Nevada NIT Game-thread

[forevershockerfan]

:good: BUMP!!!!!!!

[RoyalShock]

Marshall needs to install the "Ellis switch" option on defense.

When Ellis' man gets the ball, the closest post defender walks up to Aaron and says, "Excuse me, Aaron. I couldn't help but notice that your man has the ball. Why don't you let me guard him and you can guard my man. See? He does NOT have the ball. Think it over a second and get back to me."

Seriously, Ellis is pretty good in the zone and off-the-ball. But once his guy has it and he has to use his feet instead of hands and arms, he's a foul waiting to happen.

[DRuff34]

Nevada NIT game thread

VERY down on JT lately. Ever since the regular season finale vs. SIU he has sucked. Like he thinks he's all that. His effort in St. L was awful, and vs. Nevada he looked like a JV player in a varsity game. He needs to mature alot for the Shockers to expect anything out of him next season. Everyone is pissed at Stutz for his effort vs. Nevada, but not as much was expected from him. He's come a long way, and he's got much upside. Durley, on the other hand, looks like he's already reached his potential. I hate writing this since I've felt that he could be a great player for WSU. But I obviously don't feel that way now. He needs to mature before his final year as a Shocker. The only emotion he shows on that court is when he gets an "and one" opportunity. It's like he thinks he's better than the rest of the players, and that's far from the truth.

[The Mad Hatter]

Re: Nevada NIT game thread

The only emotion he shows on that court is when he gets an "and one" opportunity. It's like he thinks he's better than the rest of the players, and that's far from the truth.

I don't think I can disagree with this more strongly. In the first place, I have seen him show emotion in a lot of situations, including taking charges (which he probably does more consistently than anyone else on the team). Secondly, when he is on the bench and someone else makes a big play, he is the biggest cheerleader for that guy on the team.

JT has had an up and down year and has not yet shown the consistency to be a great player (although he still has shown improvement every year he has been in the program), but this accusation seems entirely baseless.

BTW, while JT couldn't find his shot in the Nevada game, he hardly played poorly. The minutes he put in defensively against Babbitt were among the best of all our post defenders.

[forevershockerfan]

Okay, I was trying to zip my lip but here goes. The upside of our team is solid and improved.(25 wins) However, there are some glaring deficiencies that again were manifested last night. Against good teams with "go to players", we foul too much and lack help defense. Players like Babbitt (future NBA prospect), make us pay when we just keep fouling him. Even so, last night, we allowed this team to make high % shots while we missed wide open chip shots we normally make at home sweet home. Nevada imposed their will on us just enough to let a winnable game slip away. Coach Marshall will indeed address these issues and get right back to the drawing board as we continue to move this Program forward through recruiting and player development.

Speaking of player development, JT did indeed improve from last Season on both sides of the court. His 8 turnovers against N. Iowa is a concern but there were plenty of games that he was instumental in us winning. Look for him to again improve next Season. He worked vey hard last summer to advance forward and he will do so again.

[pinstripers]

1. I guess I was more impressed with Nevada than most. They appeared longer, stronger, more confident and more athletic than us.

2. We should beat them at our place, but on a neutral court, a 50-50 split with them would be pretty good.

3. Babbitt is the best player we played this year.

4. If you are 0-5 from three-point land, don't keep shooting from there.

5. Refs sucked. Calling no fouls is not letting the players decide the game, it is the refs deciding the game.

6. Their coach deserved a T.

7. Guessing they didn't recruit DW, cause he is too thin.

8. Kyles could have played, Kyles wanted to play, Kyles did not play. Anybody listening?

9. Babbitt did nothing in the first half, was that because they didn't go to him, or because of (yikes) JT's defense.

10. I finally had a $6 brat. Pretty ordinary, sadly.

[RoyalShock]

8. Kyles could have played, Kyles wanted to play, Kyles did not play. Anybody listening?

I'm not sure what you mean by that, but Marshall said that while David could have played, the risk of re-injury was too great to put him in.

[Shoxfan11]

5. Refs sucked. Calling no fouls is not letting the players decide the game, it is the refs deciding the game.

I guess what I didn't understand about the officiating was why they let it be very very physical in the first half, then suddenly in the second half there were fouls everywhere. I think we had 10 fouls at one point when Nevada had 4? Also, I've been hoping for Stutz to get in there and take a charge all year... he finally does it and what do you know, it's a no call.

Of course, make a few easy shots and this is all irrelevant.

8. Kyles could have played, Kyles wanted to play, Kyles did not play. Anybody listening?

Coach didn't want to play Kyles and re-injure him.

[Aargh]

8. Kyles could have played, Kyles wanted to play, Kyles did not play. Anybody listening?

I'm not sure what you mean by that, but Marshall said that while David could have played, the risk of re-injury was too great to put him in.

Marshall also mentioned that Kyles hadn't practiced since the cast came off and hadn't practiced in quite a while.

Kyles may have wanted to play, but in more ways than one, he wasn't ready. If Kyles thought he should have been in there (instead of just wanting to be in), then he still doesn't understand D1 ball.

[SubGod22]

And playing Kyles and winning and reinjuring the hand wouldn't have done much.

[forevershockerfan]

Coach Marshall would never treat our players as "a piece of meat" and play them when they are at risk for further injury. However, it is great to know that DK is 'chomping at the bit' to get back on the floor. We missed DK and it most likely hurt us more in his absence on our depth chart and success than we might realize.

[Aargh]

Since the charge Stutz took was brought up, I've got $.02 there.

Maybe - MAYBE the player had the ball out of his hand when he hit Stutz, but there was no doubt in my mind that it was a charge. For those not in attendance - Stutz ended up on the floor about four feet behind where his feet were planted firmly for a good two seconds.

Give Stutz another 20 pounds and the experience of that charge. He's already learned how to set a pick and stay pretty solid as the defender bounces off him. I suspect that the next time someone runs into Stutz that way that Stutz might have his body braced for contact a bit differently. Then opponents think twice about risking a block/charge call because the impact is rather unpleasant.

[RoyalShock]

One other note about Kyles, assuming pinstriper was insinuating that David's status is questionable. On Monday's coach's show, Marshall commented about how focused David was while running sprints on the side at practice. Something coach said he hadn't seen before.

I think Kyles' status is as secure as ever.

[The Mad Hatter]

One other note about Kyles, assuming pinstriper was insinuating that David's status is questionable. On Monday's coach's show, Marshall commented about how focused David was while running sprints on the side at practice. Something coach said he hadn't seen before.

I think Kyles' status is as secure as ever.

There have been several comments by Marshall about David responding to the injury and not being able to play by becoming very motivated and increasing his work ethic.

If this injury proves to be the thing that gets David's work ethic and intensity to match his talent, it could turn out to be a huge net gain over the course of the next two years.

[forevershockerfan]

Allow me to reiterate the ongoing fact that EO and Mr. Stutz will be the best thing that ever happened to improve each others game. Along with that thought I offer 'free of charge,' is the hopes that Mr. Miller has time to devote some minutes this Season to educate each of our 7 footers on how to improve their game.

We have redshirts that can now vie for playing time along with 1 (maybe 2?) new incoming recruits that we should know more about in April. Coach Marshall seems to be huge on providing plenty of competition at each position in search of building a Shocker foundation that will be :shock: ready for a very very improved and demanding schedule this next Season.