein.

[Zardoz]

Baker was mentioned by one on ESPN's talking heads as one of the best returning shooting guards during one of their pre-draft shows. I really hope other MVC teams try the packed in zone that was somewhat successful last year. I don't think if will end well for them.

[SubGod22]

The only reason it worked is because we didn't have Baker or Wessel. Those are two dangerous options for us.

[shocksrbest]

Now that Cle, FVV and Baker have gotten some good and positive press, I hope Cotton gets a well-deserved article or two himself.

[Zardoz]

Baker was mentioned by one on ESPN's talking heads as one of the best returning shooting guards during one of their pre-draft shows. I really hope other MVC teams try the packed in zone that was somewhat successful last year. I don't think if will end well for them.

Exactly what I was getting at and you add at least Cle, Wiggins, Cotton, Green and FVV as other threats from distance as that doesn't even account for the freshmen. Then you are left with Man to Man or some hybrid defense and I'm not sure that will play out well for our opponents with HCGM at the helm.

[Zardoz]

Now that Cle, FVV and Baker have gotten some good and positive press, I hope Cotton gets a well-deserved article or two himself.

Have to agree with this. It was a total screw job that Cotton didn't get all-MVC honors on defense last year with us being voted the best defense team in the MVC.

[GoShockers89]

.

[jocoshock]

I think you will see more written about Cotton as the season gets underway. People like Jay Bilas were talking about Tekele before he even put on a Shocker uniform, so he is a known talent among the people who really pay attention, but he is such a silent assassin during the course of the season that his presence is just "in your face" when most writers and commentators are talking basketball every week, and get to see or hear about him more frequently.

He's the kind of guy that comes up on you, and it isn't until you are watching him walk away, that you realize that he just cut your throat (figuratively speaking).... That's what he did during the FF run. He's there... he's there... than bam... killer 3 pointer, rebound, steal or jam... just when the other team was thinking they were catching the Shox...

That's the reputation he is building on the national stage... one that he established here early in his freshman year...

edit: thread returning to Ron Baker discussion...

[60Shock]

I'm sure that our entire coaching staff is also noting all the significant pre-season press our players are reaping nation-wide and will use this extensively on the recruiting trails.

Just another gigantic benefit of our Final Four appearance.

[Rlh04d]

Have to agree with this. It was a total screw job that Cotton didn't get all-MVC honors on defense last year with us being voted the best defense team in the MVC.

Or Armstead. Those two were probably the best on-ball and off-ball defenders in the conference. Not having a single player on that list was a joke.

[Aargh]

Baker is going to get a lot of press attention next year. I think he can handle it.

After missing 21 games, Baker was the Fr lighting up the NCAAs in a run to the F4 and had an outstanding game against the #1 team in the nation. Media guys don't expect a Fr (especially one who's missed over half the season) to be impressive in the tourney.

Baker is going to be a media darling next year. If Baker can continue on the path he showed in the tourney, and show some improvement, I think the talk about his status in the NBA draft could start next year.

[WSUwatcher]

The nice thing about this article, too, is that it confirms WSU's big-time status -- look at the schools whose sophomores were featured, and you'll see a list of household names. It's nice to see WSU among them.

It's also nice to see Baker in the spotlight like this, because along with a few of his teammates (FVV comes quickly to mind, Early most of the time, and possibly Cotton with a breakout this year) Baker has the kind of level-headed toughness that you like to see, the kind that embraces notoriety and accepts it esagerly as an opportunity to achieve rather than as a cause for nervousness.

Aargh came close, so let me make an explicit prediction: Ron Baker is going to play basketball for a living some day, and probably quite a good living. He has the skills, the athletic ability, the work ethic, the confidence, and the mental and physical toughness.

[jocoshock]

The nice thing about this article, too, is that it confirms WSU's big-time status -- look at the schools whose sophomores were featured, and you'll see a list of household names. It's nice to see WSU among them.

It's also nice to see Baker in the spotlight like this, because along with a few of his teammates (FVV comes quickly to mind, Early most of the time, and possibly Cotton with a breakout this year) Baker has the kind of level-headed toughness that you like to see, the kind that embraces notoriety and accepts it esagerly as an opportunity to achieve rather than as a cause for nervousness.

Aargh came close, so let me make an explicit prediction: Ron Baker is going to play basketball for a living some day, and probably quite a good living. He has the skills, the athletic ability, the work ethic, the confidence, and the mental and physical toughness.

He should certainly have as good a chance as Toure Murry or Gal Mekel if he desires to get there... As far as I can tell he has all the tools they have and is a much better shooter.

[60Shock]

There will definitely be a significant number of Shockers playing in the NBA in the very near future.

And the more, the merrier.