Shockers vs Braves GAME Thread

[_kai_]

The number 6 and 7 players, Rashard and Zach, played 22 minutes in the aggregate. Neither shot the ball. Zach was 3-4 from the free throw line. Evan was 0-2, with both shots from 3.

I realize that I am about to receive an avalanche of criticism for what I am about to say, but it needs saying. The point production at the 4 position needs fixing.

On offense, the Shocks are almost playing 4 on 5. Yes, I realize there are other aspects to offense besides putting the ball in the hole.

100% agree with you. It's just a really unfortunate situation Evan is thrown into. He's forced to play the 4 for a majority of his 400+ minutes on the season. We need Glass, Brown, Nurger, Kelly, anyone with natural size to get their production up. Honestly Glass seems like the biggest possibility of stepping up over the next 2 months if we want to keep playing that length of time.

[_kai_]

Where are you getting these usage numbers from? Not saying I don't believe you, I'm just curious. Some fascinating numbers for sure.

http://www.bbstate.com/teams/WICH/stats/poss

[WuDrWu]

Thank you for perspective.

Now don't get me wrong. That was not fun to watch last night and Saturday, for that matter. However, it's amazing to me how some people expect a team of college students to play 30 games of perfection, 40 minutes per game. I still think you have some spoiled fans thinking about and trying to compare this team to last year. The infallible Northern Iowa Panthers only won by 7 at Bradley. Do people think they're a stone away from the NIT or a legit team?

People can be a little pissed off on the way they played in the second half and how things were handled. That's totally acceptable. But to start throwing out NCAA Tournament finishes and "they've lost it" are just completely overblown and short-sighted. They fail to understand the concept that it is impossible to play 1200 minutes of perfect basketball in a regular season.

Outstanding post.

[wsushox1]

Were you saying the same thing on February 5, 2013?

No.

[jocoshock]

On the post game show, Mike tried to throw a little love in Tevin's direction. Coach Marshall was quick to deflect the faint praise and with emphasis, he pointed out that Tevin failed to box out, during a free throw attempt.

There just seems to be something that prevents Coach Marshall from giving an attaboy to Tevin.

None of the new guys outside of Shaq are getting many attaboys.. They are all good on either offense or defense (mostly defense) but not both..

Last night, the attaboys were scarce all around..

[WstateU]

The number 6 and 7 players, Rashard and Zach, played 22 minutes in the aggregate. Neither shot the ball. Zach was 3-4 from the free throw line. Evan was 0-2, with both shots from 3.

I realize that I am about to receive an avalanche of criticism for what I am about to say, but it needs saying. The point production at the 4 position needs fixing.

On offense, the Shocks are almost playing 4 on 5. Yes, I realize there are other aspects to offense besides putting the ball in the hole.

[WuDrWu]

Its been a very good season thus far despite our current struggles. My own opinion
going forward is that the only chance to go past the first round in March is to go
BIG on the frontline. I would start SM at center with RN and WB backing him up
encouraging them all to play aggressive defense. I'd start DC at a traditional PF
with RK as his backup. That's a five man rotation on the frontline. I'd then go
with a four man rotation on the perimeter ( FVV, RB, TC and EW ). After that I
would spot in TG and ZB when circumstances allowed it.

No offense, but that's probably why you (or me or anyone else on this board) isn't the reigning National Coach of the Year and SEVEN time Conference Coach of the Year.

[wusphlash]

Last night, Evan shot a free throw for the first time in 13 games, per Mike Kennedy. It almost seems impossible, when Evan's aggressivel play is considered.

This will probably get my butt chewed on but I immediately wondered how many free throws were shot by the opposition in that same time frame as a result of Evan fouls.

[asiseeit]

I'm certainly no GM !!!!!!!!!!

[ShockerPrez]

Our NCAA tournament will hinge on how hot Baker, FVV and Cotton are in March.

I'm just enjoying the fact that our D+ efforts are still NCAA tourney worthy.

This game doesn't put us on the bubble. This game kept us in first place.

[wushock27]

Thank you for perspective.

