Let's talk about the tournament we WILL make...

[Kung Wu]

Or, it has less to do with UNI, and more to do with the fact we have never made the championship game in St. Louis. And it's been 20 years since the last time anywhere.

What has happened the years prior to our most senior athlete (in terms of years playing with WSU), is completely irrelevant. Players don't remember, or generally even know, what players have or haven't done before them. Even if they do know, it really doesn't matter to them.

Now if there wasn't a coaching staff change in 20 years you might be on to something. But we have a coach who has won a conference tournament five times. I realize it's not nearly the same power rating, but he does have experience getting his troops up for a tournament. Evidence of that was taking a much more marginal team from last year and nearly knocking off a much more formidable Creighton. I won't even argue if you say we DID knock 'em off. Sore subject.

I don't think that our past taints our future.

[forevershockerfan]

Here's the deal. It always seems to come out in the wash like this. Again, we long for the Shocks to win it all at the Lou but will it again be a bust when we know our track record there is lackluster? These Shocks can be world-beaters at home but appeared lackadaisical at Evansville which is totally unacceptable. Our destiny goes through the Lou!!!

We obviously have the talent to beat any team we face at the Lou. However, are we consistent enough game in and game out to win 3 in a row on a nuetral sight? Cool Hand Luke might say--"what we got heeeear, is a Shocker failuaaa to communicate?" With Hannah hitting on all cylinders and predominantly on the hardwood, we might possibly get to the finals and who knows what may ensue because I really think we can beat N. Iowa again. However, away from the Chuck, our weaknesses stick out like a sore thumb and grouping 3 wins in a row has not been a pattern.

Thus, none of us will bet the farm that we win or even make the finals at St. Louie. However, we as fans KNOW it could happen---if if if!!!

1. Can we execute against a stingy zone? 2. Can we get our inside game established? 3. Can we quit fouling fouling and fouling our foes and play some solid defense without fouling? 4. Can we get some help defense when needed? 5. Can we keep our key players out of foul trouble? 6. Can we get on the roll with consecutive wins away from home? 7. Can we play 40 minutes of ball with the focus to play like there is no tomorrow, game in and game out?

If, If, if we can master the above 7 mysteries, the sky won't fall on us but rather the sky is the limit. Stay tuned because right now, we just need to sweep Mo. State!!!!!!! What we do at the Lou will decide, a Dance with the stars, the NIT, or a tourney like last year?

[shockfan89_]

Great post!

[shocker3]

Here's the deal. It always seems to come out in the wash like this. Again, we long for the Shocks to win it all at the Lou but will it again be a bust when we know our track record there is lackluster? These Shocks can be world-beaters at home but appeared lackadaisical at Evansville which is totally unacceptable. Our destiny goes through the Lou!!!

We obviously have the talent to beat any team we face at the Lou. However, are we consistent enough game in and game out to win 3 in a row on a nuetral sight? Cool Hand Luke might say--"what we got heeeear, is a Shocker failuaaa to communicate?" With Hannah hitting on all cylinders and predominantly on the hardwood, we might possibly get to the finals and who knows what may ensue because I really think we can beat N. Iowa again. However, away from the Chuck, our weaknesses stick out like a sore thumb and grouping 3 wins in a row has not been a pattern.

Thus, none of us will bet the farm that we win or even make the finals at St. Louie. However, we as fans KNOW it could happen---if if if!!!

1. Can we execute against a stingy zone? 2. Can we get our inside game established? 3. Can we quit fouling fouling and fouling our foes and play some solid defense without fouling? 4. Can we get some help defense when needed? 5. Can we keep our key players out of foul trouble? 6. Can we get on the roll with consecutive wins away from home? 7. Can we play 40 minutes of ball with the focus to play like there is no tomorrow, game in and game out?

If, If, if we can master the above 7 mysteries, the sky won't fall on us but rather the sky is the limit. Stay tuned because right now, we just need to sweep Mo. State!!!!!!! What we do at the Lou will decide, a Dance with the stars, the NIT, or a tourney like last year?

Another key is keeping Hannah in the game. At UE he only played 20 minutes.
We were ahead by 1 point (19-18 I think) when he got his second foul at UE. Hannah goes out of the game and UE finishes the half on a 12-1 run to take a 30-20 half time lead.
BTW- I thought his second foul was a bad call- should have been called a jump ball. But I really think that one foul really changed the game. :wsu_posters: