We're on to Wichita State

[TomD82]

I disagree. Beating Wichita is all about a NCAA tourney bid. Win this one and you have room for error and get in the conversation (not that the conversation matters at this point). Lose this one and you need to be stellar in conference.

Biggest game of the year for the hall. I am pulling for you.

I agree also. WSU is coming off a win over a top 25 team and a pretty good UNLV team that gave
UCLA a tough game. I know all about Monmouth, butUCLA just beat Gonzaga on the road. This is a chance at a quality win.

VanVleet and Frankamp are back Grady their senior who got the spinal injury against Alabama is out.

 

[Stickboy46]

Any update on their players who were injured. I know their guard had s hamstring injury , but had another player weeks ago injured his neck diagnosed as a spinal cord concussion. I don't know if the player with the neck injury is any good or how far back to healthy he is.

Van Vleet is about 85% right now (he was quoted as 75% against UNLV and Utah by Marshall). Conner Frankamp became eligible against UNLV. So far he has not shot as well as expected, but has provided a 2nd PG that can run the team when Fred needs rest.

The other 2 are still out. Anton Grady is out indefinitely with a Spinal concussion. He's still going through protocol in able to return. Landry Shamet is out until February with a stress fracture in his foot.

Stats

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2724/wichita-st-shockers

 

[Piratz]

How do the Shockers play on the road in a hostile environment? How many students can we expect Saturday? Finals should be done by then.

Hoping we are able to offer a hostile environment.

 

[Halldan1]

10 wins in the conference, which BTW will be a top 3 league again thius season

Hoping we are able to offer a hostile environment.

D them up. Wichita State does not shoot well from the floor meaning play them straight up, protect the arc against their two stars and you give yourself a great chance to win.

We have to play smart. The Shockers don't beat themselves as they do all the small things well. That has been an issue for us for a very long time.

 

[Piratz]

Patience and composure. Mental toughness. Our players may be jacked up to play this game, which is great, but that can also lead to some frantic play and too many guys wanting to be a hero.

With the style of play WSU prefers and their experience, this is a terrific test for our team. Will IW facilitate well? Will AD play with a high motor and maintain composure?

Cannot see us winning without our two stars playing like it. If that happens, Desi, Carrington, and Co. will have a field day as well.

 

[shupat08]

Isn't Grady the Graduate Transfer from some MAC school? Kid was good, athletic and a rebounder... A bit of a space cadet in the couple conference tournament games I saw him in.

Was he starting for WSU? I thought when he transferred that he was billed as a starter/stop gap until WSU can get a big man to replace their graduates?

 

[Shuathelete]

Me and my buddy are going and best believe we will try to make it a hostile environment. Cant believe JCalz let his gf sucker him into a saturday morning play. Go for evening and double down for dinner man! Sucks cause i know hes probably pretty vocal. The old folks at the Rock make it almost impossible to make it loud. They not only dont contribute, but they look at you like you have 5 heads when you try to be loud.

 

[jcalz88]

Me and my buddy are going and best believe we will try to make it a hostile environment. Cant believe JCalz let his gf sucker him into a saturday morning play. Go for evening and double down for dinner man! Sucks cause i know hes probably pretty vocal. The old folks at the Rock make it almost impossible to make it loud. They not only dont contribute, but they look at you like you have 5 heads when you try to be loud.

Its a 2 o'clock show, I already tried to get rid of them and go to the 7 pm show but no dice.... I will be watching the game from a bar in NYC in the theater district. This sucks

 

[Halldan1]

 

[Shuathelete]

LOL

this board needs to band together

start the movement

#freejcalz

 

[simone84]

I can see a victory on Saturday. It's not mid January yet.

 

[jcalz88]

LOL

this board needs to band together

start the movement

#freejcalz

Thanks Dan! lol

All she wanted was to see Elf, so my parents got her tickets. There is really no way out for me. At least I can still watch it in Stout NYC.

 

[Old_alum]

This whole thread is just splitting hairs --- we need more than a couple "quality wins" OOC or in. Who cares if it's called a "Must win"?

FOUR WORDS for KW and the team:

GET BACK ON DEFENSE

 

[Stickboy46]

D them up. Wichita State does not shoot well from the floor meaning play them straight up, protect the arc against their two stars and you give yourself a great chance to win.

We have to play smart. The Shockers don't beat themselves as they do all the small things well. That has been an issue for us for a very long time.

The big thing isn't your D on Van Vleet and Baker, its how your Offense handles the D that WSU provides. The last 3 games they have held teams to ~50 points, including 2 teams that averaged ~82 per game coming in. There were 18-20 turnovers by opposing teams in each game. If you can limit your turnovers, you can help yourself tremendously. WSU scored 25 points off turnovers against Utah (compared to 0 points for Utah off turnovers)

Against Utah, Van Vleet and Baker combined for only 17 points, while McDuffie and Zach Brown chipped in 27. There is definitely more to WSU than just the 2 stars, but that is definitely a good start to try to shut them down. So far in the last 3 years, very few teams have been able to do that.

 

[Stickboy46]

Isn't Grady the Graduate Transfer from some MAC school? Kid was good, athletic and a rebounder... A bit of a space cadet in the couple conference tournament games I saw him in.

Was he starting for WSU? I thought when he transferred that he was billed as a starter/stop gap until WSU can get a big man to replace their graduates?

