Shocks V. Panthers Gamethread

[shockar25]

I hope this L doesn't take the wind out of our sails..

Any road game is no pushover for this team. For all we know, we could hand Evansville their first win of the year.

And it's actually 4 out of 7 at home, counting Utah State, which is the most important game remaining.

We have to take care of business, but I like our chances. Like Kennedy said in the postgame--this is a much improved team on the road from the one that lost at Drake.

I'll bet on us. Utah State will be the biggest challenge, and to say it will be a challenge is a bit of an understatement, but I still think we can and will prevail. The main thing is maintain 2nd place and win in St. Louis. Utah State is not going to get us an at-large in my opinion. Given the history of the NCAA selection committee and their bias-ness toward the 'big conferences', if we pin our hopes on beating Utah State in the hopes of an at-large (even if we win out the other games before St. Louis) is at best wishful thinking and at worst setting us up for a Miss. State type let-down (2006 is what I'm thinking).

With that said, I still think we can win all of them. Realistically, we'll drop one at least, and I would rather that be Utah State than a conference game or a game in St. Louis.

[Aargh]

I read every post in this thread. There were a lot of posts that don't indicate a lot of understanding of what's going on.

When the season started, WSU had the 800-pound gorilla in the room that was the inability to play effectively on the road. By early February, WSU has progressed to the point where they are competitive with a top-25 team on the road.

A W would have been nice, and there are no moral victories, but there is progress as a team and it's obvious that has happened.

The no call on Murry's shot? What makes anyone think that suddenly the ball was going to drop and WSU was gonna make 3 consecutive throws? You can't blame this one on the refs or the last minute. The game was left on the boards and on the FT line.

It's great to see the Shox come out with a pretty decent all-around game on the road. It looked worse than that, but when UNI and WSU play, the games are going to look ugly. It's the nature of how both teams play. This was something we couldn't have expected at the beginning of the season, so the team and players are progressing better than we expected.

The CU and DU games are the L's that should have been W's, but try to find a season without any of those.

[hizzshock]

Couple Thoughts....

This is a really tough game to swallow. I mean come on, make some free throws.... But that being said we did outplay them in my opinion... This game makes me more confident that if somehow we meet up in the Lou, we will beat them.

I didn't enjoy the last shot too much, and maybe he did get a hand on the elbow, but the drive was pretty open to tie up the game. This game won't get the guys down, I dont think Marshall will let that happen...

It was nice to see Murry hitting some shots, because we will need him to start scoring if we want to win up in STL.

That is all I got for today, and we better come to play Saturday! Keep your heads up people!

:goshocks:

[ShockerFever]

We have to take care of business, but I like our chances. Like Kennedy said in the postgame--this is a much improved team on the road from the one that lost at Drake.

I'll bet on us. Utah State will be the biggest challenge, and to say it will be a challenge is a bit of an understatement, but I still think we can and will prevail. The main thing is maintain 2nd place and win in St. Louis. Utah State is not going to get us an at-large in my opinion. Given the history of the NCAA selection committee and their bias-ness toward the 'big conferences', if we pin our hopes on beating Utah State in the hopes of an at-large (even if we win out the other games before St. Louis) is at best wishful thinking and at worst setting us up for a Miss. State type let-down (2006 is what I'm thinking).

With that said, I still think we can win all of them. Realistically, we'll drop one at least, and I would rather that be Utah State than a conference game or a game in St. Louis.

If we only shoot 58% from the charity stripe the rest of the way, we'll be lucky to avoid Thursday. While we improved in some areas tonight, we lacked in others.. particularly rebounding, obviously FT shooting, and shot selection (especially towards the end). The shot selection was in part blamed for UNI's D.

The difference between us and Missouri State is several things.
1. MSU coasted to the finish in 06. If we win out, we would be on fire.
2. MSU lost in the quarterfinals in 06. If we made the finals, that would be a huge difference, assuming we're playing UNI.
3. MSU was competing for a 5th bid from this conference. We would only be 2. Not quite the stretch.

I don't think the above scenario is going to happen anyways, but at least we can actually talk about it this year.

[WSUwatcher]

Yes!

"Kinda scary how sCUm is just one game back now.."

Actually, Fever, that's a good place for them. Is there anyone here who doesn't hope the Shocks and Creighton finish 2-3 in the league -- and if so, why? I'd take that ticket to the finals (assuming WSU doesn't overlook whoever ends up #7 in their first game) in a heartbeat.

[shockar25]

We have to take care of business, but I like our chances. Like Kennedy said in the postgame--this is a much improved team on the road from the one that lost at Drake.