Now don't get me wrong. That was not fun to watch last night and Saturday, for that matter. However, it's amazing to me how some people expect a team of college students to play 30 games of perfection, 40 minutes per game. I still think you have some spoiled fans thinking about and trying to compare this team to last year. The infallible Northern Iowa Panthers only won by 7 at Bradley. Do people think they're a stone away from the NIT or a legit team?

People can be a little pissed off on the way they played in the second half and how things were handled. That's totally acceptable. But to start throwing out NCAA Tournament finishes and "they've lost it" are just completely overblown and short-sighted. They fail to understand the concept that it is impossible to play 1200 minutes of perfect basketball in a regular season.

I don't always agree or even like what Fever posts, but he is spot on here...
Good god, while it was an ugly game we still WON a conference ROAD game!! I mainly come on here for info I can't get in Louisville on the team, but I hardly want to anymore because it's mostly doom and gloom from all the pessimists in here...

Just as a side note... Louisville lost 3 in a row the year they won the title... Marinate on that

[Bluzrover]

Right On 1972Shocker !

"But subtract Cleanthony and plug in Evan and you have some real challenges"

Wait a minute, do you have two SN accounts or is that your wife, the president of your fan club?!! Something oddly familiar with that handle...

[Ol skool]

Its been a very good season thus far despite our current struggles. My own opinion
going forward is that the only chance to go past the first round in March is to go
BIG on the frontline. I would start SM at center with RN and WB backing him up
encouraging them all to play aggressive defense. I'd start DC at a traditional PF
with RK as his backup. That's a five man rotation on the frontline. I'd then go
with a four man rotation on the perimeter ( FVV, RB, TC and EW ). After that I
would spot in TG and ZB when circumstances allowed it.

Not a bad rotation in my mind. Try it and live with it for awhile. Maybe a set rotation would allow chemistry to grow.

[shockerfanmas]

Been away for a while dealing with some personal issues. Sounds like the Shox slept their way through this one. They got the win, so I guess in the grand scheme of things that's all that matters. Still would love to see this team play better, more consistent basketball, but I agree with some on here. I think the success of the last few years has some of these fans spoiled. Some expect the Shox to win every game by 30 points, and that's just not going to happen. I don't think there's any doubt the Valley as a whole is tougher this season. After all, we don't even have the best talent 1-12. That falls to Illinois State, just ask Coach G at Drake and he'll tell you that. Heh. I honestly feel the loss of Cle hurt this team more than people think, and gotta wonder if the incident with CF isn't sticking with this team more than we as fans hoped it would. I am one of those that are guilty of being down on this years team at times, but they sure give reasons to be at times. This is still a good team, and they will be playing meaningful basketball in March, hopefully well into March.

On a side note, for those that think all I do is defend the officials at all costs, boy have I got a story for you. Was out of town last night watching my cousin play ball (not gonna say where, but it was a D2 school in the MIAA). After the officiating I saw last night, I would take some of these MVC officials that we've all been complaining about. Here's a recap of how last night went. The officials called 6, count em, 6 double fouls. You know, the kind of foul where the officials can't decide who fouled first so they penalize both players. Keeping it going, I didn't keep track of fouls in the first half because the game had a good flow to it. I did count in the second half though. The first 5 minutes of the 2nd half, no fouls were called, for either team. The next 5 minutes, only 3 fouls were called. The last 10 minutes of the game, I'm not kidding you.. 26 fouls were called, 12 of them in the last 2 minutes. My cousin picked up her 5th foul as she grabbed onto the offensive post player to try and keep her balance AFTER just taking a direct elbow to the chops. The elbow was reviewed and the officials called it a basketball play?! What?? This resulted in the ejection of not only her head coach, but an assistant coach as well. The entire fanbase of both teams gave the coaches a standing ovation as they were escorted off the floor. The rest of the game was nothing but boos towards the officials. A fan was kicked out for throwing an empty bottle on the court that caught one of the officials in the back. I never, ever advocate throwing things on the court, but I couldn't help but laugh as it hit the official that fouled out my cousin. A little bit of justice there, even if not the right kind. I will follow up later as I had a discussion with a couple assignors who are involved with the MIAA. So, for those that say I can't do anything that defend officials, there ya go, try that on for size. How would you have liked to have had this crew working a Shocker game??

[shockmonster]

Where did all of the discussion on the Fraud Noise Meter and Crowd management go? :)