Combined Record of Shocker Opponents This Season

[forevershockerfan]

Let an eternal optimist take a whack at this. Our schedule is what it is. However, we are an obvious improved team this Season. Our quality depth is much better. Next, can you name one returning player that has not improved their game since last Season? This past summer resulted in hard work by all of our players that is now paying dividends. Therefore, we Will win more games this Season. We Will still be a tough team to beat at home both in and out of Valley games. The question is, how tough will we be on the road in the Valley? We will be improved on the road, but how much better and successful? Isn't it high time to start sweeping the Creighton's of the world? Solid teams don't beat themself, but rather you have to just take the win from them by outplaying them to the final buzzer and hope the time-keeper flips the stinkin switch on time!!! Northern Iowa returns quite a solid team. However, they will not have a 'cake walk' to the Valley Title. The Valley is up for grabs and several teams have a great shot at it including the Shocks.

From jump street, I predicted us to win around 21 overall games and land around 3rd-4th in the Valley. If we do better, FSF will NOT be the least surprised. This is what I hope for in the long run. I want this team to peak come Valley Tourney time and take St. Louie by storm. We are due but are we a Season away from such happenings? Mr. Hannah can't wait and we Shocker fans don't want to either!!! Either way, this Shocker team is improving and this process will continue!!! The Shocks are INDEED a Program on the rise!!!!!!! Now That is exciting!!! Stay tuned!!!!!!!

[shockfan89_]

I think we have looked good this past week but it would be hard not to. What worries me is we didn't look good at all against Pitt, which is the only good team we have played.

If we contine to play well against better competition, I agree we are on the right track and the future looks bright. It is just hard to gauge anything when playing against the competition we have faced thus far.

We need to realize there will be ups and downs this year. Next year I think those will start to smooth out. What I would really like to see is WSU compete for a top 3 or top 4 MVC finish year after year. Then we will be a program on the rise. Right now we are a program with excitement about our potential.

[shockall]

If I am following everyone's logic, the more successful we become, the harder the scheduling and added pud teams in future years? I'm not sure I follow that logic.

I would hate to think that our success 3 years ago still chokes our staff from being able to schedule a few more advanced teams, even if they are 2 for 1's, etc.

The empty seats you see are a result of the competition we have coming into our house. I would hate to see additional attendance drops due to scheduling in coming years. There is a lot of talk in that direction being heard.

[tropicalshox]

I was disappointed to hear Marshall say that WSU wants to have 4 buy home games a year. I doubt if we get UAB quality teams to come in as a buy very often. It pretty much assures 4 cupcakes.

[ShockerFever]

It is disappointing. At least get buy teams that are in the Top 200, even 250 RPI. The SWAC opponents are just ridiculous.

I think we're too much into win-padding. With a good team next year, we could put ourselves into Illinois State's position and not able to capitalize off of it with a weak schedule.

[forevershockerfan]

In terms of future scheduling, I like the logic of ShockerFever. We will have a solid team next Season. This seems to be the 'ripe time' to pencil in the best teams we can find, especially if we get on the tube. Maybe teams such as Syracuse have a 1 and done opening? Let's take such risks and break some hearts along the way while on TV and laugh all the way to the bank. Cupcakes at home will only force us to win the Valley Tourney each year to be assured of attending the Dance. Help me to remember if my memory is accurate. When Patrick Ewing and his star recruiting class came to Georgetown, wasn't that their approach to get TV exposure with a team that could upend good teams, even with road games? We will get better by playing the best teams possible as often as possible and it should also help us in our already improved recruiting process.

[1972Shocker]

I'm glad the extended exhibition seasson is over. Although we can't really be sure what we have at this point due to the weak schedule, we have taken care of the the cupcakes pretty decisively. We did not look that good against Pitt, but then again we did not have Clevin avalialbe for that game which was a significant factor.

What we do know is that we have done nothing so far that will help us this year if we end up on the bubble for an NCAA invite. In fact, this schedule could be viewed as a bubble-buster. I think we are in the bottom 10% of D-1 teams for SOS.

As far as scheduling goes I would gladly give up a couple of home games against sub-par competition even if we have to take a one-sided deal with a Top 50 program or home-and-home deals with as many Top 150 programs as possible.