Ho Hum - Shox Win Another - Now 12-0

[Black]

I'm not trying to be a jerk but it is possible that none of the 12 teams the Shox have beaten will even make the NCAA tournament. There have been times where WSU hasn't looked like a Top 25 team let alone a Top 10 team wanting to make a Final 4.

You probably should have just let that thought stay in your head because you do come off as sounding like a jealous jerk. Here's what you can do. You can go to WSU and put together a better schedule and see how that goes.

As mentioned, it sure beats a lot of other Valley schedules. Interesting that a Redbird fan, just a few years outside the Jank regime, is giving people scheduling advice.

Can you name me a team in the Top 25 that hasn't looked bad at times and has played flawless ball from tip to horn? I just love this stuff.

[Snaggletooth]

I worry about them against the elite teams come tourney time.

So when did you really start caring about WSU?

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of room on the bandwagon for valley fans to have a team to root for that is a winner.

[MVCfans]

Wichita State moves into AP Top 10 for the first time since December 2006: Shockers #10 in AP poll

[Wufan]

I'm not trying to be a jerk but it is possible that none of the 12 teams the Shox have beaten will even make the NCAA tournament. There have been times where WSU hasn't looked like a Top 25 team let alone a Top 10 team wanting to make a Final 4.

Bottom line is that WSUs marquee win is AT St. Louis and that is okay, but not great. St. Louis, however is 10-2 with losses at home to WSU and neutral against top 10 Wisconsin. BYU is 7 and 5 with losses to 3 unbeaten teams plus 10-1 Utah and 10-1 UMass. Only UNI has a tougher strength of schedule in the MVC than WSU. Are the Shockers top 10 good? Maybe. It is at least a legit topic of conversation.

Agree the schedule has been Charmin soft.

No.

WSU is offensively challenged in the front court and has little guard depth.

Not so much. Wiggins and Wessel have been missing shots at an impressive clip. Assuming that doesn't continue, we are 5 deep. Lufile has made major improvements and is a decent post with size and athleticism. Statistically he is significantly better than Orukpe was last year with similar minutes. Carter has made massive improvements. His first 4 games (Emporia State, William and Mary, Tennessee State, Depaul) he averaged 4.6 points and 3.2 boards. His last 6 games (BYU, Saint Louis, Oral Roberts, Tennessee, Alabama, NCC) he averaged 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds. That includes a game where he got 4 fouls and played just 10 minutes. If you remove that, it's 12 and 7.5 in 22.5 minutes. Last year Carl Hall averaged 12.5 and 6.8 in 28.6 minutes. For the course of the year (11 games for Carter and 32 for Hall), Carter is outperforming Hall in points and boards on a 40 minute average.

Baker, cotton, early, and fvv will carry this team a long way but I worry about them against the elite teams come tourney time.

Those who worry now will continue to do so until March. No one will know how we will play against elite teams until we get a chance to play them.

[Aargh]

The Shox may struggle against the Elite teams come tourney time, but ELITE teams struggle against elite teams come tourney time. And by every indication, WSU will be one of those elite teams come tourney time.

If the projected 3 seed holds up, and only bad losses in Valley play appear likely to change that, then the Shox are in the S16 by the time they encounter those elite teams.

Evidently fans here are more concerned about WSU's depth at guard than the WSU coaching staff. Shox have a Fr guard taking a red shirt.

With Carter's recent emergence and Lufile's game showing marked improvement, there's still the possibility of a Lufile, Carter, Early front court. With that lineup, the depth at guard is enviable.

[jackwagon]

Didn't mean the post as a slight toward WSU but rather as potential reasons for future concern. The team is 12-0 so they are doing a lot of things right but they are far from bullet proof. I want to see them beat a legit top 20 team before I join the people dreaming of a return trip to the FF. The core 4 guys are good enough but I don't see the depth and frontcourt play needed to get back there. That's all I was saying.

Given the weakness of the valley I could see a 16-2 type valley year. Sucks we wont get to see them play a top 20 team until march madness. Carter and Lufile have to continue to progress if WSU is to compete with the big boys.

[rlh04d]

I'm not trying to be a jerk but it is possible that none of the 12 teams the Shox have beaten will even make the NCAA tournament. There have been times where WSU hasn't looked like a Top 25 team let alone a Top 10 team wanting to make a Final 4.

It's possible no team any Valley team has beat will make the tourney. It's also possible five teams WSU has beat will make the tourney.

You're not being a jerk. Just trying to pick a pointless fight on something unknowable at this stage. All that matters is WSU has five top 100 RPI wins, most on the road or neutral sites.

Those of you attacking the schedule are being ridiculous. Of the six best wins by any Valley team this year, WSU has at least four of them. And one of the toughest schedules in the conference (not UNI tough, but top four).

[rlh04d]

. I want to see them beat a legit top 20 team before I join the people dreaming of a return trip to the FF.

Sure. Which Valley team will step up to be a legit top 20 team so we can see that matchup?

As long as all you want is something that can't happen, sure.

[Wufan]

Didn't mean the post as a slight toward WSU but rather as potential reasons for future concern. The team is 12-0 so they are doing a lot of things right but they are far from bullet proof. I want to see them beat a legit top 20 team before I join the people dreaming of a return trip to the FF. The core 4 guys are good enough but I don't see the depth and frontcourt play needed to get back there. That's all I was saying.

Given the weakness of the valley I could see a 16-2 type valley year. Sucks we wont get to see them play a top 20 team until march madness. Carter and Lufile have to continue to progress if WSU is to compete with the big boys.

I take no offense to this and I doubt many are silly enough to believe we are FF destined (dreaming, yes). However, when comparing last years team to this, Early is playing at a slightly higher level this year than last. Carter is at a similar level to Hall, and Lufile is similar to EO. Coleby is doing what Jake White did. I think you will be impressed with Carter when you see him in league play.

What we are missing is a back up PG like FVV. If we make it to March healthy, we will be okay. We may lose early, but I will take my chances.

[rlh04d]

[

Good to hear someone stepping up in the front court. That is the key yo the valley receiving multiple tourney units again IMO.

Nothing WSU does is important for the Valley receiving multiple bids except losing to other Valley teams, particularly in St. Louis.

WSU getting better will only hurt the Valley having multiple bids. WSU will make the tournament regardless.