Shox -v- Texas Southern In Game Thread

[Txlen]

All he needs is a cross-over dribble and a fade away J.

now, if we can get him well schooled in a fadeaway crossover, he will have something.

[ShockTalk]

Aargh hit on most of the points, but I'll add a couple.

Consistency + Energy! We played about 1/2 a game tonight. Through the middle 20 minutes, the score was 53-29, our energy level was high on both ends of the court and the results showed it.

During the first 10 and last 10 minutes, the score was 26-38. If you want to take out the last 2 minutes, it's still 24-28. It would have been worse if TSU hit a reasonable number of open shots.

If WSU is to be successful and play at a high level, the "let down" time will have to be reduced by at least half.

Also, I wonder if Garrett really understands how frustrating it is for a 5'6" arm-chair coach/fan to watch a 7'er clank a lay-in off the front of the rim. GAAADDD. OK, I guess he gets to have an off night once in a while.

DWill needs to relax. Last year, being a freshman and a back-up, there was no pressure. He played his game and the results were there. Now, it appears he's pushing to much.

[ShockRef]

Any poster on here that rags on Hatch should serve an immediate two week suspension. You really don't have a clue if you can't see he is the glue that holds the team together.

The point defense last night for the last 10 minutes was terrible. I got tired of watching Galloway blow by Rags & DW time and time again.

The slow reaction to Danner setting up on the perimeter for 3's after dribble drives was not good.

It's probably a good thing they have 3 full days to practice before Maui. The defense needs more work before going against big time opponents. 8)

[SubGod22]

DWill and Rags were not impressive. There's a reason Toure is our starting PG for now. And it could work if DK continues to play with confidence.

Hatch is NOT leaving the starting lineup. He does everything for this team and it doesn't all show up in the stat book. But 6 assists does!

Big men struggled because the guards struggled to get it inside. There were times the post men had great positioning and the guards wouldn't pass it to them. That HAS to be fixed.

[WuDrWu]

HCGM said after the game that he did what he did to beat Texas Southern and not to win the MVC Tournament.

I thought that was as interesting comment because I thought the same thing when he did his first line change. It seemed to me that he wanted to wear down TSU with our depth, and winning the first 10-15 minutes didn't matter, because they were going to be tired and frazzled (mentally if not physically) and we'd get to them at the end of the half, which is what happened.

Now, what made it interesting to me is I don't think Gregg gives 2 s**ts about beating TSU. I don't really think he cares too much about beating most MVC teams. He wants a team that can win in March and April and THAT'S what he is trying to build.

Those 2 thought processes seemed to collide last night, which intrigued me. Still does this morning.

[Speed]

The line ups were interesting & not what were predicted in the forums. He was working both directions at once because he could. And I think he was trying to send msg's as well. Kennedy made an interesting point when comparing starters vs non-starters.

I made the comment when it was still a 6-10 pt game & there were comments about the variation in the lines that the coaches probably know more about what line ups work than what they're saying or we are seeing.

[wufan]

Despite Joe Ragland's less than stellar execution at the point last night, he did finish with a very good stat line:

21 minutes, 11 points, 3-6 FG/3pt FG, 2-2 ft, 2 reb, 5 assists, 1 TO

From a pure box score perspective, that's the kind of PG I want on this team!

[SubGod22]

Did he really only have 1 TO? That'll change against better competition if he continues to throw lazy passes. I saw one where even 3G threw his head back at.

[BOBB]

Admittedly don't recall Olajuwan's early days. IF EO ever gets a 10 footer and 1/4 of Dream's moves it won't be fair to let him play. Hatch went 0-5. He did get to the glass. He did pick up 6 assists somehow. He has to shoot well enough to be respected out there or he's a liability against better teams.

[WuDrWu]

Despite Joe Ragland's less than stellar execution at the point last night, he did finish with a very good stat line:

21 minutes, 11 points, 3-6 FG/3pt FG, 2-2 ft, 2 reb, 5 assists, 1 TO

From a pure box score perspective, that's the kind of PG I want on this team!

Joe's biggest challenge right now is getting the offense and especially the timing....it's not easy. His skill set is strong, and I think he'll purge himself of the lazy passes quickly enough (at least I hope he does).

Joe, I am not worried about. DWill, now that's a different story.

[SHOXAAC]

HCGM said after the game that he did what he did to beat Texas Southern and not to win the MVC Tournament.

I thought that was as interesting comment because I thought the same thing when he did his first line change. It seemed to me that he wanted to wear down TSU with our depth, and winning the first 10-15 minutes didn't matter, because they were going to be tired and frazzled (mentally if not physically) and we'd get to them at the end of the half, which is what happened.

