Fans of freshmen rejoice!

[1972Shocker]

I don't see the issue. Don't we all prefer to build around Freshmen? I will add that I prefer to build around Freshmen studs when possible. At the guard positions, we don't need immediate help but Brown is still a stud. It also appears that Hamilton fits into the stud category.

Students need to bring their signs to the Saturday game encouraging Hamilton to make an immediate decision to sign with the Shockers.

The best thing the students can bring to that game is the intensity and enthusiasm that they brought to the WKU game. And that goes for all Shocker fans attending the game.

[shockmonster]

Are you calling me out? I'm always there. Are you?:)

[1972Shocker]

Are you calling me out? I'm always there. Are you?:)

This time of the year I am literally always there between Shocker VB, Shocker Women's Basketball and Shocker Men's BB. In fact, many folks think I'm kind of nuts in that regard. My vehicle is so used to making the trip to Koch Arena it can pretty much self-drive itself there.

[ShockTalk]

What that all means is next year's freshman class is likely to see more redshirts (Henderson, Brown, Kelly), leaving only 2-3 freshmen seeing the court and spreading out the classes.

I certainly agree, Royal, that the classes are likely to smooth out; they always do in one way or another. For example, an injury to someone else this year could necessitate playing Holland, in which case the freshman group next year is down one before the season ever starts. But I also think you're right that Marshall, who is known to like redshirting guys when he and his staff think it's best for a given player and for the program, has set himself up to do some redshirting next year.

I don't care much for the RS discussion. With rare exception (Baker), I think few recruits sign with WSU thinking that they will be a RS (Wessel), particularly the higher the profile our recruits get. Also, Marshall likes redshirting, but he is adamant about it being the player's choice if asked. Hopefully, as he plays with his teammates in the summer and early fall at WSU, he will see where he stacks up in the pecking order. He will also have time to talk with teammates that did (or didn't) RS and see it's value if it applies to him. I've been very pleased with the combination of athletic ability, smarts, and "team first thinking" of the recruits HCGM has been signing.

[Kung Wu]

This time of the year I am literally always there between Shocker VB, Shocker Women's Basketball and Shocker Men's BB. In fact, many folks think I'm kind of nuts in that regard. My vehicle is so used to making the trip to Koch Arena it can pretty much self-drive itself there.

I was wondering how those ruts in the road got there. You did it!

[1972Shocker]

I was wondering how those ruts in the road got there. You did it!

It's those wooden wheels on my wagon. They really dig into the asphalt.

[The Cat]

There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for Green on this board especially looking towards the future. To me he just seems like a player that is not in the Shocker mold and will have a hard time getting minutes going forward. I just don't think he is physical enough to defend the 4 and not quick enough for the 3 as well. To me it looks like a player that has a possibility to transfer.

[1972Shocker]

There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for Green on this board especially looking towards the future. To me he just seems like a player that is not in the Shocker mold and will have a hard time getting minutes going forward. I just don't think he is physical enough to defend the 4 and not quick enough for the 3 as well. To me it looks like a player that has a possibility to transfer.

Personally, I'm willing to be a little more patient, make that a lot more patient, with Derail. After all the young man is 2 games into his freshman season after sitting out a year as a redshirt.

[Dave Stalwart]

Maybe after tonight our eyes will be opened. I'm hoping to see more Green, Wessel, Wiggins and Carter tonight.

[shockmonster]

Personally, I'm willing to be a little more patient, make that a lot more patient, with Derail. After all the young man is 2 games into his freshman season after sitting out a year as a redshirt.

Agreed. He's a great TEAMmate and a fine young man. He realizes the team isn't about him. He will be a find role player. He fits Marshall's system just fine. You're jumping the gun.

[Dan]

With each passing year, it becomes more and more difficult for freshmen to crack the rotation in Marshall's system. Derail will be a very good player before he leaves WSU. His own coach said he was a better HS player than Toure and he can really light it up given the chance to play.

[The Cat]

Hopefully I am wrong and the kid flourishes. When I listened to the radio show Tuesday Marshall came to the defense of DC telling the fans that he is going to be a player and to wait. However when a fan asked him about Green he said it was a numbers thing and he just didn't play. For the latter part of the second half we had a 10+ point lead and he still did not get it. I realize we are only talking about 2 games but I think Marshall wants his forwards to be able to defend multiple positions and I think Green will have issues with this. I think all the wings that we are bringing in are better athletes than Green as well. Wiggins was great at times on the offensive end last year but because he could not defend he did not get on the court as much. With Wiggins I think it is more about his willingness to defend rather than his ability and with Green its the opposite.

[1972Shocker]

Some of the recent comments about Derail and Evan are somewhat reminiscent of those made early on about Aaron Ellis and Graham Hatch. @The Cat: may prove to be correct in his assessment about Derail, but I just question whether such an assessment can be reasonably and fairly made at this point in time.

[RoyalShock]

Hopefully I am wrong and the kid flourishes. When I listened to the radio show Tuesday Marshall came to the defense of DC telling the fans that he is going to be a player and to wait. However when a fan asked him about Green he said it was a numbers thing and he just didn't play. For the latter part of the second half we had a 10+ point lead and he still did not get it. I realize we are only talking about 2 games but I think Marshall wants his forwards to be able to defend multiple positions and I think Green will have issues with this. I think all the wings that we are bringing in are better athletes than Green as well. Wiggins was great at times on the offensive end last year but because he could not defend he did not get on the court as much. With Wiggins I think it is more about his willingness to defend rather than his ability and with Green its the opposite.

The coach's show references had different contexts. Marshall's reference to Carter was mostly regarding his hook shot, which paraphrased was to the effect of "what fans are unhappy with now, they will love later in the season." He then made the comment about Carter likely having a huge game sometime soon.

The difference between Carter and Green is that Carter is #2 on the depth chart and Green is #3. Green will only get in during blowouts or due to foul trouble. Speaking of blowouts . . .

It may seem like 10+ is a safe enough lead to empty the bench but it isn't; at least, not in a coach's mind. From what I've seen most coaches don't consider a lead safe unless it's 20+ with more than a minute to play. And I don't think our lead in the last minute exceeded 15 until Cotton's dunk at the very end.

[wusphlash]

Consider that Derail is playing behind three others, Kadeem, CJ and Darius that Gregg likely believes need minutes. It's not like he's playing behind experienced D1 players who could afford to give up a minute or two. Having said that, he needs to make an impression now because those in the incoming class are going to want those same minutes next year.