Shaquille Morris is a Shocker!

[Ricardo del Rio]

Saw almost all of the guys at the SASO ice cream social and volleyball game but didn't see Shaq there. Was really hoping to get a glimpse of the new lighter faster Shaq.

He was out running laps and watching the calories

[WSUwatcher]

You may be correct but the rope will be much shorter than when JT was a Shocker. He won't get multiple chances and years to make an impact and the expectations will be higher No Senior season to average 4 rebounds. Also, if he takes defensive possessions off, he will be pulled immediately. Too many and he's history.

Thanks, Coach. But methinks you have no idea whereof you speak.

Why Marshall is saying what he is, I don't know and neither does anyone else here. What we do we know is that he's a highly skilled motivator, which is one of the reasons he gets the big bucks as one of the nation's best coaches. And we know from observation that he likes to challenge his players, sometimes publicly, and that it's borne fruit with guys like Durley, Armstead, and Early in the past.

One other thing: why should the rope be any shorter for Shaq than in the past? The program may be at a different level than in JT's day, but athletic 6-7/6-8 260-pounders who have Rosenboom marveling at their physical potential, AND that are successfully recruitable by WSU, don't exactly grow on trees. Shaq has a lot to gain by getting serious, but so does WSU from his doing so. We can be sure he won't be allowed to coast, but there's no reason to think he's in a precarious spot, either. He'll just have to earn his minutes like anyone else does, and there's plenty of quality competition for him to overcome in doing so.

[shockmonster]

Thanks, Coach. But methinks you have no idea whereof you speak.

Why Marshall is saying what he is, I don't know and neither does anyone else here. What we do we know is that he's a highly skilled motivator, which is one of the reasons he gets the big bucks as one of the nation's best coaches. And we know from observation that he likes to challenge his players, sometimes publicly, and that it's borne fruit with guys like Durley, Armstead, and Early in the past.

One other thing: why should the rope be any shorter for Shaq than in the past? The program may be at a different level than in JT's day, but athletic 6-7/6-8 260-pounders who have Rosenboom marveling at their physical potential, AND that are successfully recruitable by WSU, don't exactly grow on trees. Shaq has a lot to gain by getting serious, but so does WSU from his doing so. We can be sure he won't be allowed to coast, but there's no reason to think he's in a precarious spot, either. He'll just have to earn his minutes like anyone else does, and there's plenty of quality competition for him to overcome in doing so.

You obviously are a very smart boy because you are correct that Gregg is a master motivator.

There is no one that Marshall disciplined as much as JT. I've watched Marshall's rope get shorter over the last couple of years (and players spending increasing amounts of time in the dog house) since we've busted out into the national spotlight. We lost some games during Durley's Senior year (SIU comes to mine) that we shouldn't have because players didn't play the way Marshall wanted them to, and I remember some of the trips down the floor that Durley gave no effort and just allowed the player to drive around him. I remember some people on Shockernet crying, criticizing, and protesting each time Marshall disciplined JT (and others) and placed him on the bench for lengthy periods of time. Maybe you were one of those. I think that we may have enough depth that he no longer has to keep playing someone who doesn't completely get it. Now that we are recruiting Top 100 types of players, he will either change (at some point) or he will leave. Marshall took a chance on Morris when he recruited him because we needed big, athletic bodies, but the days of taking lots of chances are waning. My bet is that Shaq changes, but Marshall will win either way.

[wufan]

I think that we may have enough depth that he no longer has to keep playing someone who doesn't completely get it.

This is the difference now versus HCGMs first 5 years. The great thing about Marshall's system is that it will work itself out. Marshall is there pushing him to be successful. Morris will succeed or fail based on his own merit.

[Kung Wu]

Shaq ain't goin' nowhere. The number 5 player out of Oklahoma has dropped 20 pounds and is running sub-7 minute miles -- he's not slacking off or showing a single sign of quitting. He's responding to the very high expectations placed on him and you can bet he's gonna be a whole lot of fun to watch. If he'd have worked this hard as a highschooler is there any doubt he would have been the number 1 prospect in Oklahoma? Who knows but we do know he has responded big time.

[pinstripers]

Like our Head Coach says, this is a pivotal year for him.

[another shocker]

up until I read this thread, i didn't realize that shaq had one foot in the door and one foot out the door. thanks for the insider info, folks.

[im4wsu]

Thanks, Coach. But methinks you have no idea whereof you speak.

Why Marshall is saying what he is, I don't know and neither does anyone else here. What we do we know is that he's a highly skilled motivator, which is one of the reasons he gets the big bucks as one of the nation's best coaches. And we know from observation that he likes to challenge his players, sometimes publicly, and that it's borne fruit with guys like Durley, Armstead, and Early in the past.

One other thing: why should the rope be any shorter for Shaq than in the past? The program may be at a different level than in JT's day, but athletic 6-7/6-8 260-pounders who have Rosenboom marveling at their physical potential, AND that are successfully recruitable by WSU, don't exactly grow on trees. Shaq has a lot to gain by getting serious, but so does WSU from his doing so. We can be sure he won't be allowed to coast, but there's no reason to think he's in a precarious spot, either. He'll just have to earn his minutes like anyone else does, and there's plenty of quality competition for him to overcome in doing so.

I certainly don't either. Shaq has yet to pay one minute of Div 1 ball. This year is important for him, as for any other HS star that plays his first season of Div 1 ball. Perhaps 3G is being realistic and not building hopes of fans nor of building any potential "I've got it made now" ego in Shaq. Motivation and/or handling player's emotions/egos is something we pay 3G big bucks to do well.

[wufan]

It's totally motivational. He wants Shaq to live up to his potential, which is very high.

[SHOCKvalue]

This thread took a weird tangent. Wasn't Shaq a highly touted recruit when we landed him (too lazy to reread the entire thread or do SN searches)? Seemed like the board as a whole thought he was a "get." Couple the fact that the guy seems hardcore enamored to be a Shocker, and I for one at least am willing to give him a long length of rope.

[pinstripers]

2 star, offers from ORU, Florida Gulf Coast and Lamar. Has a chance to be rally good, I think, but was never a blue-chipper.

[wufan]

2 star, offers from ORU, Florida Gulf Coast and Lamar. Has a chance to be rally good, I think, but was never a blue-chipper.

He was also heavily recruited by OU and OSU. Questions about his weight and work ethic kept him under the radar. Obvious strength, explosiveness, and touch made everyone take notice of his potential.

[ripemupshocks]

ESPN - 3*
Future 150 - 3*
Scout - N/A

[Capitol Shock II]

This kid is going to be a beast if he isn't already. There's no doubt in my mind that he could've competed for playing time last year. This year you better just get out of the way.

[Dave Stalwart]

I'm pretty bought in on Shaq. I don't think many people aren't. We are just responding to the fact that what little has been written on him has been vague and slightly negative. I think he is going to be surprisingly good and all the stuff we are hearing is part of the motivation/improvement process. I expect him to be an immediate contributor.