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OK. First, this post may be long, so my apologies.
I'm writing this because some here are making, what I view anyway, unreasonable expectations, particularly of some young players. The other reason is I wanted to know "What happened and how did we get here".
I looked back over the last five years of teams, the success they had in building WSU as a power, and one of the best teams outside of the big conferences. I did find a pattern....upperclassmen leadership and depth. From each year's roster, I looked at total minutes played for the season and divided the players into three groups: Primary, Secondary (or top of the bench), and then the balance of the roster.
2010-11 NIT Champs: This team had 6 Primary players, 3 seniors and 3 juniors, who played 67% of the total minutes. The Secondary players were made up of 4 players, 1 senior, 2 juniors, and 1 sophomore who played 30% of the minutes. The 5 others played 3%. That's 4 seniors, 5 juniors, and 1 sophomore.
2011-12 NCAA Team: 7, yes, 7 Primary players who all played more than 700 minutes, 5 seniors and 2 juniors played 86% of the minutes. Secondary was made up of 2 players, 1 junior and 1 freshman, who played 8% of the minutes. That left 6% for the 4 other players. That's 5 seniors, 3 juniors, and 1 freshman. A strong group in the Secondary wasn't needed because of the large group of Primary players.
2012-13 Final 4 Team: 5 Primary players, 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore, played 63% of the minutes. 5 Secondary players, 1 senior, 1 junior, 1 sophomore, and 2 freshmen (who became All American caliber players) played 32% of the time. That's 10 players seeing solid time; 4 seniors, 2 juniors, 1 sophomore, and 2 freshmen. 6 upperclassmen, 2 sophomores (one very experienced) and 2 exceptional freshmen.
2013-14 Undefeated Regular Season Team: 4 Primary, and somewhat young, players, 1 senior, 1 junior, and 2 sophomores played 59% of the minutes. Back by an experienced Secondary of 5, 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore, played 37% leaving 4% for 3 others. That's 4 seniors, 2 juniors, and 3 sophomores.
2014-15 Sweet 16 Team: 5 Primary players, 2 seniors and 3 juniors, played 69% of the minutes, the highest % except for the large group of 7 Primary players in in 2011-12 and a little more than the 67% by the 2010-11 team, but they also had 6 players. Another noticeable problem is the Secondary players: only 3 freshmen with no college experience. That's 2 seniors, 3 juniors, and 3 freshmen. The smallest number total, fewest upperclassmen, and only one lacking experience among the Secondary group with no seniors, juniors, OR sophomores. What this class did have was a lot of D-I experience, including post season, among most of the Primary players who carried the team.
2015-16 Team: This team is made up of 3 very experience players who have played together for 3-4 years. Another senior is D-I experienced, but not with the system as was the 1 year senior in the F4 year as he had a RS year. These are to be the Primary 4, plus someone most likely from the sophomore class. The rest of the class is made up of 4 limited experienced sophomores, one of whom may be the best, but is not eligible yet, 1 senior project with 1 year D-I, and 4 freshmen. That's 4 seniors, NO juniors, 4 sophomores, and 4 freshmen.
Last year's team escaped without any major injuries, so their bench was not that exposed. Unfortunately, that isn't the case this year. Other than the 4 sure Primary players, the rest of the team has half or less minutes played than the other 4 years (except the large 7 man Primary year which if you add the bottom 2 to their Secondary they would also be more than double the minutes). The only other freshmen turned sophomores in this situation was FVV, Baker, and Cotton and they had more upperclassmen and depth to help them. These 3 also didn't get thrown into a starting role, but earned it as exceptional players, beating out others and were the only sophomores in a Primary group.
Now, some expect our sophomores to do what our Big 3 did and satisfactorily plug the gaps. What's Morris's problem, how come Brown isn't playing like the end of last year, shouldn't Kelly be a lot better his second year? Well, again, except for the Big 3, no other sophomores over the last 5 years had to be a Primary player or first off the bench, so maybe they are just talented sophomores being sophomores. What's worse is the pressure being applied to the freshmen, whether by critical fans or being thrown in the fire so quickly. I believe our sophomore and freshmen classes are better than they are given credit. When was the last time as fans we were critical of freshmen or sophomores' play because they had to play due to injuries or lack of upperclassmen before last year and this. Not in the previous 4 years unless you were complaining about FVV, Baker, or Cotton because there were none.
Obviously, I pointed out a problem above not of the players' making.....a lack of experienced Secondary players and upperclassmen. Yes, one can say this is the coaching staff's fault and I'm sure they would agree. Nevertheless, I feel we have a great coach and staff. They are taking strong individuals who may not be 4 and 5 star players at the time of their recruitment, but coaching them well enough over time to hold their own, or better, against teams loaded with 4 and 5 star players. They have been excellent at finding strong jucos to fill gaps as well. I believe they are trying to change that and have more stability within the team with longer term players. Many here have been wanting that.
Again, I've heard asked about how come Marshall goes with more combo guards than true PGs in his recruiting. Well, maybe he doesn't. He may not always get who he wants, but takes what he feels is the best option. That may be a combo guard with more overall skills and as good at PG as a true PG who isn't the overall talent. It may mean taking a smaller big man than desired because he feels they are a better option to a taller big man with other problems. As much as others don't like hearing it, it is harder for us to get players year in and year out who can come in and be immediate impact players.
All the players are under unusual circumstances and deserve our strongest support. Get well Fred, Landry and Anton!! Go Shox!! Beat Iowa!!
