Three games in

[KraRam]

Three games in:
1. We are who I thought we would be...veterans propping up the newcomers. 12-2 and ranked with this young squad is great.
2. They are tired. Today was the first day off since before they left for Hawaii. Add in two flights that did not go as planned, finals, a flu-ish bug going around, rebounding drills... they need a break. This is the grind, even Shaq/Rian will have to learn, because last year they watched but did not have to play every game.
3. For us to go deep in March our post game has to improve and give some support to DC which in turn takes off the pressure of FVV, Ron and Tekele doing all the work. This will happen, we just have to be patient.
4. Marshall understands this.
5. There is no team with more talent than WSU in the Valley regardless of what the Drake coach says.

[OregonShocker]

2. They are tired. Today was the first day off since before they left for Hawaii. Add in two flights that did not go as planned, finals, a flu-ish bug going around, rebounding drills... they need a break. This is the grind, even Shaq/Rian will have to learn, because last year they watched but did not have to play every game.

I hope they're not TOO tired! My wife and I discussed this while watching an NBA game last week starring some NBA "one and done" rookies...if the average HS season is 15 games and college is 35 games, then through their ENTIRE organized ball playing career (4 yrs HS and one college year) they've played 95 games, or just over ONE NBA season! (I'm not counting AAU summer games; those are like playing pick up in the gym) If any of our players want to play NBA, I hope they're not too tired now. As a RS soph, Baker, for instance, is like a 3rd year "one and done" NBA player. Not dissin' not making excuses... just sayin'

[ShockerPhi]

I have no idea what you imply by this.

Fixing this should have no barring on if we are a Top 25 team or not. It has been an issue for years and people have been voicing it for just as long.

He means that when we were undefeated last year and so incredibly good, we had little to nothing to complain about. So we complained about the silly in-game promotions. He sarcastically said that because people are bringing it up again. Just a joke

[Shock Top]

He means that when we were undefeated last year and so incredibly good, we had little to nothing to complain about. So we complained about the silly in-game promotions. He sarcastically said that because people are bringing it up again. Just a joke

Still a worthy complaint ;)

[ShockerPrez]

I have had some frustration watching the games, primarily because I'm used to seeing complete effing dominance from our side.

We have played 2 bottom feeders and and a psuedo contender at home. Sunday will be our first real test.

I also have to keep in mind that no team mails it in against us. Thats difficult to go against night in and night out. Who knows what additional fatigue that causes us.

[Jhook89]

After looking at our schedule, I think we end the regular season 26-4. I don't want to overlook anyone, but for the sake of trying to guess the rest of the way I'd say it is highly doubtful we lose at home. There will be some close games, but I say we win the rest of the home games. There are 4 road games that should be good tests for us L-IL, Evan, UNI, and INST (Maybe at ILST). Lets say we split those 4. So then we would be 26-4 (16-2) headed into post season play. If we take care of business in St. Louis we will be 29-4 headed to March Madness. With that record and our schedule, I'd say we probably get a high 3 seed. I'll take 29-4 and a 3 seed!

[molly jabali]

I predicted 26-4 a couple weeks ago in one of those polls, but now not QUITE so confident...no net underneath for an off night, so I'd say 24-6, and a 6 seed...

[SHOCKvalue]

Yeah 26-4 this year is looking like 31-0 last year about this time. Ecstatic if it happens, not putting any money down that it actually does.

[Dan]

My thoughts after 3 games:
-the team plays way better when Fvv is looking to pass first. He needs to be a pure point guard for us to be playing our best. We need some other guys to be more consistent scorers so that fvv can just focus on managing the game
-Shaq, Kelly, Nurger, and Bushs development will directly correlate to how far we go in March. We need at least a couple of these guys holding their own against good opponents come March
-Carter may be the most crucial piece on this team. When he is playing well down low and other teams have to actually acknowledge we do in fact have a frontcourt it opens things for our guards.
-fvv and bakers minutes are a little worrisome, but I think it will be ok
-we aren't as good as last year or the year before, but that doesn't mean we still can't go far come March. It's all about match ups

I think last game showed how effective Carter can be when he focuses on getting shots in the paint versus long jumpshots. He was drawing fouls and getting to the line which put the Bradley big men in foul trouble. We need more of this strategy going forward.

[60Shock]

Seems to me that our fans are the scape goats for a number of our shockerneters who frankly will never be happy until everyone stands the entire game and yells their blooming head off. Or that is at least what it often sounds like.

For those of you who are so outraged and unhappy because the majority of the fans don't act like you, why don't you simply, after the game starts, fill up some of the empty seats in the Students' section and make everybody happy?

Doesn't matter whether we win or lose at home our most supporting and loyal fans, who are amongst the very best in the entire nation, get verbally abused by a number of you after virtually every game, win or lose. You are beginning to sound like a warped or stratched disc.

Of course we haven't lost at home in a very long time, but I would be very surprised when next we do (sometime in the 2030's), that a few will place part of the blame on our fans.

[WSUwatcher]

I don't disagree with this mostly, but when I've made a comment about our fans, it's more to do with accepting success than apathy with mediocrity.

For instance, I understand not standing and screaming when we're taking poor shots and not getting loose balls and can't make layups.

What I don't get is the "okay, now we're FINALLY up 8, I can golf clap from here on out".

That's where my frustration comes in. "Ok, I'm comfortable we're going to win now, I can relax the rest of the way" is where I'm at with my annoyance.

Golf clap?

By the way, I'm not a big fan of coasting in the stands, either.

[WSUwatcher]

I hope they're not TOO tired! My wife and I discussed this while watching an NBA game last week starring some NBA "one and done" rookies...if the average HS season is 15 games and college is 35 games, then through their ENTIRE organized ball playing career (4 yrs HS and one college year) they've played 95 games, or just over ONE NBA season! (I'm not counting AAU summer games; those are like playing pick up in the gym) If any of our players want to play NBA, I hope they're not too tired now. As a RS soph, Baker, for instance, is like a 3rd year "one and done" NBA player. Not dissin' not making excuses... just sayin'

By the way, Oregon, I don't know about your state, but the 20+ game high school season in KS is actually pretty short. In Texas they typically play over 30; in Louisiana sometimes over 40. So Baker was actually a bit coddled in high school in terms of minutes (assuming you don't count his time playing football and other sports). He should definitely have some time left in his legs.

[AZ Shocker]

After looking at our schedule, I think we end the regular season 26-4.

Was forecasting the same...26-4. BUT....these guys don't like to lose. So I'm switching to 27-3.

[WstateU]

Was forecasting the same...26-4. BUT....these guys don't like to lose. So I'm switching to 27-3.

If we go 27-3, I might ‘consider’ streaking during the net cutting ceremony following the February 28, Northern Iowa game. Stay tuned!

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

If we go 27-3, I might ‘consider’ streaking during the net cutting ceremony following the February 28, Northern Iowa game. Stay tuned!

Thank goodness, for all our sakes, that is never going to happen. If WSU goes 27-3, the net cutting ceremony won't be at the UNI game as the MVC will have been clenched much earlier.