The Official WSU vs. UCONN Game Thread - Maui Style

[1972Shocker]

Basically, from what I could tell UConn won that game the only way they possibly could as their perimeter game looked very questionable.

Unfortunatley, we apparently had no answer for shutting down the lane and forcing them to beat us from the outside.

I think the Shocks were clearly the better all-around team.

Unfortunately, we could not close the one dimension that a one-dimensional UConn team needed to beat us.

[KC Shox]

Good gosh man get over it! There were many other aspects of the Shox game that attributed to the loss - please quit singling out officiating. How about, dare I say, get on GM's case for not adjusting his Defense to stop interior penetration to make UCONN try and beat us from outside. How about getting on our players who made too many unforced turnovers, especially later in the second half when the game was on the line and we had the lead. How about getting on the players for not taking advantage of Walker's benching in the first half. I know Calhoun was laughing inside and thanking the Lord that they were in the game the whole time he was riding the pine.

[Kung Wu]

I think, and I could be just making this up and my apologies if I am, that 1 was questioning my assessment earlier of our ability to hold Kemba under 16 points, which I said would not happen. I think the reply was after he had a couple of fouls and 3 points and it looked like we might keep him in control, when in fact he was just sizing us up. I think the comment was sarcastic, but like I said, I could be wrong, this is the internet.

In game thread comment that I missed?

Or this one from the prediction thread (but couldn't be because of your fouls and 3 points comment):

If we hold Walker to 16, we're going to win by 10+.

We are NOT going to hold Walker to 16 or less.

My hope is to contain him to 20 or less, but my confidence is building, the more I think about this game.

We've got a sub-5 miler on a guy that played 37 minutes last game. He'll probably get some early points, then a flurry of points at the end after a slow mid game. It's really a gonna be fun to watch.

Well, you nailed it! My Kembaphobia is now completely instilled due to the "flurry of points at the end". I'm thinking he scored 20+ of his points in the last 1/3rd? What a pisser.

[ShockerFever]

Good gosh man get over it! There were many other aspects of the Shox game that attributed to the loss - please quit singling out officiating. How about, dare I say, get on GM's case for not adjusting his Defense to stop interior penetration to make UCONN try and beat us from outside. How about getting on our players who made too many unforced turnovers, especially later in the second half when the game was on the line and we had the lead. How about getting on the players for not taking advantage of Walker's benching in the first half. I know Calhoun was laughing inside and thanking the Lord that they were in the game the whole time he was riding the pine.

I think most here have acknowledged that officiating wasn't the singular reason we were on the short end of the scoreboard. On the other hand, you have failed to acknowledge the officiating in general today. Officiating is an important part of the game.

[WSUShokker]

I really think we are the most physical team on the floor. We aren't getting pushed around by anyone this year.

Excellent point.

Again, shooting aside, I think we look fantastic.

I see what you mean about Walker. There is noone on the team that is fast enough to guard him IMO. Thats just me.

I think I know what you were getting at here......thoughts?

There aren't many in the country that are going to be able to contain him. He's a hot lottery pick and that's all there is to it.

I agree, and he was a freak today, unfortunately at our expense.

I think, and I could be just making this up and my apologies if I am, that 1 was questioning my assessment earlier of our ability to hold Kemba under 16 points, which I said would not happen. I think the reply was after he had a couple of fouls and 3 points and it looked like we might keep him in control, when in fact he was just sizing us up. I think the comment was sarcastic, but like I said, I could be wrong, this is the internet.

We could have won the game, and in fact should have won the game. It was a great opportunity missed, and I expect us to be awful tomorrow as we work through a hangover. This is going to be tough to overcome for the next 31+ games, no matter what happens.


I don't really want to spend the next 14 years bitching about the officiating, but I think if EVERY time a kid goes to the basket its a foul, then at least some of the contact on the other end should be a foul as well. I'll give you Hatch's take to the basket when he was clobbered to the floor as example A. If Walker is fouled EVERY time, then that's a foul too.

My ass is tired and sore from being #### all the time. That's all I'm saying.

uhhh +1 and I Really like David Kyles play today....he was outstanding didnt think just shot it

[forevershockerfan]

FSF keeps putting off the inevitable. I have to watch this game again but had to post one more time. I am trying to absorb all of the different thoughts here and wondered this--"Am I the only Shocker Fan on VACA or were some of you just playing hookey? ahahaha.

