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Hello everyone. I am new to the forum but not new to WSU hoops.
1. This is definitely a different team on both ends of the floor with Fred, and they are starting to hit their stride. I was thinking that this was going to be a close game, but the defense today was what we all expect out of Greg Marshall's teams. Sure, Balentine missed a couple open looks, but our defense was what kept him from getting him in a rhythm. Right now, Wichita State is top ten in points allowed per game at 61, and held Evansville to 21 first half points today. That type of defensive effort will get the job done in the tournament.
2. The lack of good decision making the first few possessions against the press is concerning. While Evansville is a well coached team and we were on the road, against a team like Maryland or Xavier, that is not going to get it done. Fortunately, Marshall made some adjustments and it was no problem later. I am sure coach will work on this.
3. Right now, the Shockers have one guy shooting over 40% from three, with three other guys shooting around 35%. As everyone has seen, this is a good shooting team, not a great one. This means our normal trifecta percentage can get the job done against most teams in the dance, but there needs to be a 8-18 or 10-20 performance against a top tier opponent in the sweet sixteen or elite eight. The right guys need to be shooting, and Fred has to make sure to drive and look to kick it out, as he draws a crowd when he goes into the lane. Connor getting hot at the right time would also be an ideal situation.
4. As far as seeding goes, it would help to not be matched in the top half of a bracket with one seeds like OU or Iowa. A two or three seed would be ideal, though this is probably not possible with the early season losses. I would feel decently comfortable matched up against Villanova or UNC in the sweet sixteen. A three seed would be nice, but we can't count on the committee taking Fred's injury into account like how we would. I guess we will have to wait and see.
5. Overall, this team has all the elements to make a run at Houston this year. There is no Wisconsin, Duke or Kentucky like last year, or even Notre Dame, who was just as good as UK and should have beat them. The only teams that would be a bad matchup are explosive teams like OU, Iowa, and even Michigan State, as this team can labor to score at times. Maryland is good but not as explosive as OU. Just stay in front of Melo Trimble, play team D, and win the rebound battle and we have a good chance to win. UNC is good, but their defense is way behind their offense, so the keys would be to keep them out of transition, pack it in inside against Meeks and the other post players, and rebound like crazy. It would be tough, but again a winnable game. Last year, we ran into a buzzsaw offensive juggernaut with Notre Dame, but there is no such team this year that is that level. Anyone can beat anyone in the tournament, so we have as good of a chance as anyone else.
1. This is definitely a different team on both ends of the floor with Fred, and they are starting to hit their stride. I was thinking that this was going to be a close game, but the defense today was what we all expect out of Greg Marshall's teams. Sure, Balentine missed a couple open looks, but our defense was what kept him from getting him in a rhythm. Right now, Wichita State is top ten in points allowed per game at 61, and held Evansville to 21 first half points today. That type of defensive effort will get the job done in the tournament.
2. The lack of good decision making the first few possessions against the press is concerning. While Evansville is a well coached team and we were on the road, against a team like Maryland or Xavier, that is not going to get it done. Fortunately, Marshall made some adjustments and it was no problem later. I am sure coach will work on this.
3. Right now, the Shockers have one guy shooting over 40% from three, with three other guys shooting around 35%. As everyone has seen, this is a good shooting team, not a great one. This means our normal trifecta percentage can get the job done against most teams in the dance, but there needs to be a 8-18 or 10-20 performance against a top tier opponent in the sweet sixteen or elite eight. The right guys need to be shooting, and Fred has to make sure to drive and look to kick it out, as he draws a crowd when he goes into the lane. Connor getting hot at the right time would also be an ideal situation.
4. As far as seeding goes, it would help to not be matched in the top half of a bracket with one seeds like OU or Iowa. A two or three seed would be ideal, though this is probably not possible with the early season losses. I would feel decently comfortable matched up against Villanova or UNC in the sweet sixteen. A three seed would be nice, but we can't count on the committee taking Fred's injury into account like how we would. I guess we will have to wait and see.
5. Overall, this team has all the elements to make a run at Houston this year. There is no Wisconsin, Duke or Kentucky like last year, or even Notre Dame, who was just as good as UK and should have beat them. The only teams that would be a bad matchup are explosive teams like OU, Iowa, and even Michigan State, as this team can labor to score at times. Maryland is good but not as explosive as OU. Just stay in front of Melo Trimble, play team D, and win the rebound battle and we have a good chance to win. UNC is good, but their defense is way behind their offense, so the keys would be to keep them out of transition, pack it in inside against Meeks and the other post players, and rebound like crazy. It would be tough, but again a winnable game. Last year, we ran into a buzzsaw offensive juggernaut with Notre Dame, but there is no such team this year that is that level. Anyone can beat anyone in the tournament, so we have as good of a chance as anyone else.
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