2010 - 2015: Consistency in the Marshall Era

[Cdizzle]

The defense has really, really improved over the last three weeks. This year's squad currently has the second-best defensive efficiency (on a relative basis) of any HCGM coached team at WSU. I believe it is actually the most efficient on per-possession basis, but scoring is down across the board (explaining the drop in standing relative to other teams). Below is the current KenPom breakdown:


2014-15: 9 (offensive efficiency 18, defensive efficiency 24)

Tempo has continued to be a grindingly slow 321st in the country, which is pretty much where we've been since December.

My eyes tell me (and even the players and coach remark) that we have been turning it loose a little more lately, yet we have stayed the same in Adjusted tempo.

[Play Angry]

My eyes tell me (and even the players and coach remark) that we have been turning it loose a little more lately, yet we have stayed the same in Adjusted tempo.

It definitely has felt and looked that way. You have to wonder if the tempo staying so low has been mostly due to defensive improvement during that span (making opponents use more of the shot clock and therefore limiting their possessions), offsetting any pick up in our own pace on offense.

Our turnovers have also continued to decline from already-fantastic numbers earlier in the year, which further reduces fastbreaks and minimizes possessions. I would guess that has been a factor as well.

[pie n eye]

The defense has really, really improved over the last three weeks. This year's squad currently has the second-best defensive efficiency (on a relative basis) of any HCGM coached team at WSU. I believe it is actually the most efficient on per-possession basis, but scoring is down across the board (explaining the drop in standing relative to other teams). Below is the current KenPom breakdown:


2014-15: 9 (offensive efficiency 18, defensive efficiency 24)

Tempo has continued to be a grindingly slow 321st in the country, which is pretty much where we've been since December.

Am I reading correctly our KenPom rank is #9 and our offensive and defensive efficiency is 18 and 24 respectively?

I feel like the guys who get paid to run their mouths on tv will look at the improvement and dismiss it as "I would expect to see this improvement considering the level of competition in the MVC."

In their defense, since I'm a shocker fan I can concentrate on the shockers. They're expected to know everything about every team which is impossible. But I tend to think the improved efficiency numbers are a result of the new guys figuring out what coach expects of them. And maybe even some of the older guys needed to be reminded as well.

[ShockerEngineer]

Am I reading correctly our KenPom rank is #9 and our offensive and defensive efficiency is 18 and 24 respectively?

I feel like the guys who get paid to run their mouths on tv will look at the improvement and dismiss it as "I would expect to see this improvement considering the level of competition in the MVC."

In their defense, since I'm a shocker fan I can concentrate on the shockers. They're expected to know everything about every team which is impossible. But I tend to think the improved efficiency numbers are a result of the new guys figuring out what coach expects of them. And maybe even some of the older guys needed to be reminded as well.

I was just telling someone today about how "top tier" teams get judged by how good it's perceived they can be, earlier in the season, whereas we get judged like this quote. Haha.

[pie n eye]

I was just telling someone today about how "top tier" teams get judged by how good it's perceived they can be, earlier in the season, whereas we get judged like this quote. Haha.

Yeah it's really unfortunate. I don't think I've heard anyone mention how many young/new guys we're working in. It's just "they're not as good as last year, they lost Cle, etc".

Edit: and by anyone I mean "talking heads"

[Jhook89]

I think our improved play has been a combination of this team progressing and our schedule getting easier. 3 of the last 4 games have been against sub 200 rpi teams. Take that for what it is worth. I love the way we have been playing recently. DC and Shaq stepping up has taken this team to the next level. That being said, The MVC for the most part is crap. SIU, MSU, Drake, and Bradley are all jokes. Loyola is falling back to earth. ISUr, ISUb, and UE are OK. UNI and WSU are the only teams really worth a damn. I think it is perfectly reasonable to question who WSU is beating

[shocka khan]

I was one of the people concerned about depth early in the season. Especially after Shaq's near flame-out. If we had lost Shaq, I would have been very, very concerned.

I admit that I did not reckon how well the freshmen would develop. But at that time, who would've known?

This has to be one of HCGM's best coaching efforts to date, even though most wouldn't notice it. He had to get through to Shaq and he did. He needed to bring the young depth on the front line along and he did.

The good news is that there's a lot more upside with Freshmen. They have a steep learning and adjustment curve, but once they start to master it, they have much more room to improve than any upperclassman. We have three freshmen (at least) that are well on their way now and a couple more that look like they could start improving by leaps and bounds anytime now.

My current opinion is that this team has much more upside than many of the other teams out there (except for maybe a Kentucky or a KU who are great teams playing a bunch of Freshmen) and that we will be a real force come tourney time. If RB doesn't go to the NBA at the end of this year, our team could be one of the elite teams next year.

[Play Angry]

KenPom does weight the quality of your opponents FWIW. You don't just run up an astronomical rating by blasting the **** out of the Grambling States and Drakes a few dozen times.

[Robant15]

My current opinion is that this team has much more upside than many of the other teams out there (except for maybe a Kentucky or a KU who are great teams playing a bunch of Freshmen) and that we will be a real force come tourney time. If RB doesn't go to the NBA at the end of this year, our team could be one of the elite teams next year.

Agreed.

[Rlh04d]

I think our improved play has been a combination of this team progressing and our schedule getting easier. 3 of the last 4 games have been against sub 200 rpi teams. Take that for what it is worth. I love the way we have been playing recently. DC and Shaq stepping up has taken this team to the next level. That being said, The MVC for the most part is crap. SIU, MSU, Drake, and Bradley are all jokes. Loyola is falling back to earth. ISUr, ISUb, and UE are OK. UNI and WSU are the only teams really worth a damn. I think it is perfectly reasonable to question who WSU is beating

I agree with you. On the other hand, the overreaction to our nonconference was absurd ALSO based on who we were playing ... which was the 10th best nonconference schedule in the country.

Our nonconference schedule strongly improved this year and our conference improved ... yet we still struggled in many of our games last year, especially early.

[Steeleshocker]

I think our improved play has been a combination of this team progressing and our schedule getting easier. 3 of the last 4 games have been against sub 200 rpi teams. Take that for what it is worth. I love the way we have been playing recently. DC and Shaq stepping up has taken this team to the next level. That being said, The MVC for the most part is crap. SIU, MSU, Drake, and Bradley are all jokes. Loyola is falling back to earth. ISUr, ISUb, and UE are OK. UNI and WSU are the only teams really worth a damn. I think it is perfectly reasonable to question who WSU is beating

The thing is kenpom takes into account the strength of your opponent in his calculations. So yes, even considering the dropoff in quality opponents we are still getting better.

[Bluzrover]

I think our improved play has been a combination of this team progressing and our schedule getting easier. 3 of the last 4 games have been against sub 200 rpi teams. Take that for what it is worth. I love the way we have been playing recently. DC and Shaq stepping up has taken this team to the next level. That being said, The MVC for the most part is crap. SIU, MSU, Drake, and Bradley are all jokes. Loyola is falling back to earth. ISUr, ISUb, and UE are OK. UNI and WSU are the only teams really worth a damn. I think it is perfectly reasonable to question who WSU is beating

I hear what you're saying but I think it's important to point out we're doing hat with a bunch I new players, both frosh and Juco, which means we've got some talent and 3G continues to develop that talent.

[Dan]

The thing is kenpom takes into account the strength of your opponent in his calculations. So yes, even considering the dropoff in quality opponents we are still getting better.

Fred is not trying to do too much, Darius has figured out what it means to be a full time player and stay on the floor, Shaq has awakened and the other freshmen have made steady strides. I'd like another shot at Utah right now and don't think George Washington would stay close. We're playing much better you can see it on the floor.

[im4wsu]

Looking atRegular Season Conference Games only since 3G has been waving his magic wand:

Season	MOV
14-15	16.7
13-14	16.7
12-13	6.6
11-12	14.1
10-11	10.9
09-10	3.7
07-08	-4.6

[1972Shocker]

Consistency and Excellence. From Paul Suellentrops Day After Loyola game blog:

WSU needs one more win for 20, which used to be a landmark around here. Old-timers who remember James Bunch, add that to your list of “Gee, things used to be a lot different” proclamations.

The Shockers will win 20 games (or more) for the sixth straight season. Before Marshall, WSU had 11 20-win seasons total with a three-season streak the best.
Marshall’s lowest 20-win total is 25.

Teams do play more games now than 40 or 50 years ago, so total wins can mislead.

Not in this case. WSU will win 70 percent (or more) of its games for the sixth straight time under Marshall this season. Before Marshall, the Shockers won 70 percent or more eight times as an MVC member (since 1945-46).

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college...#storylink=cpy