WSU at SOUTHERN ILLINOIS PREDICTIONS AND PREGAME DISCUSSIONS

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks should be able to win at SIU even without Fred and Zach. However, it is hard not to hark back to Fred's only loss to an Illinois team. February 5, 2013 - SIU 64 - WSU 62 on the blown goaltending call.

That said, I think Fred will play.

If the Shocks pound the boards like they did against Illinois State and cut down on the turnovers they should do just fine.

I assume Tekele will get the primary assignment of defending Anthony Beane.

Certainly don't want to look past these guys though.

[Fozzy]

Hopefully Fred is okay and we don't lose him for several games like we did Evan. However, I'd rather he rest and take it easy for a game or two and be good next week and into March if needed. May be a close game the first half and then we pull away to start the second half and we can play more of the bench. I'll go with Show win 72-58.

[ShockTalk]

I was responding to some posts in another thread, but it probably belongs here. So excuse the double post.

We are nearing the end of the season and it's time that we should be able to be 1 starter down. Yes, rotate Carter, Morris, Kelly, Nurger, Glass, and BushW at the 4 & 5. Start Wessel at his natural 3 position with Cotton and Baker. Rotate in Holland (who should be able to guard whoever FVV would), Henderson, and Brown (if available) or even Walker. I think we might be surprised how well Walker can do alongside Baker and Cotton.

[kcshocker11]

WSU 72
SIU 61

[jocoshock]

I was responding to some posts in another thread, but it probably belongs here. So excuse the double post.

We are nearing the end of the season and it's time that we should be able to be 1 starter down. Yes, rotate Carter, Morris, Kelly, Nurger, Glass, and BushW at the 4 & 5. Start Wessel at his natural 3 position with Cotton and Baker. Rotate in Holland (who should be able to guard whoever FVV would), Henderson, and Brown (if available) or even Walker. I think we might be surprised how well Walker can do alongside Baker and Cotton.

Isn't Anthony Bean the pg? I am not convinced any of our freshman can guard him more than a few minutes. Fred needs to play 15-20 minutes in my opinion. Cotton, Baker and Wessel can do the rest of the heavy lifting. Holland and Henderson get their normal minutes.

As always, our coach will decide...

[ShockTalk]

Isn't Anthony Bean the pg? I am not convinced any of our freshman can guard him more than a few minutes. Fred needs to play 15-20 minutes in my opinion. Cotton, Baker and Wessel can do the rest of the heavy lifting. Holland and Henderson get their normal minutes.

As always, our coach will decide...

Come on @jocoshock:....."As always, our coach will decide". Duh!!! It's a fan discussion board for crying out loud. These kind of comments are totally unnecessary as a vast number of posters already know or, if they don't......well that's just hard to imagine. OK, off of my soapbox.

I don't know if Beane is their PG and by looking at their stats, it's very hard to tell. O'Brien, a 6'6" forward, leads SIU in assists at 1.7 pg with 1.9 TO pg. A guard, 6'2" Pendleton, is at 1.6 assists pg and 1.1 TO pg and is at 6.6 ppg. As for Beane, also at 6'2", he's only at 1.0 assist pg/ 1.9 TO pg, but clearly leads the team in scoring at 16.1, so I'm guessing he'll be Cotton's target. Next highest scoring guard is Pendleton at that 6.6. After Pendleton you have a 6'2" freshman, a 6'3" sophomore, and a 5'11" freshman.

So, yes, I'm expecting our 2 bench guards to be good enough to guard them. Cotton, Baker, and Wessel should be able to handle Beane and Pendleton leaving SIU's 2 freshman and 1 sophomore guards averaging 2.8 to 5.9 ppg with the lowest scoring being the 5'11" freshman who is the best in assists at 1.1. If they cannot handle them or HCGM doesn't have enough faith they can.....well, we won't talk about that. Just my opinion.

[ShockTalk]

As for SIU's forwards, there is really only 4. 6'7" freshman Caroline, 25.6 mpg, 9.7 ppg, and 6.8 rpg; 6'6" sophomore O'Brien at 28.3 mpg, 7.8 ppg, and 5.0 rpg; 6'7" sophomore Olaniyan 15.5 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg; and 6'8" junior Djimde at 11.6 mpg, 2.4 ppg, and 1.1 rpg.

Again, we should have a strong advantage with Carter, Morris, Kelly, Glass, Nurger, and BushW.

IMO, it's time for the bench to step up and play at least even with other players who are mostly freshmen and sophomores with a Thursday Valley play-in team who is 10-17/3-11.

It's on the road, which is almost always tough and I'm of the opinion that FVV can play. I'm just hoping he only needs to play a minimum. We need our starters somewhat rested and healthy for the final 3 games of the regular season. This may be the last chance for that rest.

[Shocker Mama]

I thought maybe someone might have tweeted something about Fred's leg. No luck. Fred tweeted his Valentine's photo (the one that was on Facebook). If his legs are in as well-conditioned as his arms, he'll be fine by game time.

[ShockerPhi]

I'm also liking the idea of seeing a lot of our freshman play again. Would definitely love to see Zach Brown make a reappearance. That'll really be the main thing I look forward to because I see this being a pretty comfortable win. Just keep marching.

[1972Shocker]

I'm also liking the idea of seeing a lot of our freshman play again. Would definitely love to see Zach Brown make a reappearance. That'll really be the main thing I look forward to because I see this being a pretty comfortable win. Just keep marching.

WSU forward Zach Brown is targeting next Sunday’s basketball game against Evansville for a return from a concussion.

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

[Ricardo del Rio]

I am only asking for the following:

FG% - 45 or higher
PF - 15 and lower
TO - 12 and lower
Bench points - 12 or higher

Am I asking for too much?

[jocoshock]

@PaulS:uellentrop: Weather in Illinois will keep the Shockers in Wichita until Tuesday morning before the game at SIU. Their charter flies into Marion

[Play Angry]

@PaulSuellentrop: Weather in Illinois will keep the Shockers in Wichita until Tuesday morning before the game at SIU. Their charter flies into Marion

Ugh.

[Play Angry]

WSU opens as 12 point favorites in Vegas.

[Shocker Mama]

Safe travels, Shockers.:poster_shocks: