Nicholls State Game Thread

[ShockerFever]

Clearly Hatch is a bench player.. :roll:

Ellis was definitely the POG. If he brings it like that every night, we will win a lot of games. Great energy. Great hustle. Nice boards.

A good win, especially when Kyles wasn't on tonight.

Nicholls State is a pretty good team. I thought there scrambling trap defense was pretty good and we surprisingly handled it well for the most part. They should win the Southland based on play thus far. At least Top 2 or 3.

I guess we now know what Marshall meant in the coaches show regarding certain players. Apparently DW is on the short list right now.

On the Shocker Locker Show, Coach Jans would not comment on the Williams situation. He deferred to Coach Marshall. I had the sense that perhaps there might be some disciplinary issue going on.

Should be an interesting coaches show on Monday..er scratch that Tuesday night?

[ShockerFever]

I called Nicholls a "death by papercut" team tonight at the game. They really aren't flashy or uberathletic, just stick to their grind out the offensive possession game plan and hustle on D. An impatient team could easily come apart against that, and we avoided that.

AE had a very nice line tonight.

I agree with this. Anybody remember Northwestern State in our Sweet 16 season? That was an all-out, grind out game that we survived at the last second. They weren't flashy, just solid and scrappy. They also are from the Southland.

[WuDrWu]

I called Nicholls a "death by papercut" team tonight at the game. They really aren't flashy or uberathletic, just stick to their grind out the offensive possession game plan and hustle on D. An impatient team could easily come apart against that, and we avoided that.

AE had a very nice line tonight.

I agree with this. Anybody remember Northwestern State in our Sweet 16 season? That was an all-out, grind out game that we survived at the last second. They weren't flashy, just solid and scrappy. They also are from the Southland.

They are seriously size deficient, but I thought they were very well coached.

Healthy, they have to be the best team in their conference, but I have serious reservations about them staying healthy over the course of the season. And what happens if 31 or 5 get hurt? It's over.

My only issue with their game tonight is that it didn't appear to me that they were playing to win, but to keep it respectable. As long as they didn't get pasted, they were cool with the result.


I love what Ben Smith brings to the game. Toughness. I said a long time ago that Joe Ragland was going to be the point. I love his upside and I still think he's going to be very, very good, but I think Toure' is going to get the lion's share of the minutes at PG.

I thought DWill was very positive on the bench tonight. I wasn't watching him all time, but when I did he looked positive. I have no idea why he didn't play but is semester over yet? I hope it's not grades.

HCGM was a riot to watch tonight....his facial expressions were fantastic.

I hate to bring it up again, but here's just a brief list of problematic issues tonight:

National Anthem: Not bagging on a kid, but seriously?

Does 1/4 of the scoreboard have to flash off and reset after buzzers?

IronWu. Loved you 2 years ago.....kinda tired now.

Pregame music still can't clap to very often.

No reminder to continue standing after the first TO.

Masterblaster FAIL.

Oddball yell leader MUST go.

Dandy Don was off several times.

JT player of the game?

There is WAY too much panning of the crowd....Jeez, are we that narcissistic? It's getting sickening imho.

Crowd was below average again, but better than most of the other games. Thought the student section was solid and Aussie, Aussie, Aussie cheer was very nicely done.

Seriously, how badly do I have to Drive One?

Why, why, why, WHY must there be 5 guys doing absolutely NOTHING standing in the middle of the north entrance of the G lot? Guys, you are just in the way and you do NOTHING. Please go away.

[SHOXAAC]

I called Nicholls a "death by papercut" team tonight at the game. They really aren't flashy or uberathletic, just stick to their grind out the offensive possession game plan and hustle on D. An impatient team could easily come apart against that, and we avoided that.

AE had a very nice line tonight.

I agree with this. Anybody remember Northwestern State in our Sweet 16 season? That was an all-out, grind out game that we survived at the last second. They weren't flashy, just solid and scrappy. They also are from the Southland.

There is WAY too much panning of the crowd....Jeez, are we that narcissistic? It's getting sickening imho.

But didn't you see ME...I had my dance on tonight, or at least that's what I call it. I was in hopes you would notice.

:cry:

[ShockerFever]

Doc, your list is pretty much spot on.

I still contend the 3-point sponsor is one of the cheapest, lowest forms of major college basketball that has ever been fed to us here.

If the department is that financially strapped (doubtful), I will gladly pitch in a certain amount of money for that to be canned the rest of the year.

Does that not suck the energy and life out of what normally is a lively crowd reacting from a 3-pointer or what?

[Aargh]

I would like to think that in the years I've watched Dance Cam that there would at least be some memorable moments from some WSU coeds, but I don't recall seeing a single WSU coed on Dance Cam ever.

I don't think it's because of the inability or unwillingness of WSU students to dance on camera

[shockar25]

Hey, but what about those frisbee dogs?

Actually in all seriousness it was good we had some actual halftime entertainment for a change!

[ShockTalk]

Glad that NSU didn't have a couple more good athletes. They'd made it a tough game. Very well coach and pretty discipled (given the overall talent level).

Blair and Ellis were fantastic on D in the first half. Those double screens were nasty to have to get through. Aaron's offense was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully he can keep it up. Well spoken young man as well in the post game. Gabe, on the other hand, seems like he should be a good offensive weapon, but surprised he's not.

OK, JT got to 1,000 points tonight, but player of the game. NOT. Give the man a red cape so he can get style points when he goes "Ola". I didn't want to look around after one of his non-defensive plays and I came out of my seat yelling "Play some defense JT!!"

