MSU - Post-game thoughts

[RoyalShock]

I noticed a distinct difference in how we were getting into our offense last night. Several times our PG made the first pass just after crossing half-court. We were also running a player up the lane to take the first pass. I thought it helped quite a bit.

Defensively, I would still like to see us play more in-your-face. We give guards enough room to be able set up a drive. Our guards can't drive when a defender is up in their grill.

Our ball-handlers still aren't using screens properly. That shouldn't be a problem at this level. I'd like to see our screeners use the slip-screen more often. Maybe that would help eliminate a few illegal screen fouls.

Great games by Murry and Durley. Kudos to Hawkins for hitting a couple of jumpers. Garrett continues his slide. He has to make progress before next year or JT is going to wear down over the course of the season.

I really want to see more of that Murry, Kyles, Hatch lineup.

[SubGod22]

The only problem with in-your-face D by our guards is that Hannah and Chamberlain can't do too much of that. They're not strong enough or quick enough to do so. With the Murry-Kyles-Hatch lineup I think they should though. And when Kenny gets here next year hopefully we'll see more of it.

I don't know why it's so hard to use a screen. It's quite irritating.

Garrett just needs to get stronger. He looks like he's worn down.

[RoyalShock]

I realize strength and quickness help, but when you give a guy room to turn and face the basket and get his dribble crossed over, you're going to get beat unless you're quick enough to cut off the drive.

I would think playing tighter defense would help mask the lack of quickness.

[SubGod22]

On the flip side, it's also why we struggle with the pressure. We lack the strength to get through it and the quickness to get around it.

[aircap]

Garrett just needs to get stronger. He looks like he's worn down.

I agree. When he came here he was tall with a soft touch which worked well in high school. What he also needed was strength, basketball smarts and quickness and only time, hard work and good coaching will develop those attributes. I think he has hit the freshman wall. He knows what he needs to do to improve his and he knows it will take time. He is as good as he is going to be for this year, and at times that must be discouraging. A lot of time in the weight room in the off season will help a lot. A trip to big man camp this summer would also do a lot for him. Again too bad we could not redshirt him this year.

[Overtime]

Withholding judgement on Garrett...I of course want him to dvelop into the best big man in the valley over time...But thought I would be seeing a tad more flashes by now...Some players get better and some don't and hopefully by next year we will be able to tell which way he is heading...Coach Marshal certainly has a lot invested in him .......

[RoyalShock]

I think Garrett will get better, but my optimism for how much better is more guarded than it was a month ago.

As a comparison, I went back and checked Patrick O'Bryant's freshman stats and was surprised by how good they were. (10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg in 23.1 mpg)

Unless he makes tremendous strides, that's probably the best we can hope from Stutz by his senior year. If he does make great strides, maybe by his junior year.

Next year, I just hope he looks like he belongs out there for 10 minutes a game.

[Shox21]

As much as I love watching Murry play (he is sooooo much fun to watch), I do wish he would wait to shoot his "game winners" until there is only 5 secs on the clock (this still gives us time for a tip in or a put back if he misses), but WILL NOT ALLOW the other team enough time to get down the floor and possibly win. [OKAY, DREAM TIME OVER] I know, let him take the shot whenever, but for cryin' out loud, don't stand in the middle of the floor celebrating while your man runs around you and goes the entire length of the floor and puts up a layup that in all actuality should have gone in --- and then when that shot rolls around the rim one of his teammates gets ANOTHER attempt for a put back. My heart can't take this.

This is the second game (Evansville) that there was time left on the clock and our defense wasn't the best. The only reason we won both games was because the other team didn't execute in those last few second because both Evansville and MSU got not one, but two tries in those waning seconds.

I can just imagine what this board would sound like if while Murry was celebrating, Laurie made the game winner at the other end.

[ShockerKhan]

Garrett needs to get better defensively by improving his foot work and adding strength and muscle.
He is just a step slow and does not anticipate or read the player he is guarding very well.
I fully expect him to improve next year as he works on these issues over the summer. As he becomes more
comfortable on defense I think he will explode on offense. Then when EO arrives in 2010 the Shox will be scary good.

[shockall]

Garrett needs to get better defensively by improving his foot work and adding strength and muscle.
He is just a step slow and does not anticipate or read the player he is guarding very well.
I fully expect him to improve next year as he works on these issues over the summer. As he becomes more
comfortable on defense I think he will explode on offense. Then when EO arrives in 2010 the Shox will be scary good.

GS needs to learn the direction of the game and do a better job of anticipating where he should move to. As I said for the past 5 months, Garrett may appear like he possesses the potential for being a great player, but if he can't exhibit some of them on the floor nearing the end of his freshman year, there is certainly doubt whether he will pan out at all.

For those of you who will want to talk about Paul Miller's first year (after his injury), Paul showed us good progress going into his second playing year.

Almost every player in his height category (Tunnell, O'Bryant, etc.),showed more improvement during their first year than GS. GS should not be the liability to the team that he is at this point in time, and his lack of PT is a result of that.

[1972Shocker]

As much as I love watching Murry play (he is sooooo much fun to watch), I do wish he would wait to shoot his "game winners" until there is only 5 secs on the clock (this still gives us time for a tip in or a put back if he misses), but WILL NOT ALLOW the other team enough time to get down the floor and possibly win. [OKAY, DREAM TIME OVER] I know, let him take the shot whenever, but for cryin' out loud, don't stand in the middle of the floor celebrating while your man runs around you and goes the entire length of the floor and puts up a layup that in all actuality should have gone in --- and then when that shot rolls around the rim one of his teammates gets ANOTHER attempt for a put back. My heart can't take this.

