Shocker Madness?

[another shocker]

Ragland and Williams will really battle it out for the starting PG position. Williams is cat-quick, and now he's added a bit of bulk...'not so skinny anymore. Ragland is quick and in control of himself on the court... no flailing arms or legs. I have to wonder if PG isn't WSU's best strength? :lol:

[Speed]

Ragland and Williams will really battle it out for the starting PG position. Williams is cat-quick, and now he's added a bit of bulk...'not so skinny anymore. Ragland is quick and in control of himself on the court... no flailing arms or legs. I have to wonder if PG isn't WSU's best strength? :lol:

While I have appreciation for Hannah I think we are better. That's not a slight on Hannah but a compliment of the current situation.

[another shocker]

Strange, PG is supposed to be a "?" this year. Marshall seems to have got that one straightened up.

[WuDrWu]

I liked the way they had the womens team and the mens team every other person so it didn't put the fans or players in awkward situations by wanting only the mens autographs and ignoring the women. The volleyball team was there signing posters. The posters are beautiful and the players even after the match (chauvenistic comment follows) were still beautiful. I would publish their poster on every piece of news/sports release to the world to let the world know that talent and beauty is not mutually exclusive. :yes:

ANY piece of media that doesn't include at least one volleyball player is, in my humble opinion, an epic failure.

Play to your strengths.

[WuDrWu]

Point guard is NOT going to be a problem. Ragland and Dwill put on a SHOW above the rim during warmups.


Consistent outside shooting may be......If I was a wing on this team, I'd be shooting about 1000 threes every day. We are going to see a LOT of zone. We better start finding someone that can knock down an open 3.

[forevershockerfan]

What an entrance that DWill made out of the tunnel busting all of them dance moves. The last time FSF tried something like that, my back went out, and I went down for the count. What about the warm and loud ovation for EO? It was as if he had been here playing for a few years.

The Gabe, JT, and Stutz are looking finer than a frog hair on the inside and they will make us proud. I hope AE does NOT redshirt but trust Coach Marshall will do exactly what is best for the team. EO is finally a Shocker and he will have a solid cast to learn from. Kerry R. did a great job getting these willing, hard-working, and dedicated Shockers thicker and stronger.

Maybe the most impressive part about this team tonight to me was DEFENSE!!! This could be our very best defensive squad for quite a spell. Yes, we are 2 deep solid at least in every position. The Twin Towers actually teamed up for a short time tonight. Would it ever happen that The Gabe, JT, and Mr. Stutz would be in a game at the same time? The various combo's that could be utilized with this Team is mind boggling. Yikes!!!

Now, the SF position will be in great hands with our Hatch-Back and Ben Smith. Hatch's touch was off tonight but he will be focused and give us his all. Ben can score, sky, and will help get us some bounds.

Toure' had a flat night and Kyles never hit the floor and I don't yet know why. These two could both be solid starters together next Season. Toure' will be fine and just wait until Kyles puts it all together.

The point guard spot is up for grabs. Both Rags and DWill were dunking with ease the the warm-up period. Both are quick on quick and will be solid. Dwill's shot was off tonight but he looked good. Ragland seemed to having lots of fun out there and plays very hard.

I am glad practices are in session. The continuous clock 12 minute scrimmage was over before we knew it. However, so far, so good. This squad seems deeper, faster, more athletic, and focused than last Season. If they play together and accept the roles that Coach Marshall expects from them--watch out. For the past 2 or 3 Seasons, many of us here on SN have been pointing to this very Season as the special one for Coach Marshall and our beloved Shocks. So far--so good!!!!!!!

[WuDrWu]

Say what you want about Ehimen, and he is uber raw, but he changes the game defensively, and you have to guard him. Not that I am worried about Evansville (I am most certainly not) but who are they going to guard him with? Some teams are just going to have to hope we don't make shots. That's going to be their only chance.


Protective gear is needed when EO goes to the line......YIKES!

[tropicalshox]

Re: Gabe, JT and Garrett being on the floor together, I think Gabe saw himself as a 3/4 when he became a Shocker.

[forevershockerfan]

The Good Doc brings up a valid point on our opponents slapping packed-in zones on us. Clevin had a nice consistent shot from the field and was deadly with the throws. Even so, I hope this team works from the inside out. The Gabe, Mr. Stutz Sir, and JT will be forces that our opponents will have to contend with. Actually, I think we will have some solid shooters "by committee" because of our depth. When one player has an off night, we have the luxury now to bring in solid reinforcements that will hit the court running.

Speaking of EO, he might only average 7-10 minutes this Season. However, he will alter and swat shots, set picks, rebound, and what about that su-weet pass he made tonight? EO will be worth all the time and efforts it took to get him in here. Nobody expects him to be a franchise player this Season, but it appears he will be an asset from jump street.

[another shocker]

This team has so many possibilities of effective lineups, mix and match, on and on. :yahoo:

[Aargh]

Against a team that goes "big" (BCS types), I could see a front line of Stutz, Durley, and Blair. The ability to "go big" could be really valuable in the post-season.

Yesterday I thought that this year's team was better on paper than the S16 team. Nothing happened today to change my mind.

The S16 team caught a real break by getting an overrated Seton Hall team in the first round. If this team doesn't get as far as the 2006 team, that doesn't mean they're less than the S16 team.

I think this is the best team we've had at WSU since the '80's.

