Maui matchups to be announced...

[SubGod22]

Top early tournaments

Best first-round game: Don’t be surprised if Wichita State – the favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference – doesn't get upset by a Connecticut squad that lost Stanley Robinson, Jerome Dyson and Gavin Edwards.

Fixed!

Yeah, I meant to put something about that in the post... I don't see it being an actual upset but based off the common fans perception...

[BostonWu]

What inferences should be drawn that the acknowledged MVC favorite (who they like in a perceived bcs upset) is not projected to make the tournament?

[Snapshot9]

I wouldn't count on an upset of UConn until the Shocks prove they can play on the road.

[martymoose]

I wouldn't count on an upset of UConn until the Shocks prove they can play on the road.

Actually it will be a neutral site game. There will be as many UConn fans there as WSU fans...if not more WSU fans. Last year's Shocker team won on neutral courts when they were favored to win and lost when they were favored to lose. UConn returns what...20 points from last year's team who barely made the NIT? All their best players are gone, I'm thinking they will be the more unproven team.

[Kung Wu]

Wow from an NCAA tourney perspective, isn't UConn practically a "must win"? IF we don't beat them, we get stuck playing Chaminade and have gained no street cred for the selection committee.

I guess there is a ton of basketball between that tourney and March, but look at the damage done in the tournament last year. It might be argued that had we beat Pitt and then showed well against Texas we would have been in the tourney.

[SubGod22]

Wow from an NCAA tourney perspective, isn't UConn practically a "must win"? IF we don't beat them, we get stuck playing Chaminade and have gained no street cred for the selection committee.

I guess there is a ton of basketball between that tourney and March, but look at the damage done in the tournament last year. It might be argued that had we beat Pitt and then showed well against Texas we would have been in the tourney.

Exactly! As soon as I saw the brackets I realized how much this game means. A victory over UConn is always a good thing even if they're down and Chaminade does zero for us. The guys better be ready!

[tropicalshox]

Wow from an NCAA tourney perspective, isn't UConn practically a "must win"? IF we don't beat them, we get stuck playing Chaminade and have gained no street cred for the selection committee.

I guess there is a ton of basketball between that tourney and March, but look at the damage done in the tournament last year. It might be argued that had we beat Pitt and then showed well against Texas we would have been in the tourney.

Exactly! As soon as I saw the brackets I realized how much this game means. A victory over UConn is always a good thing even if they're down and Chaminade does zero for us. The guys better be ready!

:yes:

[martymoose]

Wow from an NCAA tourney perspective, isn't UConn practically a "must win"? IF we don't beat them, we get stuck playing Chaminade and have gained no street cred for the selection committee.

I guess there is a ton of basketball between that tourney and March, but look at the damage done in the tournament last year. It might be argued that had we beat Pitt and then showed well against Texas we would have been in the tourney.

Yep, if we lose and play Chaminade, that means our final game will likely be against OU or Virginia which also means nothing. A win over UConn and we likely play MSU then Kentucky or Washington...much much better for our SOS.

Plus that first win will make for a much more enjoyable experience for those of us making the trip. ;-)

[kcshocker11]

Projected NCAA tournament teams: Michigan State, Kentucky, Washington

What? Isnt someone missing? :posterwu: 8)

[Aargh]

If the media wants to ignore WSU, I think we have a group of players who will be motivated by that.

I don't mean to slight anyone by leaving them off this list, but it seems that Stutz, Durley, Hatch, and Murry are the likely ones to notice they're not getting mentioned where they feel they should be mentioned.

I think that group has the talent and motivation to make WSU a top-20 team this year. I think they have the confidence and motivation to make that happen.

It's going to take some work ethic, a lot of work, and a lot of faith and trust in the coaching staff, but a top-20 finish at the end of the year is a reasonable goal for this group of players.

If they don't make it, we need to understand the difficulty of that and not get down on the team.

[Dan]

I'm expecting a big leap in productivity from Gabe Blair. 3rd year in the system and 2nd year playing here full time. Look at what Clevin did from year one to year two. I can see Gabe really filling it up this year.

[The Mad Hatter]

I'm expecting a big leap in productivity from Gabe Blair. 3rd year in the system and 2nd year playing here full time. Look at what Clevin did from year one to year two. I can see Gabe really filling it up this year.

Even late last year before the injury you could really see things coming together for him. Even if he doesn't have a big leap in production from that, he was starting to show is value.

[SirShoxAlot]

Go back to the UConn message board. I think it's the last post of page one.

One of their guys thinks we're DII. Hahahahahaha, oh how I can't wait to beat the tar out of more BCS scum.

[shockerfan]

Go back to the UConn message board. I think it's the last post of page one.

One of their guys thinks we're DII. Hahahahahaha, oh how I can't wait to beat the tar out of more BCS scum.

I went back and looked and didn't see anyone that thought we were Div II. Maybe you are talking about this post:

It's' the type of tourney that gets the MVC those great RPI ratings and 3 or 4 teams in the NCAA Tourney.
Not that I'm predicting Wichita State is going to beat up on Div I Teams that are yet to jell......

If that is the case I think he is just saying that UConn is the "Div I Team that is yet to jell". Don't think he implied we are Div II.

[ShockTalk]

Go back to the UConn message board. I think it's the last post of page one.

One of their guys thinks we're DII. Hahahahahaha, oh how I can't wait to beat the tar out of more BCS scum.

I went back and looked and didn't see anyone that thought we were Div II. Maybe you are talking about this post:

It's' the type of tourney that gets the MVC those great RPI ratings and 3 or 4 teams in the NCAA Tourney.
Not that I'm predicting Wichita State is going to beat up on Div I Teams that are yet to jell......

If that is the case I think he is just saying that UConn is the "Div I Team that is yet to jell". Don't think he implied we are Div II.

Maybe not, but at the least, his BCS arrogance is showing. "Not that I'm predicting a very good non-BCS team is going to beat up on a soon to be great BCS team that is yet to jell...".