WSU at SOUTHERN ILLINOIS PREDICTIONS AND PREGAME DISCUSSIONS

[Blackmag]

Shocks by a dozen 72-60. Hoping to get a few more points from the bench tomorrow, and maybe Evan can build on his 3pt. shooting from the last game. Would like to see more of the Carter-Morris combo, moving forward I think this will be an important tandem in the post season. Also looking forward to seeing Zach Brown back in action. Go Shocks!

[WeWillShockU]

We need RKelly to score. He needs to take it to the basket and dunk like he did against Lynch but without the T.

[Stickboy46]

We need RKelly to score. He needs to take it to the basket and dunk like he did against Lynch but without the T.

Agreed, I didn't even care about the T because that's the type of play that builds confidence in a young player.

[_kai_]

Pump-faker Extraordinaires: 68
Barry's Wife: 52

[Bluzrover]

I'd like to see another solid performance from our first four or five off the bench, it's been far too long since we've really seen that, and I'd really like to see those four freshmen off the bench at about the 12 minute mark in the first half. Need the bench to get some solid playing time this close to the end of the season, especially Henderson and Nurger.

And I agree with others, would like to see Kelly be more aggressive to the basket and start to assert himself on the offensive end of the court. He's been playing far to timid in that regard and he needs to build his confidence.

Shox - 73
Dogs - 56

[pogo]

Like to see EW continue to shoot with anger. Like to see Rashard Kelly be more aggressive around the rim. Shox by 15

[Triticum aestivum L.]

Are we playing in the state of Illinois? - yes. Is the Rockford Rockstar playing? - yes. Will we win? - yes.

Fred will make up for a poor game against them the first go-round with 12, 8 and 4. I have a feeling we get up big early and SIU fights to get back into it like the Bradley road game. This is a TC/DC game and we are Back in Black - expect those two to combine for close to 30 pts. I would love to see our bench point guards get some dimes instead of hunting shots. RH and CHJ have a combined 109 shot attempts and only 15 assists. Finally, Deion Lavender is an awesome porn star name - let's hope he's shooting blanks tonight.


Shocks 69, Dogs 59

[WstateU]

Run Sulukies run!

[Shoxthemonkey]

Agreed, I didn't even care about the T because that's the type of play that builds confidence in a young player.

I didn't mind the T at all at that particular moment. He let Lynch know that he had that to deal with for the rest of his career and he told the crowd to STFU and sit back down. In MY mind, 3G chewed on RK in front of the team and then privately slapped him on the back and high fived him with a huge grin on his face. Coming as quickly after Lynch's dunk as it did it sent a strong message that Illst still has a ways to go and WSU isn't going to backdown from anyone. One of the few times I have ever said Hell Yeah after a T.

[Dan]

he can yell, just can't look directly at the other player and yell in his face like a taunt. Our guys just need to learn where to direct their emotions.

[Shoxthemonkey]

Yeah, I know what you're saying but in this specific instance I liked that he directed right at Lynch. That's just me. I'm not all that mature for 62.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

The message he sent was that he was too caught up in the moment to make a wise decision. A technical foul is a horrible result when it shaves 2 points off a 5 point lead late in the 2nd half. It took something like a 90% win probability and instantly dropped it to somewhere closer to 70%. Had it actually cost the Shox the win, we could literally be talking about a technical foul that cost WSU a full NCAA seed or two.

I hope Kelly learns a lesson from Cotton. Dunking all over someone and then immediately refocusing on the next task at hand is 100x better than anything that can be accomplished by a screaming stare.

[Cdizzle]

Kelly absolutely deserved the T.

Having said that, I watch a lot of basketball, and that is rarely, if ever, called a T in other games. There were at least 3 instances in the Virginia game last night alone that were very similar to what Kelly and Carter have done. Montrezl Harrell would be ejected in the first half of most Louisville games.

Like I said, totally deserved the T. No problem with it at all. I too, am more impressed by a player like Cotton stuffing it in someone's face an then prepping to play stellar defense on the next possession. I am also not saying this is an "anti-WSU" thing. BUT, I do believe it is called differently because it is a Valley game. If that was a Lville-UK game, do you think it would've been called? I sure don't, because I've seen it.

Kelly has been trying to pick up his offensive aggressiveness the past couple of games, something he desperately needs to do. Unfortunately, it has resulted in an unlucky but fair F1 foul on an overly aggressive spin move to the basket and a T for taunting after a massive dunk.

Keep being aggressive young man. It will work out in your favor in the long haul. Shocker Nation will handle the screaming for you.

[bighouse]

Kelly absolutely deserved the T.

Having said that, I watch a lot of basketball, and that is rarely, if ever, called a T in other games. There were at least 3 instances in the Virginia game last night alone that were very similar to what Kelly and Carter have done. Montrezl Harrell would be ejected in the first half of most Louisville games.

Like I said, totally deserved the T. No problem with it at all. I too, am more impressed by a player like Cotton stuffing it in someone's face an then prepping to play stellar defense on the next possession. I am also not saying this is an "anti-WSU" thing. BUT, I do believe it is called differently because it is a Valley game. If that was a Lville-UK game, do you think it would've been called? I sure don't, because I've seen it.

Kelly has been trying to pick up his offensive aggressiveness the past couple of games, something he desperately needs to do. Unfortunately, it has resulted in an unlucky but fair F1 foul on an overly aggressive spin move to the basket and a T for taunting after a massive dunk.

Keep being aggressive young man. It will work out in your favor in the long haul. Shocker Nation will handle the screaming for you.

Obviously I agree with Fred stepping in an trying to shut R.Kelly down, but did anyone else have the thought that if he hadn't that the ref would have let it go? Watching it live and then again on replay it was only when Fred pushed him back that the whistle blew. Maybe it was coming anyway, but just a thought. Even so I am glad Fred stepped in, need to shepherd the young sheep.

[Shox21]

I remember the last time we had travel woes. First Conference game -- right after a loss in Hawaii -- didn't get out the day before like planned because of plane problems -- got there the morning of the game -- the timing of all their pre-game routines were thrown off schedule -- had a terrible time for three-quarters of the game with a team that was the bottom feeder of the Valley at the time. Let's hope the Shocks arrived with time to spare and get to relax a little. Do not want to see a repeat of the first three-quarters of that first Drake game.