Future

[ShockdaWorld]

Is there a difference between being short enough that people can shoot over you and being a bad defender?

Yes

[im4wsu]

Is there a difference between being short enough that people can shoot over you and being a bad defender?

That's too easy. A bad defender may let the offensive player go around him for even a shorter wide open shot.

[pie n eye]

The shockers have been top 25 in defensive efficiency the last four years in a row. Top 15 the last three. Any reason next years team can't continue that trend?

I like the fact that we have a lot of long, athletic defenders in the 6'4-6'9 range. Most are tall enough and athletic enough to block/affect shots at the rim but they are also quick enough to guard multiple positions.

[wusphlash]

The shockers have been top 25 in defensive efficiency the last four years in a row. Top 15 the last three. Any reason next years team can't continue that trend?

I like the fact that we have a lot of long, athletic defenders in the 6'4-6'9 range. Most are tall enough and athletic enough to block/affect shots at the rim but they are also quick enough to guard multiple positions.

The question is how will they defend as a unit. The individual skills notwithstanding, team defense is where they've made their name.

[pie n eye]

The question is how will they defend as a unit. The individual skills notwithstanding, team defense is where they've made their name.

I'm optimistic that Shaq, Rashard, Markis, ZBrown, Rauno, Landry and...Conner all understand and are bought in on the type of team defense Marshall coaches. That's a pretty good starting point.

I don't know much about the newcomers (Austin Reaves, Darryl Willis, Daishon Smith, Peyton Allen, CJ Keyser) but based on Marshall's comments I would not be surprised if Keyser gets it very early in the season. Seems like all those guys except maybe Peyton Allen (they've said in the paper he lacks elite athleticism) are all athletic enough to do it but, like you said, how quickly can they pick up the team d concepts?

Eric Hamilton is a wild card. He has all the tools to be a beast on that end, he's been around long enough he should have a firm grasp on what coach expects. Will he put it all together this year and become a productive, reliable guy?

[im4wsu]

I'm optimistic that Shaq, Rashard, Markis, ZBrown, Rauno, Landry and...Conner all understand and are bought in on the type of team defense Marshall coaches. That's a pretty good starting point.

I don't know much about the newcomers (Austin Reaves, Darryl Willis, Daishon Smith, Peyton Allen, CJ Keyser) but based on Marshall's comments I would not be surprised if Keyser gets it very early in the season. Seems like all those guys except maybe Payton Allen (they've said in the paper he lacks elite athleticism) are all athletic enough to do it but, like you said, how quickly can they pick up the team d concepts?

Eric Hamilton is a wild card. He has all the tools to be a beast on that end, he's been around long enough he should have a firm grasp on what coach expects. Will he put it all together this year and become a productive, reliable guy?

Agree with all of this. Our team D begins with the guards and pressure on the ball, deflecting passes and being strong enough to take away the pass they want to make. I hope that Daishon can do 75% of what Fred did in that regard. While CF has been somewhat of a surprise ti me in not getting routinely beat by the opposing player and defending the drive fairly well, I have not yet seen him demonstrate the ability to harass the opposition and make them do something other than what they want to do. Daishon's purported quickness may enable him to be harassing, we'll just have to wait and see. The remainder of the team D I don't see necessarily taking any step backward, but could even be improved.

I hope we get early reports from the pickup games just how strong Austin, Daishon, Peyton and CJ look defensively in one-on-one situations.

[ShockTalk]

I'm optimistic that Shaq, Rashard, Markis, ZBrown, Rauno, Landry and...Conner all understand and are bought in on the type of team defense Marshall coaches. That's a pretty good starting point.

I don't know much about the newcomers (Austin Reaves, Darryl Willis, Daishon Smith, Peyton Allen, CJ Keyser) but based on Marshall's comments I would not be surprised if Keyser gets it very early in the season. Seems like all those guys except maybe Payton Allen (they've said in the paper he lacks elite athleticism) are all athletic enough to do it but, like you said, how quickly can they pick up the team d concepts?

Eric Hamilton is a wild card. He has all the tools to be a beast on that end, he's been around long enough he should have a firm grasp on what coach expects. Will he put it all together this year and become a productive, reliable guy?

How much difference will Allen be to Hatch and Wessel?

Hamilton is a wild card. However, I believe him to be very defensive minded and knows what the coach wants, it just a matter of him understanding his roll in the team concept. Surprisingly, Eric is already very productive on the offensive side, even if he doesn't always remember his roll in certain plays. Look out when he does.

[choida]

Ewing theory . It's real

[im4wsu]

How much difference will Allen be to Hatch and Wessel?

Do you know or suspect something we've not read or heard about? Comparison to Hatch who was perceived as a sharpshooter, yeah. Comparison to Hatch and Wessel in the hustling department, do you have anything to base that on? If so, I'd take it in a New York minute.

[pie n eye]

How much difference will Allen be to Hatch and Wessel?

Hamilton is a wild card. However, I believe him to be very defensive minded and knows what the coach wants, it just a matter of him understanding his roll in the team concept. Surprisingly, Eric is already very productive on the offensive side, even if he doesn't always remember his roll in certain plays. Look out when he does.

If he works as hard as Hatch and Wessell and can shoot it like we've heard the I will be very happy. I only mentioned the athleticism because it's been brought up in the media. Focus, determination, and positioning can make up for a lack of athleticism.

[pie n eye]

Ewing theory . It's real

Is that in reference to one player or multiple players?

[ShockTalk]

Do you know or suspect something we've not read or heard about? Comparison to Hatch who was perceived as a sharpshooter, yeah. Comparison to Hatch and Wessel in the hustling department, do you have anything to base that on? If so, I'd take it in a New York minute.

Nope. My comment was in reference to him not being in the "elite athleticism" category with the others mentioned in the post. However, I believe Allen is as athletic as the two I mentioned (speed, jumping, quickness), so if he doesn't hustle like they did, he will have a problem seeing minutes and it won't matter. That said, he is a player that Marshall could evaluate his talents at the D-I level, HCGM wants hard-nosed defensive players, Allen knew this coming in and has experienced it in practice. Pretty sure he knows wants expected and what he's going to need to do to get time away from those more athletic teammates.

[Steeleshocker]

Is that in reference to one player or multiple players?

I think i saw a post somewhere on here in relation to the theory. It's crazy how true it is.

Basically, when a team has sky high expectations based around star players (often deservedly so). Somehow after the star retires/graduates/gets injured the team actually achieves even greater heights.

There are many examples of this in the past, I'm going to try to find a link.

Edit: boom.
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/simmons/010509.html

On mobile, someone help me with the hyperlink.

[Aargh]

I think i saw a post somewhere on here in relation to the theory. It's crazy how true it is.

Basically, when a team has sky high expectations based around star players (often deservedly so). Somehow after the star retires/graduates/gets injured the team actually achieves even greater heights.

There are many examples of this in the past, I'm going to try to find a link.

Edit: boom.

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/simmons/010509.html

On mobile, someone help me with the hyperlink.

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

[WuShock16]

We need to look no farther than the 2012-13 season here. Many people thought the Shockers would take a step back after Stutz, Murry, and crew graduated. The masses had yet to be introduced to Cle, Ron, Fred, and Malcolm. We know how that turned out.