[notquiteBWing]

I was fairly disappointed by the results of the 3 - point contest.
They all are much better than that.
I know they were all quite tired after working out and practicing throughout the day.

As for Kyles not playing, it could be a result of him getting in some trouble recently.

Coach is going to sit him a couple of games at the beginning of the season due to an incident recently.

the punishment probably extended to shocker madness too.

The only thing that makes me second guess that is: DW is expected to be suspended for the first game (or maybe the Exhibition game?) of the season for an unknown reason. and that obviously wasn't extended to Shocker Madness.

two different mistakes = two different punishments

aside from that.

Stutz seems so much more confident. he's looking like a legitimate leader.
Joe is going to a handful.
speaking of a handful, this whole team! Jeez. i feel bad for all the talent that will be sitting on the bench.
every minute there are 5 people that are sitting on the bench thinking to themselves that they could be starting at most other schools.
i hope the players hold the chemistry together.
usually winning is the key to that.
I'm not too worried.

12 minutes? man... I felt like they were teasing me.
im tweaking for more basketball!

[WuDrWu]

Okay, a few more comments after sleeping on my thoughts from last night. I am going to save any comments I have for the event as a whole for someone else. If others want to get into it, I might then comment.


Ragland is all I thought he would be, and so much more. Part of the "much more" was a little too much pastry. For now, I am chalking that up to having fun in the moment, which he seemed to be having, and not hold it against him. If he continues with that into the season, it will be a problem.

Demetric has continued to improve. The kid goes from A to B in a hurry. I love point guard for us. I wasn't worried before, and I am less worried now. There is size, strength, tons of talent, shooting, handles and a desire to make others better. DWill has a big head start on the system, something Joe is going to have to overcome. I believe he will catch up and I believe Joe is the starter.

I can see where people thought Toure' was pressing...color me not worried. I think he'll be a stud this season. And Toure' has a dual ability to go one on one and make a play but also make the rest of the team better. His maturity is a huge strength that serves the entire team.

Can't report on Kyles because he can't keep his head on straight. As I feared from his original signing, it appears his promise is always going to shine brightly over his performance. So much promise.........

Graham Hatch.

Didn't see much of Ben Smith that really wowed me. He had a nice rebound. I am sure at times he can be a beast. He certainly has different strenghts than Graham, but I can't see him taking too many of his minutes unless he starts my plan of 1000 threes, successfully.

Tyler Richardson was aggressive early in the scrimmage. The kid is a handful. Big and strong and I thought he went to hole with a purpose even though he didn't finish. Quickness and speed are going to hold him back I think but again, adoption of my now infamous 3 point plan would be a useful idea for someone wanting to get minutes this season.

JT looks good. Really good and comfortable. He shoots every 3 like he expects it to go in, and it just might. It appears he's finally "all in" and ready for a huge season. He should be super, and he hasn't exactly been a liability lately.

I honestly don't know what you do with Gabe Blair. If he's going to play that hard, and I have no reason to think he's not, how do you keep him off the floor? The kid is a monster, and is a complete nightmare matchup for most teams, certainly everyone in the Valley.

Garrett no longer gets pushed around. That's a problem for the Valley. It's about the 5th problem this team is going to present, but this is one that almost nobody can answer. I will admit a bias towards this young man, but I sincerely believe he's going to be special this season.

Once Ehimen learns who is and is not on his team, he we help us. In all seriousness, I liked what I saw. Do you realize how far above the rim he is capable of playing? The drop step spin move on Garrett is just a nugget....can you even imagine what's going to happen when he "gets it" (admittedly that is going to take a lot of time and effort to obtain).

Jerome Hamilton, dealing with the ankle did not play. I can't imagine he is going to be much more than a practice body and depth help. I am looking forward to seeing him perform on the floor....but I have no idea when that will be.

What to do with Aaron Ellis...he's started more than 50 games but redshirting is now an option. But why redshirt him? Do we really need a kid that is a marginal producer for 5 years? Again, lots and lots of physical talent and I am not saying he can't help us....Aaron is a glue guy that does a lot of little things. If I knew he was going to bust tail and really improve his game, a LOT, then I'd like to see him redshirt. If not, he just extends the deepest front line I've ever seen at WSU.

No need to recap the walkons....nobody stood out and they just need to keep the team happy and towels picked up.



I have said before the 2 things I believe will determine whether this is a good team or a great team. Consistent outside shooting and team chemistry. The shooting I don't know......it looks like a bit of an issue to me. Team chemistry.....could go either way. I see really good leadership from a variety of people but then I see some knuckleheadedness as well.

Knuckleheadedness will kill any team. What in the hell is Kyles doing getting suspended from the scrimmage??!!

[WuDrWu]

What does everyone's starting 5 look like?


Personally, I'd like to see Ragland, Williams, Murry, Durley and Stutz and I think that is most likely.

But I wouldn't mind seeing Ragland, Murry, Blair, Durley and Stutz.

[wufan]

My starting 5 is Ragland, Murry, Hatch, Durley, and Stutz. Playing Williams and Rags together in the first unit leaves us too thin at PG. What if they banged knees and both had to sit for 10 minutes? They should only play together at spot times, although I do like the combination. One more game ready PG would make me agree with you.

Although, the three guards off the bench; Williams, Kyles, and Smith, may be too much flash and not enough substance as a group.

Hatch might be useful in the second group in order to keep some poise mixed in with the athleticism.

Remaining post minutes are going to be swallowed by Blair with Ellis and EO still getting some PT.