Future

[wufan]

I'm cool with Shamet and Frankamp as our starting guards.

LS, CF, ZB, MM, SM is not going to be a bad lineup at all.

I hope that's the line-up, but MM will have to put on some weight. Others receiving > 10 mpg:

DS, PA, RK, DW

[Aargh]

Willis and McDuffie alternating at PF makes it REALLY interesting. I'm not that familiar with Willis' game, but I'd expect it to be quite different than McDuffie's game.

[mjbaker84]

saw Rauno post online he was leaving Estonia to head back here and was going to work hard, etc

[Overtime]

I would think it would more likely be Kelly and D Willis at Pf with McDuff at small forward. Also, my biggest concern for next year is no senior leadership. Arguably, Ron and Fred had that " senior toughness" almost from the start, and certainly by their sophomore year. On this team, I see lots of talent but the maturity level is worrisome. Next year will be really fun though, as we will be unwrapping a new, unseen package!

[WSUwatcher]

last years team had 9 losses. i don't think this years team will have 9 losses.

Nor do I (and for the skeptics who might say, no, they'll have 10+, let me make it clear: I expect fewer than nine). They may or may not be "better," or "have a higher ceiling," or whatever terminology some of our board pundits want to use; but if they avoid major injuries such as those to FVV and Shamet last season, next season's Shocks will lose fewer games.

[Dan]

Nor do I (and for the skeptics who might say, no, they'll have 10+, let me make it clear: I expect fewer than nine). They may or may not be "better," or "have a higher ceiling," or whatever terminology some of our board pundits want to use; but if they avoid major injuries such as those to FVV and Shamet last season, next season's Shocks will lose fewer games.

Ironically, our Final 4 team also had 9 losses. It's not necessarily the # of losses, but who you lose to and how you finish the season.

[shockmonster]

One win at the beginning of the year (or in the Valley Tournament), would have ensured that we avoided the play in game and the hectic pace at the end of the year. While we would have still played a similar team to #3 Seed Miami, we would have been better rested. The year of our Final 4 team, we were seeded #9 after losing the Valley Tournament to Creighton. Baker shooting 48% in the NCAA Tournament, made all the difference at the end of that year.

[pinstripers]

I would think it would more likely be Kelly and D Willis at Pf with McDuff at small forward. Also, my biggest concern for next year is no senior leadership. Arguably, Ron and Fred had that " senior toughness" almost from the start, and certainly by their sophomore year. On this team, I see lots of talent but the maturity level is worrisome. Next year will be really fun though, as we will be unwrapping a new, unseen package!

Willis might rotate through the 5. Somebody has to.

[another shocker]

Ironically, our Final 4 team also had 9 losses. It's not necessarily the # of losses, but who you lose to and how you finish the season.

that final four team also had a big-time seven-foot shot blocker. until wichita state gets another one of them.. final fours might be hard to come by.

[Dan]

that final four team also had a big-time seven-foot shot blocker. until wichita state gets another one of them.. final fours might be hard to come by.

Final 4s are hard to come by regardless who is on the floor, but to suggest EO was the key to our success is an intersting theory. We had a lot of components that, when they all came togther, made us a very good team. We can have that again without a 7 footer.

[shockmonster]

Willis might rotate through the 5. Somebody has to.

The way that we foul at the 5 spot, Willis will play a lot of minutes at the 5. Defense has not been (and I predict that "D"won't be again this year) a strong point for either Shaq nor Nurger.

[Aargh]

Final 4s are hard to come by regardless who is on the floor, but to suggest EO was the key to our success is an intersting theory. We had a lot of components that, when they all came togther, made us a very good team. We can have that again without a 7 footer.

I think Orukpe contributed more to that team's success than any stats will ever indicate. I am not defending his ability to catch or throw the ball. That seemed to be outside his skill set.

What EO did was cause a lot of opponents to pee down their legs if they got past their primary defender and saw EO waiting for them. EO let the perimeter defenders play with their nuts hanging out. They could gamble on D. If the gamble didn't work out, they had EO waiting to clean things up. EO wasn't just a 7' rim protecter. He was an INTIMIDATING 7' rim protecter.

[Dave Stalwart]

I think Orukpe contributed more to that team's success than any stats will ever indicate. I am not defending his ability to catch or throw the ball. That seemed to be outside his skill set.

What EO did was cause a lot of opponents to pee down their legs if they got past their primary defender and saw EO waiting for them. EO let the perimeter defenders play with their nuts hanging out. They could gamble on D. If the gamble didn't work out, they had EO waiting to clean things up. EO wasn't just a 7' rim protecter. He was an INTIMIDATING 7' rim protecter.

He had a similar effect to Evan Wessel. Two guys that were hardly noticed in the stat lines, but had tremendous impact on the flow of the game. EO couldn't play on the offensive side of the ball and neither could Evan, but both of them changed the game in every other way they could.

[shox526]

He had a similar effect to Evan Wessel. Two guys that were hardly noticed in the stat lines, but had tremendous impact on the flow of the game. EO couldn't play on the offensive side of the ball and neither could Evan, but both of them changed the game in every other way they could.

Bill Self begs to differ regarding Evan's offensive ability.

[Dave Stalwart]

Bill Self begs to differ regarding Evan's offensive ability.

Here is Bill Self disagreeing about Evan's offensive ability.