Shocker Madness

[Cdizzle]

Was hoping for more from Reaves and Keyser.

Was expecting less from Midtgaard and SHJ.

Not bad when you can put 2 full D1 squads on the floor.





With 3 of your top 6 players on the bench.

[ShockingButTrue]

Why did Shaq not play? Doghouse already?

Edit: OK, he was "sick" per GGG ; D

[im4wsu]

SHJ - Slick, quick, ankle-breaker. Totally different look at PG than we're used to. Looked surprisingly advanced in the offensive schemes for a JuCo early in practices, but maybe that's just because he can get past people so easily. He's definitely a shooting and driving PG. Fans will love him and his game. Don't know if he's a "run the offense" PG.

Midtgaard - Seemed to get more comfortable later in the scrimmage. Nice putbacks on rebounds and had some nice rim protection. Runs the floor well. Handles the ball well. Catches and throws great. Showed solid fundamentals on pick and rolls and screens. Didn't have the right angles on those to receive a pass even though he was wide open going to the basket. Was not aggressive on rebounds. Nurger got the tipoff against him by 3 or 4". I thought the game needed to slow down for him. A RS year could really help him be a HUGE force. I'd compare his movement and fundamentals to around Stutz' Jr year.

RBrown - Lots of potential and lots of being a Fr. I don't think McDuffie's absence will force him to take off a red shirt.

Willis - Was in the 3-point contest! Release is a little slow, but 6'9" guys don't tend to have their 3-point shots blocked. In the first round Frankamp had 17 counters, Reaves had 16, and Willis had 14.

Reaves - Was the PG opposite SHJ. Frankamp picked him a couple times, but Frankamp seems to have learned some D from Baker and VanVleet. He's just in the way all the time. Reaves was only cleared for practice a week ago, so he's not in the type of game shape he will be in by the beginning of the season.

I thought Midtgaard played a little below what I've heard about his game. He seemed to get better as the scrimmage went on, so maybe he was adjusting to the environment.

Haynes-Jones played WAY above anything I've heard about him or was expecting. It's pretty easy to understand why Shamet and Mcduffie call him the best one-on-one player on the team. He was blowing by anybody and everybody when there wa a route to attack. He put Keyser on his (Keyser's) butt once.

Keyser - Can jump out of the gym. Has some awesome dunks. That's the best I can say about his game. I'm afraid he will maintain the position in the rotation he had last year. SHJ will take all the minutes Smith had and many more. I honestly thought Keyser was playing SG and not doing it well.

Agree, Aargh! Seeing SHJ at Hutch three times last year, he will get his within the offense, not by pushing himself in the offense. Didn't he get a late summer start with practices with WSU because of course work? PG under 3G is not easy to learn. Also he was playing with half the team with usual lineups split between squads or missing.

Midtgaard - Impressed with passing and, for the most part, defense. Was also pleased to see him "not panic" when he fumbled a ball down low, made a move and scored easily. He was indeed wide open on pick and roll -- the angles between he and Shamet/SHJ will improve with practice.

RBrown - Thought this was a very good first experience for him. Gonna be a stud, only he and coaches know how soon.

Willis - He's already made one more three than last year (I know, it's a scrimmage) but he missed his only attempt last year. Wasn't a black hole, either!!!!

Reaves - Disappointed overall. CF ate his lunch blowing by him. AR is more of a team defense than a one-on-one defender, though, so the split lineup with key parts missing might factor into that. He didn't show point guard skills, at least with those teammates.

Keyser - He is definitely more of a role player than a flashy star. I'm glad he is on my team.

Zone defense - full court: looks to be very good, though disappointed with gold team's recognition and awareness of time. In the frontcourt, it looked like they had just installed it yesterday morning. Again, three major experienced pieces missing and split squad.

Kelly - Oh, that opening threeeeeee! Good ball handling and drive. Didn't notice much else, which for RK is very good sign (doing what he does best without forcing things).

Walk-ons - Malone did some nice things. We know Barney could give a minute or two if need be and won't hurt us. Jury is still out on the others.

Nurger - Good left baseline hook. Couple nice rebounds.l Bodied up on Midtgarrd.Solid effort as we'd expect.

Conner - Couple of nice driving mid-range shots. Couple of nice defensive moves (really improved since he first became a Shocker). Didn't force anything.

[OTR Shockfan]

The whole event Shocker MADDENING could have and SHOULD HAVE been done in an hour and a half TOPS, from soup to nuts
There was nothing wrong with the talent that was showcased, Just wholly awful in the way it was presented. TOTALLY wasted
a great crowd and environment by dragging it out so long. My estimate is there was only about one third of the crowd left when the
scrimmages finally got started. Ridiculous that this took longer than an actual game to attend.