I'm writing this because some here are making, what I view anyway, unreasonable expectations, particularly of some young players. The other reason is I wanted to know "What happened and how did we get here".
I looked back over the last five years of teams, the success they had in building WSU as a power, and one of the best teams outside of the big conferences. I did find a pattern....upperclassmen leadership and depth. From each year's roster, I looked at total minutes played for the season and divided the players into three groups: Primary, Secondary (or top of the bench), and then the balance of the roster.
2010-11 NIT Champs: This team had 6 Primary players, 3 seniors and 3 juniors, who played 67% of the total minutes. The Secondary players were made up of 4 players, 1 senior, 2 juniors, and 1 sophomore who played 30% of the minutes. The 5 others played 3%. That's 4 seniors, 5 juniors, and 1 sophomore.
2011-12 NCAA Team: 7, yes, 7 Primary players who all played more than 700 minutes, 5 seniors and 2 juniors played 86% of the minutes. Secondary was made up of 2 players, 1 junior and 1 freshman, who played 8% of the minutes. That left 6% for the 4 other players. That's 5 seniors, 3 juniors, and 1 freshman. A strong group in the Secondary wasn't needed because of the large group of Primary players.
2012-13 Final 4 Team: 5 Primary players, 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore, played 63% of the minutes. 5 Secondary players, 1 senior, 1 junior, 1 sophomore, and 2 freshmen (who became All American caliber players) played 32% of the time. That's 10 players seeing solid time; 4 seniors, 2 juniors, 1 sophomore, and 2 freshmen. 6 upperclassmen, 2 sophomores (one very experienced) and 2 exceptional freshmen.
2013-14 Undefeated Regular Season Team: 4 Primary, and somewhat young, players, 1 senior, 1 junior, and 2 sophomores played 59% of the minutes. Back by an experienced Secondary of 5, 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore, played 37% leaving 4% for 3 others. That's 4 seniors, 2 juniors, and 3 sophomores.
2014-15 Sweet 16 Team: 5 Primary players, 2 seniors and 3 juniors, played 69% of the minutes, the highest % except for the large group of 7 Primary players in in 2011-12 and a little more than the 67% by the 2010-11 team, but they also had 6 players. Another noticeable problem is the Secondary players: only 3 freshmen with no college experience. That's 2 seniors, 3 juniors, and 3 freshmen. The smallest number total, fewest upperclassmen, and only one lacking experience among the Secondary group with no seniors, juniors, OR sophomores. What this class did have was a lot of D-I experience, including post season, among most of the Primary players who carried the team.
2015-16 Team: This team is made up of 3 very experience players who have played together for 3-4 years. Another senior is D-I experienced, but not with the system as was the 1 year senior in the F4 year as he had a RS year. These are to be the Primary 4, plus someone most likely from the sophomore class. The rest of the class is made up of 4 limited experienced sophomores, one of whom may be the best, but is not eligible yet, 1 senior project with 1 year D-I, and 4 freshmen. That's 4 seniors, NO juniors, 4 sophomores, and 4 freshmen.
Last year's team escaped without any major injuries, so their bench was not that exposed. Unfortunately, that isn't the case this year. Other than the 4 sure Primary players, the rest of the team has half or less minutes played than the other 4 years (except the large 7 man Primary year which if you add the bottom 2 to their Secondary they would also be more than double the minutes). The only other freshmen turned sophomores in this situation was FVV, Baker, and Cotton and they had more upperclassmen and depth to help them. These 3 also didn't get thrown into a starting role, but earned it as exceptional players, beating out others and were the only sophomores in a Primary group.
Now, some expect our sophomores to do what our Big 3 did and satisfactorily plug the gaps. What's Morris's problem, how come Brown isn't playing like the end of last year, shouldn't Kelly be a lot better his second year? Well, again, except for the Big 3, no other sophomores over the last 5 years had to be a Primary player or first off the bench, so maybe they are just talented sophomores being sophomores. What's worse is the pressure being applied to the freshmen, whether by critical fans or being thrown in the fire so quickly. I believe our sophomore and freshmen classes are better than they are given credit. When was the last time as fans we were critical of freshmen or sophomores' play because they had to play due to injuries or lack of upperclassmen before last year and this. Not in the previous 4 years unless you were complaining about FVV, Baker, or Cotton because there were none.
Obviously, I pointed out a problem above not of the players' making.....a lack of experienced Secondary players and upperclassmen. Yes, one can say this is the coaching staff's fault and I'm sure they would agree. Nevertheless, I feel we have a great coach and staff. They are taking strong individuals who may not be 4 and 5 star players at the time of their recruitment, but coaching them well enough over time to hold their own, or better, against teams loaded with 4 and 5 star players. They have been excellent at finding strong jucos to fill gaps as well. I believe they are trying to change that and have more stability within the team with longer term players. Many here have been wanting that.
Again, I've heard asked about how come Marshall goes with more combo guards than true PGs in his recruiting. Well, maybe he doesn't. He may not always get who he wants, but takes what he feels is the best option. That may be a combo guard with more overall skills and as good at PG as a true PG who isn't the overall talent. It may mean taking a smaller big man than desired because he feels they are a better option to a taller big man with other problems. As much as others don't like hearing it, it is harder for us to get players year in and year out who can come in and be immediate impact players.
All the players are under unusual circumstances and deserve our strongest support. Get well Fred, Landry and Anton!! Go Shox!! Beat Iowa!!
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