WSU Versus UNLV Predictions and Pregame Discussions

[wu_shizzle]

As far as eating goes, for visiting UNLV fans I recommend Spangles. Gourmet food, lively atmosphere, and as close to the land of milk and honey as your team is to beating ours. But seriously, if you can only eat one meal, eat there.

Is this Craig or Rene?

[Shocker-maniac]

Win at Wichita State would get UNLV notice it deserves - Las Vegas Review

http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion...e=snsanalytics

[shock]

Is this Craig or Rene?

Depends on how carefully you enunciate it in your head

[AZ Shocker]

Greetings Shockers! I have pulled for a past Shocker team or 2 and still remember some of your great 80's teams with the Xavier McDaniels, Cliff Livingston and Antoinne Carr! In fact, I know ex-UNLV assistant coach and WSU alum Lew Hill very well. Regarding tomorrows nights UNLV game it will be interesting in that this will be UNLV's first true road test and it is unknown how they will respond in a hostile environment. This UNLV team appears to be a work in progress and based on length and athleticism developing into a strong pressing and man-to-man defensive unit. UNLV has no injuries right now other than an ankle sprain for freshman center Stephen Zimmerman who was reported at 75% for the Oregon game. I expect he will be better. UNLV was hit pretty hard with the flu bug on their Maui road trip but that doesn't appear to be a problem right now. On UNLV's 2 pt. loss to UCLA, they lost the game on the free throw line going 14-22 vs UCLA's 23-24. Since the UCLA game they have shooting much better from the line. Al in all, I am really looking forward to tomorrows game with the Shockers, because in many respects, we are the same. We are both fighting for respect and relevance in college sports with out all of the money and other advantages of a Big 5 conference affiliation. I hope your guys get healthy and I could think nothing better than meeting up in the sweet 16. Win or lose tomorrow, IMO UNLV is a program in transition. Dave Rice and his staff have matured and appear to be headed in the right direction. Tomorrow night should be a barn burner!

Good stuff Runnin'Rebel!!! Really looking foward to this match-up!!! Whatever happens tomorrow night...I'll be rooting for you guys the rest of the way regardless of our game tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by giving us a good scoop.

[ShockerFever]

That line seems a bit ridiculous especially considering our unknowns (Conner and Fred.) I would expect money to pour in on UNLV which means Vegas is fairly confident WSU will cover.

I tend to agree. 100% healthy and I think it's totally valid. But given the variables we have dealing with, it's a little high. Currently down to -6.

[WSUwatcher]

For what it's worth, didn't Tim Duncan, who's ancient by NBA standards but still played college ball in the mid-90s, stay at Wake Forest all four years? How often would you see something like that now? Shabazz Napier, maybe -- but Napier isn't exactly Duncan.

None of the 90's history matters, of course. The history most relevant to this game is what happened before THIS season with LeFred's ankle and hamstring. Hopefully he continues to recover and avoids reinjury, or else those Vegas bookies may be in trouble.

[WillieJeffJeffries]

That's funny. It was 6.5 at SLU.

Typically home gets 4 points so that would b an 8 point swing...shox would b 14-15 point fav vs st louis at home.

[Stickboy46]

Interesting fact from the GoShockers article on this game

http://www.goshockers.com/news/2015/12/8/MBB_1208155804.aspx

9 TIMES 10
• In just seven games, WSU has already had nine different players score at least 10 points, and it could push that total even higher by the end of the season, with Evan Wessel, Bush Wamukota and Rauno Nurger still chasing their first 10-point games and transfer Conner Frankamp set to make his debut next week.
• Seven Shockers have reached double-digits on two-or-more occasions this year.

[Dave Stalwart]

Dubya is gonna start and see eye to eye with their 7' stud. That guy will get his, but Bush Dubya is gonna come ready and channel is inner UNI and KU defensive performance from last season. He will slow that big boy down a tad. He's a big body with fouls to give... And he's a senior on a freshman so you never know.

Shaq is gonna come off the bench and use his beef to battle all game long for position inside. Anytime he can't account for their center with good block outs and ShaqWalls, he will get hosed, but I'm hoping he comes in ready to play angry.

The X factor is Rauno, who will also see almost eye to eye with their center. Rauno has good hands and some good post moves at times. I'd be on cloud 9 if he has a solid inside game tonight, but what I'm really wondering about is his three ball. If Rauno comes in a sinks a few big threes early on, he may require an opposing stud center to chase him into the perimeter a little bit. If we can open up the lane for Baker, Van Vleet and McDuffie, that would be good.

Wessel and Kelly better come in like pit bulls for rebounds. I'm pretty sure Wessel stole almost 10 rebounds last time he faced a crazy good center (Poeltl). Frankamp needs to live up to the hype. Baker and Van Vleet will lead the way and WSU will pull this one off.

WSU - 76
UNLV - 69

[jdshock]

If we can open up the lane for Baker, Van Vleet and McDuffie, that would be good.

Definitely agree that Rauno could open up the lane, but Connor will too. Whenever Connor gets to play, whether it's tonight or not, those three guys (in addition to ZB) are going to have a much easier time getting to the basket because teams will have to seriously watch the three.

[Stickboy46]

Definitely agree that Rauno could open up the lane, but Connor will too. Whenever Connor gets to play, whether it's tonight or not, those three guys (in addition to ZB) are going to have a much easier time getting to the basket because teams will have to seriously watch the three.

Fred, Conner, Ron, RK, and RN on the floor. Space them all out. Everyone can drain the three.

[Dave Stalwart]

Definitely agree that Rauno could open up the lane, but Connor will too. Whenever Connor gets to play, whether it's tonight or not, those three guys (in addition to ZB) are going to have a much easier time getting to the basket because teams will have to seriously watch the three.

No doubt. With CF in the lineup (if he is), I feel a lot better about tonight. I just think, when you break down the matchup, the biggest area of concern is at center. If those guys can pull off a collective good game, that might be enough to put us over the top. 1-3, we matchup great with just about any team out there.

[Dave Stalwart]

Fred, Conner, Ron, RK, and RN on the floor. Space them all out. Everyone can drain the three.

and my are we due for a hot night from three after what we've seen from our opponents lately.

[1972Shocker]

Fred, Conner, Ron, RK, and RN on the floor. Space them all out. Everyone can drain the three.

RK? Not sure about that. Perhaps McDuff, the crime dog.

[Stickboy46]

RK? Not sure about that. Perhaps McDuff, the crime dog.

RK has hit 3's before. I put him in because I'm not sure that McDuff at the 4 would be a solid choice on the defensive end. The lineup i posted could realistically defend all 5 positions too.