Shocks Travel to Missouri State - Friday 7:00pm - Fox Sports Midwest

[1972Shocker]

I can't say for 100% sure, but I would be willing to bet that this may be the first weekend in Shocker history were both the Shocker Women's and Men's basketball teams are heading out on the road to play at the Valley preseason favorite both with a 1-game lead on the favorite.

The main difference is that the Men only have 4 games remaining in Valley play while the Ladies have 7 games remaining. Still this a huge opportunity for both teams. If the Lady Shocks want to win their 1st ever MVC championship winning this game would give them a huge boost.

Missouri State has shuffled their lineup since there bad loss at Southern Illinois with good results as they have put up 5 solid wins since that time and seem to be playing with more focus and intensity. MSU inserted 3 sophomores in their starting lineup (Bry Snow, Carly Buer and Desiree Phillips) together with Casey Garrison and Christiana Shorter. Garrison and Shorter remain their mainstays.

The Lady Shocks OTOH have been a little up and down in recent games. They had a poor game in their home loss to Illinois State then rebounded with a strong home win against Indiana State. They then played poorly in a road loss to Creighton but bounced back with a strong road win over Drake. The Shocks need to break this cycle and bring their A game to Springfield.

Wichita State Game Notes:

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=61195&SPID=2852&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205376810&DB_OEM_ID=7500

Missouri State Game Notes:

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mosu/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/release/release_20120208aaa.pdf

[1972Shocker]

A couple of moderate surprises in Thursday night games:

Creighton loses 45-48 @ Evansville and Drake loses 59-63 at SIU. Sarah Nelson had 23 pts and 11 rbds for Creighton and Rachel Hackbarth had 27 pts and 16 rbds for Drake. Obviously they did not get much help.

Shocks could use some help this weekend from Illinois State and/or Indiana State as they host UNI who is currently tied for second with Missouri State. Of course, Illinois State is also right on the heels of the Shockers only a game and a half back heading into the weekend.

Friday's key games:
Wichita State (9-2) at Missouri State (8-3)
Northern Iowa (8-3) at Illinois State (7-3)

Sunday's key games:
Northern Iowa (8-3) at Indiana State (4-6)
Bradley (4-7) at Illinois State (7-3)

Perhaps the best outcome for the Shocks would be for UNI to win at Illinois State and lose at Indiana State. That would give both UNI and Illinois State 4 losses. I am assuming Illinois State will take care of business against Bradley on Sunday.

[flyingMoose]

... Drake loses 59-63 at SIU.

And Drake was up by nine at the half.

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

[QUOTE=flyingMoose;297317]And Drake was up by nine at the half.[
All that matters is we keep winning. Can't worry about other teams. We need to pound the boards. Rebounding is desire. You can do all the rebounding drills you want, but you won't get a rebound if you don't have the desire to just attack the ball.]

[1972Shocker]

Shocks off to a very good start, up 9-1 at the 1st media timeout, but if we don't start getting some rebounds that will not stand up for long.

[1972Shocker]

Boy could we use an Angela Buckner clone right about now.

Shocks still up 14-7 but simply not rebounding at all on the defensive boards and they will eventually pay for that. A coupel of unforced turnovers in recent possessions haven't helped.

[1972Shocker]

Blowout in progress if the Shocks don't start playing a complete game. MSU on a 27-9 run since the Shocks jumped ahed 9-1 early.

[flyingMoose]

Illinois State 84-68 Northern Iowa

[1972Shocker]

Shocks down 34-28 at the half and I am absolutely thrilled with that score considering the way the Shocks played in the 1st half. The Shocks may have caught a break with Casey Garrison's injured wrist/thumb on her shooting hand.

Shocker rebounding in the 1st half was terrible and that is being charitable. MSU has outrebounded the Shockers 26-11 in the 1st half including giving up 17 (yes 17) offensive rebounding. MSU has scored 12 second half point and also 19 points off turnovers.

Shocker rebounding is bad not because they are not attacking the ball as OTWHC suggested they should do. It is bad because they are simply not putting a body on anyone and not screening anyone off. It is pretty hard to attack the ball when your opponent always has inside position. I saw one defensive rebound in the 1st half where a Shocker player did a good fundamental job of screening and then getting the ball and that was by Jasmine Jones. Unfortunatley, she dribbled the ball down court and made a perfect bounce pass to a player in a white uniform.

Hopefully, Jody can somehow get through to these Ladies at halftime as they are very fortunate to still be in the game.

[1972Shocker]

Illinois State 84-68 Northern Iowa

I think Illinois State and Missouri State have the best basketball talent in the league. Illinois State may have the edge over Missouri State if Casey Garrison's injury proves to be other than short-term in nature.

Still the Shocks can beat either team if they play fundamentally sound basketball and figure out how to score in the mid-60's or so.

Edit: Garrison looked pretty good down the stretch against the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

Final: Missouri State 85 - Wichita State 67

Shocks outrebounded by 25 for the second time in 4 games. Ouch.

Shocks fall into a 1st place tie with the MSU at 9-3. Illinois State can join them at 9-3 with a win at Bradley on Sunday.

[flyingMoose]

Final: Missouri State 85 - Wichita State 67

Shocks outrebounded by 25 for the second time in 4 games. Ouch.

Shocks fall into a 1st place tie with the MSU at 9-3. Indiana State can join them at 9-3 with a win at Bradley on Sunday.

You meant Illinois State, of course, not the Sycamores.

[1972Shocker]

You meant Illinois State, of course, not the Sycamores.

Oops! Thanks fM. Corrected.

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

[QUOTE=1972Shocker;297504]Shocks down 34-28 at the half and I am absolutely thrilled with that score considering the way the Shocks played in the 1st half. The Shocks may have caught a break with Casey Garrison's injured wrist/thumb on her shooting hand.

Shocker rebounding in the 1st half was terrible and that is being charitable. MSU has outrebounded the Shockers 26-11 in the 1st half including giving up 17 (yes 17) offensive rebounding. MSU has scored 12 second half point and also 19 points off turnovers.

Shocker rebounding is bad not because they are not attacking the ball as OTWHC suggested they should do. It is bad because they are simply not putting a body on anyone and not screening anyone off. It is pretty hard to attack the ball when your opponent always has inside position. I saw one defensive rebound in the 1st half where a Shocker player did a good fundamental job of screening and then getting the ball and that was by Jasmine Jones. Unfortunatley, she dribbled the ball down court and made a perfect bounce pass to a player in a white uniform.

Hopefully, Jody can somehow get through to these Ladies at halftime as they are very fortunate to still be in the game.

Yes, position and getting a body on somebody goes without saying, I saw the Shox standing and observing, not going to the ball with both hands with no concern for their well-being or their opponents. Watch Carl Hall, he times the ball and then attacks and he isn't some great jumper like David Kyles. Not a lot of heart in this game.]

[flyingMoose]

Game article from the News-Leader.