Future

[WSUwatcher]

If JR Simon plays important minutes next season, even early on, get your feather ready, shock -- you'll be able to knock me over with it. That isn't going to happen.

Injuries or illness or other mishaps can affect a season in surprising and unfortunate ways, as we've just seen. But if next year's Shocks are basically healthy and intact all season, I won't be surprised at all if they win at least 26 to match this year's team -- even if only because this year's bunch would have been a near lock for 30+ (and would still be a high seed playing next week) if they had stayed healthy; and I believe the returning talent and new guys should be good enough to play within at least 4-5 games of what this year's team could have done. Marshall has shown plenty of times already that he knows how to reload.

Edit: I also expect next year's team to have motivation out the WSU wazoo, with Shamet (whom 3G has already referred to more than once as a Fred/Ron kind of player) eager to lead them where he wasn't able to help them go this year, and guys like Shaq, McDuffie, and others champing at the bit to prove that the world hasn't come to an end and that they can carry on the tradition of excellence. Plenty of reinforcements coming along in terms of talent, too, including Shamet as a somewhat proven member of that category as well the leader / motivator group.

[choida]

Concerning the Ewing Theory. Can't deny the numerous cases in which a team did better after the star player got hurt or for various reasons was not with the team. Best example being of course, our own 1st Final 4 Run.

But, I also think there are significant differences which are being overlooked and/or glossed over concerning Fred and Ron's departure and how offensively, the team will be better off without them.. First of all, we are losing two stars, and not just one Ewing. And no one ever accused Ewing of being a team player.

Never heard a single comment ever that Fred or Ron were ball hogs or looking to glorify their reputation which is easily evidenced by their total number of assists.

The fact is that the ball usually ended up, with 7 or less seconds left on the shot clock after being repeatedly passed around, back in their hands for a variety of reasons. Such as their team mates had no shot, were unwilling to take the shot, could not advance to the basket. Or they took and made the shot (rare) or were wide open and missed the shot. Some have stated the excuse that perhaps the younger players were intimidated and by Fred and Ron. Perhaps they were initially, but this should have significantly subsided as the season went on and they gained confidence.

Or could the problem have been that they simply were not shooting well or could not penetrate the opposing team's defense in the games we lost, which Fred and Ron were likewise having trouble doing?

How many times has the comment been made on this same board that Fred (and Ron) made every player better, but for some reason this now seems to have changed and STICKYFINGERS appeared on the scene few weeks back, after a couple of losses and seemed to have caught on.

Have no doubt that their replacements will continue making their team mates better as well, and with another years experience behind them, we should naturally see an overall improvement in our returning players.

There is nothing I would like more than the 2016/17 team to be better in all aspects than our present team as evidenced, I guess by the most significant denominator, a deeper run in the NCAA.

But, truthfully, I will be amazed, happily amazed, at that outcome.

This is no disrespect to baker or van vleet, but Frankamp said clearly after the Vanderbilt win that he was deferring to them in the game ... You don't have to be a ball hog to have the ewing effect,.. The mere presense makes other players defer to better talent, ask any ymca pick up game player

[shocker43]

Sullentrop (spelling?) mentioned in an article that the team is going on a summer time exhibition tour. What does that mean?

[choida]

Sullentrop (spelling?) mentioned in an article that the team is going on a summer time exhibition tour. What does that mean?

Bonding time

[shocker43]

Bonding time

So just time for the team to hangout and get to know each other? I thought it would be something like KU's trip to Korea last summer.

[choida]

So just time for the team to hangout and get to know each other? I thought it would be something like KU's trip to Korea last summer.

Yes and the common denominators they share... In case you really are asking... Playing basketball together in an organized fashion before they are usually legally allowed to.

[IndianaShocker]

This is no disrespect to baker or van vleet, but Frankamp said clearly after the Vanderbilt win that he was deferring to them in the game ...

My biggest concerns regarding CF are...
#1. His confidence, or should I say lack there of. If his confidence in himself is shaky, how can the others be expected to have confidence in him? Part of how I define a quality PG is their ability to instill confidence in their teammates.

#2. Defense. Need I say more? When facing a top 20 team, who can he guard? CF would be more effective in a zone defensive system, but thats not HCGM's system nor WSU's identitiy. For fun, look at the backcourts of each S16 team. How many starting guards can he defend? Not many...

[Shock Top]

CF did tie for the team lead in blocks against Zona!

[IndianaShocker]

Here's my prediction: Keep the Generals happy (Lynn and Gregg) and let him hire who the hell he wants as an assistant. Then tell him he can't win without Fred and Ron. Finally tell him ISUR is the best team in the league.

Then sit back and watch the legend continue to grow

You say prediction. I read this as a threat disguised as a suggestion. Followed by two more suggestions and a hypothetical prediction based on the suggestions (and disguised threat). Can you clarify or is your intent mind *u***ng us by insuating HCGM may not be pleased with the PTB?

[IndianaShocker]

CF did tie for the team lead in blocks against Zona!

Got it. Thanks for clearing that up. He'll fill the role of shot blocker. Can't believe we missed that.

In the 2017 tourney CWebb & company won't be able to criticize our ability to protect the rim.

[WuDrWu]

I'm interested in Stefan Jankovic.

Just be VERY careful and make sure you are talking to the right one.

[Bluzrover]

This year's team sorely lacked the third scoring option. The FF and undefeated runs were made possible by at least three players on the court who were capable of taking the ball to the basket or stepping back and hitting threes, whether Ron, Fred, Cle or Tekele.

Next year's team will need a new leader, someone who has the chops and credibility. I'm not sure that guy is on the team right now and it may take a while for that player to emerge. Several on here have pointed to Shaq as the likely candidate to step into that role. I'd like to believe he could but the young man has to stay on the court for more than 15-17 minutes a game, otherwise he's nothing more than a cheerleader.

The exhibition run will be beneficial in getting the team organized and hopefully the leader will emerge that early. I'm not banking on it and think our non-con will be a struggle for a much different reason than what we saw this year.

[Mr. Obvious]

CF did tie for the team lead in blocks against Zona!

Defense is preventing your opponent from scoring. CF's blocks are the "swat" variety. From behind as his man is by him.

[Bluzrover]

Defense is preventing your opponent from scoring. CF's blocks are the "swat" variety. From behind as his man is by him.

Some of Ron's greatest blocks were swats from behind. That was one of his signature defensive moves that caught a lot of guys off guard. Not saying Conner is Ron Baker but I, for one, don't mind him emulating one of the toughest defensive players to ever don the yellow and black.

[The 'hut]

I really hope pressure defense becomes a bigger part of the game plan next year. Getting minutes from those high energy bench guys, (TT, EH) in a more unstructured type game situation, seems like reasonable use of their abilities to help the team, even in the short term. Also, the zone helped immensely against Miami, so don't assume it won't play a bigger role next year. I know HCGM is a man first coach, but you can use zone if you have good man principles. I say this primarily because I believe the Shocks will struggle even more to stay in front of fast guards. Conner struggles in this area and it was said PA needs to improve in his speed. Nurger will see some time at the 4 with more confidence. The problem is it looks like he will need to always be available at the 5 due to Shaq's proclivity to reach or push in front of guys wearing striped shirts.