Concerns going Forward

[wsushox1]

First of all. What an accomplishment, it's starting to sink in but it still hasn't and likely won't for some years. This team is solid, at every level and in every facet of the game. However, I have some concerns going forwards as I am sure most of you do.

1. Rebounding: Yes we are dominating teams on the board this year but I am concerned about it. It seems too often these past couple of games that when there has been physical rebounding play we haven't always been able to secure the board. The teams in the dance will be physical, obviously. I do think that the pundits realize just how physical the valley has been playing WSU - especially the last part of the season. It seems that whom-ever we have played they have tried to physically muddy up the game. So I'm not totally buying the fact that WSU hasn't seen physical play on the levels of what we will see in the dance because even Valley teams have large oafs they can throw out there and be told to try to just be a large physical prescence. Mockevicius's domination of Darius Carter at Evansville is of large concern on that front, but I think we will be fine.

2. Type of Play : The type of play we have been able to get away with in the valley, especially in the second half of blow-out games, might not be conducive to success in the NCAA tournament. Holding the ball down till the last 7-8 seconds of the shot clock consistently in the second half of games in the tournament isn't exactly a recipe for success. There will be times where we will need to shoot quickly, answer quickly, etc. We've passed up wide-open shots in the second half of games specifically to run more clock. I trust the guys that they will know when to "turn it on" in the tournament but it does still worry me.

3. Foul Trouble : This one is fairly obvious and every team in the NCAA tournament will have to face it but we are significantly worse with Ron and Fred out with foul trouble. This isn't exactly ground breaking analysis but they have to be smart with their fouls

4. Outside Shooting : Of all the ones listed here this is probably my least concern. We will hit our fair share of 3's in the tournament but are we good enough to keep scoring on the inside when opponents can sag-off on a bad shooting night? Who knows.




That's about all I got, anyone else have any concerns?

Let me end this by saying that I am not trying to be negative. This team, compared to most teams, does not have as many issues as other. Hence 31-0, but as with every team there are concerns.

[SHOCKvalue]

I am concerned about the hotel and ticket costs in Dallas in about 5 weeks time.

[shocksrbest]

First of all. What an accomplishment, it's starting to sink in but it still hasn't and likely won't for some years. This team is solid, at every level and in every facet of the game. However, I have some concerns going forwards as I am sure most of you do.

1. Rebounding: Yes we are dominating teams on the board this year but I am concerned about it. It seems too often these past couple of games that when there has been physical rebounding play we haven't always been able to secure the board. The teams in the dance will be physical, obviously. I do think that the pundits realize just how physical the valley has been playing WSU - especially the last part of the season. It seems that whom-ever we have played they have tried to physically muddy up the game. So I'm not totally buying the fact that WSU hasn't seen physical play on the levels of what we will see in the dance because even Valley teams have large oafs they can throw out there and be told to try to just be a large physical prescence. Mockevicius's domination of Darius Carter at Evansville is of large concern on that front, but I think we will be fine.

2. Type of Play : The type of play we have been able to get away with in the valley, especially in the second half of blow-out games, might not be conducive to success in the NCAA tournament. Holding the ball down till the last 7-8 seconds of the shot clock consistently in the second half of games in the tournament isn't exactly a recipe for success. There will be times where we will need to shoot quickly, answer quickly, etc. We've passed up wide-open shots in the second half of games specifically to run more clock. I trust the guys that they will know when to "turn it on" in the tournament but it does still worry me.

3. Foul Trouble : This one is fairly obvious and every team in the NCAA tournament will have to face it but we are significantly worse with Ron and Fred out with foul trouble. This isn't exactly ground breaking analysis but they have to be smart with their fouls

4. Outside Shooting : Of all the ones listed here this is probably my least concern. We will hit our fair share of 3's in the tournament but are we good enough to keep scoring on the inside when opponents can sag-off on a bad shooting night? Who knows.




That's about all I got, anyone else have any concerns?

Let me end this by saying that I am not trying to be negative. This team, compared to most teams, does not have as many issues as other. Hence 31-0, but as with every team there are concerns.

Good concerns...we faced these last year as well for the most part. Our answer was Marshall and Jans. They were able to utilize our strengths and exploit the opponents weaknesses with superb game plans--I expect they will do the same again this year.

