2017-18 Media Love Thread

[DUShock]

"Wichita State's win at Cincinnati is exactly why the Shockers had to leave the Missouri Valley" by Matt Norlander

https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...ssouri-valley/

Wichita State combined to go 76-7 vs. Missouri Valley teams the previous four seasons. That run of unprecedented dominance in the MVC elevated the Shockers and Marshall to a cherished place in the college basketball landscape. But no amount of winning could bring about the infrastructure and affiliation needed in order to elevate the program to the next level. The Shockers will lose more games but that's because they'll more consistently play better competition.

And as this season is showing, losing a few more games than usual and upgrading its schedule hasn't stopped the Shockers from strutting toward their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament.

[kcshocker11]

"Wichita State's win at Cincinnati is exactly why the Shockers had to leave the Missouri Valley" by Matt Norlander

https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...ssouri-valley/

The comments underneath shows what WSU has always faced

[Dan]

The comments underneath shows what WSU has always faced

obsession by KU fans. I would not even read an article like that about KU let alone take the time to make rude comments. It's just jealousy showing through.

[ShockingButTrue]

The comments underneath shows what WSU has always faced

meh.

The more haters you've got, the better it means you're doing...

But yeah, it's nothing new coming from the ChickenHawks (Shaqness's) of the world. You know, the "WSU would never be able to beat ku" drones. We've all heard/hear 'em.

[WuShock Reaper]

"Forde Minutes:..." - Yahoo Sports

By Pat Forde
February 20, 2018

"PLAY ANGRY TOUR STILL GOING STRONG

Late in Sunday’s taut battle with Cincinnati (26), Shaquille Morris (27) was lying face-down on the floor as team training staff checked him out. After a long while, Morris suddenly hauled his 280 pounds to his feet and bounced off the court, to a resounding chorus of boos from the Bearcat faithful.

Morris didn’t look hurt at the moment, but emerged from the locker room later with an ice bag and a Band-Aid covering a cut on his swollen left cheek. A few minutes earlier, his coach, Gregg Marshall (28), came out of the same locker room with his yellow shirt soaked from an impromptu water dousing.

It was just like old times for Wichita State (29). Leave the opposing fans fuming and leave their gym with a victory.

Wichita’s Play Angry Tour, which dominated the Missouri Valley Conference for years, has made an impressively strong transition to the tougher American Athletic Conference. After ending Cincinnati’s 39-game home winning streak (including games played this year at Northern Kentucky University, while UC’s gym is being remodeled), Wichita is 21-5 and tied for second in the AAC, with a chance to win the league in its first year.

“We’ve had some nice wins,” Marshall said. “But this is probably the best.”

This was an ideal transition year for the Shockers, who have six seniors on the roster and a wise-beyond-his-years sophomore point guard in Landry Shamet (30). Still, there is a big jump from playing in Terre Haute, Carbondale and Springfield to long trips east to play a considerably tougher schedule.

Even with Cincy’s games moved south of the Ohio River, the home fans brought plenty of intensity to a showdown game the league had been looking forward to all season.

“I’ve never played in anything like that before,” said Shamet. “I love the hostility and knowing everyone hates you and wants you to lose.”

That is the Wichita way. Infuriating everyone and fostering hard feelings. The attitude has served the Shockers well in their ascendance under Marshall.

“They play with a little chip on their shoulder,” Marshall said. “I coach with a little chip on my shoulder. It’s no secret. We’d like to recruit bigger and better players, but we’re not going to get into the slop. We’re not even going to approach the slop.”

Given the current slopfest that is college basketball, that comment could be taken as a shot across some high-profile bows. Or, heck, as an application for one of the high-profile jobs that has been tainted (or will be tainted) by the ongoing federal investigation of the sport.

Gregg Marshall is good enough to coach anywhere. But he might be best off at the place where playing angry is the only way they know...."

[Cdizzle]

Wouldn't be an article about WSU doing well if you didn't throw in some senseless "Marshall to anywhere."

[Cdizzle]

You guys are great. Is there a gofundme for his buyout that I'm supposed to be contributing to?

[Kung Wu]

I don't think you understand Cdizzle. The game has evolved and he doesn't know how to adjust. So ... there won't be any buyouts. He is a dinosaur now.

