Emporia State game thread

[DUShock]

This team has some issues but nothing that doesn't seem to indicate a lack in ability grow through the season. Shaq and BWam is frustrating but I still hope they will come around sooner rather than later.

Does anyone think this team is searching for a role/identity in the Fred & Ron show? In other words, having two All-Americans makes it difficult for the others, especially the freshmen to figure out how to play and to be willing to make things happen. As a couple of posters have said in various treads not having a balanced set of classes, specifically a lack of juniors is causing an identity/role crisis in the freshman and to a lesser extent sophomore players.

Go Shocks!

[shockmonster]

The team is searching. We can over analyze what they are searching for. All players need to look within and at their own game and work to improve. As this happens, coaches will find the rotation that fits best. I will listen to Gregg tomorrow for information.

Those who question Wessel should ask him. I will listen.

[im4wsu]

We were out rebounded in the first half by 6 or so and most of them were offensive rebounds by ESU. I'm sure that Marshall brought it up at half time and Bush definitely brought it in the second half, giving top shelf effort and top shelf motor. I haven't looked at the replay but none of the other big guys were close to bringing it like him. He took some steps forward. Now he needs to do it consistently.

Fist half rebounding stats

WSU 4 Off 12 DEF = 16 Total (2 were team defensive rebounds)
ESU 6 Off 9 DEF = 15 Total (2 were off and 4 were defensive team rebounds)

[Aargh]

Those who question Wessel should ask him. I will listen.

A Sr returning starter hitting 27% FG, and averaging 3 boards and 2 points in 21 minutes is going to be questioned. The only other player on the roster with a worse FG% (including the walkons) is McDuffie, who's 0/5. McDuffie is 5/8 on FT's. Wessel is 0/0 from the line in the most foul-happy rules enforcement in a very long time.

When Bakers says that, with Fred out, someone is going to have to step up, Wessel is the top candidate for taking that step.

Edit: I reversed the points and rebounds. It's actually 2 boards and 3 points.

[ShockTalk]

The team is searching. We can over analyze what they are searching for. All players need to look within and at their own game and work to improve. As this happens, coaches will find the rotation that fits best. I will listen to Gregg tomorrow for information.

Those who question Wessel should ask him. I will listen.

@shockmonster:, first, this is a discussion board. Duh. We love sports, we love our Shocks, and those on here love to talk about them. I'm going to take names out of the equation and simply discuss strategy.

Let's say last year that team can start 4 players who are not only offensive threats, but good defenders, most have high BBIQ, and most are leaders. Do you normally play a 5th starter who is an upperclassman, good D, good leadership, but has low offensive production; a freshman player that is good on D, plays hard, and has a little more offense; or a player that their D is just OK but they wok hard, and have a stronger offensive game than the other 2? For me, the answer is probably in the order I listed them, however, it also probably doesn't make that much difference because of the teams strong core of 4.

Now, we go to the next year. The first difference is we only have only 3 core players at last year's level. You're core 3 and 3 next players all have flexibility in playing more than one position, so let's say position is not an issue. The first player to consider is now a senior, but nothing else has changed. The second player is now a sophomore and has improved in all areas. The last player may not necessarily be the same player, but has the same attributes. For me, having only 3 strong threats on offense is going to make it harder for them to score, but defense can also hurt without another good defender. Given that all players are team first players and strong individuals, I'd go with the sophomore first as he has the most balance on both ends of the court, but he's D is better than his O. Second, I go with the offensive production not just his scoring, but it makes everyone else better threats to score as well and his D is probably good enough not to hurt you. The third player now becomes someone I want to put in the lineup when one of the 3 core players come out so stability and leadership is retained.

Of course, if one core player is injured, there will be plenty of minutes for all and then some. The trick for the coaches becomes balancing any lineup on the floor as to not expose a great weakness; too little D, too little O, to little leadership and experience, too little rebounding, so on and so forth.

[Rlh04d]

A Sr returning starter hitting 27% FG, and averaging 3 boards and 2 points in 21 minutes is going to be questioned. The only other player on the roster with a worse FG% (including the walkons) is McDuffie, who's 0/5. McDuffie is 5/8 on FT's. Wessel is 0/0 from the line in the most foul-happy rules enforcement in a very long time.

When Bakers says that, with Fred out, someone is going to have to step up, Wessel is the top candidate for taking that step.

I like Wessel a lot. I've defended him a good amount in the past. Still, there's no question that at this point in his career, what he's producing on the floor is disappointing.

The heart he brings is terrific. I think he's a wonderful sixth-man option. But offensively he's stagnant.

[Ricardo del Rio]

A Sr returning starter hitting 27% FG, and averaging 3 boards and 2 points in 21 minutes is going to be questioned. The only other player on the roster with a worse FG% (including the walkons) is McDuffie, who's 0/5. McDuffie is 5/8 on FT's. Wessel is 0/0 from the line in the most foul-happy rules enforcement in a very long time.

When Bakers says that, with Fred out, someone is going to have to step up, Wessel is the top candidate for taking that step.

Edit: I reversed the points and rebounds. It's actually 2 boards and 3 points.

I suspect that a lotta loyalty is in play for this matter.

Coaches are not suppose to make heart decisions, but coaches are not perfect either.

"He was there from the beginning" so to speak.

[wufan]

I suspect that a lotta loyalty is in play for this matter.

Coaches are not suppose to make heart decisions, but coaches are not perfect either.

"He was there from the beginning" so to speak.

My guess is that minutes are up for grabs. Someone needs to step up and seize them.

[ShockTalk]

My guess is that minutes are up for grabs. Someone needs to step up and seize them.

I know one of the things mentioned on this board is the number of times Marshall "talks" to Taylor when he comes out. Is Marshall upset with Ty? Is Ty doing a lot more wrong than others. I believe much of that has to do with Fred's situation and the need for a solid backup other than Baker and before, or after, Frankamp becomes available. Marshall is giving Ty more "attention" because of the team's needs.

[ShockdaWorld]

I was at the ESU game, so I didn't get to watch replays or hear commentary or anything like that, so if I see a replay, my opinion may change. I thought in the first half, we just beat the living hell out of those guys. We were up 25 at the half. HCGM went through several lineup options, and they all played pretty well together. In the second half, he continued to try different combinations of guys, including some combinations that were entirely freshmen, sophomores, and walk-ons. Some of those combinations did NOT play well together by any stretch of the imagination. I think as we move into the weekend, we will see more of the first half combinations and less of the second half combinations, and the outcomes will be indicative of that.