I'll bet on us. Utah State will be the biggest challenge, and to say it will be a challenge is a bit of an understatement, but I still think we can and will prevail. The main thing is maintain 2nd place and win in St. Louis. Utah State is not going to get us an at-large in my opinion. Given the history of the NCAA selection committee and their bias-ness toward the 'big conferences', if we pin our hopes on beating Utah State in the hopes of an at-large (even if we win out the other games before St. Louis) is at best wishful thinking and at worst setting us up for a Miss. State type let-down (2006 is what I'm thinking).

With that said, I still think we can win all of them. Realistically, we'll drop one at least, and I would rather that be Utah State than a conference game or a game in St. Louis.

If we only shoot 58% from the charity stripe the rest of the way, we'll be lucky to avoid Thursday. While we improved in some areas tonight, we lacked in others.. particularly rebounding, obviously FT shooting, and shot selection (especially towards the end). The shot selection was in part blamed for UNI's D.

The difference between us and Missouri State is several things.
1. MSU coasted to the finish in 06. If we win out, we would be on fire.
2. MSU lost in the quarterfinals in 06. If we made the finals, that would be a huge difference, assuming we're playing UNI.
3. MSU was competing for a 5th bid from this conference. We would only be 2. Not quite the stretch.

I don't think the above scenario is going to happen anyways, but at least we can actually talk about it this year.

I hope you're right on our chances should we win and reach the finals, but my gut tells me the only way we get 2 teams in from the MVC is if someone else wins the tourney than UNI, and if that isn't us (finals or not) I don't see us getting in. Don't get me wrong--I would love it.

I think I was more thinking of getting so hyped on making it and getting DISAPPOINTED like Missouri State did. Other than the potential emotional devastation, the similarities actually aren't very acute.

Call me crazy, but the free throw situation isn't going to bite us much in the future. It was just incredibly bad timing. Championship teams make those shots. 2nd place teams don't always make the big free throws when they matter the most. We aren't and won't be the MVC champs.

Looking ahead... we sign a solid point guard and our roles (UNI and ours) will likely be reversed next season.

[fairbanksfan]

Utah State on now for those who may not know. Impressive atmosphere in my opinion.

[WSUShokker]

Northern Iowa #22 11-1 20-2
Wichita State 8-4 19-5
Creighton 7-5 12-11
Illinois State 6-6 15-8
Indiana State 6-6 14-9
Bradley 6-6 11-11
Drake 6-6 11-13
Missouri State 5-7 15-8
Southern Illinois 5-7 13-9
Evansville 0-12 6-16

Wow, what a mess.

Kinda scary how sCUm is just one game back now..

From an outsider's perspective there is a clear dominant in this league. WSU is now meshed in with the sCUm's and everybody else. There is NO way we're getting an at-large now unless we go unblemished til Sunday in St. Louis and UNI flops on a couple of games.

Yeah not pretty. There should be more distance between us and scum. I think it will look a lot more apparent at the end of the year. Going to go watch USU and see how they look tonight.

[ShockRef]

I read every post in this thread. There were a lot of posts that don't indicate a lot of understanding of what's going on.

When the season started, WSU had the 800-pound gorilla in the room that was the inability to play effectively on the road. By early February, WSU has progressed to the point where they are competitive with a top-25 team on the road.

A W would have been nice, and there are no moral victories, but there is progress as a team and it's obvious that has happened.

The no call on Murry's shot? What makes anyone think that suddenly the ball was going to drop and WSU was gonna make 3 consecutive throws? You can't blame this one on the refs or the last minute. The game was left on the boards and on the FT line.

It's great to see the Shox come out with a pretty decent all-around game on the road. It looked worse than that, but when UNI and WSU play, the games are going to look ugly. It's the nature of how both teams play. This was something we couldn't have expected at the beginning of the season, so the team and players are progressing better than we expected.

The CU and DU games are the L's that should have been W's, but try to find a season without any of those.

A reasonable and unemotional post.
Thank you.

KC11 is still upset the officials didn't help WSU win the game.
He probably expected the officials to shoot the FT's for WSU, so they could have a 'do over' in case they missed some.

If you don't rebound and miss 7-8 FT's when the game is on the line, don't look around the arena for a convenient excuse to make it feel better.

The team lost the game, not the officials.

Learn from it and move forward. 8)

[WuDrWu]

Ouch...that was tough to stomach.

IF, I say again, IF the guys learn from tonight then they will be a handful come March, and not just for the other Valley teams.

'Fever, honest question; why is USU the most important game the rest of the way? You don't think we have any chance for an at large (I don't either fwiw).....it seems to me that either of our Valley road games would be the most important....just sayin.

While the USU game might be the BEST game until St. Louis, I happen to think right now it is the least important. Maybe it's just me.

