Official WSU vs. Bradley Game Thread

[ShockTalk]

I hope we're not taking to far a step backwards next year.

We hang a lot of hope on Hall. I thought he was the 2nd best available player in the nation for what we needed. After seeing the stats this year, I believe he is probably the best. Be even so, front court depth is a potential issue. The other possible problem is an SF backup. Now Hamilton and Richardson could be the solutions, but who knows.

I hate to make Murry a jack of all trades, but as it stands now, I think 1-3 will be one of two ways: PG Murry, Ragland; SG Kyles, DWill; and SF Smith, Murry or, less likely, PG Ragland, DWill; SG Kyles, Murry; and SF Smith, Murry with Murry seeing about 15 minutes at each position. Of course, any contribution Wessel, Richardson, maybe Cotton, can give will be a bonus.

I also think the 4/5 depth could be a problem. It depends on a lot of things coming together. Hall being as good as it appears and playing 30 minutes pg (& generally no foul problems). White being able to contribute 10-15 mpg and both Hall and White being able to play 4 or 5. Stutz being a 25+ mpg contributor, EO giving a reasonable 10-15 mpg, and Hamliton not being too much of a weak link when he plays. We'll be just fine if all this comes about, it's just not likely everything will.

[pogo]

I was not surprised at all with bu starting out in a zone. It was the only way e'ville delayed the inevitable. I believe we will see almost exclusive zone from everyone except cu and msu. Those are the only two teams that will believe they can man it up against our Shox. Of course I have been known to be wrong before.

[BOBB]

I was not surprised at all with bu starting out in a zone. It was the only way e'ville delayed the inevitable. I believe we will see almost exclusive zone from everyone except cu and msu. Those are the only two teams that will believe they can man it up against our Shox. Of course I have been known to be wrong before.

There are always those coaches that just hate playing zone on principle. If I were an opposing coach I would play zone on us exclusively and try to force a pace that would make SIU fans bored. In the event WSU was hitting 3's or my team was missing a lot of shots or turning it over I would start drinking...heavily.

[SHOXAAC]

I was not surprised at all with bu starting out in a zone. It was the only way e'ville delayed the inevitable. I believe we will see almost exclusive zone from everyone except cu and msu. Those are the only two teams that will believe they can man it up against our Shox. Of course I have been known to be wrong before.

There are always those coaches that just hate playing zone on principle. If I were an opposing coach I would play zone on us exclusively and try to force a pace that would make SIU fans bored. In the event WSU was hitting 3's or my team was missing a lot of shots or turning it over I would start drinking...heavily.

Drinking, heavy or not, is never a bad idea regardless of the situation...just sayin!
8)

[forevershockerfan]

About 3/4 of the way through last Season, I developed a calm when DWill entered the games. After all, none of us wanted Hannah out of the game much and DWill was a Freshman. Even so, DWill and Stutz both came along last Season to my liking. As of late, Stutz is finding his niche if he can just stay out of foul trouble. He has a 3-point and a free throw shooting touch and is really making effective, crisp passes. Ragland and Ben Smith are putting some needed points on the board at opportunistic times. Gabe was solid last night. 11 points and 9 bounds in 23 minutes off the bench? You bet!!!

Notice these obsevations are all concerning our 2nd team of starters? The last 2 games, we have not 'skipped a beat' when these other starters came in. Too bad we can't announce them all as official starters. It appears they all see the big picture and efface self and focus on their own role for the good of the team. 'Where there is a DWill, there is a way.' Thus, we truly want EO to also join on a regular baisis our ' Shocker Posse Comitatus' to enforce Marshall Law. This is the very Season many of have been pointing to as special for a while now. This could be a Season to Remember!!!!!

[SHOXAAC]

About 3/4 of the way through last Season, I developed a calm when DWill entered the games. After all, none of us wanted Hannah out of the game much and DWill was a Freshman. Even so, DWill and Stutz both came along last Season to my liking. As of late, Stutz is finding his niche if he can just stay out of foul trouble. He has a 3-point and a free throw shooting touch and is really making effective, crisp passes. Ragland and Ben Smith are putting some needed points on the board at opportunistic times. Gabe was solid last night. 11 points and 9 bounds in 23 minutes off the bench? You bet!!!

Notice these obsevations are all concerning our 2nd team of starters? The last 2 games, we have not 'skipped a beat' when these other starters come in. Too bad we can't announce them all as official starters. It appears they all see the big picture and efface self and focus on their own role for the good of the team. 'Where there is a DWill, there is a way.' Thus, we truly want EO to also join on a regular baisis our ' Shocker Posse Comitatus' to enforce Marshall Law. This is the very Season many of have been pointing to as special for a while now. This could be a Season to Remember!!!!!

My hope for Stutz is that he would be terrific in conference play, just as your analysis indicates. His matchups in conference are to his liking. There just aren't many bigs that are that much quicker and stronger, therefore Stutz can take advantage of his superior skill. The problem with GS is his fondess for fouling. My belief is that he gets most of his fouls by holding up his arms as though Marshall Dillon said "hands up son." Bless Garrett's heart...he looks so AWKWARD just standing there with his arms high in the air. I know it's not his personality, but he has to get MEAN and take a swat at the ball like a big man should. I remember in the second half of the E-puke game Durley aggressively blocked a shot; no foul called and the crowd went nuts. But Garrett is so soft when it comes to being aggressive on "D." I think the refs are sending a message to him to man up, be aggressive like a big man should. Sure, he will get some whistles, but officials are used to 7-footers swatting shots away...so do it Garrett.

[pogo]

I was not surprised at all with bu starting out in a zone. It was the only way e'ville delayed the inevitable. I believe we will see almost exclusive zone from everyone except cu and msu. Those are the only two teams that will believe they can man it up against our Shox. Of course I have been known to be wrong before.

There are always those coaches that just hate playing zone on principle. If I were an opposing coach I would play zone on us exclusively and try to force a pace that would make SIU fans bored. In the event WSU was hitting 3's or my team was missing a lot of shots or turning it over I would start drinking...heavily.

I can think of one recent former coach that refused to go zone for more than one or two possessions even if it looked like it was giving us a chance to win.