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NCAA Tournament - Wichita State vs. Arizona Official Game Thread
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If I read the updated kenpom right, we moved up to 8th. Our defense also continues to improve. There is as big a gap between us (the best defensive team) and the second best defensive team in the tournament (2 and 3 in kenpom aren't in the tournament) as there is between the second best defensive team in the tournament and kenpom's 25th best defense.
Our defense is really incredible.
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I'm sure it gets old hearing this from me, but I'm so freaking proud of these guys, these coaches, this program.
It's a joy to watch this TEAM get on and off the bus. How amazing is it to watch them play? How much fun do they have busting ass? Other teams love scoring....these guys love getting shot clock violations.
They've given me more joy than I thought was possible as a fan of a sporting event. Thank you Wichita State.
A few takeaways from the game.
Arizona makes more FTs on the season than their opponents take. That's a big stat for me. Great coaching. WSU 15-19 UA 9-15
Defense without fouling. Minus a few 1st half minutes, check.
5 steals moves Freddy within 1 of the all time record at WSU.
I can't really tell you how good Ron and Fred are, and were last night. If you haven't figured that out by now, I'm certainly not capable of helping you.
But what makes this team special are the contributions they are getting from everyone else. Shaq with 7 and 7 and 2 blocks and was dominant at times against a REALLY BIG AND TALENTED Wildcat interior. Conner was super. 2 blocks from the kid that people say can't play D. Most of those "some people" reside in Lawrence. More on that shortly. 10 points, 2 assists, no turnovers and something sick like +30 plus minus in 14 minutes (when combined with) McDuffie too was scintillating. 10 points, 2 steals, 4 boards and more fantastic D in his 21 minutes.
Nurger again gave the team a lift when they needed it. Big Bush too.
Everyone was great defensively, from Wessel to RKelly, from Big Bush to Grady, Ron to Fred. Just incredible.
Kudos to the coaching staff that set it all up. Nobody is better. And at 3.3 per, Gregg is still the best bargain in the country.
Coach Miller is a classy dude and there seemed to be a lot of mutual admiration between the teams. Always makes the event that much more enjoyable, if that's even possible these days.
One final comment. For almost 2 years I've been reading and hearing ku fans laughing and making jabs at Conner and how he couldn't play at ku and can't play D and how happy they are that he's gone blah blah blah blah.
Well, this WSU fan is very happy he's a Shocker and I'm proud of the work he's done and how he's progressed and the student athlete he's become.
And to those same ku fans, not a prediction but objects in your rearview mirror may be larger than they appear.
Go Shocks. Beat Miami.
Oh, and thanks NCAA. Not that this team needed anymore motivation, but thanks for it anyway. What's next? Telling us we can't fly home?
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Originally posted by 1972Shocker View Post
A #1 seed coached by Dana Altman, granted, but still a #1 seed.
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Originally posted by Shocker Mama View PostTEAM is right. They are constantly supporting each other --unlike the two Baylor players who got into an altercation during a timeout.
Speaking of Baylor......I'm no fan, but Taurean Prince absolutely shut down that snarky reporter that asked him about how Yale out-rebounded Baylor. Well done young man.
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Originally posted by Keyser Soze View PostSometimes people just amaze me...we get a featured standalone times lot on CBS and people are bitching? This is GREAT news for our continued skyrocketing brand.
Maybe our fanbase should learn a thing or two from the players and develop a little mental toughness.
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Im kinda over the whole "OMG I HOPE WE WIN I KNOW WE'RE GOOD AND I WANT OTHERS TO KNOW TOO"
At no point yesterday was I really sweating any of it. I mean dont get me wrong - the angst of a big game was there. And in no way shape or form am I disrespecting Arizona, they are a fine team with a great program/tradition.
But I was just kinda like "meh another game"
next year might be another story. We lose so much. But until then... We're the best team until proven we're not.
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My point isn't to personally call anyone out. But for those Wichita media and Shocker fans who doubted Fred and Ron after the MVC Tournament need to take stock in what they said. A reminder of some that was said, "im looking forward to a team without Ron and Fred" and "we just don't deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament this year" and probably worse. A word to the "wise", Never doubt these two Shocker legends and the best coach WSU has ever had.
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Originally posted by Keyser Soze View PostSometimes people just amaze me...we get a featured standalone times lot on CBS and people are bitching? This is GREAT news for our continued skyrocketing brand.
Maybe our fanbase should learn a thing or two from the players and develop a little mental toughness.
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D bag KU called in to sports daily called into the first 20 minutes of show and said "You realize KU did play yesterday too right?" SMHFollow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/Shox_KCfan
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Originally posted by newshock1234 View PostD bag KU called in to sports daily called into the first 20 minutes of show and said "You realize KU did play yesterday too right?" SMH78-65
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