Offseason Thread: 2015 Edition

[ShockTalk]

Looks like a high school 5 to me.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-0w9VnDN7jM

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When I think of a 5, I think of a Center. That doesn't mean a player more "designed" to be a 4 cannot be a very effective 5 (think Carl Hall). Most centers don't block a shot from the arc, corral the ball, dribble the ball down court, out running all defenders and dunk the ball looking much more like Early than Stutz. That, too, was in the video. I also notice Morris looking like a man among boys around the rim, so why would he take a jumper?

I believe Shaq's defense in general is still suspect whether against a 4 or a 5.

I'd guess that most D-I PFs, except from a handful of elite teams, probably played more 5 than 4 in high school. That doesn't make them your typical 5 they were simply the "big man on campus" and on the basketball floor.

[wufan]

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When I think of a 5, I think of a Center. That doesn't mean a player more "designed" to be a 4 cannot be a very effective 5 (think Carl Hall). Most centers don't block a shot from the arc, corral the ball, dribble the ball down court, out running all defenders and dunk the ball looking much more like Early than Stutz. That, too, was in the video. I also notice Morris looking like a man among boys around the rim, so why would he take a jumper?

I believe Shaq's defense in general is still suspect whether against a 4 or a 5.

I'd guess that most D-I PFs, except from a handful of elite teams, probably played more 5 than 4 in high school. That doesn't make them your typical 5 they were simply the "big man on campus" and on the basketball floor.

We're just going to disagree on this.

[shockmonster]

You can call him a 4 if you want. I'll call him that too. All I know for sure is that I saw every game (you probably did too), and when the opposing team had a player who posted up with his back to the basket, and Shaq was in the game, he was guarding that player (Utah's 7 footer, Moscevicus (6'11), MSU's 7 footer, etc. etc.). Wessel played the 4 and covered the player who played on the perimeter. Kelly also played the 4 and tried to guard perimeter players but Marshall didn't think he did a good job. I never saw Shaq and Bush (our own 7 footer) in the game at the same time. That sounds like a 4 playing the 5 or a 5 playing the 5 in my book. But I only look at defense to determine who is playing where. This is my take but like I said, we can call him a 4 if we want.

[ShockTalk]

We're just going to disagree on this.

Not sure we're really disagreeing on much. If Grady and Morris are in at the same time, on defense, Grady may take the bigger scoring threat between the opponent's 4 and 5. On offense, I'd say both are interchangeable and plays may be ran for either at both the 4 and 5. All I was saying is that Shaq is not a typical 5, Paul Miller, Stutz, EO, Coleby, or BWham, but more like Durley or Hall.

[wufan]

Nm

[wufan]

Not sure we're really disagreeing on much. If Grady and Morris are in at the same time, on defense, Grady may take the bigger scoring threat between the opponent's 4 and 5. On offense, I'd say both are interchangeable and plays may be ran for either at both the 4 and 5. All I was saying is that Shaq is not a typical 5, Paul Miller, Stutz, EO, Coleby, or BWham, but more like Durley or Hall.

So what you're saying is he is a 6-7 post and not a 6-10 to 7-0 post. Yes, I agree.

[Aargh]

In the OK/TX HS All-Stars game where Morris was voted the MVP, Morris played PF. OK had a 6'10" post player playing the 5.

Let me restate that for the benefit of those who follow their opinions more than they follow the available info.

In an All-Star game among the best HS players out of TX and out of OK, Morris was the MVP, while playing PF. TX has some talented HS players every year. Morris was considered better than the best out of TX in an actual game situation where they played against each other. He was blocking shots by TX best post players when he was weighing 280.

It doesn't matter which position Shaq is guarding - he's going to be pulled out to the perimeter. Ain't nobody gonna try to post him up. They might try, but if Shaq has position, he's hard to move. Think Kai Lewis (wasn't that the large body from George Mason who took a Shox team out).

[Steeleshocker]

Everybody gets whiney in the off-season. It's like the male version of PMS.

OSS.

Off Season Syndrome.

[shockmonster]

So what you're saying is he is a 6-7 post and not a 6-10 to 7-0 post. Yes, I agree.

I would compare Morris to Lufile and Coleby. Although they were both 6'9. they are both thick and can match up physically with anyone. They also are nice shot blockers as is Morris. Offensively, Shaq may stray from the basket more than either of these two but he almost never is an offensive threat beyond 15 feet although he on a rare occasions, he will become a face to the basket player with the ball.

[WuDrWu]

Just was thinking....in this amazing time to be a Shocker fan......this program is one bad call and 1 basket from working on a 6 peat in the conference.

Quick, name the last current MVC team to finish ahead of WSU (you'll get it, but I bet it's not automatic).

How about the last time each Valley team beat WSU on their own court?

[wufan]

I think MSU was the last non-WSU team to win the conference.

Home wins is going to go back a while...

2014-15 was UNI
2013-14 was nobody.
2012-13 was Drake and Creighton I think. Probably at MSU.

[wufan]

There's a chance that the middle of the Valley is pretty good this year. FSN is going to rank 5 teams in the top 101 and I kinda like Drake as a dark horse to avoid Thursday night. UE is going to be a deep team with a grea inside-out combo; ISUr has a decent PG, Devaughn Akoon Purcell is a player, and several athletic (maybe under-sized) bigs even if Hawkins is gone. UNI and ISUb have very good guards and depth in the backcourt. Loyola has a balanced squad with a star player. None of them hold a candle to a healthy WSU squad! We are so stacked that one or more top 100 players are going to be third string. My goodness this is going to be fun!

[ShockerFever]

5 teams in the Top 100 and yet only 1 of them will be an NCAA Tournament team. Meh.

[WuShock16]

Just was thinking....in this amazing time to be a Shocker fan......this program is one bad call and 1 basket from working on a 6 peat in the conference.

Quick, name the last current MVC team to finish ahead of WSU (you'll get it, but I bet it's not automatic).

How about the last time each Valley team beat WSU on their own court?

Missouri State in 2011 was last current team (as previous poster said).

As for other question about last road loss:
Bradley 2010
Drake 2012
Evansville 2013
Illinois State 2010 season (though it was Dec 2009)
Indiana State 2008?
Loyola Never as MVC
Missouri State 2011
Northern Iowa 2015
Southern Illinois 2013

[Cdizzle]

Missouri State in 2011 was last current team (as previous poster said).

As for other question about last road loss:
Bradley 2010
Drake 2012
Evansville 2013
Illinois State 2010 season (though it was Dec 2009)
Indiana State 2008?
Loyola Never as MVC
Missouri State 2011
Northern Iowa 2015
Southern Illinois 2013***

FIFY