Post Evansville Game Thoughts

[Aargh]

I thought there was an Evansville player at least in the vicinity of Murry. I thought Murry had a legitimate reason to hang on the rim until he could look around to make sure there was a clear area for a landing.

The crowd involvement stayed good because of the D and lots of dunks. Too bad UE didn't try to go at Orukpe. We could have had crowd enthusiasm for thunder blocks.

At 16:00 remaining in the first half the score was 13-2 - a pace to result in a final score of 130-20. 4 minutes later it had evened out a bit. At the 12:00 mark the game was on a pace to end at 120-40.

Marshall started calling off the troops and subbing deep at the 10 minute mark of the first half. At the end of the game, the walkons were BUILDING the lead. If Brown would have hit the 3rd 3 he took, it was very possible the walkons would blown the game up to a 40-point gap.

It's not often you see a true third team on the court. Usually there aren't enough healthy and reasonably capable warm bodies to go 15 deep. At the end of the game, the Shox had a true third unit on the court.

TRich looks like he's going to be OK. He's behind some pretty salty players and isn't going to see many minutes until his Jr. year.

I'm starting to have some concerns about Hamilton. He seems to be having some real bad breaks in terms of injuries. That's got to be interfering with his development.

[WuDrWu]

We did not aggressively press much last night....it was a soft press intended (imho) mostly to speed up the game. We could have obliterated them if needed.

RDR, you are right. Ryan is only widely considered "good" for 2 reasons. He IS a really good shooter. If left alone he will torch you. That is exactly why he has a reputation for getting his points late in games when it's been decided. The other reason is that he's the only true scorer on a bad team, which makes him seem better than he is, relatively.

I don't put much stock in the walkons expanding the lead, but I do like it when they get in and are allowed to play. And it's fun when they make shots. I like it most when they play really hard defense. They did a little of that last night.

The best 40 minutes of defensive effort in memory for me from a WSU team. That's how you win Championships.

Toure is going to suprise some people with PG play. Even with scouting, I'm pretty sure most people are going to assume we're just "piecemealing" it....they will be very unhappy with that thought process. He is in the elite class of Valley point guards. He might be the best before it's all over.

I thought we moved the ball GREAT against the zone. We had some great looks that just didn't go down. I guess if we never make them, then the zone will be effective. I don't think that's going to happen with this particular group.

Demetric had a bit a change of attitude last night. I don't know if he gave in and said, "Ok, whatever you want, I'll do" or if it was more of an "F you, I am just going to go out and play" but he was good, fast, decisive, and most importantly, a leader on the floor. That's the DWill we all knew was possible and hoped we'd see from day 1. That is a dangerous player. Well done young man.

In regards to Ehimen, he has to get more minutes, regardless of the cost. This season is so important yet we have to continue to build and not just be playing for what this season promises.

Next year is going to bring a TON of changes, and very few will be a positive for the program.

Next year's incoming class is hugely important for the program. As it stands right this moment, we have absolutely zero to rely on that doesn't have a Jr. by their name. There is a lot of promise and potential, but that's it.

[BOBB]

Next year is going to bring a TON of changes, and very few will be a positive for the program.

Not sure I follow? Out: Durley, Ellis and Hatch. In: Hall, Cotton, White, Wessell. The only question mark position next year is who replaces Durley at the 4/5? Those that know better than me say Hall is the man. AND with White being a Bird/Sikma/Chambers clone we're set at the 4 for the future:) I do agree that without some of these underclassmen stepping up this year or next that we will be in trouble the year after next.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the cycle of nonBCS teams. If we're doing well we will hang around in the top half of the league in our rebuilding years. This is not the WCC, there are too many good coaches and recruiters in our league to think we'll just own it year after year. We may get lucky and Marshall's best team may be next year. I didn't think we'd be as good with the Randy/Jamar team leaving town. I did think we'd be better than 5th!

[wufan]

Blair is also gone. My concern is that neither Stutz nor EO have shown that they can play consistently. Hamilton, Hall, and White are unknown commodities (but each has promise). It ain't a bad start, but hard to predict. Can't miss on Hall or White.

In 12-13 DWill and EO are the only ones we've even seen play substantially. Hard to know how we will be.

[moshock]

Put me in the I'm not worried camp. The 2012-2013 season will be Perry, Gavin, and the other CL recruits first season with the Shox.

We are top heavy right now. 3G is bringing in a good mix for next year and I'm sure will bring in another for the following year. 3G won many conference championships in a row at Winthrop. He knows how to reload.



:wsu_posters:

[Steeleshocker]

Count me as not too worried. Look at pretty much every season and you can see that we wouldn't know who the major contributors would be in two years. That's just the way it goes in college basketball when you have upperclassmen.

Last year and the year before were anomalies, because 3G was just getting the program going, and was throwing a lot of freshmen into the fire to become battle tested. In future years, the least experience getting significant playing time will hopefully be Sophomores. This shows that we are beginning to have a program that develops quality players from within the program, without having them learn the hard way in actual games.

Count me as surprised if White comes in and just instantly usurps Carl Hall and JH for significant playing time. While Hamilton is dealing with some injury issues, he was somebody we all raved about before he ever got here. He's just behind a load of really good and experienced power forwards. That's not to say he still can't be a 1000 point scorer for the shockers in 3 years. Heck, if he can get a medical redshirt with his latest ailments, we might get him for 4.

Count me as surprised if Wessel comes in and takes over time from Richardson and Smith. Both of those players have shown their abilities on the floor this season. Sure, TR needs to improve his defense and quickness, but by the time EW gets here, he will have 2 full years in coach Marshall's program. And he is certainly capable of stretching a defense with his three-point abilities.

As you might guess, I will also be surprised if Cotton comes in and gets significant time. And for obvious reasons.

This just speaks to the depth that 3G is recruiting. He's now able to go get guys who he can develop for the 2012-2013 season and on. The only player that I "expect" to see with significant minutes is Carl Hall, because that's what we are bringing him in for. Also keeping in mind that Hall will be about the same age as Jerome Hamilton. It's entirely possible that JH could be our starting power forward next year.

My point being that I will be surprised if these freshmen come in right away and contribute significantly. Odds are one of them will, but probably only one. And that's fine, because the others will be plenty prepared when their number is called in future years.

[Aargh]

I'll be more comfortable when a larger percentage of recruits comes from HS players.

There were some huge holes to fill when Marshall got here and JuCO's were required. Generally, you get about 1.5 good seasons out of a good JuCO player.

It seems that the rebuilding years come a little too often with a heavy load of JuCos and trfrs. Recruiting seems to be moving in the direction of more HS players. Some class balance would also help. There are still effects of what Marshall was forced to do in recruiting with his fist several classes.

[pinstripers]

I agree with the comfort thought. Gonna be a bunch more jucos in the next couple years, though, till the classes balance out.

[Capitol Shock]

Evansville triple teamed Garrett at least twice and maybe more. He recognized it right away and threw to a wide open player for an uncontested jump shot.

I also saw Evansville guards drive to the basket at least twice and do a U turn when they saw Garrett standing their waiting for them.

My point, even when Garrett isn't scoring a ton or rebounding a ton he helps the team substantially.

[pinstripers]

Pretty common for a guy to score 20, then the following game the opposition tries to be more aware of him. I wish he was going to be the next Pat Ewing, but he's not. Let's just be happy for what he is. Any team in the Valley would take him and love to have him.