No doubt the guys have to wear this loss. Getting out toughed on the boards and missing free throws doesn't cut it, period. I did like our fight and aside from the T and JT's terrible shot at the end, I liked our composure.

I do have to take up with those defending the refs.....I thought the game was fairly called, and WSU can look at many reasons of their own doing that led to the loss. But I am really sick of the "don't blame the refs, you had your chance" comments.

So if a team makes every shot, gets every rebound and still gets fouled down 1 on the last play of the game, they then get the call because they didn't make any mistakes until then? If it's a foul, it's a foul and not being "bailed out" by the refs.

I'm not bitching about the no call, and in fact watching the replay, I am not 100% convinced it was a foul. However Murry was fouled on the 3 he made earlier and should have shot the and 1.

I just don't like the "they had their chance so don't blame the missed call late" defense. Those guys have tough, thankless jobs and that crew tonight is as good as it gets, period.

One question I do have on the Murry shot. If he jumps into Kwazdo, instead of straight up and there is a colision (which there would have been) does he get the call there? I ask only because Kujo wasn't going straight up in the situation...trying to compare to the no call against PJ late in the Syracuse game.

Learn from it, get better, get ready to win in St. Louis.

I believe even more today that WSU is the most likely winner of the MVC tourney in March. Not saying they will win (yet) but I believe they are more likely than anyone else. God knows we are due.

[wsushox1]

Ouch...that was tough to stomach.

IF, I say again, IF the guys learn from tonight then they will be a handful come March, and not just for the other Valley teams.

'Fever, honest question; why is USU the most important game the rest of the way? You don't think we have any chance for an at large (I don't either fwiw).....it seems to me that either of our Valley road games would be the most important....just sayin.

While the USU game might be the BEST game until St. Louis, I happen to think right now it is the least important. Maybe it's just me.

No doubt the guys have to wear this loss. Getting out toughed on the boards and missing free throws doesn't cut it, period. I did like our fight and aside from the T and JT's terrible shot at the end, I liked our composure.

I do have to take up with those defending the refs.....I thought the game was fairly called, and WSU can look at many reasons of their own doing that led to the loss. But I am really sick of the "don't blame the refs, you had your chance" comments.

So if a team makes every shot, gets every rebound and still gets fouled down 1 on the last play of the game, they then get the call because they didn't make any mistakes until then? If it's a foul, it's a foul and not being "bailed out" by the refs.

I'm not bitching about the no call, and in fact watching the replay, I am not 100% convinced it was a foul. However Murry was fouled on the 3 he made earlier and should have shot the and 1.

I just don't like the "they had their chance so don't blame the missed call late" defense. Those guys have tough, thankless jobs and that crew tonight is as good as it gets, period.

One question I do have on the Murry shot. If he jumps into Kwazdo, instead of straight up and there is a colision (which there would have been) does he get the call there? I ask only because Kujo wasn't going straight up in the situation...trying to compare to the no call against PJ late in the Syracuse game.

Learn from it, get better, get ready to win in St. Louis.

I believe even more today that WSU is the most likely winner of the MVC tourney in March. Not saying they will win (yet) but I believe they are more likely than anyone else. God knows we are due.

Good post. It was a foul on Kwadzo at the end on Murry BUT, I can not fault the referees in that situation. The game was called well and a little hit on the elbow does not warrant a call that late in the game.

I think we win in St. Louis. There is not a team in this league that we can't beat. Theres not a team in this league that, when we don't play very well, we still can't beat. Lets Go Shockers!

[ShockerFever]

Doc, while I really, reallyyyy wanted the UNI win, I set criteria for the Shocks to gain entry into the NCAA's. Of course, every game is important from here on out.

Utah State is a must-win, because even if we win out in conference, we still lack a quality OOC win to the resume. Utah State would be that win and a significant RPI boost.

That's why I put it as the most important game left in terms of the at-large picture. It's a slim chance, but a chance none the less.

Now I don't really count on this happening so we might as well focus on St. Louis or bust.

[newshock1234]

I came away thinking we are the better team out of the 2, we hit our normal FT %, we wins this game hands down. I hope we meet these guys in the finals in St. Louis.

[ShockerFever]

The only good thing about St. Louis is that it's not a true *road* game. However, I've heard the line before, that we are "due", and what not. But I just can't expect it until I see it. 20 years and 0 fer the finals will do that to a guy.

[ShockerFever]

I came away thinking we are the better team out of the 2, we hit our normal FT %, we wins this game hands down. I hope we meet these guys in the finals in St. Louis.

I honestly got the same impression. However, one team is 11-1 and another is 8-4. There is a difference.