Start of Valley play.

[gamefan]

With the way things are shaping up this year so far, it's good to know that the Shockers young basketball team can run with teams like Georgetown and Michigan St. It really makes me wonder what all the Valley teams are thinking after Michigan St. dismantled Texas and Georgetown reached that #12 ranking. Obviously these young Shockers can run with giants, they just have alot to learn. I'm not too concerned about WSU and the Valley this season. Considering last seasons performance, us being picked to finish 9th in MVC and all the frustration that went on as the Shockers lost to all those big schools; there's alot for WSU to prove in the Valley this year. And for some reason, it just seems like thier going to prove alot.

[DUShock]

We're headed into round 2 of a 3 round season which means every team in the Valley has a clean slate. Teams will now jockey for seedings in Round 3. Round 3, the only round of true significance due to the automatic birth to the Dance.

Sunday night I will either be snuggled soundly in bed after a confident Shocker showing or I'll be fetal on the couch clutching my empty bottle of chianti after a pathetic display. As Shakespeare wrote in Julius Ceaser "Men are masters of their own fate"...

[Aargh]

So far the Shox have been inconsistent. We expected that. So far they've had a kinda bad habit of playing to the level of the competition.

Maybe I'm Debbie Downer, but I expect MichSt and Gtown were also playing to the level of the competition.

WSU has a lot of players who can have a good game on any given night. I even include Durley and Stutz in that group. WSU needs at least 3 guys having a good night on the same night. That hasn't happened often this season.

[fuball7]

So far the Shox have been inconsistent. We expected that. So far they've had a kinda bad habit of playing to the level of the competition.

Maybe I'm Debbie Downer, but I expect MichSt and Gtown were also playing to the level of the competition.

WSU has a lot of players who can have a good game on any given night. I even include Durley and Stutz in that group. WSU needs at least 3 guys having a good night on the same night. That hasn't happened often this season.

What do you mean you include durley and stutz in that group? i feel most comfortable when JT is on the court over about everybody. He has been playing well and playing his tail off. I have been extremely pleased with JT.

[shocker22]

So far the Shox have been inconsistent. We expected that. So far they've had a kinda bad habit of playing to the level of the competition.

Maybe I'm Debbie Downer, but I expect MichSt and Gtown were also playing to the level of the competition.

WSU has a lot of players who can have a good game on any given night. I even include Durley and Stutz in that group. WSU needs at least 3 guys having a good night on the same night. That hasn't happened often this season.

What do you mean you include durley and stutz in that group? i feel most comfortable when JT is on the court over about everybody. He has been playing well and playing his tail off. I have been extremely pleased with JT.

i AGREE jt HAS BEEN PLAYING MUCH BETTER AND IS MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THE BOARDS. HE DESERVES SOME MORE MINUTES TO SEE IF HE CAN KEEP THE INTENSITY UP!

[fuball7]

So far the Shox have been inconsistent. We expected that. So far they've had a kinda bad habit of playing to the level of the competition.

Maybe I'm Debbie Downer, but I expect MichSt and Gtown were also playing to the level of the competition.

WSU has a lot of players who can have a good game on any given night. I even include Durley and Stutz in that group. WSU needs at least 3 guys having a good night on the same night. That hasn't happened often this season.

What do you mean you include durley and stutz in that group? i feel most comfortable when JT is on the court over about everybody. He has been playing well and playing his tail off. I have been extremely pleased with JT.

i AGREE jt HAS BEEN PLAYING MUCH BETTER AND IS MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THE BOARDS. HE DESERVES SOME MORE MINUTES TO SEE IF HE CAN KEEP THE INTENSITY UP!

I think his minutes are probably right where they need to be right now. he still gets fatigued pretty quick when he gives that much effort. However, I am much happier with him giving 18-20 hard minutes, than trying to pace himself for 30. Hopefully he gets to the point where he can give 30 hard minutes but i think marshall and him know hes not there yet.

[WuDrWu]

I must have missed these games.

[Shox21]

I must have missed these games.

You and me both. Granted, Durley has done better of late, but far, far less than what we expected of him by now. At this rate, if he keeps getting better each game, maybe by mid-February he will show us all the potential most of us expected of him before now. Don't get me wrong --I'm not down on Durley -- just expected more. My mother always told me patience was not one of my virtues.

[shocker22]

If you watch him, you can tell he is starting to get it. I think he will continue to improve and be very good by the end of the season. I just wish we could get the ball to him a little easier in the post.

[vancedave56]

Posting up more often will help with this.

[shocker22]

Posting up more often will help with this.

I see Stutz, JT, and Clemente posting up alot, however our guards can't get them the ball. Our interior passing is horrible.

[Aargh]

Posting up more often will help with this.

I see Stutz, JT, and Clemente posting up alot, however our guards can't get them the ball. Our interior passing is horrible.

Defenders are backing off our guards a bit and clogging up the middle. We're seeing a lot of zone . When the ball does go inside, our opponents have seen film. They go for the ball.

It gets a little discouraging to pass the ball inside when it ends up meaning you have to sprint to the other end of the court. Sometimes it's the passing. Quite often it's the catching.

[fuball7]

Posting up more often will help with this.

I see Stutz, JT, and Clemente posting up alot, however our guards can't get them the ball. Our interior passing is horrible.

Defenders are backing off our guards a bit and clogging up the middle. We're seeing a lot of zone . When the ball does go inside, our opponents have seen film. They go for the ball.

It gets a little discouraging to pass the ball inside when it ends up meaning you have to sprint to the other end of the court. Sometimes it's the passing. Quite often it's the catching.

defenders can do this when you shoot 2 of 16 or 3 of 17 from 3s. thats not really a threat.

[shockerfan]

Until we do better than 9th in the Valley in 3 point % we will see ALOT of zone and will struggle getting it to our post players.

[fuball7]

I must have missed these games.

if you have missed the last two games then yes you might have. he has gotten very strong ovations from the crowds because of the effort he is giving.