Future

[1972Shocker]

Thinking about the schedule next year. Who is going to be competitive in the MVC? League was very senior dominant this year. UNI & ISUr will be competitive, but anyone else going to do anything? I still see the league as WSUs to lose, by a wide margin.

At this point I would agree that ILS, UNI and WSU will be at the top of the Valley next year. I say at this point since I am not very familiar with what any of the other Valley teams have in the way of incoming recruits, redshirts and/or transfers. Evansville looks like they will be way down. Loyola loses a lot. SIU will have trouble replacing Beane's scoring. MSU and INS would appear to be more of the same with INS will need to replace Devonte Brown and Khristian Smith. Bradley and Drake have dug themselves into such deep holes it is really hard to say when they will be a factor again.

I expect that Illinois State will be installed as the preseason favorite to win the Valley by the coaches and media followed by WSU and UNI. I can see the Shocks winning the regular season again but not by more than 2 games at the most. In any case, I am not sure how much that matters because at this point the Valley has the distinct look and feel of a one-bid conference next year meaning NCAA Tournament participation will come down to St. Louis. I do expect the Shockers to be a much better team next March then they will be this fall. I suppose that could change if the Valley regular season champion puts together a killer non-conference resume (and someone else wins in St. Louis) but the Valley does not look like it will be much help in the RPI/SOS department next year.

[SHOCKvalue]

I thought I saw him in one of the locker room pictures I saw from the game coverage, so I think he was there.

He's in pictures getting off the bus last night too.

[AZ Shocker]

Ahhh...good for him. For some reason I was thinking he didn't make the trip.

[homegrownshocker]

Fo next season, here is what I hope to see as follows:

1. Zach - Play more aggressive. Take the ball the hole. Pull up jumper. Spot up 3 ball.
2. Improve 3 ball consistency with target accuracy of 35% or better.
3. Find a way to recruit a 6-10+ big man. (Yes, I know this is easier said than done.)
4. More size at point guard.

Have to agree these suggestions would have made this years team potent offensively. We missed Tekelle and his ability to be an additional player able to create his own shot. Now we have to replace the core members of our offensive creativity. So who could fill this role?

I think McDuffie and Shamet are two players that could create offense in a variety of ways. Ty Taylor could be an option if he gains strength and sticks around like many of you have discussed. Right now I have not observed these skills from Conner, Zack, or Rashard. That is why I have trouble envisioning a line up with Conner being the lead guard. Of the recruits coming in next season, the Daishon Smith and possibly Austin Reaves might fit the mold. Reaves seems to have a high basketball IQ that could be useful.

[WheatShock]

Reaves seems to have a high basketball IQ that could be useful.

Reaves is supposed to have shoulder surgery sometime soon. He may not be ready for next fall.

[im4wsu]

Reaves is supposed to have shoulder surgery sometime soon. He may not be ready for next fall.

how much does Austin weigh?

[Slalomshocker]

PG does not have to create his own shot, he has to facilitate for others. Just something that seems to be a sticking point to some of you regarding Connor. My guess is we dont have a true PG next year, but multiple guys capable of playing both PG and SG. Much like the role Baker filled.

[jcdshocker]

I wonder had Shament made the trip to Providence if Gregg would've pulled the red-shirt and put him in during that "flat" first 10 minutes. Lol

He was there. I saw him in Providence.

[wusphlash]

That's a good read, and while it doesn't apply perfectly to this year's squad I think it will be very applicable to the next. This year we thought we would be contenders because of Fred and Ron, but I felt throughout the post-season our big problem was that they tried to do too much themselves. They weren't great college basketball players because they were the best 1v1 or 2v2 scorers in the nation, they were great because they were the best defensive backcourt in the country, were good scorers, and because they got everyone else involved. IMHO the best year for that was our undefeated season. This year they couldn't play to their biggest strengths because they and their teammates knew that it was "their year."

I keep thinking about Fred and Ron's "big man" toolbox they had to work with each year.

2012/2013
Early, Hall, Lufile, Orupke, White

2013/2014
Carter, Coleby, Early, Green, Lufile

2014/2015
Carter, Glass, Kelly, Morris, Nurger, Wamakota, Wessel

2015/2016
Grady, Hamilton, Kelly, Morris, Nurger, Wamakota, Wessel

Understanding that the mix of 1's, 2's and 3's was different each year, I believe their "big man" toolbox was best their first two years.

[ShockerFever]

HCGM clearly thought Ty was enough of an option to play him significantly when Fred was out. If we were in a position to lose 15 games this year, this may have paid dividends later in the season. I think this was a Rick Ankiel situation and Ty got too much on him too early. We'll see what happens, but the kid definitely has talent and skills.

What other options did Marshall have for PG at that time?

I think he tested the waters and gave Ty his shot. He failed miserably and that's why Ty was relegated to mop-up minutes the rest of the year.

I'll give you that he has quickness and can release a shot in .3 nanoseconds. The problem is he is not that great of a shooter, takes bad shots, and showed no signs of facilitating an offense. If he's gonna get it, he has to get it quick because he continues to be deep on the depth chart with what's in front of him.

I personally just don't see it. At best, he is a redshirt candidate for next year.

[The Cat]

Let's not undersell the jucos kids we have coming in next year. Daishon Smith is unlike any point guard we have had in the Marshall era. Now it seems as if it takes the Juco's at least half a season to figure the Marshall system out but other than Cle these are the two highest rated Juco players we have ever signed. Cle was the number 3 juco player in his class and number 1 forward. Other than Wamukota and Wiggins Marshall really hasn't missed on the juco players since the program got national attention.

http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=JuniorCollege

[SHOXAAC]

Let's not undersell the jucos kids we have coming in next year. Daishon Smith is unlike any point guard we have had in the Marshall era. Now it seems as if it takes the Juco's at least half a season to figure the Marshall system out but other than Cle these are the two highest rated Juco players we have ever signed. Cle was the number 3 juco player in his class and number 1 forward. Other than Wamukota and Wiggins Marshall really hasn't missed on the juco players since the program got national attention.

http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Bas...=JuniorCollege

I would argue Smith's game is similar to Rags.

[choida]

Anybody ever heard of the Ewing theory?

I think it will apply greatly to next year's squad.


http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?id=1193711

This applies to the NIT run and final four run, no one player was the star or had green light treatment, so the attack is far more balanced, especially on offense

[wufan]

I would argue Smith's game is similar to Rags.

I concur.

[wufan]

Let's not undersell the jucos kids we have coming in next year. Daishon Smith is unlike any point guard we have had in the Marshall era. Now it seems as if it takes the Juco's at least half a season to figure the Marshall system out but other than Cle these are the two highest rated Juco players we have ever signed. Cle was the number 3 juco player in his class and number 1 forward. Other than Wamukota and Wiggins Marshall really hasn't missed on the juco players since the program got national attention.

http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Bas...=JuniorCollege

Smith and Rags...I wouldn't call Wiggins a miss, though he didn't live up to expectations. Glass was more of a miss. Colby transferred in the same year as Lufile, both as centers, but Morris and Nurger would also be in that class. That's a lot of fives.