WSU VERSUS INDIANA PREDICTIONS AND PREGAME DISCUSSIONS

[Fozzy]

I think it'll be in the 4-5 point lead range most of the game and then get stretched out with free throws late to an 8 point win by the Shox. I think the two weeks off will have helped everyone get healthy. I love the fact that freshman will get to experience these games and get a feel for it and get used to the distractions of the tourney, while at the same time having the veterans around who have been there and are used to these types of games.

[jocoshock]

I don't have anywhere else to rant about this, so I'm putting it here.

I have to deal with an OU alum and a Duke alum on a daily basis. They both told me today that WSU is the most overseeded team in the tournament. They said WSU should be in the NIT and that if it hadn't been for the Final Four we wouldn't have made the tournament (sidenote: I think it's possible prior to the Final Four run this team goes to the NIT, but I think that's a sign of a broken system and not evidence that we should be left out now).

I bet the OU alum that no one in the Big 12 makes the Elite 8. I think he's delusional enough I could've pushed him to two or three teams at straight up odds and he would've taken it.

Seriously? Did you tell those guys to schedule us or shut up? That's the response necessary..

[twilly]

Looks like you did your homework. The road in the Big 10 can be brutal. Wisconsin and Purdue shot 31 and 33 free throws respectively. In the Northwestern game IU shot 44% from the foul line but they just got beat @ OSU. They are definitely a better team and the offense runs smoother when they play up tempo.

[shockerfan]

I haven't read every comment but has anyone mentioned turnovers? WSU is real good at causing turnovers while not turning it over much themselves.

Turnovers could be key. Plus WSU is at its best offensively in transition.

[shockerfan]

Also this sets up a lot like 2006 for the Shox. Over seeded 10 seed. Then the weakest 2 seed if we win the first one.

I like it! ;)

[kstarheel]

It's a simple game... make shots. Well, other than BYU... didn't help them much. A little defense thrown in never hurts.

[kstarheel]

Also this sets up a lot like 2006 for the Shox. Over seeded 10 seed. Then the weakest 2 seed if we win the first one.

I like it! ;)

I was there for those 2 games. Awesomeness.

[hoosierweebey]

Oh please.

WSU vs Memphis had more possessions (71) than IU had in any game the entire Big 10 season. I'm pretty sure WSU has seen a fast tempo before.

Oh by the way, WSU did just fine in that fast paced game vs a top 100 opponent... they won by 15.

Oh god....I'm a not a fan of Crean. At all. But even I wouldn't compare him to Pastner. That's just low.

I think you guys are getting the wrong impression about IU. They don't play "up-tempo." They don't force quick shots in their offense.

What they do is push transition at every freaking opportunity. IU probably gets more buckets in transition than any team you've played this year (Just a guess as they are well above the national average). It is part of their 5 guard line-up. Your 2 post players will have to track Troy Williams sprinting down the floor. He's a helluva athlete and tough for a big to chase. The other big Hartman is a good 3 shooter and will find the arc in transition, again requiring a WSU big to come find him.

As your bigs are trying to do that the IU guards are trying to use the 80ft of space to build up speed and attack the rim.

Once, you stop the transition and force them to set-up into an offense, they are not "up-tempo." They are text book drive and kick. About 85% of all shots will be at the rim or 3's. They'll use a ton of the shot clock to look for one of those two shots. So if you thwart transition attempts, you can get them into a half court game where WSU should easily dominate.

I'm sure the 3 guards of WSU will do fine in about any game scenario. They're too good and smart. The question is, why would you want to allow your two bigs to get into a sprinting contest with two smaller and faster players? Logically, you want to shape it up as a half-court game where you can use your two bigs to punish IU's two "bigs" (small forwards, really) for their lack of size.

WSU is good at limiting transition. I think Marshall will have a good plan that doesn't involve bringing the tempo down, so much as it involves killing IU's transition offense.

[BostonWu]

Also this sets up a lot like 2006 for the Shox. Over seeded 10 seed. Then the weakest 2 seed if we win the first one.

I like it! ;)

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/story.cfm/story/1659471

Overseeded teams with mentions of IU and Wyoming.

[AZ Shocker]

Yes nice of Hoosier fans stopping by and having an intelligent hoops conversation with us!!! Respect fella's!!!
Same goes for the Kentucky, Louisville, VCU George Mason fans over the last few years.
I am not at all surprised by their mutual respect and knowledge of the game. In the past when chickenhawk fans come by... they show a complete lack of tactics while conversing about actual college basketball. Not much more evidence needed to conclude chickenhawk fans are just lame and full of excuses about pretty much everything.

Here-here Hoosier fans!!! Way to represent!!!

