Bush Wamukota 7 Foot C 2014 - is a Shocker!

[WSUwatcher]

Some reason for believing that, Cat? The Shocks certainly seemed happy to get him -- why would you think he's doing more than just some typical adjusting from HS ball to WSU at this point? It appears that playing for Marshall is more of a step up in terms of demands than is the case with a lot of programs.

[ShockTalk]

I'm only expecting one year of actual production out of Wamukota. I doubt he will be able to beat out Carter or Morris for minutes next year. In his St=r. year, I'd expect something resembling Orukpe's Sr. year with a little more offensive production and a little less defensive production.

In the worst scenario, Bush will give our 6'8" guys a chance to practice against a taller player who can D it up some. Just that much could make his presence on the team worthwhile.

Well, I'm hoping for some minutes out of him. Carter and Morris are more like PFs than Cs. Yes, they can both play the 5, but we're going to be short on experience and need to fill 40 minutes at the 4 as well. Carter......that's it with D-I experience. Even if we are fortunate enough to get Atwood, it will take him some time to adjust. That leaves freshmen. Wessel can fill in at the 4, but he's undersized and effective playing will depend on matchups.

We will have 80 minutes to fill at the 4 and 5. Carter 30. Without an Atwood, that's 50 between Morris (RS freshman), Wamukota (project Juco center), some minutes for Wessel (matchups), and 1st year freshmen.

[Steeleshocker]

Well, I'm hoping for some minutes out of him. Carter and Morris are more like PFs than Cs. Yes, they can both play the 5, but we're going to be short on experience and need to fill 40 minutes at the 4 as well. Carter......that's it with D-I experience. Even if we are fortunate enough to get Atwood, it will take him some time to adjust. That leaves freshmen. Wessel can fill in at the 4, but he's undersized and effective playing will depend on matchups.

We will have 80 minutes to fill at the 4 and 5. Carter 30. Without an Atwood, that's 50 between Morris (RS freshman), Wamukota (project Juco center), some minutes for Wessel (matchups), and 1st year freshmen.

Those freshmen may turn out to be pretty talented and get playing time right away.

[wufan]

Those freshmen may turn out to be pretty talented and get playing time right away.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hamilton get 10-15 minutes a game. I will be surprised if Kelly doesn't get at least 10 minutes per game.

[pinstripers]

Kelly will play right away.

[pogo]

As we have seen in the past you can be the most talented offensive player since Pete Maravich but if you don't play defense you sit. Few young men are up to the challenge of playing D 1 defense right out of the chute. So the minutes the new guys get will be limited by their defensive shortcomings. Not saying they can't get it but historically speaking it will take a semester at least.

[Steeleshocker]

As we have seen in the past you can be the most talented offensive player since Pete Maravich but if you don't play defense you sit. Few young men are up to the challenge of playing D 1 defense right out of the chute. So the minutes the new guys get will be limited by their defensive shortcomings. Not saying they can't get it but historically speaking it will take a semester at least.

Respectfully disagree. Recent freshmen to display appropriate defensive attention and corresponding playing time from game 1 include Fred Van Vleet, Ron Baker, Tekele Cotton. Not everyone has it, but I'm willing to bet at least one of the incoming freshmen does.

[wu_shizzle]

Not everyone has it, but I'm willing to bet at least one of the incoming freshmen does.

HCGM has mentioned Rashard Kelly as being ready to defend and rebound right away.

[ShockTalk]

Respectfully disagree. Recent freshmen to display appropriate defensive attention and corresponding playing time from game 1 include Fred Van Vleet, Ron Baker, Tekele Cotton. Not everyone has it, but I'm willing to bet at least one of the incoming freshmen does.

What's to disagree with? @pogo: said "few". FVV was not ready at the start of last year, but as we all know, he's a very faster learner. I remember how everyone was so amazed at how good Cotton was "for a freshman". Baker had a red shirt year of practice to learn.

[im4wsu]

What's to disagree with? @pogo said "few". FVV was not ready at the start of last year, but as we all know, he's a very faster learner. I remember how everyone was so amazed at how good Cotton was "for a freshman". Baker had a red shirt year of practice to learn.

I don't know that we can say "FVV was not ready." We can say that Armstead with a year of practice was more ready than Fred, initially. Had Fred been thrown into the fire at game 1, who know how good he may/may not have been by game 10. We do know that by game 7, Coach thought he was "ready" enough to average 17 minutes over the remaining 33 games.

[The Cat]

Some reason for believing that, Cat? The Shocks certainly seemed happy to get him -- why would you think he's doing more than just some typical adjusting from HS ball to WSU at this point? It appears that playing for Marshall is more of a step up in terms of demands than is the case with a lot of programs.

When I get to the games the coaches are running the red shirts and walk on's through a mini practice of sorts. It is more of a skills exercise with shooting and dribbling but there is still some effort required. Hopefully Shaq turns it around like JT did but his effort is very lackluster. I know during coach's radio show a week or so ago when asked about Shaq he said he had a knee thing.

[bunck]

I don't know that we can say "FVV was not ready." We can say that Armstead with a year of practice was more ready than Fred, initially. Had Fred been thrown into the fire at game 1, who know how good he may/may not have been by game 10. We do know that by game 7, Coach thought he was "ready" enough to average 17 minutes over the remaining 33 games.

IIRC, Fred was also hurt in the preseason and missed a lot of practice.

[WstateU]

IIRC, Fred was also hurt in the preseason and missed a lot of practice.

Correct, I recall a nagging ankle problem of some kind.

[wufan]

What's to disagree with? @pogo said "few". FVV was not ready at the start of last year, but as we all know, he's a very faster learner. I remember how everyone was so amazed at how good Cotton was "for a freshman". Baker had a red shirt year of practice to learn.

Fred was ready for 10 minutes a game as was Tekele. This year Bowles was ready before the illness. I imagine one or freshman more will be in the 9 or 10 man rotation. Here's my guess for those getting meaningful minutes next year:

Fred
Ron
Tekele
Darius
Wamukota

Henderson
Brown
Wessel
Kelly
Morris

Not sure if Holland, Hamilton and Green fit in for meaningful minutes early. Of course, I could be completely wrong.

[mumdaddy316]

Don't forget the bush bros