Here's the deal. If we were in this game with a solid chance to win, with such disparity on throws opportunities versus a Big East Team with a solid "go to player", what does it all mean? Here is what I think, and it is all free observations as always.

Let's go back to 2006 and our Su-weet 16 Season. Nobody gave us any breaks. We earned everything we got with no help and no excuses. Today, we played a young team with lots of talent and a Big Time Go To Player. Back in the 2006/2007 Season, we did NOT win all of our games and even had a few setbacks. We did not win the Mo-Valley Tourney either. Even so, we Danced and Marched into the Sweet 16. This Team will have to find their own way to the Dance and it CAN be done.

What about the here and now? Do you all think the Valley will just be a cake-walk? I don't. The question is, can this team win on the road in the Valley of Death? Probably with an experienced team, but we have to overcome the obstacles and adversity better than we did today. I still think we will win the Valley, but with 4 losses. Thus, will this be enough to gain an at large berth if we don't win it all in St. Louie for the very first time? Don't count on it or expect a positive outcome when we are at the mercy of others.

Yes, I concur that we really needed to win today--but we did not pull it off. Thus, our beloved Shocks have a long road to travel from here. Which is better? Winning today and then dropping off the face of the map as we did the Season after we Danced? Or rather losing today, and then correcting the weaknesses that were manifested today and finishing strong after correcting these mishaps as we continue through a very long Season? You make the call but it is much too early to lick our wounds and just give up. There are lot's of games to play--one at a time. Tomorrow, we continue this quest for a special Season. It's Not too late so let's get after it!!!!!!! Stranger things have happened and we have NOT heard the last from our Shocks!!!!!!!

[WuShockFan]

I'm not worried about the Shocks they will come back and have a great season they proved they could play with anyone, but you should not have to play 5 against 7, that's the point. When will somebody scream loud enough for there to be something done. If expanding replay is the answer so be it, it would have been real easy to overturn the Blair foul that was obviously a clean block. The refs have got to have some kind of accountability, with all the technology we have today. They could review the game, and dock pay, or suspend refs for bad officiating. If it was 1 or 2 blown calls or no calls a game that would be fine but it is way more than that it's chronic and we know it. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE! Blown calls decide games it happens all the time just look at the NFL this year.

I agree. I think each coach should have two "red flags" per game. The coach should be able to throw a red flag on a questionable call. The call would be reviewed at the monitor and if not reversed, the team would be charged a time out. This is similar to what they do in the NFL. If we had that rule in college basketball, Gregg Marshall could have thrown the flag on the Durley blocking call and the Blair foul call in the 2nd half, and both calls probably would have been reversed. It seems like a no-brainer to me. The monitors are right there on the court.

[KCShocker91]

Coaching

Maybe people have already said this, but who is coaching the defensive schemes? Worst coaching I've seen in a long time. Why not make the other four players beat you? Just let their only player get the ball every time and be allowed to drive. Un-fricken believable. Nice non-adjustments, Are you kidding me?

Also, twinkle toes is turning the ball over every other trip down and ragland is on the bench. What a terriblly coached game. If you want to play with the big boys you have to coach like big boys...

[Capitol Shock]

Our play and coaching led the game for 37 minutes. It took the refs to pull this one out from the line.

[tropicalshox]

Walker is a great little guard. He is going to beat a lot of teams.

[tw805]

Our play and coaching led the game for 37 minutes. It took the refs to pull this one out from the line.

Bingo. Let them score, and with the clock stopped no less. Nothing could be better for UCONN.

That some of you are posting that the UCONN people are saying the officials called this game with a WSU bias is nothing short of mind-blowing. The numbers don't lie.

[tw805]

I should add, though, that the failure to switch to a zone after Walker started making us his bitches is equally infuriating.

[The Mad Hatter]

I should add, though, that the failure to switch to a zone after Walker started making us his bitches is equally infuriating.

As I noted in another thread, we did play zone at times down the stretch and it made no difference in the result. See the "Mission in Life" thread for more discussion.

[tropicalshox]

Maybe if we run into him again we put EO in to swat em away.

[ShockerFever]

Maybe if we run into him again we put EO in to swat em away.

The one time EO was put in there he clobbered Walker for some more throws.