De ja vu (sp?)

[ShockdaWorld]

Landry at the 3 gives WSU more size? When WSU wants to go big they play MM at the 3. Landry at the 3 is going small. He's 6'-4", 188lbs and the smallest 3 WSU could potentially throw out there.

I should have been more clear. I meant it gives us more size at the 4.

[Horn28Clem30]

Not really. I'd call their scoring abilities about a push. And then give a serious edge to Wessel with rebounding and defense.

I'm not sure why you felt the need to throw Wessel under the bus unprovoked.

All i've seen since Saturday is Baker this and FVV that... Wessel has been absolutely awful this year. What I was getting at was not understanding why Wessel saw the court so much Saturday w/ Frankamp, McDuffie and Kelly on the bench. The D was great, but can't go that long w/o all scoring options available.

[Kel Varnsen]

Wessel has a lower defensive rebound %, offensive rebound %, block %, and steal %. Offensively, sure, it's kind of a wash, but RK is much more of a threat to drive.

[_kai_]

Can someone please explain why Rashard's minutes have dipped so much? He seems to be more athletic than Wessel w/ the same motor. He's always around the ball and can finish at the rim.

Because he has one of the worst FG% of anyone on the team at the rim, and in regards to post players he's absolutely the worst.

Kelly is 50% at the rim.

Morris is 76.6%

Grady is 69.8%

Nurger is 66.7%

Hamilton is 65%

Wamukota is 62.5%

Kelly is 50%

Frankamp is 50%

Zach Bush is 50%

When your FG% at the rim is the same as a 3 point specialist and a mop up minute kid then your minutes get reduced. And they should. I don't know what Kelly's problem is but he just can't put the ball in the hole from 2 feet away.

[ShockdaWorld]

I understand RK has a problem at the rim. I also think he's much more likely to GET to the rim than the alternative. If I'm taking someone that shoots 3s poorly or someone that gets to the rim but has trouble finishing, all else being equal, I'm taking the guy that can get to the rim. Also, Rashard has made some beautiful interior passes lately as a result of using his athleticism to drive to the rim, draw help, and drop it off.

[pie n eye]

There are similarities to that year but I can't make any assumptions about the post season based on coincidence. I will say that our defense is championship level but can we improve our offense and fouling/free throw ratio to the point it needs to be? I think we're capable of doing both those things but I have no control over it so I'm going to sit back and enjoy the rest of the season no matter what happens.

The way I look at it is we're still two games up in the Valley regular season race. With a road trip to Indiana State and a home game against Illinois State it's not a foregone conclusion yet. That's goal one. Then it's all about the Valley tourney and, if we get in, the NCAA tourney. There's still a lot of basketball to be played and games to be decided. As long as we keep up this level of defense we're likely to have a chance to win every game from now until the end of the season. Doesn't mean we will but we'll have a chance.

February sucks. We've been immune to it the last couple of years but it's the roughest month of the season. Things will get better.

[Stickboy46]

I agree with this, and would note that it may (likely would?) also result in fewer minutes for Evan because of changes in roles/rotation.

Evan is undisputed king of intangibles, but if you are talking offensive efficiency in nerd numbers then Jamar has the massive upgrade he is looking for.

It looks like Landry is still out for tonight. I had this penciled in my head as the 'cut-off' game for him to come back. I'm having serious doubts that we see him this season now.

[Horn28Clem30]

I can't imagine they bring him back with only a few regular season games left and think he'll be up to speed for Arch Madness...and at this point, I think winning St Louis is a must!

[ShockdaWorld]

It looks like Landry is still out for tonight. I had this penciled in my head as the 'cut-off' game for him to come back. I'm having serious doubts that we see him this season now.

So the game roster is out, and he's not on it?

[Stickboy46]

So the game roster is out, and he's not on it?

Update from Suellentrop. Said he's not playing tonight and future is TBD still.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I can't imagine they bring him back with only a few regular season games left and think he'll be up to speed for Arch Madness...and at this point, I think winning St Louis is a must!

Ron's first game back in 2013, after missing 21 games, was March 8th in the MVC quarterfinals. He scored 15 points in 19 minutes.

Why would anytime in February be too late for Landry to be up to speed for Arch Madness?

[Stickboy46]

Ron's first game back in 2013, after missing 21 games, was March 8th in the MVC quarterfinals. He scored 15 points in 19 minutes.

Why would anytime in February be too late for Landry to be up to speed for Arch Madness?

That's a very good perspective quote.

[Kung Wu]

Ron's first game back in 2013, after missing 21 games, was March 8th in the MVC quarterfinals. He scored 15 points in 19 minutes.

Why would anytime in February be too late for Landry to be up to speed for Arch Madness?

Because unlike Ron, he does not have the benefit of a full season of practice in the system as a redshirt?

[XManCometh]

Not really. I'd call their scoring abilities about a push. And then give a serious edge to Wessel with rebounding and defense.

I'm not sure why you felt the need to throw Wessel under the bus unprovoked.

This is what happens when the season isn't going as well as many hoped. People start blaming players that don't need to be blamed. Rashard starting over Wessel isn't going to help whatsoever when everyone on the team shoots 7-31 from 3.

[pie n eye]

Because unlike Ron, he does not have the benefit of a full season of practice in the system as a redshirt?

Did Baker really need that year to learn the system or did he need it to bulk up? Or did he need it at all? I tend to believe he could have contributed his true Freshman year if we had enough scholarships.

Landry didn't look like a guy who had problems with the system in the handful of games he played.

I said it with Derrick Rose a couple of years ago, if he's cleared by the medical staff he should play. I don't know Landry but I'm sure he wants to play again ASAP. He could sit out until the first game of next year, injure something else and then he missed a chance to play in the NCAA tournament. The only guarantee is now.