Markis McDuffie 6-7 SF 2015 - COMMITTED TO WSU

[ShockTalk]

You don't have to agree with it but most of the Top 20 teams are using it already.

But I do agree with it and have said so. Most of those Top 20 teams probably have the horses to do it, just like we may be able to do it against most Valley teams.

[shockmonster]

When I said "This may work in the Valley, not the Dance", I mean US using that smaller player like we are doing now. You made my point with your example of what UK and Louisville would do to us with 6'6" 210 or 6'4" 220 PFs.

We are doing this right now because Wessel is the best we have at that position. He shoots the three better than Kelly at this time, he sets picks better than Kelly at this time, he rebounds as well as Kelly at this time, he knows the offense and defenses better than Kelly at this time.

Are you suggesting that Gregg should have a different offense for each player? He tries to cover for each of our players weaknesses the best that he can.

Drake and Louisville are doing a lot of the same things and you don't want to be Drake and you don't want to be Louisville either. The only difference in this team and last year's team is that Cle had more flexibility and was a better player than Wessel. He was an Alll American for God's sake. What do you want?

[ShockTalk]

I think what he's saying is that we don't have the right personnel to play the 4-1 (which I believe Marshall prefers). We also don't has the personnel to play the more traditional 3-2 or 2-3. I do believe that Nurger, Kelly, Hamilton, McDuffie, Morris, Brown and Shamet could be quite excellent at the 4-1 in time.

YES, YES, YES! :victorious:

[ShockTalk]

We are doing this right now because Wessel is the best we have at that position. He shoots the three better than Kelly at this time, he sets picks better than Kelly at this time, he rebounds as well as Kelly at this time, he knows the offense and defenses better than Kelly at this time.

Are you suggesting that Gregg should have a different offense for each player? He tries to cover for each of our players weaknesses the best that he can.

Drake and Louisville are doing a lot of the same things and you don't want to be Drake and you don't want to be Louisville either. The only difference in this team and last year's team is that Cle had more flexibility and was a better player than Wessel. He was an Alll American for God's sake. What do you want?

Carl Hall. :wink-new:

Just kidding. Drake is doing out of necessity just like we are (at least for now). They don't have the horses Louisville has. By the way, we had two big centers last year that could get up and down the floor very well and swat away a lot of shots. We have not yet (I feel mostly due to inexperience and youth) replaced any of those players or Cle, including Carl Hall and, yes, EO, the previous year. I think we do have the players here or coming that can fill a lot of those needs, maybe even before the end of the year.

[shockmonster]

I think what he's saying is that we don't have the right personnel to play the 4-1 (which I believe Marshall prefers). We also don't has the personnel to play the more traditional 3-2 or 2-3. I do believe that Nurger, Kelly, Hamilton, McDuffie, Morris, Brown and Shamet could be quite excellent at the 4-1 in time.

What offense do you prefer we run then?

Because we are playing the same offense as last year, and the F4 team. We may have a few set plays to change it up, but we have not gone to a motion offense or some other offense. We are largely using different types of picks and rolls(which has been Gregg's offense) and I still think that Marshall is a pretty smart coach.

[choida]

Nurger Kelly McDuffie Hamilton plus another juco big could round out to be a good 4-5 crop to build from

[wufan]

What offense do you prefer we run then?

Because we are playing the same offense as last year, and the F4 team. We may have a few set plays to change it up, but we have not gone to a motion offense or some other offense. We are largely using different types of picks and rolls(which has been Gregg's offense) and I still think that Marshall is a pretty smart coach.

I have no preference. We have an experience hole in the frontcourt which makes all of the choices a compromise.

[shockmonster]

I have no preference. We have an experience hole in the frontcourt which makes all of the choices a compromise.

I actually was addressing Shock Talk because Drake and Louisville are running similar offenses but you are right Louisville have better athletes to run it with. It all comes down to recruiting the best athletes and chemistry. We have better athletes and fewer holes than Drake but a few more than Louisville.

[ShockTalk]

@shockmonster:, I don't disagree with the 4-1, but you use it when it creates an advantage for you. Your better teams have front lines of 6'8"/6'9" 220-230 (think Cle) that can do just what you are saying and they will beat your 6'6" 210 player.

But I do agree with it and have said so. Most of those Top 20 teams probably have the horses to do it, just like we may be able to do it against most Valley teams.

I actually was addressing Shock Talk because Drake and Louisville are running similar offenses but you are right Louisville have better athletes to run it with. It all comes down to recruiting the best athletes and chemistry. We have better athletes and fewer holes than Drake but a few more than Louisville.

Since you quoted @wufan:, but said you were addressing me, I'll say again, as above, I have no problem with the 4-1 as long as it gives you the advantage or is as good as anything else you can run to be competitive. As wufan said, we have holes which are going to be hard to hide at this time. Youth can do that.

As to what I'd prefer, I have felt that HCGM is doing less motion (not to be confused with a motion offense) than in previous years. For me, I think more motion would give all our guards and newbies like Brown, maybe Kelly, more options such as penetration to the hole or kickouts to open men that we don't seem to be getting now.

[shockmonster]

Since you quoted @wufan:, but said you were addressing me, I'll say again, as above, I have no problem with the 4-1 as long as it gives you the advantage or is as good as anything else you can run to be competitive. As wufan said, we have holes which are going to be hard to hide at this time. Youth can do that.

As to what I'd prefer, I have felt that HCGM is doing less motion (not to be confused with a motion offense) than in previous years. For me, I think more motion would give all our guards and newbies like Brown, maybe Kelly, more options such as penetration to the hole or kickouts to open men that we don't seem to be getting now.

It's the same offense.

[ShockTalk]

It's the same offense.

Well, against more zones, it looks stagnant.

[WSUwatcher]

Wandering afield from McDuffie in standard SN fashion, but the stagnation you perceive, ST, may have more to do with some of the guys running the offense than anything else. There's always at least one player on the court who hasn't run it in live action at WSU before this year, and usually more than that.

[wufan]

Wandering afield from McDuffie in standard SN fashion, but the stagnation you perceive, ST, may have more to do with some of the guys running the offense than anything else. There's always at least one player on the court who hasn't run it in live action at WSU before this year, and usually more than that.

I agree with this. It's the experience level of the players more than anything else which is why we look better with Evan in the game. Kelly, Brown and Holland are catching up though.

[ShockTalk]

Wandering afield from McDuffie in standard SN fashion, but the stagnation you perceive, ST, may have more to do with some of the guys running the offense than anything else. There's always at least one player on the court who hasn't run it in live action at WSU before this year, and usually more than that.

I agree with this. It's the experience level of the players more than anything else which is why we look better with Evan in the game. Kelly, Brown and Holland are catching up though.

Yeah, sorry Markis.

I'm not sure where to lay that "perceived" stagnation, but I'm not sure it's as easy as being due to the newbies. First, we start the game with 4 or 5 experienced players who, at least 3 to 4, are on the floor most of the time. Second, at least with Holland if not Morris, they should be very familiar with the running of the plays as they've been working with them over a year. Lastly, we've had a few games recently where the newbies actually seem to do very well. Yes, we lost an All American in Cle and our 2 true centers, but we've lost a lot in previous seasons as well. I'm not going to "blame" anyone. Record-wise, the team has done as well or better than I expected to this point, so that's not it. I'm hoping it will take just a little more time to get it ironed out and adjustments made.

[shocks02]

Markis had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in a 75-48 win over Holy Trinity (NY). http://highschoolsports.nj.com/game/score/2699879/