Murry was solid. Hatch was..well.. Hatch. He does need to stop the "Who me!" routine after a called foul, even if it's not true sometimes, as he'll gain no benefit of the doubt in future games if he continues to do it. Nevertheless, well played tonight. Ben is getting it. Played nice D on 31 in the second half. He'll be pushing for more PT. JRag is looking better as well.

Looks like there will need to be some growing of maturity for DWill. He's a fine talent, but needs to realize he's only a sophmore and he's got a lot of basketball ahead of him. Garrett was not improved tonight. I didn't expect much on D because it was going to be hard for him to match up with smaller, and much quicker, players. But on offense, he should have been a beast. Gad, he was a anywhere from 7"-9" taller than who was guarding him, but still had problems posting them up. Watching him tonight, I thought it appeared like he was afraid he was going to break something. This nice guy needs to find that mean streak again.

The flow of our offense was just not in tune with helping Kyles have a good night offensively. He rushed getting off shots as passes were slow getting to him. We hold the ball SO much. I remember with Smithson, it was "pass, dribble, dribble, dribble, pass, dribble, dribble, dribble". With this squad it's just pass and hold, pass and hold. Our motion is almost no motion. So many of our passes seem to be very predictable. We really don't make it difficult to be guarded. NOTE: Not telling HCGM how to coach, just my observation.

Speaking of HCGM, if this team really starts to get it and plays much closer to their potential, watching Coach will be as entertaining as the game. The man just LOVES IT when things come together on the court.

[wufan]

Garrett was not improved tonight. I didn't expect much on D because it was going to be hard for him to match up with smaller, and much quicker, players. But on offense, he should have been a beast. Gad, he was a anywhere from 7"-9" taller than who was guarding him, but still had problems posting them up. Watching him tonight, I thought it appeared like he was afraid he was going to break something. This nice guy needs to find that mean streak again.

The flow of our offense was just not in tune with helping Kyles have a good night offensively. He rushed getting off shots as passes were slow getting to him. We hold the ball SO much. I remember with Smithson, it was "pass, dribble, dribble, dribble, pass, dribble, dribble, dribble". With this squad it's just pass and hold, pass and hold. Our motion is almost no motion. So many of our passes seem to be very predictable. We really don't make it difficult to be guarded.

Disagree with these two statements:

I thought Garrett played well minus the missed bunnies. When he catches out of position, he struggles (including rebounds). He has the need to put the ball on the floor and that causes issues. One of the two or three times he went up strong, he got whistled for the push. The guards did not do a great job working the ball to the wing to give him the easy 2 IMO. Make the bunnies and he's got 10 points and 6 boards easy.

I think our motion has looked VERY good this year. The trap was causing some problems, but otherwise, nice flow. Hatch and Murry took it to the rack quickly when the weak side slid over, some nice passes for jumpers, but unlike in the past, we missed them. Under Smithson the motion was ALWAYS get it to Jason or Mo and they hold the ball while guys cut. Then they bring the ball low, use their head to creat space and right before the 5 second call they would 1) shoot a fade away, 2) drive to the basket, 3) pass it to Carl Lemons who would go to the top of the key, signal motion and it would go to the other side for the same play. Speaking of Smithson, Reggie also liked the "create space with head" move. He was less successful with it than Perez and Evans.

[WuDrWu]

I love Gregg, and just one reason why from the post game, taken from Bob Lutz's article this morning:


Marshall had some fun at Durley's expense during his postgame meeting with the media.

"He got over 1,000 points tonight and I think the three rebounds put him at 47 for his career,'' Marshall said. "So he's close to being a 1,000-point, 50-rebound guy — that's our next goal.''


Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2010/12/10/162...#ixzz17o7zoMHK

[Purple Mustache]

Was hoping for some coach comments, but there aren't any.

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20101211/ARTICLES/101219902/1187/sports12?Title=Wichita-State-outlasts-Nicholls-68-50

[ShockBand]

Doc, your list is pretty much spot on.

I still contend the 3-point sponsor is one of the cheapest, lowest forms of major college basketball that has ever been fed to us here.

If the department is that financially strapped (doubtful), I will gladly pitch in a certain amount of money for that to be canned the rest of the year.

Does that not suck the energy and life out of what normally is a lively crowd reacting from a 3-pointer or what?

Here's a thought: Make the 3 pointer graphic so that it includes the sponsor and drop the PA mention of it. Sponsor still gets screen time using something that is already done. Whenever we replace the scoreboard, having one of those circular ribbons around the bottom could be handy for ad work as well.

Or we could go the other way and have a sponsorship from a bail bondsman every time HCGM looks like he might get a T.

[shockall]

Shame that NS was the best school they could get for $80k.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Doc, your list is pretty much spot on.

I still contend the 3-point sponsor is one of the cheapest, lowest forms of major college basketball that has ever been fed to us here.

If the department is that financially strapped (doubtful), I will gladly pitch in a certain amount of money for that to be canned the rest of the year.

Does that not suck the energy and life out of what normally is a lively crowd reacting from a 3-pointer or what?

Here's a thought: Make the 3 pointer graphic so that it includes the sponsor and drop the PA mention of it. Sponsor still gets screen time using something that is already done. Whenever we replace the scoreboard, having one of those circular ribbons around the bottom could be handy for ad work as well.

Or we could go the other way and have a sponsorship from a bail bondsman every time HCGM looks like he might get a T.

I'm sorry, but creativity is frowned upon. Just stick with what we have always done.

[The Mad Hatter]

Shame that NS was the best school they could get for $80k.

First, that should tell you how competitive the market is for good buy-out games.

Second, Nicholls State is actually a decent buy-out. With a couple of good non-conference wins under their belt and a chance to compete for their conference title, there is a very good chance that they will have a decent RPI.