WSU Versus Mo. State Predictions and Pregame Discussions

[forevershockerfan]

Here's the deal. Panthers, and Aggies, and Bears, oh my!!! Only two more times that we get to see our 5 Seniors which includes our two All Americans play on our Home Court!!! Thus, the Bears shant come in here expecting a win because our beloved Shock will deem that notion a Boo-Boo.

At Springfield, we won 78-62 but dough-nut expect the Bears to get away with that close score again. They are a pretty good Valley rebounding team but we outrebounded them 49-29 last time. The Shocks will focus on Miller who had 17 in that game, Kreklow and Boone who both had 10, and Obediah who had 9.

Now as the end of our 5-Seniors careers here draweth nigh, in this game, the roof may not blow off as the loudest game ever, but look for the wafting of cheers to vibrate the rafters. The last home game when we spank the birds on Senior Night, then watch out for the ear-splitting roars from the crowd to match record proportions.

Laura Marano sings "there's no place like home" and look for the Shocks to 'hit on all cylinders' on both sides of the hardwood. The bare facts are the Bears are going to feel like they are in a 'hibernation mode' even though they will give it their all. Shocks will get a 33 point surpass and more records will fall.

Care Bears-----------------49

MTXE/Play Angry Shocks- 82

[Play Angry]

Darrin Williams 77
Danny Moore 54

[Speed]

Koch 77
Hammond 50
I don't think Misery State is as good as NM St. But the Valley haa figured out how to clog things up (including the refs).

[molly jabali]

Shockers by 20

[DUShock]

Shocks by 33

[ShockerPhi]

Our defense the past several games has been phenomenal. I mean it's been good all year, but on another level the past few. If we keep that up, Misery State might not reach 50 points. The Shockers haven't allowed 60 points since Jan 31st. The only question is our offense. Will we play like we did yesterday? I hope so. Don't wanna see that slump again.

Da Shox - 70
Da Bears - 49

[GreatWhiteBuffalo]

Before I attempt to make any predictions, missed the game last night (blacked out on ESPN3 and I don't have Cox). Did NMSU play zone at all, or were they strictly man?

[Stickboy46]

Before I attempt to make any predictions, missed the game last night (blacked out on ESPN3 and I don't have Cox). Did NMSU play zone at all, or were they strictly man?

They switched to a zone, and we did a great job of attacking it.

[pie n eye]

They switched to a zone, and we did a great job of attacking it.

That's a good point I hadn't considered. Perhaps we struggle against a zone at times because we play man almost exclusively? We played more zone last night than in any game I can remember under Marshall. Improving our zone D might not only give us another wrinkle to throw at teams but it could also have the same effect on our offense by virtue of facing it in practice. Dunno, just a thought.

[GreatWhiteBuffalo]

That's a good point I hadn't considered. Perhaps we struggle against a zone at times because we play man almost exclusively? We played more zone last night than in any game I can remember under Marshall. Improving our zone D might not only give us another wrinkle to throw at teams but it could also have the same effect on our offense by virtue of facing it in practice. Dunno, just a thought.

That's great to hear that both played zone and WSU played well against it. I think the occasional zone is a great wrinkle for WSU to slow opponents down and just make them think. Also, really hope that WSU has figured out how to attack the zone and it's a permanent deal. That standing and dribbling bit was getting old.

I fully anticipate a lot of zone from MoSt. I will trust that the Shocks have figured out a plan against it. I also hope that this win last night provides some much needed momentum for the rest of the season.

Shocks by 15-20

[boltforge]

They switched to a zone, and we did a great job of attacking it.

Big difference from attacking the zone Saturday vs Monday was how the other team collapsed on the attack. UNI was much better on collapsing on FVV to prevent the pass back out. NM on the other hand didn't shift nearly as well as UNI.

For Saturday there were several times when FVV drove and *three* guys bodied up to him with arms up and looking to prevent not the shot, but the pass.

[Stickboy46]

Big difference from attacking the zone Saturday vs Monday was how the other team collapsed on the attack. UNI was much better on collapsing on FVV to prevent the pass back out. NM on the other hand didn't shift nearly as well as UNI.

For Saturday there were several times when FVV drove and *three* guys bodied up to him with arms up and looking to prevent not the shot, but the pass.

Completely agree, though part of that is because we started off the game shooting decently, and Zach Brown really opened the game up with a couple threes and great drives. It really made them respect him the rest of the game. The UNI game was the exact opposite where ZB couldn't get anything to fall so they left him open.

[shockmonster]

They switched to a zone, and we did a great job of attacking it.

Yes. Not sure if their zone was not good, or if the 3 point shots we made helped a lot, or if we just attached it better (could be all the above).

[WUpigsooie]

Yes. Not sure if their zone was not good, or if the 3 point shots we made helped a lot, or if we just attached it better (could be all the above).

Two biggest factors that I could tell. 1. Grady in the high post against bigger defenders was a huge help, he hit a few shots from there which pulled the bigs out from under the basket 2. Our bigger, more athletic perimeter players(RB, ZB, RK, MM) took the ball to the rack rather than just leaving that task to FVV. As great as Fred is those bigger guys will always have more success near the rim against big/long zones.

[Eric]

Just like a poster on a previous opponent's message board said earlier in the season: WSU - Whatever Marshall wants it to be, MSU - Whatever Marshall wants them to have.