[Cdizzle]

I like dinosaurs. I wonder if he'll still do the wrist-watch-shake-thing with tiny dinosaur arms.

[Topshock]

Gregg Marshall interview with Seth Greenberg and Dan Dakich

http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play?id=22517169&s=espn

[WuShock Reaper]

"NCAA basketball: 10 teams that can make a run in the NCAA tournament" - FanSided Sports

by Tristan Freeman
Posted: 02/22/18, 10:00am cst

https://bustingbrackets.com/2018/02/...aa-tournament/

"Wichita State Shockers 21-5 (11-3)
There were two words that made this team an instant favorite for this season – “everyone’s returning”. Mind you, everyone returned from a 31 win team, led by a one of the best point guards in the country in Landry Shamet.

But technically not everyone cam back at the start of the season. Both Shamet and Markis McDuffie (leading scorer from last season) had off-season surgeries, and while the sophomore guard came back at the beginning, McDuffie missed the entire non-conference.

Once he returned, there was an adjustment period, with the Shockers dropping a few games in league play. The offense has overwhelmed opponents, but the defense for Wichita State has been surprisingly weak at times.

How far can Wichita State go: Final Four
We know what Gregg Marshall can do as a coach in the NCAA Tournament, and he gets a roster filled with experience to work with. And not only is Shamet the kind of “star” to carry a team through the rounds, he also has a deep batch of role players, with nine guys averaging 15 mpg.

The defense can be improved, but there isn’t a glaring weakness for the Shockers. They don’t force turnovers as a team, but also doesn’t make too many mistakes themselves. The history, talent and depth makes this a team built for March."

[Ixiah]

Any one want to guess which commentator downplayed the win versus Cincinnati (a team that has fattened up on a 2-3 bid conference)? You can find the answer below around the 20 minute mark.

http://www.keyn.com/media/audio-channel/wsu-mens-basketball-vs-tulane-02-21-18

[wheathead]

Just tell us.

[shockrah]

It's Goatlube

[ShockerExpress]

Does anyone have an Athletic subscription that could post a kind of summary of Seth Davis' recent post. It is scouting reports of the best teams from each conference from assistant coaches.

I would love to see what the dingo Seth has to say, plus I find those scouting reports very interesting.

[im4wsu]

Wichita State: “They have incredible size and physicality. Shaq Morris is a beast. He really knows how to use his body to seal and get deep catches in the paint, plus he can go out and make a 3. Landy Shamet went through a stretch where he missed 17 of 18 3s, and that only took his percentage down to 46. Defensively they’re not as good as they’ve been. You can attack Reaves and Frankamp off the dribble. Same with Shamet. They don’t have a drop-dead-keep-you-in-front guy. If Shamet gets in foul trouble, they’re in trouble because they don’t have any backup point guards. They do have depth up front, but a lot of teams are putting those guys in pick-and-roll situations. Those guys don’t move their feet well.”

[shock-it-to-me]

Yep, that’s incredibly accurate.

[wichshock65]

Did hell freeze over?????

[AndShock]

This actually makes me more angry than had he trashed us again.

[WstateU]

Did hell freeze over?????

lwqjz.jpg

[DUShock]

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o84sF...cl68/giphy.gif

[shockerfan]

Did hell freeze over?????

Well crap. Now we have no shot at the Final Four

[WuShock Reaper]

"What you need to know about every team in the 2018 NCAA tournament field" - ESPN

Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff Writer
Posted: 03/11/18, 5:21 PM CT

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22723015/complete-look-every-march-madness-team-2018-ncaa-tournament

"Now it begins again.

We've had arrests, buzzer-beaters, three-on-five games, international incidents, wardrobe malfunctions, one-and-done prodigies, rising stars, falling stars, unimaginable blown leads and great basketball.

Now we're here for the greatest crapshoot in sports. A 68-team brawl that will produce one champion in San Antonio next month.

We'd love to tell you how this will all unfold. But we're far more intrigued by the questions we can't answer -- yet....

Enjoy. Just don't blame us for your busted bracket.

No real chance:
60. Marshall Thundering Herd
A week ago, the Thundering Herd traveled to Middle Tennessee State, everyone's favorite Cinderella, in the final weeks of the regular season and won. Marshall, ranked within the top 10 in shooting percentage inside the arc, won three games in the Conference USA tournament to earn an at-large berth.