This is the second game (Evansville) that there was time left on the clock and our defense wasn't the best. The only reason we won both games was because the other team didn't execute in those last few second because both Evansville and MSU got not one, but two tries in those waning seconds.

I can just imagine what this board would sound like if while Murry was celebrating, Laurie made the game winner at the other end.

I believe there was 5.1 seconds remaining when Murry made he shot last night so he did what you wanted.

The problem is the game is not over and as you pointed out can't be celebrating until it is. Both Evansville and MSU got great looks at the buzzer because the Shocks put up little resistance defensively after taking the lead. Shocks very, very lucky to win these games even with Murry's heroics. Hopefully, HCGM uses these lapses as a teaching tool. However, the lesson was not apparently learned after the Evansville game because we had the same breakdown at the end last night.

Glad to have the win, but a lot of good luck has gone into these two last second wins, although I guess that's somewhat normal. The big plus of these two wins was our late game comebacks to put us in position to have good fortune shine on us. The bad news is we had to have the come from behind rallies to be in position to win. While exciting I still prefer the dominating wins such as our home win over Drake.

:goshocks:

[shocks771]

As much as I love watching Murry play (he is sooooo much fun to watch), I do wish he would wait to shoot his "game winners" until there is only 5 secs on the clock (this still gives us time for a tip in or a put back if he misses), but WILL NOT ALLOW the other team enough time to get down the floor and possibly win. [OKAY, DREAM TIME OVER]

I disagree Shox21. In both the Evansville and Missouri State games we were down by two points. In those situations I think a team should take the first good look they get whether it be a two or a three. If you take that first good look and happen to miss it, then you have enough time to foul the other team and possibly get another chance to tie the game on your next possession. Your suggestion for waiting longer would only apply in tie games in my opinion. If Murry waits longer and happens to miss (which hopefully won't happen in his WSU career) we lose if we don't get the rebound. Just my thoughts on the issue.

[Ricardo del Rio]

As much as I love watching Murry play (he is sooooo much fun to watch), I do wish he would wait to shoot his "game winners" until there is only 5 secs on the clock (this still gives us time for a tip in or a put back if he misses), but WILL NOT ALLOW the other team enough time to get down the floor and possibly win. [OKAY, DREAM TIME OVER] I know, let him take the shot whenever, but for cryin' out loud, don't stand in the middle of the floor celebrating while your man runs around you and goes the entire length of the floor and puts up a layup that in all actuality should have gone in --- and then when that shot rolls around the rim one of his teammates gets ANOTHER attempt for a put back. My heart can't take this.

This is the second game (Evansville) that there was time left on the clock and our defense wasn't the best. The only reason we won both games was because the other team didn't execute in those last few second because both Evansville and MSU got not one, but two tries in those waning seconds.

I can just imagine what this board would sound like if while Murry was celebrating, Laurie made the game winner at the other end.

Bradley got two shots and made the last one....the winner.

[Ricardo del Rio]

As much as I love watching Murry play (he is sooooo much fun to watch), I do wish he would wait to shoot his "game winners" until there is only 5 secs on the clock (this still gives us time for a tip in or a put back if he misses), but WILL NOT ALLOW the other team enough time to get down the floor and possibly win. [OKAY, DREAM TIME OVER]

I disagree Shox21. In both the Evansville and Missouri State games we were down by two points. In those situations I think a team should take the first good look they get whether it be a two or a three. If you take that first good look and happen to miss it, then you have enough time to foul the other team and possibly get another chance to tie the game on your next possession. Your suggestion for waiting longer would only apply in tie games in my opinion. If Murry waits longer and happens to miss (which hopefully won't happen in his WSU career) we lose if we don't get the rebound. Just my thoughts on the issue.

I think I agree with you.

With 5 seconds remaining, I would have not been opposed to a Shocker timeout to set the defense. While not necessarily preventing a shot on goal, it would have probably forced a long shot.

Of course, upon reflection and given MSU's 3 ball success last night, it might not have been such a good idea.

Let's face it, we got lucky. I am still not sure how the driver missed the easy shot.

By the way, did anyone notice Murray's photo in the sports section this morning? It looked like his jersey was being ripped off as he was releasing his winning 3 ball shot.

[1972Shocker]

I think Garrett will get better, but my optimism for how much better is more guarded than it was a month ago.

As a comparison, I went back and checked Patrick O'Bryant's freshman stats and was surprised by how good they were. (10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg in 23.1 mpg)

Unless he makes tremendous strides, that's probably the best we can hope from Stutz by his senior year. If he does make great strides, maybe by his junior year.

Next year, I just hope he looks like he belongs out there for 10 minutes a game.

I'm with Royal here. Very hard to say whether Garrett has the base athleticism needed to develop into a servicable D-1 player. I'm hoping he does, but so far I see little evidence that he does. No doubt he can and will get stronger. Whether or not he can develop adequate quickness and athleticism remains to be seen. He does have a nice touch for a big man.

Right now I kind of feel for the kid. When he is inserted into the lineup you can just see the big guys on the opposing team salivating for a chance to attack him.

Personally, I don't see him fitting the mold of the typical HCGM preferred recruit of long and athletic and, if EO shows up and HCGM can continue to recruit those kinds of players in the 6'8" range then Garrett may struggle for playing time at WSU.

I hope I am totally wrong about this.