Take a Step Back, Take a Big Breath

[Shock Top]

OK. No negativity in this post, just facts

WSU: W/L - 1/3; SoS - 100; vs top 50 - 0-2; vs 51-200 - 0-1
SIU: W/L - 6/1; SoS - 58; vs top 50 - 0-0; vs 51-200 - 4-1

Final Fours (Divison 1):
WSU - 2
SIU - 0

Just facts

[WuDrWu]

It seems like for a week or more I've been wanting to respond to some of the general feelings I've been getting on the board, not from everyone or even most, but from some.

More and more of recent I ask myself "why?"

In just a couple of hours we're probably going to watch our guys finish last in a tournament a month ago we expected to win. So be it.

I cannot WAIT to get these guys home....hell, for 2 plus years home games have been, with VERY few exceptions, de facto exhibitions with the outcome never in doubt. Entitled fans....where's our 25+ point win??

I'll cease being a fan of the program the day they stop putting forth effort...the day they are an embarrassment to the community....not when they lose 3 straight.

Some of you guys suck. Not that many, but some of you. And I'm not really calling out @Aargh: ..... not for his "missed" comment on the Jr. class. He's mostly right. By the way, D.J. Bowles and his heart say hi.

But some of the other guys didn't work out...we try to plug holes. For the most part it's worked...more than 85% of the time on the floor for 3 years. I'm sorry Ben Simmons isn't here this year. If any of you feel the need to give up your tickets now, I'm buying.

Honestly.....It's hard for me to understand ANY negativity right now. Guess what? If Baker gets hurt, Shaq transfers, Fred re-injures his leg, Anton doesn't recover and Ty Taylor gets homesick...we're not going to win more than 7 games probably. Sorry about that.

I'm not even going to try and address the Marshall pay thing....I mean, indefensible doesn't even begin to describe that stance today. The man's getting paid for what he's DONE here already, not like most P5 schools where you get paid and hopefully do someday.

I'm hugely PROUD of how this team has performed so far. Yes, somethings haven't gone well. Oh boy...see how the other half lives for a bit. They've battled their hearts out. They'll get NO complaints from this fan.

The cavalry IS in fact coming. I hope some of you are still here. And if they don't? I'll still be proud to support these kids giving it their all. Every flipping time.

This is why you ALWAYS enjoy the ride. I haven't made many predictions since the Final Four. I did predict they'd go 21-0 in the Valley the next season. I've been wanting to make predictions on this year for some time...mostly because I just don't believe there is a human being that can keep Fred VanVleet from getting what he wants.

But I haven't for 2 reasons...this board needs no more hype and I've been worried about injuries. All of a sudden, perfection seems to be about C work. What has happened to us as fans?

You want to complain about where we are? Fine...what the hell have YOU done? Did you sit on your hands at home games? Boo when we lost the 2nd half vs ESU (there were LOTS of grumblings)? Have you given all you can give to the program so we can travel like Duke? That's where we are right? Right there with Duke? Where are the Iron Shockers?

Are there 4000 fans in Orlando, like Dayton has? And you can point, as I am...right at ME. I'll wear it...you can blame ME, as I am doing. I'm going to blame myself before I blame ANYONE that I'm watching give it their all.

We should get healthy, and finally to full strength and then maybe people will relax and get all the wins they think they deserve. Whether that comes to fruition or not, I'll be enjoying the program.

[shockmonster]

I wish I could say @Aargh: is the only person out there saying these things. My wife had my mother in law on speaker phone as we were driving back from the beach yesterday and the mother in law essentially said the exact same things as @Aargh: except she said them in a less informed manner. I reacted like most others on here thinking she was absolutely delusional, which she is.

It's good to know that Aargh and your mother in law are sympatico in their analysis on Coach Marshall and the Shockers. The difference is that your mother in law tells it to you and your wife and Aargh goes on Shockernet. Maybe, they could text each other. :)

I should not do this at 1:00 in the morning.

[ShoxRoxMySox]

So far, it's 2 AA guards that have made Marshall what he is. Losing just one of those AA guards has left the Shox as a rather mediocre team.

