MSU vs WSU Game thread

[pogo]

This is a pretty funny thread. There are some that like the doc says won't be happy until the team wins a national championship and has a perfect season and blows everyone out. From watching this game in person this was a very physical game, make no mistake about it. MSU's defense consisted of alot of pushing and grabbing and did not get called for it much. It figures because thats the way they play in conference just like SIU gets away with it. There were at least three occassions where shockers literally were held by their jerseys as they tried to get by their man to get open. No Call. Alot of serious bumping to disrupt routes and still no call. The shocks seldom got the benefit of these same no calls. The offense was not crisp but that was because of MSU. MSU came out at the half a much more physical team than we were. I think some it was fatigue as the half wore on. All in all I believe these guys are coming together and supporting each other from the bench. Was the offense painful to watch at times, yes, but again that was due in large part to the physical defense that was played against them. Our defense had some lapses but MSU could not keep capitalizing off of the same lapses without adustments being made. MSU is a veteran team and have two fifth year seniors to help lead them. WSU had two freshman, a juco x-fer, a sophomore and a senior. After a handful of games they have improved from where they started. The games already played are history, no amount of replaying them in threads will change the outcome. The only thing you can expect is that the people in charge and those that will have to execute the plays can grow from them. All in all I think our young men will grow from these games and after all is said and done they are "our" young men representing the school we love. Go Shox

[Ksedg]

I completely agree with Arrrrg how can anyone not be thrilled with these young mens' effort this week. They played their butts off. They were up against some of the most talented teams in the country - and they did not give up!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was proud to walk out of that arena today.

[ShoxFan45]

I just want your opinion on our offense thus far.

I never said it should be a Top 20, Top 50, or Top 100 type offense right now. I just want your thoughts.

Do you really think we were close to beating these teams based on our skills or the opponents' shortcomings.. ?

Some of you guys..

I don't understand how anyone can claim to know anything about our offense yet. I think that it is unlikely that Wichita State can come within 8 points of two top 20 teams by just lucking out that Gtown and MSU had horrible games.

I guess everytime WSU gets a win its because the other team sucked. That sounds an awful lot like my KU friends who are just haters.

The offense hasn't looked great. But it hasn't looked horrible. I've seen guards making some tough shots, I've seen JT and others draw some fouls and get good looks.

The problem is consistency. It's 6 games into the season with a very young team. These guys are just learning how to play with each other. I have seen ability from all of them at one point in time so far. They need to put it all together. I could imagine things being MUCH worse at this point of the season. I don't think that's sugarcoating anything. Consistency is the key.

[1972Shocker]

The bottom line to me is did the Shocks outperform or underperform your expectations going into the Tournament.

I think the Shocks did as well and, in most cases, better than its own fans were expecting going in. In my case, they significantly outperformed my expectations.

No it was not the prettiest basketball you will ever see, but that wasn't solely determined by the Shocks in a vacuum. There were other teams and some officials that impact the flow of a game.

All in all I think it was a positive experience for a young and improving Shocker team. Hopefully, they will put this tournament experience to good use going forward.

It will be interesting to see how we do in the upcoming road games at Texas Tech and TCU.

:goshocks:

[capnkirk]

I didn't think we could win a game in Orlando(none of the media did either). With so many new players this year and being so young I was just hoping they would keep the scores respectable. Not only did they accomplish this, they beat a very good Siena team, and played toe to toe with not one, but 2 top 20 teams. Do they have work to do? Definately! If your optimism for this team hasn't increased after this weekends games, then I don't know what will.

[ABC]

Anybody watching Georgetown blow out Maryland?

Our offense needs work; there's no doubt about it.

But we clearly are doing much better at this point than most anyone expected.

An eight point loss to the #6 team in the country and the #16 team in the country isn't too bad. And yes, KCShox, there are moral victories.

The entire subject of moral victories probably deserves its own thread. Of course there are moral victories.

[forevershockerfan]

Weww!!! We were called the surprise of the Tourney. We played 3 ranked teams and never got blown out or punked. Does that mean we can steam-roll the rest of the teams we play from here? Not at all However, we will not be a bottom-feeder in the Valley this year as predicted either. We will shock some folk and we will take a few shots to the chin as well.

Here is what I noticed. Our interior defense was suspect today. The football mentality type game that was allowed today did not favor our style either. However, this tourney did show that this young team can compete and plays hard. If we can get our inside game rolling, then our outside game could become lethal. As good as Hannah scored, I think Chamberlain will have his moments as well. I still think AJ will come around and JT is playing better than last year. JT needs to keep the 3 point shooting to a mild roar.

[1979Shocker]

Does anyone know why Kyles didn't play?

[shocks02]

I know it's kind of a long shot but it'd be nice to see Clevin make the all tournament team.

[forevershockerfan]

This may already have been noticed but right now I do not have time to read 300 plus posts cause I am bailing for a spell. However, did you ShockerNetters notice how nervous the Michigan State bench looked and how excited they got when they finally started getting the game under control at the end? You would have thought they were beating North Carolina or something. All of the ranked teams we played new they were in a dog-fight!!! We did very good with the National exposure we received!!!! And THAT was very cool!!!!!!! Can u dig it??? :D

[tropicalshox]

IMO it's not that much of a long shot. He has a chance.

Marshall's substitution pattern was much different in this game. Pretty much a 7 man rotation, plus Chamberlain getting a handful of minutes. It's my guess that Kyles didn't play because Marshall kept to playing the top six more.

[Denny Crane]

Okay a couple of minor observations and comments:

1. Clevin Hannah can score. He was a big time scorer in high school against good competition. The only reason he didn't put more points up at Chipola is because he had a bunch of other egos to feed. When I watched him play last year, I swear he was only one of about three guys in their rotation that didn't have a shot first mentality.

2. Anybody that watched Marshall's Winthrop team play Tennessee in Charlotte in 2006 saw an almost identical game plan to what they witnessed this tournament. Granted our skill sets aren't there yet, but that strategy of milking the clock is how the coach
plays with the big boys...until we start getting 4 and 5 five star players, it will continue when we play Top 20 teams, so get used to it. Frankly, it gives us the best chance to win and stay competitive, so anyone that doesn't like it, can go watch old tapes of Loyola Marymount and Paul Westhead to get their jollies.

3. I swear either Ed Hightower follows us around or the referee pool is incredibly shallow.

4. Orupke would have made a difference on the defensive end in this tournament. Don't you agree Cold?

[DUShock]

Anybody watching Georgetown blow out Maryland?

Our offense needs work; there's no doubt about it.

But we clearly are doing much better at this point than most anyone expected.

An eight point loss to the #6 team in the country and the #16 team in the country isn't too bad. And yes, KCShox, there are moral victories.

The entire subject of moral victories probably deserves its own thread. Of course there are moral victories.

What ABC said :good:

Wear your shades Shocker fans!

Go Shocks!!!!

[shocksrbest]

I don't understand why some are dissapointed in the Shockers showing this game or weekend. In reading the predictions for the game, many thought the Shocks were going to get blown out of this game and it simply didn't happen.

I am very proud of the performance of each game. I didn't count on any victories this weekend but was thrilled in getting one...and being very competitive in the other two.

This bodes well for the rest of the year and the Valley. I, for one, am excited about the prospects for the rest of the year and look forward to following the team and it's progress each game.

[pogo]

:good: What Denny said.