Now, what made it interesting to me is I don't think Gregg gives 2 s**ts about beating TSU. I don't really think he cares too much about beating most MVC teams. He wants a team that can win in March and April and THAT'S what he is trying to build.

Those 2 thought processes seemed to collide last night, which intrigued me. Still does this morning.

That may be your impression about HCGM. I would partly agree and say "I don't think Gregg gives 2 s**ts about beating TSU by 20 or 30. I don't really think he cares too much about how much he beats MVC teams by...but bet your bottom $$$, he DOES care about beating them."

[Bigshotmaker]

I said it before, the more GM see of Murry and Kyles together the more it will grow on him especially if they're taking care of the bball.I don't know the number of triple doubles WSU have in its history but its gonna happen this year.As a fan I get excited about the prospect of those two on the floor together, rebounding and pushing it with 0 TO.Ragland and Williams was pretty good last nite also so its safe to say any combination will work,just don't turn it over.

[Maggie]

Admittedly don't recall Olajuwan's early days. IF EO ever gets a 10 footer and 1/4 of Dream's moves it won't be fair to let him play. Hatch went 0-5. He did get to the glass. He did pick up 6 assists somehow. He has to shoot well enough to be respected out there or he's a liability against better teams.

Olajuwon, as freshman, had limited playing time he was raw – he didn’t come into his own until his Sophomore and Junior years – and his development was rapid. It is also important to remember that Patrick Ewing was not known as an offensive force in college – Ewing was all about defense and didn’t develop his offensive game until the NBA. EO doesn’t have to be Olajuwon circa 1983 to be successful at this level.

Look, I was really impressed with the raw talent of EO but comparing him to some greatest centers to ever play the game is obviously a stretch. EO has a long way to go. Based on what little I saw last night all I want to see from EO at this point is solid defense and rebounding – points are a bonus. In short, my expectations have not changed for EO. However, I was just so excited to see a player in a WSU uniform with his size move like that and his ability to block or alter shots….well WSU has not had a player physically capable of doing that in many, many years.

If they can somehow get EO to a big man camp to work on his offensive game over the summer – I am confident he will improve. If he only masters a baseline fade – like X – he will be unstoppable. The kid will be a Karl Malone double-double lock.

[shocker22]

Why didn't Tyler Richardson play mop up minutes?

Injury?

Because this kid has a long way to go and Ben sMith needs all the court time possible

[wufan]

Admittedly don't recall Olajuwan's early days. IF EO ever gets a 10 footer and 1/4 of Dream's moves it won't be fair to let him play. Hatch went 0-5. He did get to the glass. He did pick up 6 assists somehow. He has to shoot well enough to be respected out there or he's a liability against better teams.

Olajuwon, as freshman, had limited playing time he was raw – he didn’t come into his own until his Sophomore and Junior years – and his development was rapid. It is also important to remember that Patrick Ewing was not known as an offensive force in college – Ewing was all about defense and didn’t develop his offensive game until the NBA. EO doesn’t have to be Olajuwon circa 1983 to be successful at this level.

Look, I was really impressed with the raw talent of EO but comparing him to some greatest centers to ever play the game is obviously a stretch. EO has a long way to go. Based on what little I saw last night all I want to see from EO at this point is solid defense and rebounding – points are a bonus. In short, my expectations have not changed for EO. However, I was just so excited to see a player in a WSU uniform with his size move like that and his ability to block or alter shots….well WSU has not had a player physically capable of doing that in many, many years.

If they can somehow get EO to a big man camp to work on his offensive game over the summer – I am confident he will improve. If he only masters a baseline fade – like X – he will be unstoppable. The kid will be a Karl Malone double-double lock.

I like your post in that "comparing him to some greatest centers to ever play the game is obviously a stretch...like X - he will be unstoppable. The kid will be a Karl Malone double-double lock."

It is fair to say that a 7 footer with EO's strength and athleticism only comes along once in a great while. Even harder to capture is the development of a 7-footer from jaw dropping defense to all-around stud. That said, it does happen occasionally, and EO is Wichita State's best chance to capture lightning in a bottle. He has the size, strength, athleticism, quickness, coordination, and explosiveness already. He has the intelligence, coachability, and work-ethic to make it happen, but the next step is the biggest and most difficult (see Patrick O'Bryant/Hasheem Thabeet, etc.).

What we do have is a college stud in the making (at some point - 8 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks per game). Beyond that, I am going to enjoy the ride!

By the way, despite Stutz's poor game last night, I think he too will go down as one of the great centers for the shockers in the last 30 years ala Ozell Jones and Paul Miller. Hopefully even better!