Games of Interest (2015-16 Edition)

[Dave Stalwart]

I just want to take this moment to point something out about our losses and their current RPI's... And I know it's early and all, but this was nice to see:

USC - 46
Iowa - 50
Tulsa - 58
Alabama - 60

I don't think any of these are going to be "bad losses" down the road.

That was yesterday. Today it is:
Iowa - 38
USC - 48
Tulsa - 51
Alabama - 59

And WSU is only at 124 with a current SOS of 38 about to play three games against:
UNLV - 39
Utah - 16
Seton Hall - 32

We win these three and it's like nothing ever happened.

[WuDrWu]

That was yesterday. Today it is:
Iowa - 38
USC - 48
Tulsa - 51
Alabama - 59

And WSU is only at 124 with a current SOS of 38 about to play three games against:
UNLV - 39
Utah - 16
Seton Hall - 32

We win these three and it's like nothing ever happened.

Not to sound like @KCShox: but we could play well the next 3 games, they could even be the 3 best games of the year, and we still might be 3-7.

There are no guarantees anymore.

[Dave Stalwart]

Not to sound like @KCShox but we could play well the next 3 games, they could even be the 3 best games of the year, and we still might be 3-7.

There are no guarantees anymore.

I'm with you. I am just looking for silver linings. I do believe if we can win all three, it will do enough to get us back into the original discussion heading into this year. If we don't, we will still have a good season. If we can pull it off, it makes the narrative work again. Shockers were preseason top 10, but significant injury issues derailed the team for a month, and immediately upon getting healthy, the team looked like what was expected. That would really help our cause. Anyone using the eye test instead of the RPI and SOS stuff will be able to return WSU into their ballots. That's what I'm hoping for at least! :)

We need a solid win streak. And we need to get some games of our own with 50% from three point range. A lot of crazy stuff hit all at once in November.

[Stickboy46]

Not to sound like @KCShox but we could play well the next 3 games, they could even be the 3 best games of the year, and we still might be 3-7.

There are no guarantees anymore.

I agree. I think at full strength, these would still be tough games. The backcourt will be pretty shored up in comparison to Orlando, but the front court will be the question mark. Without Grady, we wont be able to withstand a "lack of effort" by Shaq as easily. He needs to be on the top of his game. He's the key to this.

[ShoxRoxMySox]

That was yesterday. Today it is:
Iowa - 38
USC - 48
Tulsa - 51
Alabama - 59

And WSU is only at 124 with a current SOS of 38 about to play three games against:
UNLV - 39
Utah - 16
Seton Hall - 32

We win these three and it's like nothing ever happened.

I'm glad these losses look much better on paper right now, to be sure. But, and I don't have this answer, what's a realistic outlook for their RPI if and when they finish in the middle or lower section of their conferences?

[Stickboy46]

No idea where to put this, but did anyone just see the comments by The NC State AD and Bill Battle (Alabama AD)?

NC State AD: "Youve failed atheletes [in financial responsibility] when you see them on hoverboards"
Bill Battle: "Or Tattoos and rims"

.... wow ...

[Cdizzle]

No idea where to put this, but did anyone just see the comments by The NC State AD and Bill Battle (Alabama AD)?

NC State AD: "Youve failed atheletes [in financial responsibility] when you see them on hoverboards"
Bill Battle: "Or Tattoos and rims"

.... wow ...

Good thing we gave stipends to all the poor, starving college kids.

[shocka khan]

No idea where to put this, but did anyone just see the comments by The NC State AD and Bill Battle (Alabama AD)?

NC State AD: "Youve failed atheletes [in financial responsibility] when you see them on hoverboards"
Bill Battle: "Or Tattoos and rims"

.... wow ...

I think this is more of a generational thing. Ben Simmons (LSU) gave an interview on a hoverboard to ESPN, which I thought was dumb. I think tattoos are a mistake of youth. For those of you who disagree (and I won't be around to prove it in 40 years unless I live to be around 100), I say wait about 40 years and see how they look. They stretch, they lose their ink, they get ugly.

I don't understand why kids like hoverboards, tattoos and those rims with the spinners that look like they could have come from a James Bond movie (where the bad guy is trying to flatten Bond's tires by pushing a button and having the knock offs on the rims telescope out and shred the tire). But every generation in this world has struck their own path. Understanding the uniqueness of the perspective they bring bridges the gaps between the generations.

This sounds like a bunch of old fogeys kvetching about the state of the world, but from an optics standpoint, it looks especially bad coming from Battle, because if Nick Saban recruited can't miss top-25 recruit who was functionally-illiterate, covered with tattoos and with an IQ of about 80, Bill Battle would be working his butt off trying to him admitted.

And if he didn't he'd soon find out who the real Sheriff was in Tuscaloosa.

[Stickboy46]

Good thing we gave stipends to all the poor, starving college kids.

My thought in posting this, is not only is that pretty racist, but you have someone that over the someone said "Money is no object for my school" when he took at run at Marshall. Then makes a comment about kids spending money on things they enjoy. That's a heck of a way to lead by example.

[pie n eye]

@shocka khan: you don't get why gets like hoverboards? I feel like age should have no effect on ones appreciation of hoverboards. Those things look sweet.

[WstateU]

No idea where to put this, but did anyone just see the comments by The NC State AD and Bill Battle (Alabama AD)?

NC State AD: "Youve failed atheletes [in financial responsibility] when you see them on hoverboards"
Bill Battle: "Or Tattoos and rims"

.... wow ...

I think tattoos are a mistake of youth. For those of you who disagree (and I won't be around to prove it in 40 years unless I live to be around 100), I say wait about 40 years and see how they look. They stretch, they lose their ink, they get ugly.

Here's a solution to the "mistake of youth"...

SNL "Turlington's Lower Back Tattoo Remover"

https://vimeo.com/69310297

[Dave Stalwart]

I want to add one more thing about Balentine and Mock. They are two guys that could have joined the long list of transfers out of the MVC and they didn't. They are on my "All-MVC-Thanks-for-not-bailing-for-the-Big 10" list.

[ShockdaWorld]

I want to add one more thing about Balentine and Mock. They are two guys that could have joined the long list of transfers out of the MVC and they didn't. They are on my "All-MVC-Thanks-for-not-bailing-for-the-Big 10" list.

Can't say we could've blamed either of them. Hopefully they're good guys and will have successful futures.

[_kai_]

I want to add one more thing about Balentine and Mock. They are two guys that could have joined the long list of transfers out of the MVC and they didn't. They are on my "All-MVC-Thanks-for-not-bailing-for-the-Big 10" list.

Ah, the Dan Muller approach to retention.

[im4wsu]

Well, it's certainly appreciated, we'll take all the fans we can get. But yeah, it is unbelievably frustrating to have guys of their caliber and still not even be in the running for the NCAA year after year. Hopefully we can figure it out this year. But it's the depth that's the problem.

I'm def a WSU fan as well, so I'm pulling for you guys to get healthy and have your two super seniors go out with a bang, along with our two great seniors and a very solid, always hustling Adam Wing.

Too bad you don't close the season in Wichita. Then your two guys would have two "senior nights" and could compare which cheer was louder, the one at Evansville or the one in Wichita led by Ron Baker encouraging the fans to cheer.