Yes he was a graduate transfer from Cleveland State. He had good to start the year, but not great. We currently run a trio of guys at center. Morris at 6'8 260 lb, Nurger at 6'10 245lb, Wamukota at 6'11 235 lb. Morris is the best offensively but struggles maintaining hustle. He's big enough to move centers off the block though on defense. Nurger is more of a jump shooter than a post player. Very limited post moves, but has done really well defensively the last 2 games. Wamukota brings solid defense, but is very very raw on offense. Overall, you wont see back to the basket post moves out of any of them (that's where Grady was WAY better). They shine on put backs and pick and rolls (where Van Vleet is excellent). Marshall has been switching them out in 2-3 min intervals to keep them fresh. They did very well guarding 2 potential lottery pick 7 footers in Poeltl and Zimmerman the last 2 games.

 

[Old_alum]

The big thing isn't your D on Van Vleet and Baker, its how your Offense handles the D that WSU provides. The last 3 games they have held teams to ~50 points, including 2 teams that averaged ~82 per game coming in. There were 18-20 turnovers by opposing teams in each game. If you can limit your turnovers, you can help yourself tremendously. WSU scored 25 points off turnovers against Utah (compared to 0 points for Utah off turnovers)

Hence --- like we did NOT do last year: GET BACK ON DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
changing an offense is hard.... GETTING BACK ON DEFENSE is simply a mindset -- desire --- want to --- up to the players.

 

[shupat08]

Yes he was a graduate transfer from Cleveland State. He had good to start the year, but not great. We currently run a trio of guys at center. Morris at 6'8 260 lb, Nurger at 6'10 245lb, Wamukota at 6'11 235 lb. Morris is the best offensively but struggles maintaining hustle. He's big enough to move centers off the block though on defense. Nurger is more of a jump shooter than a post player. Very limited post moves, but has done really well defensively the last 2 games. Wamukota brings solid defense, but is very very raw on offense. Overall, you wont see back to the basket post moves out of any of them (that's where Grady was WAY better). They shine on put backs and pick and rolls (where Van Vleet is excellent). Marshall has been switching them out in 2-3 min intervals to keep them fresh. They did very well guarding 2 potential lottery pick 7 footers in Poeltl and Zimmerman the last 2 games.

Thanks for the info, man!

You WSU guys have been classy going back to the NCAA beat down you gave us years ago.

Hey maybe we can keep a game with you guys close? Would that be asking too much? Hell even win! Now that may def be asking too much. Lol.

 

[Stickboy46]

Thanks for the info, man!

You WSU guys have been classy going back to the NCAA beat down you gave us years ago.

Hey maybe we can keep a game with you guys close? Would that be asking too much? Hell even win! Now that may def be asking too much. Lol.

Its defininitely possible. We have been VERY shaking offensively all year. Utah game was the first game the offense clicked. We beat UNLV by holding them to 50. We nearly lost because we shot 13% from 3 and like 50% from the FT line. It will be interesting to see how this team shows up on the road. They will be well prepared, but will shots fall?

 

[Seton75]

WSU looked good and in control vs Utah. Can't wait for this game. It would be nice to shoot it well again like we did vs SP.

 

[Seton75]

I can remember that WSU game in the tourney still. I arranged my schedule so I could watch the game. I went to some bar in South Orange. Opening possession, Jamar hits a three. Not sure if we scored again...left early, shitty ride back to work.

But way better than not being back for all these years.

 

[Halldan1]

The big thing isn't your D on Van Vleet and Baker, its how your Offense handles the D that WSU provides.

Don't disagree one bit with that comment. In fact that very point was brought up by our coach in the post game presser after our last win. But it's all meaningless if you give up too many points.

The Shockers are the better team so a low scoring game favors the underdog.

Keep the possible best combination of guards in the country in check and you have a decent chance to pull out a victory.

 

[Piratz]

I can remember that WSU game in the tourney still. I arranged my schedule so I could watch the game. I went to some bar in South Orange. Opening possession, Jamar hits a three. Not sure if we scored again...left early, shitty ride back to work.

But way better than not being back for all these years.

That was a ridiculous game. It was that early/noon tip, first game of the tournament. So we were bounced before we could even enjoy a day or two, LOL.

Made it a point to keep the day open to watch until we were getting hammered, which was quick. So I head back to the office... Then we start cutting it to 10 or 12 at one point and I'm thinking the impossible then bam, back up to 20.

That was a crazy season. Lost twice by 50, lose a handful of games to bad teams, get embarrassed by RU at MSG, but also win a handful of major upsets on the road and post a winning BE record.

 

[shu09]

That was a ridiculous game. It was that early/noon tip, first game of the tournament. So we were bounced before we could even enjoy a day or two, LOL.

Made it a point to keep the day open to watch until we were getting hammered, which was quick. So I head back to the office... Then we start cutting it to 10 or 12 at one point and I'm thinking the impossible then bam, back up to 20.

That was a crazy season. Lose twice by 50, lose a handful of games to bad teams, get embarrassed by RU at MSG, but also win a handful of major upsets on the road and post a winning BE record.

I remember it well, sadly. Watched the first part of the game in the Pirates Cove on campus and then had to get to class. Followed the rest of it in class on my computer. Quite a beat down. That kid Sean Ogirri couldn't miss.

We owe them one.

 

[SPK145]

#calziswhipped

 

[Vegas pj]

Classic!