WSU VERSUS INDIANA PREDICTIONS AND PREGAME DISCUSSIONS

[Heinro]

What I get a kick out of is that all of the talking heads keep saying this is a really good match up for Indiana because we can't exploit their size. Hello folks, we're a better team and the thought of being exploited in the paint is what really scared me. I'll gladly take any match up that will pit our guards up against theirs. IU starts 6'6" and 6'7" in the post meaning that 6'4" Evan at the post will not actually be too much of a disadvantage. I'm interested to see if Tekele or Fred guards Yogi. Their zone scares me, but that is because we aren't really a great shooting team and have consistently struggled against the zone all season.

[DaBull]

I find it hilarious that any real Indiana fan would beat their chest about anything this season. Sure, they have good wins, but based on the expectations they have for their team, I don't know how you can name drop any of your quality wins like it means something when you have about 15 losses and your RPI is about 60. Indiana is lucky to have even received a bid. They have an RPI comparable to a 3-4 seed in the NIT. At some point, you have to admit your team is struggling and might not deserve a 10 seed at 4-9 vs the top 50 and 2-7 vs the top 25 and literally 13 losses (In fact, I get the feeling this was the selection committee's "make-up call" for giving us as low as a 7).

And can we really call OSU (either one) a quality win at this point? Can you imagine the proud fans of KU coming over here to tell us that we don't have any good wins in a season where they are ranked #60 and barely a bubble team? Indiana should be prouder than that. This Bull guy is embarassing himself.

I'm just surprised to see you all question our resume with the one you all have is all. Not beating my chest about anything. You have 2 decent opponents in Utah and UNI which you went 1-2 against. UNI has slightly better OCC schedule and Utah played in a weak PAC12 with their best win being either you or a bad UCLA team that somehow got in.

[shockerfan]

I was extremely happy with this matchup. It is perfect for us. And I think Indiana fans are underestimating what Darius is capable of. As long as he stays out of foul trouble, which I think he will in this one, he has the potential to really abuse them inside. Same with Shaq IMHO. Shaq will have an issue potentially guarding on the perimiter. That is my only worry with him.

I like this matchup. It is close for most of the way. Shox win by 10

SHOX - 72
IU - 62

This is a storied program at IU. But this isnt the 1970's or 1980's

[jdshock]

I'm just surprised to see you all question our resume with the one you all have is all.

???

Edit: Think I got it figured out eventually. Lots of alls in there.

Now that I know what you're saying, every metric had us as a 5 seed or better. Most had you out of the tournament. I guess I don't see where you have a problem with our resume.

[ShockerExpress]

I'm just surprised to see you all question our resume with the one you all have is all. Not beating my chest about anything. You have 2 decent opponents in Utah and UNI which you went 1-2 against. UNI has slightly better OCC schedule and Utah played in a weak PAC12 with their best win being either you or a bad UCLA team that somehow got in.

I appreciate your attitude, and I am sure that you mean well. But the situation is this... WSU had 1 game against and NCAA tournament team (at large-worthy) at home, and won. Small sample size? You betcha. But in the eyes of most Shocker fans, myself included, if WSU had the same number of opportunities to play NCAA-worthy opponents at home, that the Shox would win most of them, and steal a few on the road, too.

So when a WSU fan sees allll the opportunities of an Indiana, with so few decent wins to show for it, it ticks he or she off. I realize you look and see we only beat UNI, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

[DaBull]

???

Edit: Think I got it figured out eventually. Lots of alls in there.

Now that I know what you're saying, every metric had us as a 5 seed or better. Most had you out of the tournament. I guess I don't see where you have a problem with our resume.

So the folks who try to guess what the selection committee would do are right and the actual selection committee has it wrong?

[Play Angry]

So the folks who try to guess what the selection committee would do are right and the actual selection committee has it wrong?

So you'd concede that your team is worse and will automatically lose based on the Committee's seeding?

[wu_shizzle]

We play a 2-3 zone quite a bit that gives up lots of 3s for the other team.

We like to give up threes in the man-to-man.

I'm guessing the first to 70 takes it.

[Heinro]

I'm just surprised to see you all question our resume with the one you all have is all.

Trust me, I wasn't thrilled with our resume either. However, we are 1-2 yes, but our losses were on the road and one was in OT, to 5 seeds respectively. I'm never afraid of a team that has 4 quality wins in 15 tries. All that says is 2/3's of the time you lose. Any top 100 team can pull out 4 good wins when they get 13 tries. Additionally, IU has 3 road wins (Nebraska, Illinois, and Rutgers). IU has also quite frankly been awful as of late. 4-7 since the start of February with none of those wins being against the top of the Big 10 (Rutgers x2, Michigan, Northwestern).

[jdshock]

So the folks who try to guess what the selection committee would do are right and the actual selection committee has it wrong?

KenPom, RPI, BPI, etc don't attempt to "guess" what the selection committee would do....

[WuShock16]

UNI has slightly better OCC schedule

Live-RPI.com ranks WSU's non-conference schedule at 48 and UNI's at 110. Try again.

[Cdizzle]

So you'd concede that your team is worse and will automatically lose based on the Committee's seeding?

#logicbombed

[jocoshock]

Indiana hasn't been very good all year. I love the size matchup.

It'll all come down to Cotton vs. Yogi and how our shot is falling.

If we have an average or better shooting game, and Cotton does what we all know he's capable of, I could see us winning by 20. And considering Indiana's defense is absolutely atrocious (#216 KenPom Adj D), I think our offense doing well is very, very likely.

We're a vastly better team overall. Their offense is a bit better, but their defense isn't even in the same ballpark. We have a much better coach. The size matchup works for both teams -- but generally I think the lack of large, tough defenders inside means that Carter isn't going to have to worry about fouling and he's going to have a great offensive game. Our inside game is usually strong against teams our own size.

Pace is going to be interesting. Indiana plays a pretty up-tempo pace, and we absolutely do not this year. The difference between Indiana's #84 tempo versus our #298 is pretty massive.

78-63.

I think our team will love playing a that pace. Question is, will they like playing at ours if we dictate the pace.

Just have to win...

[DaBull]

Trust me, I wasn't thrilled with our resume either. However, we are 1-2 yes, but our losses were on the road and one was in OT, to 5 seeds respectively. I'm never afraid of a team that has 4 quality wins in 15 tries. All that says is 2/3's of the time you lose. Any top 100 team can pull out 4 good wins when they get 13 tries. Additionally, IU has 3 road wins (Nebraska, Illinois, and Rutgers). IU has also quite frankly been awful as of late. 4-7 since the start of February with none of those wins being against the top of the Big 10 (Rutgers x2, Michigan, Northwestern).

I'll agree IU has struggled lately but the committee is supposed to look at the entire resume and not put more weight on the last 10-12 games like they had previously done. We did look much better in the 2 BTT games. I just found it funny someone questioned our record against top 50 teams or ranked teams which ever it was when you only played 4 quality games all year. 112 ranked SOS didn't do you guys any favors. I do expect it to be a very good game. Both teams match up pretty well with each other. You guys have the coaching edge, which scares me a lot, tournament experience with your starters, but I think our offense will give you fits, our defense will give you no fits. I think we're a little deeper than you guys especially in the back court, so hopefully we can drive to the hoop and get some of your guys in foul trouble.

[SPEShockAlum]

Fred, Ron and Tekele - 65

Jim, Bob and Yogi - 60