WSU VERSUS ALABAMA PREGAME PREDICTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I'm sure we will try to put Randolph on Rob Barker.

I see what you did there. Lol, nicely done.

I agree that this will be a defensive battle. After the effort and emotion in the Tennessee game, I would normally think this one would be a trap game, but thankfully besides it being on the road you're in the SEC and a national brand so to speak, so I highly doubt our guys are going to be flat for this one. It's not easy to go on the road and win in Tuscaloosa, but we pride ourselves on being better on the road than we are at home. I'm hoping for a strong showing from Darius Carter after his coming out party this weekend. I'm also hoping Cle finally shows us why he was voted a preseason AA.

'11 NIT Champs -- 60

'11 NIT Runner Up -- 47

[RoyalShock]

Hard to blame the visitor being confused about Ron Baker's name given the majority of national media seem to be too!

Welcome to the board and come Wednesday morning I'll be rooting for Alabama the rest of the way.

I considered he might have done it on purpose, which is why I didn't give him a hard time. Is Rob Barker one we'd heard before? There's been so many I can't recall.

[Dan]

Add Rob Barker to the list!

Barker is quite a player. His dad had a nice stint hosting a TV game show, Come on Down!

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I considered he might have done it on purpose, which is why I didn't give him a hard time. Is Rob Barker one we'd heard before? There's been so many I can't recall.

I am suspecting it was done on purpose as well. He is called Rob Barker in the preview of the game on Bama's website.

[asiseeit]

I would urge Baker NOT to force it if he isn't close to 100%. Like last year we will need him healthy and
strong at the end. Don't want a lingering injury to persist all season limiting him to 80-90% at the
end when he will be needed the most. Want him 100% then ! Also, sitting a game or two allows more
minutes for Derail and Wiggens to gain confidence and/or experiment with another option at point.
I'll even take a loss if it means a healthier Baker.

[pogo]

He has old age to heal up. Kids his age heal overnight. Just kidding but I'll bet you couldn't keep him off of the court unless he is in a cast or a boot. Like to see him get some more bench time but I think alabama comes to play and we are already a little short at the PG so it will probably be another 30 min stint for Barker.

[SHOXAAC]

Barker is quite a player. His dad had a nice stint hosting a TV game show, Come on Down!

Fail to pay on golf bets, he will take you down!!!

[1972Shocker]

True road games in college basketball are always tough. To expect or anticipate an easy win on the road just doesn't compute to me. Especially when we are again targeted as a game that could turn our opponent's season around.

We don't necessarily need to play great to win, but we do need to play well to win.

The short turn-around from the Tennessee game is a little concerning, especially with Ron-Rob's ankle still a big question mark. Yeah, he went 32 hard minutes against the Vols but who knows how that ankle will respond to that stress. Baker may not be Barker but that ankle was no doubt barking at him after the game against Tennessee.

The only thing I want for Christmas is a 12-0 Shocker team. I'll take a win tonight by any margin whatsoever to set up that possibility (North Carolina Central coming up Sunday at Koch Arena). A great game by the Shocks would just be a great big, sparkling bow to top off our mini-SEC tour.

Go Shocks!

[Shockeriffic]

Sup guys, as a former WU student I am a Gregg Marshall fan and have kept up with WSU since Marshall arrived. It's helped that you guys have played Bama a couple of times recently. I'm also a Bama alum. Marshall was my first choice back when we were looking for a coach 5 years ago.

I'm looking forward to this game. Bama desperately needs a quality win to help our tourney chances going forward. I don't necessarily expect a win, but i do expect a dog fight. We have somewhat similar teams. We both take pride in our defense. We have some physical guys who are active on defense. Releford is our career leader in steals. Obasohan is an athletic freak who leads the team in steals and also gets his share of blocks per game. Randolph is our lock down guy. I'm sure we will try to put Randolph on Rob Barker. Jacobs is our guy down low who can fill it up occasionally. He's almost unstoppable going left. Like the Shockers, we get most of our production from three physical guards and one big.

We do struggle offensively. Besides Releford, we do not have a good outside shooter. We have been better at getting to the rim this season. Retin Obasohan is really one to watch. At 6'1 he has NBA athleticism. To win, Bama needs Releford to hit his shots and we need some home cooking.

Bama 58-54

I've only seen their game against OU so you have a better idea than I do on this. Why has Releford turned the ball over so much this year?

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I have the feeling that:

A win at Alabama and we watch a top 10 WSU team all season fighting for a top 2 seed
A loss at Alabama and we watch an 11-20 WSU team all season fighting for a 4-5 seed

Hoping for option #1

[RoyalShock]

I am suspecting it was done on purpose as well. He is called Rob Barker in the preview of the game on Bama's website.

The only one we haven't heard yet is Ray Parker . . . junior?

Who ya gonna call? . . . Zonebuster!

[Cdizzle]

I have the feeling that:

A win at Alabama and we watch a top 10 WSU team all season fighting for a top 2 seed
A loss at Alabama and we watch an 11-20 WSU team all season fighting for a 4-5 seed

Hoping for option #1

Barring injury, this seems pretty likely. That is crazy-pants. I love option #1. Option #2 was a pipe-dream 10 years ago. Good times.

[shock-it-to-me]

Apparently, WSU is the 2nd highest rated non-con team ever to play at Coleman Coliseum.

[RollTideYall]

I've only seen their game against OU so you have a better idea than I do on this. Why has Releford turned the ball over so much this year?

Releford has not been too sharp this season. He does have a hip issue that is bothering him. Maybe that is contributing to his play. We also do not really have any other pg's on the roster. Releford isn't even a "true" pg. He was also called for THREE offensive fouls in the first half against Duke. Lastly, in the previous season we had Trevor LAcey bring the ball up quite a bit. He's at NC State now.

[RollTideYall]

I also wanted to add... Do not expect a packed house in Coleman tonight. Attendance will probably be embarrassing.