New signee? Rauno Nurger from Sunrise

[Wuzee]

RAH-no

[1979Shocker]

How do you pronounce Rauno?

Rah - ooh - no? (ooh as in rhymes with glue)

or

R - ow - no? (ow as in rhymes with cow)

I think it's pronounced the same way Baker's first name is pronounced, but with an 'O' on the end. So it's Ron Baker and Ron-O Nurger.

[lostshocker]

I think it's pronounced the same way Baker's first name is pronounced, but with an 'O' on the end. So it's Ron Baker and Ron-O Nurger.

from the eagle article on the first page

Sunrise Christian Academy center Rauno (RAH-no) Nurger will play basketball at Wichita State this season

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/06/03/349...#storylink=cpy

[WSUwatcher]

Yes. With Evan, the question is, can he put the ball in the basket when he is open. Hatch could. White couldn't. Evan is similar to these two players.

Off topic, but I agree with khan in wondering whether Wessel's finger injury affected his shot in a way to which he hasn't yet adjusted. Still, he certainly isn't first player ever to have that injury, so it's no doubt possible to overcome, which makres it reasonable to wonder if there's a mental aspect as well. Comparing him to Hatch and White greatly understates his athletic ability, though -- he's a much better athlete than either.

In any case, I'm delighted that if we have to endure yet another bout of speculation about Wessel's future, it was at least stirred up by the addition of a player like Nurger, who brings with him a true center's size along with a combination of skills, attitude, quality experience, and nimbleness that we haven't seen in a WSU big man recruit for a long time.

[Dave Stalwart]

I still can't believe we picked up a 4 year freshman center. Having it pop up out of the blue is incredible.

Correct me if I'm forgetting someone, but the only 4 year centers we've had this decade have been Stutz, Miller and Durley,

4 year centers produce titles!

[1972Shocker]

I still can't believe we picked up a 4 year freshman center. Having it pop up out of the blue is incredible.

Correct me if I'm forgetting someone, but the only 4 year centers we've had this decade have been Stutz, Miller and Durley,

4 year centers produce titles!

We had 2 Valley regular season titles, a Sweet 16, and an NIT Title with Miller, Durley and Stutz plus on other NCAA appearance losing in the 1st round to VCU.

We had 1 Valley title, an NIT Title the NCAA loss to VCU under Durley & Stutz.

In the last two years, without a 4-year center we had the best two year run in Shocker history. 65-10 with an undefeated Valley regular season championship, our 1st Valley Tournament Championship in St. Louis, an undefeated regular season, a Final Four appearance and a season ending loss in the Round of 32 to the eventual National runners-up in what many believed was he best game of the NCAA Tournament. A key cog on the 2012-13 team was Carl Hall who was also on the Valley Championship team in Garrett Stutz' senior year.

Personally, I prefer 4-year players at any position. But a 4-year center in and of itself does not guarantee success. In fact, in today's game you have to have great guard play to be successful. Combine great guard play with solid front line play (especially rebounding and defense) and you have something.

Looks like we will have that combination in spades this year, although our lack of experience in the front court will be a challenge that will be interesting to observe.

[Dave Stalwart]

We had 2 Valley regular season titles, a Sweet 16, and an NIT Title with Miller, Durley and Stutz plus on other NCAA appearance losing in the 1st round to VCU.

We had 1 Valley title, an NIT Title the NCAA loss to VCU under Durley & Stutz.

In the last two years, without a 4-year center we had the best two year run in Shocker history. 65-10 with an undefeated Valley regular season championship, our 1st Valley Tournament Championship in St. Louis, an undefeated regular season, a Final Four appearance and a season ending loss in the Round of 32 to the eventual National runners-up in what many believed was he best game of the NCAA Tournament. A key cog on the 2012-13 team was Carl Hall who was also on the Valley Championship team in Garrett Stutz' senior year.

Personally, I prefer 4-year players at any position. But a 4-year center in and of itself does not guarantee success. In fact, in today's game you have to have great guard play to be successful. Combine great guard play with solid front line play (especially rebounding and defense) and you have something.

Looks like we will have that combination in spades this year, although our lack of experience in the front court will be a challenge that will be interesting to observe.

Good points. Maybe a better way for me to look at it is that these 4 year centers are able to anchor teams in a way that can turn a program around. Those three guys were very instrumental in that way.

Here's my latest intriguing thought... Will Rauno be the first 4 year center who came into a fully locked and loaded Marshall era team? What will that look like as compared to the guys who went before who rebuilt the program?

I guess it's getting ahead of myself to assume he will be super special, but I am wondering what his career will look like.

[Kung Wu]

We had 2 Valley regular season titles, a Sweet 16, and an NIT Title with Miller, Durley and Stutz plus on other NCAA appearance losing in the 1st round to VCU.

We had 1 Valley title, an NIT Title the NCAA loss to VCU under Durley & Stutz.

In the last two years, without a 4-year center we had the best two year run in Shocker history. 65-10 with an undefeated Valley regular season championship, our 1st Valley Tournament Championship in St. Louis, an undefeated regular season, a Final Four appearance and a season ending loss in the Round of 32 to the eventual National runners-up in what many believed was he best game of the NCAA Tournament. A key cog on the 2012-13 team was Carl Hall who was also on the Valley Championship team in Garrett Stutz' senior year.

Personally, I prefer 4-year players at any position. But a 4-year center in and of itself does not guarantee success. In fact, in today's game you have to have great guard play to be successful. Combine great guard play with solid front line play (especially rebounding and defense) and you have something.

Looks like we will have that combination in spades this year, although our lack of experience in the front court will be a challenge that will be interesting to observe.

Just think of what we would have done the last two years with 4-year centers! LOL

[Dave Stalwart]

Just think of what we would have done the last two years with 4-year centers! LOL

Dang it, @Kung Wu:! :) I should have known there would be such gaping holes in what I said.

Although now that I think about it, a Miller or a Stutz on last years team might have actually put us over the top

[AZ Shocker]

I don't like this signing at all. I feel soooooooooooooo bad for Kentucky not getting him. Prayers and thoughts for the Kentucky program. Hopefully they will still be okay and can still compete. Just so sad.....

[WSUwatcher]

They're consoling themselves with the knowledge that Calipari hasn't gone to the Lakers, AZ.

[AZ Shocker]

They're consoling themselves with the knowledge that Calipari hasn't gone to the Lakers, AZ.

Lol!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kung Wu]

I don't like this signing at all. I feel soooooooooooooo bad for Kentucky not getting him. Prayers and thoughts for the Kentucky program. Hopefully they will still be okay and can still compete. Just so sad.....

Just don't get caught crying for them on TV. Our fanbase can be so nasty toward such a display of emotion.