so, if current trends continue.....

[molly jabali]

...would we hope that somehow creighton slips to a #4 seed in the valley tourney, or do we 'fear a mystique'?

I FULLY know I could get bashed for this thought, but I think some teams look at the name on the jersey more for some programs than others.

[WSUwatcher]

3!

#3 for Creighton sounds pretty good to me, Molly.

[shockar25]

We will defeat CU should we have to face them. I don't fear ANY team in the Valley tourney. We have a tough, talented team that is only getting tougher after last night's loss. I predict a big thumping of the trees on Saturday and a big rebound with momentum building from here on out.

:wsu_posters: :clap: :yahoo:

[shock-it-to-me]

I have never felt better about our chances to actually win the touney this year. On a neutral court, I definitely think we can take anybody. Look, UNI needed a miracle game from Ahelegbe coupled with uncharacteristicly poor free throw shooting and a horrendous first half of rebounding to barely beat us at home!

The teams I would most like to see wind up in 3rd as our semifinal matchup - ISU blue, Drake or Bradley. I would prefer not to face Creighton or ISU red, although I still think we can handle either of them.

[Overtime]

I would love to play Creighton in St Louis

[shock-it-to-me]

I would love to play Creighton in St Louis

I would love to play them in the finals!

[Shoxfan11]

Honestly, the team I fear most in STL is probably Illinois State.

[Shocker85]

We will defeat CU should we have to face them. I don't fear ANY team in the Valley tourney. We have a tough, talented team that is only getting tougher after last night's loss. I predict a big thumping of the trees on Saturday and a big rebound with momentum building from here on out.

I was thinking the same thing about the Shockers' toughness. They don't seem to panic, no matter what. There were times when UNI got ahead by 5 or 6 points and I thought the Shocks might collapse. They did not. They dug in deeper, got stops and clawed back. I think that mentality is a direct reflection of a tough minded coaching staff.

As far as playing sCUm. It really looks like the majority of the Valley teams don't have an identity, for various reasons - i.e. lacking coaching, skilled players, toughness, etc. UNI, WSU, and CU have what it takes to to rise to the top over the conference grind. What that means is that the Shocks will have to play sCUm at some point in the tournament. I like the Shocks chances vs. sCUm because I feel WSU has superior talent. Bring 'em on. I'll bet the team and the coaches feel the same way.

--'85.

[newshock1234]

call me crazy for saying this right after a loss, but I feel our team took a step forward last night. I am very confident that we will win it in st louis.

[Shocker85]

Honestly, the team I fear most in STL is probably Illinois State.

Illinois State has the best players, but I think Jank is killing them. They can't seem to bring it to the floor about half the time. Eldridge is auditioning for the NBA and it isn't going that great.

--'85.

[shockar25]

Bring any of them on. We'll take them. CU THOUGHT we got rid of the tourney 'demons' from last year's screw in st. lou but I don't see that happening until we avenge it IN THE TOURNEY. If we did match up with them, I don't think it will be pretty for CU.

ISU (Red) is a talented team that's a bit unpredictable, but they don't have the depth that it takes to be a solid player in the Valley. They have some great players, but personally I'd take a team like ours--not a lot of big 'stars' but who play like a team and where anyone can contribute on any given game.

[RoyalShock]

I have been on the fence this season more than any other in recent memory. On one side I see our athleticism and talent and think we are a MVC championship-caliber team. Then I turn my head and look on the opposite side and see the lower b-ball IQ (bad fouls, shot-selection) and issues with stopping dribble-penetration. When gazing at that side of the fence, just about every MVC team except UE, INSU and SIU worry me.

The frustrating thing is that this team has so many weapons, but lacks the ammunition to get them all firing at once for a full game since December. We've relied on one or two players (Hannah, Murry, Hatch, Blair) to have great games to compensate.

I guess that WSU sitting with 19 wins and 2nd in conference is encouraging, I'm just not ready to say we're in good shape to win in St. Louis.

[molly jabali]

seriously...thanks to all of you for thoughtful replies. You never know how a thread can turn, and as a fan, I've often wondered if it it is easier to play THE DEFEATER of your foe rather than THE FOE itself.

I'm halfway convinced(if I may use a tennis analogy) that Roger Federer won the french last year because he FINALLY didn't have to play Nadal...just the guy who beat Nadal.

Does that make sense?

[shockar25]

I have been on the fence this season more than any other in recent memory. On one side I see our athleticism and talent and think we are a MVC championship-caliber team. Then I turn my head and look on the opposite side and see the lower b-ball IQ (bad fouls, shot-selection) and issues with stopping dribble-penetration. When gazing at that side of the fence, just about every MVC team except UE, INSU and SIU worry me.

The frustrating thing is that this team has so many weapons, but lacks the ammunition to get them all firing at once for a full game since December. We've relied on one or two players (Hannah, Murry, Hatch, Blair) to have great games to compensate.

I guess that WSU sitting with 19 wins and 2nd in conference is encouraging, I'm just not ready to say we're in good shape to win in St. Louis.

That has been true some this year, particularly when it comes to dribble penetration defense. Last night I felt like our bball IQ was pretty decent--sure a few turnovers, but manageable. MOst of the turnovers were a result of UNI ratcheting up the defensive pressure and us not responding quick enough. That's just as much a credit to UNI's D as it was to our lack of response I think. I think dribble penetration was kept in check--at least for the most part--last night. Many of those 3's that were made were contested.

As others have said, I look at last night as a step forward. We lost the chance at the title, but it was a slim chance anyway. This team is improving and I see no reason at all to think they won't continue to for the remainder of the season.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Honestly, the team I fear most in STL is probably Illinois State.

Right on, brother. Me too.