Thanks for playing, but ...:
56. Charleston Cougars
Earl Grant's team will enter the NCAA tournament as one of America's hottest mid-majors. The Cougars have lost just one game since Jan. 13. They rode to the CAA championship and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1999 via their collective aversion to committing turnovers (8.6 per game in the CAA tournament) and the talent of Grant Riller (18.7 PPG). They've won just by reaching this stage.

52. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Mike Daum -- The Dauminator -- could secure All-America honors (23.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 85.6 percent on free throws, 42.1 percent of his 3-point attempts). But T.J. Otzelberger's squad showcased its depth and offensive talent (39.2 percent from beyond the arc, 27th in the country) in the Summit League championship game when the Jackrabbits extended their first-half lead over the Coyotes with Daum on the bench due to early foul trouble. With the right matchup, South Dakota State could spoil a high seed's dreams.

Not impossible, but don't bet the mortgage on it:
47. New Mexico State Aggies
Last summer, Paul Weir left New Mexico State for rival New Mexico. On Saturday, New Mexico lost to San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference tournament title game. Meanwhile, NMSU beat Grand Canyon in the WAC tournament championship game, locking up an NCAA tournament berth in Chris Jans' first season. Zach Lofton (19.8 PPG, 39 percent from the 3-point line) leads a program that's playing great defense, the critical element in its wins over Davidson, New Mexico (twice) and Miami on a neutral floor.

42. Oklahoma Sooners
Here's the reality: Trae Young isn't shooting the ball the way he did in the first three months of the season. It's also important to note few players in the history of the game had Young's hot hand when they were freshmen. He also has carried a tremendous burden for a team that won 11 games last year. Without Young on the floor, per hooplens.com, Oklahoma has registered a meager 0.97 points per possession, a mark that would position the Sooners at No. 322 in unadjusted offensive efficiency, per ESPN Sports Analytics. Is there a chance Young, the nation's leader in points and assists, could go Kemba Walker on the 2018 NCAA tournament and skate to the second weekend or beyond? Yep. But it appears this team might have peaked before February's slide.

It's not crazy ...:
38. Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
Let's remove this mid-major's name and league (Missouri Valley Conference) for a moment. Instead, let's discuss a team ranked 23rd in adjusted defensive efficiency (KenPom.com) -- a broad metric that measures a team's defensive aptitude according to the competition it has faced -- and the No. 25 offense against man-to-man defense (Synergy Sports). This team also has a road win at Florida, too. And it makes 40 percent of its 3-pointers. Sound like a sleeper to you?

Now it gets interesting:
21. Houston Cougars
Kelvin Sampson's team crushed Arkansas by 26 points in nonconference play. The Cougars beat Providence by double-digits, too. They embarrassed Wichita State in a 14-point win. They also beat Cincinnati. And that's why Rob Gray (18.1 PPG) and the Cougars might ruin brackets all over America during the first weekend.

The serious contenders:
15. Wichita State Shockers
This is arguably Gregg Marshall's deepest squad. He has six players who are averaging 8.0 PPG or more. The 2012-13 team that reached the Final Four didn't even have that depth. The "next man up" concept is no coaching cliché for the Shockers. In Wichita State's final eight-game stretch of the regular season, five different players led the Shockers in scoring. Plus, they beat Cincinnati on the road. Marshall has a 6-4 point guard named Landry Shamet who could crack the first round of this year's NBA draft. He's the catalyst for Wichita State's top-five offense. Its sub-100 defense should encourage caution as you make critical decisions about Wichita State in your brackets, though.

14. Cincinnati Bearcats
The only team that has consistently played better defense than Cincinnati this season is Virginia. Mick Cronin's team fits the image of the tough, ruthless squads full of aggressive defenders that have anchored Cincy's most memorable teams. The Bearcats held Wichita State to just 61 points in the regular-season finale that sealed the American Athletic Conference title outright. On offense, however, the Bearcats are "average" against zones, per Synergy Sports, a grade attached to the limited shooters and offensive innovators the Bearcats possess. They'll need Jacob Evans and Gary Clark to carry the offensive load if they hope to reach the first Elite Eight of Cronin's tenure...."