National Championship

[WuDrWu]

With all due respect to my friend @Kung Wu: I'd like to just point out that this isn't the OFFICIAL thread.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Waiting for Jamar to come into this thread and snap us all back into reality with the "numbers" game.

As someone who criticized me for using the word "amazing" when talking about the potential of this season, one would think you would know my position on this already. Then again, you spreading false information is no surprise at all.

For the record, I actually think WSU has the 2nd best shot to win it all, behind only Florida.

[proshox]

As someone who criticized me for using the word "amazing" when talking about the potential of this season, one would think you would know my position on this already. Then again, you spreading false information is no surprise at all.

For the record, I actually think WSU has the 2nd best shot to win it all, behind only Florida.

As the self appointed shockernet gustapo, Fever already dominates this board without trolling you.

[jocoshock]

No need to wait for Jamar, I'll chime in with my two cents. I've got a better chance winning the lottery than the Shox winning the N.C. You know me, I keep it real around this joint. This team's ceiling is the Sweet 16. Our 3 point FG percentage is abysmal, our overall FG percentage is barely average, we lack QUALITY depth, our post play is inconsistent, Colbey averages more personal fouls per game than points it seems, we're not terribly athletic and susceptible to teams who are, we're prone to sleep walking for a half and come tourney time, good teams will make us pay for doing just that. We haven't been tested since December and we'll be exposed for it. And lastly, we are a FVV, RB or CE injury away from our season tanking.

Now, we all know the tourney is all about match ups and upsets that end up benefitting you. After selection Sunday, I will throw out my official tourney prediction. This is just an appetizer. :)

I think you are just using reverse psychology for the lottery. ;-)

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

KC, I used to respect your opinions. You didnt wear rose colored glasses all the time. However, recently, I just think you are crazy. Either that or you've decided to go full on Jedi mind trick on us for several months straight.

[ShockerFever]

As the self appointed shockernet gustapo, Fever already dominates this board without trolling you.

Hi Jealousy.

Thanks for the contributions.

[asiseeit]

Realistically, there are 10-12 teams with a decent chance of winning it all and we
are one of them. Of all those teams, we are probably the only one without any
four/five star recruits ( some,like Kansas are loaded with them ) but we play
together better/angrier than most and have a high team basketball IQ. After the first
round ANY are candidates to be upset including us. I'll wait to see our second
round matchup and predict games one at a time from that point on.

[AdamCC]

Well I guess there's only one thing left to do...

Win the whole effing thing.

[Shock Therapy]

Realistically, there are 10-12 teams with a decent chance of winning it all and we
are one of them. Of all those teams, we are probably the only one without any
four/five star recruits ( some,like Kansas are loaded with them ) but we play
together better/angrier than most and have a high team basketball IQ. After the first
round ANY are candidates to be upset including us. I'll wait to see our second
round matchup and predict games one at a time from that point on.

FWIW, Fred was a four star recruit.

[Hurley]

Always seems like once we get out of Valley play, with all the holding and grabbing (despite the new rules), our play really opens up. Other than 2 years ago in the dance vs. VCU, we seem to have a long history of playing much much better once the MVC tourney is over. I am encouraged by this.

[TheDover1018]

You know me, I keep it real around this joint.

Keeping it real means your expectations are actually realistic. You predicted something like 8 losses this season (I can't remember the actual so I'm just guessing). If you were keeping it real this would be actually close to reality. So don't mind the rest of us actually keeping it real :)

[Bluzrover]

No need to wait for Jamar, I'll chime in with my two cents. I've got a better chance winning the lottery than the Shox winning the N.C. You know me, I keep it real around this joint. This team's ceiling is the Sweet 16. Our 3 point FG percentage is abysmal, our overall FG percentage is barely average, we lack QUALITY depth, our post play is inconsistent, Colbey averages more personal fouls per game than points it seems, we're not terribly athletic and susceptible to teams who are, we're prone to sleep walking for a half and come tourney time, good teams will make us pay for doing just that. We haven't been tested since December and we'll be exposed for it. And lastly, we are a FVV, RB or CE injury away from our season tanking.

Now, we all know the tourney is all about match ups and upsets that end up benefitting you. After selection Sunday, I will throw out my official tourney prediction. This is just an appetizer. :)

I appreciate your opinion and offer my own. I think this team's ceiling is a National Championship. Why? I believe they have one of the top, if not THE top, guard duos in the country in FVV and Baker. Ron has shown he can pick up the point when necessary and now that he seems to be healthy, his play is even better than earlier in the season. His numbers prove it.

While our FG percentage isn't stellar, it doesn't have to be with the style of play Marshall demands. I believe what is more important is the offensive efficiency this team displays and the fact that 3G expects Fred to milk the shot clock on just about every possession, thus eliminating the number of touches the opposing offense gets.

I agree with your assessment about the depth as I don't believe this team has the same quality of depth as last year's team (FVV was part of the bench last year), but I think Wiggins has picked up his game and provides valuable minutes while Evan has shown that he can step in and spell Cotton to provide a continued defensive blanket while fighting for every 50/50 ball on the court. Wessel's offense has been horrorifc but his defense and rebounding is a big part of this team's success.

I also believe our three-man rotation at the 5 is not a weakness but a strength. Colbey does get a lot of fouls but hell, we've got 15 to give up there between him, Lufile and Carter. And Lufile and Carter bring different offensive challenges that the opposition has to figure out. Valley teams haven't been able to figure it out and we play them twice. What happens in the tourney when you only get one chance?

As far as being tested, true, we haven't faced the likes of Florida, Louisville or Duke yet. But I believe the team has been tested quite a bit in a much different aspect; they've had a target on their backs from the very beginning of the season. I think they've handled it and continue to handle it tremendously. This team is special and they're carving our their own unique identity separate from last year's team.

Will they win it all? Who knows. It's called March Madness for a reason. But I really like our chances.

[EB 22]

I just can't get out of my brain how similarly we are playing to Louisville last year. We have "it". I don't know what "it" is, but we got "it".

We're gonna win the whole thing.

If someone's bone pops out of their leg during the tournament and that's what "it" is, I know who's house I'm egging.

[WstateU]

If someone's bone pops out of their leg during the tournament and that's what "it" is, I know who's house I'm egging.

[Play Angry]

You fellas really took the bait.