The OFFICIAL Shocks vs. Runnin' Utes Game Thread

[top20shock]

I'm with you. I don't feel terrible about this loss at all. Our boys fought hard and our newcomers just played a Top-25 team for their very first time and with -- what -- four Division 1 games of experience behind them, and exactly _zero_ true road games prior to that. I was proud of them for not folding when down by 9 with something like 4 to 5 minutes to go. We lost by one freaking point.

Tough loss but this team needs to be forged. The Shox have too many new guys and they need to get toughened up and understand how bad it feels to lose. It stinks and it's miserable and they need to turn it into a positive. I think they will.

[WSUwatcher]

KU won't play us. We call every year, we get turned down every year. Therefore, KU fans have no room to ***** about our schedule. In fact, the only place they still make that b.s. is on message boards where they can be anonymous. It's been three-plus years since a beaker has made that claim to my face - because they know that KU absolutely refuses to play us, even when ESPN wants the game and will pay seven figures to make it happen.

Sean Keeler said that we were 1-2 in our last three games against "name" opponents (a term that annoys me to no end). IIRC, KU is 0-3 in its last three NCAA tournament games against the Missouri Valley.

Funny thing about Keeler's silly cherry-picking: who decides what is or isn't a "name" opponent, and over what period do you count? He can pretend to be channeling KU and Creighton fans, many of whom are known and demonstrable ignorami, but if he wants to count since the last time WSU lost a regular season game, which was how he led into his story, the record is hardly 1-2. If Utah and Memphis are "name" opponents along with Kentucky, then so are Alabama, Tennessee, Pitt, Gonzaga, and Ohio State, not to mention 2013 national champion Louisville. In those nine games since their last regular season loss, WSU is 6-3 -- how many teams do better against that type of competition? Apparently he picks "names" to fit his preconceived stereotype of WSU as a "mid-major."

And we'll see about that toasted top-ten ranking. WSU does have to resume winning and avoid the potential stumbling blocks ahead, but I suspect Keeler may be the one eating some toast soon.

Ignorance, your name is Sean Keeler. Did Doug Gottlieb help him with his research, or what?

[Dan]

I think we need to go back to the "post by committee" lineup we had last year. Put DC at the 4 and rotate Shaq, Rauno and Wam at the 5. Save Wessel as the spark off the bench.

[Rlh04d]

I just knew somebody was going to post that today.

JJClamdip and Aargh will find a way to make everything be about CF from now on. They can't help themselves.

[Rlh04d]

I think we need to go back to the "post by committee" lineup we had last year. Put DC at the 4 and rotate Shaq, Rauno and Wam at the 5. Save Wessel as the spark off the bench.

Just to point it out since I haven't noticed anyone mention it:

Wessel very nearly out-rebounded a possible 7' NBA lottery pick with 6 minutes fewer game time.

[60Shock]

This is not by any means a knock on Wessel and Carter. They play their hearts out every game and we would not be where we are without them.

Still, Wessel is a small forward and at 6-4 is playing the power forward postiion exactly where Carter (6-7) should be and not going up against guys 4 and 5 inches taller.

[another shocker]

shockers at uni will be something very similar. maybe they can pull it out that time. fvv must fascilitate.. make the other players better

[Bluzrover]

I have to say, our guys have nothing to hang their heads for. That was a tough team who beat them by one point (in overtime). Despite the loss, there are some positives to come out of this game, namely, we got that one loss out of our system EARLY in the season. And the young frosh bigs, especially Shaq and Kelly, got some serious playing time in and, quite frankly, held their own. DC fouled out at the 2:28 mark and Shaq filled in fairly well (except for that aforementioned blocked dunk) the rest of the way. Those key minutes at the end of a tight game and overtime will pay off down the road for Shaq and the Shockers.

FVV had what is most definitely his worst game as a Shocker. But he hit some clutch shots at the end of regulation to get us back in the game. I'm pretty sure there were some young guards sitting on the bench watching that unfold and making mental notes. He had an off night. I'd rather it happen now (if it had to happen) and get it out of his system.

One final thought. Evan is a beast. Dude played his heart out and was all over the court. There's no doubt why 3G loves him and he starts the game and gets significant playing time. We're going to miss his and TC's defense when they're gone. But damn, I sure do wish his offense would reappear. As many others here on SN have stated, if he ever regains his shooting touch from above the arc, this team will be tough to beat.

I'm not too worried about the polls right now. And I'm hopeful FVV's off night was just that; a single bad night. I'd much rather they lose to a top 25 (they'll probably move up several spots next week) team than to some un-ranked Mo Valley team. This team just got stronger by suffering that type of loss.

Go Shox!

[SB Shock]

One thing that bother me is it was WSU pressure defense that got WSU out of the blocks fast and got them back into the game later. I can understand that with foul problems you might have to give it up for the middle part, but why not continue it in OT - the D was their best O. That would be my question I would ask marshall if I were to call in.

[Blackmag]

well i've had about 24hrs to digest this game and put it in perspective. Bottom line is we still have a gutty team who never ever gives in. we actually led about 70% of the game. They made their run midway in the 2nd half and strung some 3s together and we didn't panic. Fred just had a bad night shooting but he didn't let it effect his undeniable effort he gives us night in, night out. I thought it was ours when he hit that second 3 to give us the 2pt lead. But give Utah credit they responded. If Fred has his normal shooting night and if Darius stays out of foul trouble we win. Little things cost us, Baker missing a two handed dunk ect. We didn't get to the line enough, and besides Carter no inside scoring. That will come as our very young frontline gets used to the big time. I think by Febuary our bigs will be much much more offensive which will open up our perimeter game. Also reading the newspaper they said after the game our bench was being pelted with debris, whats up with that?

[chicagoshocker]

Has anyone heard if he survived?

After the game, mike Kennedy said that ref didn't remember being hit and falling, but is okay, just probably a mild concussion.

[giskard]

One thing that bother me is it was WSU pressure defense that got WSU out of the blocks fast and got them back into the game later. I can understand that with foul problems you might have to give it up for the middle part, but why not continue it in OT - the D was their best O. That would be my question I would ask marshall if I were to call in.

That would be a good question for Marshall. It could be that the foul trouble made it a risky strategy. When their backs were put against the wall at the end of the game, the reward of the press with respect to the risk would have gone through the roof. Once they got to overtime, the game was close enough that the risk may have been too high.

[shockmonster]

One thing that bother me is it was WSU pressure defense that got WSU out of the blocks fast and got them back into the game later. I can understand that with foul problems you might have to give it up for the middle part, but why not continue it in OT - the D was their best O. That would be my question I would ask marshall if I were to call in.

Marshall has already critiqued himself and said the same thing you did. He said after the game that "maybe he should have continued the pressure defense during the overtime period." Coaches and players criticize themselves regularly.

[AZ Shocker]

One thing that bother me is it was WSU pressure defense that got WSU out of the blocks fast and got them back into the game later. I can understand that with foul problems you might have to give it up for the middle part, but why not continue it in OT - the D was their best O. That would be my question I would ask marshall if I were to call in.

Legs. As in tired legs. Late game at around 5,000 feet. You gotta manage your personnel as a coach. He'll never say it and the players would never admit it but seriously. Yeah I know these are finely tuned Division I athletes for Wichita St....but I'm sure some of you guy's have experienced this type of scenario before. All that...and Utah is a pretty good team as well.

[WSUwatcher]

shockers at uni will be something very similar.

Uh, not exactly. Take another look at the rosters and tell me where you find Poeltl, or the 7-foot backup center hulk, or Delon Wright on the UNIs.