Just curious........

[notquiteBWing]

i'd like to keep hatch along, just for the way that he doesn't seem to care how many minutes he gets. while was the big deal in high school and probably would like to get as many minutes as possible here too. Hatch seems most content to do whatever it takes.

[SubGod22]

He's the ultimate team player and will do whatever is asked of him. And I think has the character to be a team leader in the future.

[Ashockalypse]

I don't mind getting hammered for this opinion, but, it seems to me a bit strange that people come on this forum and , with hope and anticipation watch the recruiting effort and then, instead of pointing out their opinion of the technical reasons for a player's shortcomings, which a player might agree with or not, instead say things like "it would not hurt my feelings if Hatch doesn't come back" or any number of the caustic things about Durley's person(versus playing style or ability)  that have been said.  I am sure the prospective recruits aren't attracted by those comments.  Call me a Kool Aid drinker or whatever (By the way, it wasn't the kool aid that killed the people) but this doesn't seem to make sense.  Now to follow...diatribes about people being cheerleaders versus realists.....I was there every step of the way through the 60s,70s, 80s,90s and now,  I know a little bit about "realism". I think a lot of people drink the Lutz Kool Aid. :D

[The Mad Hatter]

I don't mind getting hammered for this opinion, but, it seems to me a bit strange that people come on this forum and , with hope and anticipation watch the recruiting effort and then, instead of pointing out their opinion of the technical reasons for a player's shortcomings, which a player might agree with or not, instead say things like "it would not hurt my feelings if Hatch doesn't come back" or any number of the caustic things about Durley's person(versus playing style or ability)  that have been said.  I am sure the prospective recruits aren't attracted by those comments.  Call me a Kool Aid drinker or whatever (By the way, it wasn't the kool aid that killed the people) but this doesn't seem to make sense.  Now to follow...diatribes about people being cheerleaders versus realists.....I was there every step of the way through the 60s,70s, 80s,90s and now,  I know a little bit about "realism". I think a lot of people drink the Lutz Kool Aid. :D

I absolutely agree with you. Good first post, glad to have you around.

[TDSHOX]

Because they are FANatics and this is a forum..

[BostonWu]

Agreed with your post except for the part about scaring off recruits by things said on here. You need to keep in mind that

a) If a recruit is scared off by fan message boards well the program really never had a legit shot to begin with (I'd also question the recruit's mental capacity and/or decision making skills)

and

b) Pretty much fans on every message board say the same things.

[im4wsu]

Agreed with your post except for the part about scaring off recruits by things said on here. You need to keep in mind that

a) If a recruit is scared off by fan message boards well the program really never had a legit shot to begin with (I'd also question the recruit's mental capacity and/or decision making skills)

and

b) Pretty much fans on every message board say the same things.

Agree with both points. A lot of studies have been done which show that individuals in all walks of life perform better when all aspects of their life are going well. Less stress=better performance. Happy attitude=better performance. Good health=better performance. Success breeds confidence=better performance. Just sayin the current plays don't need to read these types of comments either. That just makes the coaches' task more difficult, trying to keep everything in the players' mind a positive.

[WSUwatcher]

I have been on vacation for awhile. Help me understand.

Why is there optimism that Wilkens will sign with the Shockers, given the level of competing schools?

Looks to me like just some bored speculation, Ricky. We don't know for sure that he's 2008, or that he'll be cleared, or that he has any serious interest in WSU; we also have no evidence that WSU would have a spot open for him in any event -- just more bored speculation on possible scenarios (and an opportunity for some folks to vent about Hatch).

[shockall]

What has to be remembered is that there are talented basketball recruits and talented, durable recruits out there. Most times, the larger schools will garner the talented and durable players, leaving only the talented players (less some durability) for the smaller schools.

Take Paul Miller for example. His is an example of a durable player that probably didn't have all the basketball moves of the higher regarded players in the country......but he was durable, and therefore lent as much, if not more, success to the team than some flashy talent that spent injury time on the bench.

To find players with extreme talent & extreme durability may not be as easy as some may think.

The summer practices are not harder than they were last year, or the year before, it's just that there are so many new, young players who have not played at this level before, and are getting their durability level tested. Many of them are building brand new bodies, and need to learn how to cope with their new shapes. Let's hope they learn how to become more durable by October.

[calfan]

It's the end of July. 'm not concerned right now. The injuries are to players who have been here for a year. If it were the new guys, I might be more concerned. if we were in November, I might be more concerned.

Have a great day, and go watch some of the new kids that are going to have a good future at WSU for years to come.

[wsu789]

I'm not sure how to define or quantify durability, but Paul Miller redshirted his freshman year due to a broken foot, as I recall.

[SpanglerFan316]

The summer practices are not harder than they were last year, or the year before, it's just that there are so many new, young players who have not played at this level before, and are getting their durability level tested. Many of them are building brand new bodies, and need to learn how to cope with their new shapes. Let's hope they learn how to become more durable by October.

Did Ramon Clemente train as hard during the summer of 2007 as he did, before illness, during the summer of 2008? My guess is "no."

Mantas is just recovering from surgery and has not played. Did AJ play at all this summer? I'm not sure about JT and his level of effort playing this summer; I recall reports of JT blocking a few of EO's dunk attempts and this sounds, at a minimum, like an occasional high level of effort.

My conclusion is that your comment "The summer practices are not harder than they were last year" is incorrect. I'm interested in hearing the comments of people who watched summer play both last year and this year.

[wu_shizzle]

I'm interested in hearing the comments of people who watched summer play both last year and this year.

As someone who watched summer pickup ball the last few years, this summer's crew is bigger, more athletic and deeper.

The talent drop off after the starting 5 was noticeable last year, and here we are debating which freshman will get the most starts. Huge arrow pointing up.

[shockall]

..4th year of watching Shox in summer pickup games. The games have not changed......still the same intensity as in prior years......Not at all representative of what takes place in a real season game...(Gee....I think I remember Cameron Ledford telling some new players those words about 4 years ago).

I won't pretend to judge these player's talents or durability based on summer pick-up games....nor will the current coaches.

[Ricky Del Rio]

The summer practices are not harder than they were last year, or the year before, it's just that there are so many new, young players who have not played at this level before, and are getting their durability level tested. Many of them are building brand new bodies, and need to learn how to cope with their new shapes. Let's hope they learn how to become more durable by October.

Did Ramon Clemente train as hard during the summer of 2007 as he did, before illness, during the summer of 2008? My guess is "no."

Mantas is just recovering from surgery and has not played. Did AJ play at all this summer? I'm not sure about JT and his level of effort playing this summer; I recall reports of JT blocking a few of EO's dunk attempts and this sounds, at a minimum, like an occasional high level of effort.

My conclusion is that your comment "The summer practices are not harder than they were last year" is incorrect. I'm interested in hearing the comments of people who watched summer play both last year and this year.

Much harder in the context of better athletes and more competition and better competition and more skilled players. Just better all around. Size, speed, athleticism and skill.