I don't disagree with much of what you say except this part. First, 2AA's weren't responsible for 3G's success pre WSU or pre Ron/Fred. Second, how does that lessen what he's done? That's like saying "Marshall, if you hadn't seen two diamonds in the rough and brought them in, you'd have failed". He brought those AA's, so you can't take credit away.

[ShoxRoxMySox]

The negativity in this thread is what makes me hope the Marshall family doesn't glance over this site... Some of the brutally honest criticism is fine; some of the contrarian views are fine. But questioning Marshall as a coach is absurd!

[Kung Wu]

One problem with always being a contrarian is that eventually you start believing ALL of your creative thoughts.

[another shocker]

actually, i'm slightly concerned about the future of wsu basketball after fred and ron graduate, whereas i wasn't concerned before.

nothing to do with marshall. strictly a numbers talent thing. marshall will slowly have to build back up to final four level (again)- might take a few more years (again).. unless there is another marcus armstead, fred van vleet ready to take over next year.

[shockmonster]

Anyone who doesn't realize that a step down is going to happen when we graduate two All Americans really needs to re-boot. However, I don't think that we have to drop off of the map. We will still have talent but just as Gonzaga had to calculate again, we will to.

[Shock Top]

actually, i'm slightly concerned about the future of wsu basketball after fred and ron graduate, whereas i wasn't concerned before.

nothing to do with marshall. strictly a numbers talent thing. marshall will slowly have to build back up to final four level (again)- might take a few more years (again).. unless there is another marcus armstead, fred van vleet ready to take over next year.

Frankamp, Shamet, McDuffie would like to say "hello".

[Mr. Obvious]

All teams have injuries and WSU has been fortunate the past few years. This year not so much. FVV will have this team focused soon enough. Will be interesting to see how CF fits into the mix. Rebounding could be a issue. The good news is the MVC doesn't pose a huge roadblock for the Shox getting into the dance.

[wusphlash]

I think the title of this thread is wonderful advice for many.

[Singeril]

Dude this team is struggling only because we are missing the best true point in the land and probably our 2nd best is not yet eligible. Taylor has look realy good considering he is just a freshman and running a very complex offense. Health will cure a lot of ills. We are missing FV's 15 ppg and flor leadership very few teams if any could overcome that. As for our sophomore class the jurry is still out those guys. Brown looked lost last year early and does again hopefully he is just a slow starter thus needs to work harder then he knows. Freshman class is loaded wow excited for those kids future. I fully expect this team to be as solid as we thought coming into the season when the pieces are back.

Sorry, missing FVV is not the only reason. We have no inside presence. This has been and continues to be a major issue. Oh, and so people are aware, this doesn't make me all negative. It is pointing out a fact.

[Mr. Obvious]

Will add it's much much too early to make any judgements in Gregg's ability to run a program. The $3m though was just not a gift from Wichita. Gregg has a agent, entertained offers from other schools and I'm sure negotiations took place. Got to wear the "big boy pants" if you demand $3m coaching in the MVC. Those 3 losses were not to top 25 programs.

[ShoxRoxMySox]

Will add it's much much too early to make any judgements in Gregg's ability to run a program. The $3m though was just not a gift from Wichita. Gregg has a agent, entertained offers from other schools and I'm sure negotiations took place. Got to wear the "big boy pants" if you demand $3m coaching in the MVC. Those 3 losses were not to top 25 programs.

You're right. Now that 3 of our top 6 players are out within the first 5 games of the year, I fully expect Gregg to suit up next week and play. What do you want him to do right now?

[shockerfanmas]

I will admit that some of HCGMs in game coaching decisions have had me scratching my head, but then again we can say that about every coach. HCGM is human, he makes mistakes, but we all do. The Shox wouldn't be where they are today without him coming in and picking up the pieces of the last few coaches here (not completely counting Turg because he did a great job here, but I feel he did give up on the program after the meltdown season).

Every team goes through bad spurts. Even teams like Duke and Kentucky. This is our bad spurt right now. Do you think Duke fans would be questioning coach K after a not so good season? I highly doubt it. I am starting to agree with some of the posters who said we have a few people on shockernet that are spoiled and demand perfection.

This team will be fine. HCGM will be fine. Calm the hell down people