[AZ Shocker]

Yes nice of Hoosier fans stopping by and having an intelligent hoops conversation with us!!! Respect fella's!!!
Same goes for the Kentucky, Louisville, VCU George Mason fans over the last few years.
I am not at all surprised by their mutual respect and knowledge of the game. In the past when chickenhawk fans come by... they show a complete lack of tactics while conversing about actual college basketball. Not much more evidence needed to conclude chickenhawk fans are just lame and full of excuses about pretty much everything.

Here-here Hoosier fans!!! Way to represent!!!

[The Mad Hatter]

I'm sure the 3 guards of WSU will do fine in about any game scenario. They're too good and smart. The question is, why would you want to allow your two bigs to get into a sprinting contest with two smaller and faster players? Logically, you want to shape it up as a half-court game where you can use your two bigs to punish IU's two "bigs" (small forwards, really) for their lack of size.

WSU is good at limiting transition. I think Marshall will have a good plan that doesn't involve bringing the tempo down, so much as it involves killing IU's transition offense.

Keep in mind that our starter at pf is a 6'4" player who is more naturally a sg or sf than pf and our center is 6'7" and runs the floor well.

[wufan]

Oh god....I'm a not a fan of Crean. At all. But even I wouldn't compare him to Pastner. That's just low.

I think you guys are getting the wrong impression about IU. They don't play "up-tempo." They don't force quick shots in their offense.

What they do is push transition at every freaking opportunity. IU probably gets more buckets in transition than any team you've played this year (Just a guess as they are well above the national average). It is part of their 5 guard line-up. Your 2 post players will have to track Troy Williams sprinting down the floor. He's a helluva athlete and tough for a big to chase. The other big Hartman is a good 3 shooter and will find the arc in transition, again requiring a WSU big to come find him.

As your bigs are trying to do that the IU guards are trying to use the 80ft of space to build up speed and attack the rim.

Once, you stop the transition and force them to set-up into an offense, they are not "up-tempo." They are text book drive and kick. About 85% of all shots will be at the rim or 3's. They'll use a ton of the shot clock to look for one of those two shots. So if you thwart transition attempts, you can get them into a half court game where WSU should easily dominate.

I'm sure the 3 guards of WSU will do fine in about any game scenario. They're too good and smart. The question is, why would you want to allow your two bigs to get into a sprinting contest with two smaller and faster players? Logically, you want to shape it up as a half-court game where you can use your two bigs to punish IU's two "bigs" (small forwards, really) for their lack of size.

WSU is good at limiting transition. I think Marshall will have a good plan that doesn't involve bringing the tempo down, so much as it involves killing IU's transition offense.

Actually Darius Carter can sprint with the best of them. He won't have any difficulty getting up and down the court with your forwards. Same is true for 6-4 Evan Wessel. If there's something we have in the post it is speed and athleticism. Off the bench 6-6, 215 Zach Brown and 6-7, 235 Rashard Kelly are also exceptionally quick and are used to trap 80 foot from the rim when we press.

Shaq Morris will not be able to sprint up and down the court more than a couple times.

In a half court set a few of our guys will probably be a half step slow if your forwards are going to drive the basket.

[Rlh04d]

What they do is push transition at every freaking opportunity. IU probably gets more buckets in transition than any team you've played this year (Just a guess as they are well above the national average). It is part of their 5 guard line-up. Your 2 post players will have to track Troy Williams sprinting down the floor. He's a helluva athlete and tough for a big to chase. The other big Hartman is a good 3 shooter and will find the arc in transition, again requiring a WSU big to come find him.

I agree with you -- chances are Indiana absolutely has the best transition offense WSU will have played this year.

On the other hand, Wichita State absolutely has the best transition defense Indiana will have played this year. WSU's defensive efficiency ranking of 7, or 15th when adjusted for KenPom's rankings, isn't just better than any team in the Big 10, but better by a pretty giant margin. Ohio State is the closest in the first ranking (#24), and Wisconsin is the closest in the second (#31).

It's going to be a fun strength-versus-strength matchup.

... although WSU's #29/21 offensive efficiency rankings in those same measures would still rank fourth in the Big 10, while Indiana's 287/219 defensive rankings are the second worst WSU's faced all year.

Also, thanks to all the Indiana fans for being so cool on here this week.

[The Mad Hatter]

One of the things to note about WSU's tempo is the fact that it is probably less dictated by WSU not being built for high tempo than other teams attempts to take us out of that style of game, because we actually do quite well in it.

Over the past 4 years, WSU has won 85.7% of its games.
During that time, WSU has won 95.2% of games where we scored 70+ points.

This year, WSU is 15-0 when scoring 70+ points.

The reason WSU might want to slow this game down has nothing to do with WSU being bad in high scoring games. We are actually quite good in them. The reason to slow the game down is that Indiana is only 1-7 in games where they don't score 70 this year. In fact, they are only 8-11 in games they don't score 80.