[shocks02]

The whole event Shocker MADDENING could have and SHOULD HAVE been done in an hour and a half TOPS, from soup to nuts
There was nothing wrong with the talent that was showcased, Just wholly awful in the way it was presented. TOTALLY wasted
a great crowd and environment by dragging it out so long. My estimate is there was only about one third of the crowd left when the
scrimmages finally got started. Ridiculous that this took longer than an actual game to attend.

100% agree with this. It's almost painful to attend.

[im4wsu]

The whole event Shocker MADDENING could have and SHOULD HAVE been done in an hour and a half TOPS, from soup to nuts
There was nothing wrong with the talent that was showcased, Just wholly awful in the way it was presented. TOTALLY wasted
a great crowd and environment by dragging it out so long. My estimate is there was only about one third of the crowd left when the
scrimmages finally got started. Ridiculous that this took longer than an actual game to attend.

1. Ditch the DJ
2. Get a sound system that people can understand what noise is produced through it
3. Player introductions - fine, no complaint
4. Coaches talk -- 2 minutes each head coach, IF 2 can be accomplished
5. Rings, line them up, announce the player's names and have Coach/AD present each a ring. Group photo showing rings.
6. three-point four shooters is fine, but no play-off round, most points is champion.
7. Slam dunk. Get it going and one minute is more than enough for each of four dunkers. Top two to final.
8. Player warm-up. Use the practice gym to get warmed up. Three minutes on CKA floor before scrimmage.
9. Women scrimmage Two eight-minute halves running clock (no free throws, award 1 point for 1-and-one and two points for shooting foul)
10. Men's scrimmage. Two eight-minute halves with normal clock operation and free-throws is perfect.

[Triticum aestivum L.]

Echo most of the other thoughts here, liked AM, RN, RK, SHJ, CF and ZB - Malone was even serviceable. Add a healthy LS, SM, MM and AR and we are good to go.

I think Zach Bush is bitter he never won a dunk contest - he gave the other ZB a goose-egg.

The event didn't flow - too long of breaks between events.

We sat on the dance team side - excellent choice!

Most impressive shot was MM SITTING in a chair right next to the scorer's table, lofting a 40+ footer and nailing it. ZB also hit a nice 3 at the buzzer as his dunk time expired.

[shocker43]

Walk-ons - Malone did some nice things. We know Barney could give a minute or two if need be and won't hurt us. Jury is still out on the others.

Honestly, I was more impressed with Malone than I was with Reaves/CJ. Malone ran the offense well, he was very vocal with the the players he was on the court with, and had a nice layup in traffic that got the approval of HCGM.

[ShockBand]

I too thought the flow of the event was horrible. Rings, 3 point contest, and dunk contest should take 45 minutes tops! Then the two scrimmages should take about 45 minutes or so.

And yes, this year's dance team is most talented.

[WstateU]

1. Ditch the DJ
2. Get a sound system that people can understand what noise is produced through it
3. Player introductions - fine, no complaint
4. Coaches talk -- 2 minutes each head coach, IF 2 can be accomplished
5. Rings, line them up, announce the player's names and have Coach/AD present each a ring. Group photo showing rings.
6. three-point four shooters is fine, but no play-off round, most points is champion.
7. Slam dunk. Get it going and one minute is more than enough for each of four dunkers. Top two to final.
8. Player warm-up. Use the practice gym to get warmed up. Three minutes on CKA floor before scrimmage.
9. Women scrimmage Two eight-minute halves running clock (no free throws, award 1 point for 1-and-one and two points for shooting foul)
10. Men's scrimmage. Two eight-minute halves with normal clock operation and free-throws is perfect.

The DJ lost me when he said something about the women bringing home a Championship this season. I'll bet he had no idea UCONN was in our new league. He was 'chalkboard screeching' bad.

[Aargh]

Most impressive shot was MM SITTING in a chair right next to the scorer's table, lofting a 40+ footer and nailing it. ZB also hit a nice 3 at the buzzer as his dunk time expired.

I saw MM's shot and was going to mention it, but with all the other stuff to report, I forgot to mention it. Thx for bringing it up. I thought Brown should have gotten points for his last dunk being a 28-foot "dunk".

[wusphlash]

Based on these comments there should be 20 to 30 more seats available next year. Naaahhhh, you'll all be back. Reminds me of the definition of insanity.

[wichshock65]

I saw MM's shot and was going to mention it, but with all the other stuff to report, I forgot to mention it. Thx for bringing it up. I thought Brown should have gotten points for his last dunk being a 28-foot "dunk".

MM's shot was nothin but nylon. I saw it as well. Very cool!

[Aargh]

Reaves was cleared to play a week ago. Other than that one week, he's been out of action since the end of last season. It might be expected that he'd not be in top form. He started last year about the same way and was doing pretty well by the time the season got going.

I'm not worried.

[wusphlash]

Look at it this way, the team that was out there last night, without Landry, without Markis, without Shaq, would still be favored to win the MVC.