[1972Shocker]

Good concerns...we faced these last year as well for the most part. Our answer was Marshall and Jans. They were able to utilize our strengths and exploit the opponents weaknesses with superb game plans--I expect they will do the same again this year.

This. There is no such thing as a perfect team nor has any team ever played a perfect game. But that's what life is all about overcoming flaws and weaknesses and obstacles of our own or other's making to achieve our goals and our objectives. The concern is do we have the ability to do that. That is a resounding yes in my opinion. We did it last year in the NCAA Tournament. I think that gave this year's team invaluable confidence that they can, in fact, do that and was a big contributor to 31-0 this year. Who knows how far we will actually make it in the NCAA Tournament but I am not the least be concerned about our ability and a-will-ity to go all the way.

[Bluzrover]

2. Type of Play : The type of play we have been able to get away with in the valley, especially in the second half of blow-out games, might not be conducive to success in the NCAA tournament. Holding the ball down till the last 7-8 seconds of the shot clock consistently in the second half of games in the tournament isn't exactly a recipe for success. There will be times where we will need to shoot quickly, answer quickly, etc. We've passed up wide-open shots in the second half of games specifically to run more clock. I trust the guys that they will know when to "turn it on" in the tournament but it does still.

I actually believe this is one of many strengths of this team. Marshall is able to limit the number of touches for the other team and our defense seems to be taking care of that end of the court.

[WillieJeffJeffries]

You bring up solid on court concerns......off the court I am concerned that other schools are going to want some time with Jans to potentially hire him away. Lately I have noticed HCGM giving Jans props for game planning and ingame moves, he maybe setting him up to get his own head gig....funny thing is I have no worries about GM taking another job....I think he is here a while..

[shockmonster]

The MVC Tournament will be just as physical as anything in the NCAA Tournament. Every year has been a dogfight sometimes literally with ISUR. Teams in our league know that they have to bring it to us and rebound the ball and get 50/50 balls. Look at what Bradley (Picket) did to us. He fouled out early in the second half in a game that wasn't that close. I'm more worried about injuries that we could get from our tournament than anything else.

[Jhook89]

All are valid concerns. This team is special and has just as good of a chance to win it all as anyone. That being said, every team has it's weaknesses. I am more concerned with match up problems we may see. I think it is possible a team with a couple tough athletic big men could cause us some issues down low. I am also concerned that we could have an issue with an athletic team that plays a really good zone defense. Our outside shooting isn't bad, but it isn't the best either and if you aren't knocking down outside shoots it is hard to beat a good zone defense.

[Shock Top]

My only concern, about the next few weeks, is how much my beer tab is going to become.

Not gonna be pretty.

[1972Shocker]

You bring up solid on court concerns......off the court I am concerned that other schools are going to want some time with Jans to potentially hire him away. Lately I have noticed HCGM giving Jans props for game planning and ingame moves, he maybe setting him up to get his own head gig....funny thing is I have no worries about GM taking another job....I think he is here a while..

You can't be as successful as the Shockers have been over the past 5 years without starting to grow a coaching tree. I for one am rooting for Coach Jans to find his own gig and when he does I will be rooting for him to be a success. I think Coach Marshall is at a point now where attracting quality assistants will not be all that difficult. It is part of the circle of life in college coaching. In fact, the more assistant coaches leaving Wichita State overtime for head coaching gigs the better I like it. That would be a great indication that we are being very successful.

[pogo]

I really believe that this team is geared to do well in the ncaa. WSU plays very good D and even Mr Robert Knight has taken note of this fact on at least a couple of occasions and passed it on to the staff and players. They don't reach and grab, and during the ncaa I think you will see the ncaa mandate of closer enforcement of the "new' rules". The other ncaa teams will not have the opportunity to scout WSU to the degree the other valley schools do each year. I am nervous about long athletic teams but then again WSU probably makes a whole lot of other coaches nervous.

[Shocktoberfest]

Dallas traffic sucks.

[coran13]

Not enough space in Koch for all of our banners.

[The Mad Hatter]

Running out of available jersey numbers.

[Shoxfan11]

The other ncaa teams will not have the opportunity to scout WSU to the degree the other valley schools do each year.

This is absolutely huge. Some of our sets, which Valley teams stop pretty effectively, allow for really easy baskets against other teams. I was amazed at how easily we were scoring at times against Ohio State last year, who is known for their defense.