WSU Short Some Players in Exhibition Against Emporia State

[2livewu]

Since it's not an Indiana State or Missouri State thread where boundless optimism is discouraged, what concerns are there from WSU's standpoint following their exhibitions or is it just smooth sailing until they lift the trophy?

I'm concerned about PR. Last season, so much focus and effort was put into preparation for the UCONN game that when they lost, I believe it caused the team to lose focus for most of the year. Same thing happened after the SIU debacle. WSU didn't play a decent game until Nebraska. They had a lot better material than the rest of the Valley, no offense MSU, but just didn't come close to their ceiling. The Bears fought for it and deserved it.

Others might disagree based on a 9-2 preseason record, but the team never really gelled until, unfortunately, the NIT.

This team, in the previous 2 seasons, put an awful lot of pressure on themselves to succeed at a very high level. Pressure that starts at the top and applied with, shall we say, zeal. Has it been applied to harshly? Probably not for me to say.

IF the team is healthy, they'll win a fair share of games. IF Orupke can provide quality minutes (say 10-15), they have a chance to be extremely good. I think they'll play a 9 man rotation, with Smith, Orupke, Williams and Cotton getting most of the minutes off the bench.

This year's team won't be as good a rebounding team as last year, and they won't be as good a defensive team, but I think they will be a better pressing team.

And if I may pump a little sunshine, from what I have seen to date, this team is vastly different in one area that reminds me, just a little bit, of the Drake championship team a few years ago. They pass and share the ball unlike any WSU team I can remember. If they can improve from where they are now, they could be very, very good. Lastly, I love the attitude of the new players, especially Hall, Cotton and Wessel. They have a confidence I haven't seen in some time. Perhaps that confidence will prove detrimental, but I like the way they are handling themselves so far.

[ictjay]

So who is redshirting? Sounds like Cotton is in the rotation? He really has come on.

[SubGod22]

So who is redshirting? Sounds like Cotton is in the rotation? He really has come on.

I'd really like to hear the answer to that too.

Baker will definitely RS. Part of why he walked on.
Wessel should RS due to depth ahead of him.
Ede will RS or transfer at semester.
Cotton could RS but having a very capable PG is a nice option.
White could RS if 3G believes Anacreon is ready to go.

I'd love to hear the official word though

[WSUbballer]

My concerns are:

-frontcourt depth. Stutz is solid. Hall will help. Orupke has a ways to go IMO. We may have to go small a lot, which may not be too bad in the Valley, but could hurt us in the always important non-con.

- BIG early games. We waste no time, like last year, in getting into the meat of our non-con. Again, we'll have to win these games to have any shot of an at-large. I don't like the fact that it'll again be our 2nd game of the year. A team with a lot of new faces usually needs a lot of time to gel before playing comfortable around each other.

Are those enough concerns for you, Khan? I'd like to hear about the concerns of UNI, Indiana State, and Missouri State, but there appears to be none as I have yet to hear any of those.

[valleychamp]

Concerns for UNI are, a) size in the post, and b) youth.

[2livewu]

So who is redshirting? Sounds like Cotton is in the rotation? He really has come on.

I'd really like to hear the answer to that too.

Baker will definitely RS. Part of why he walked on.
Wessel should RS due to depth ahead of him.
Ede will RS or transfer at semester.
Cotton could RS but having a very capable PG is a nice option.
White could RS if 3G believes Anacreon is ready to go.

I'd love to hear the official word though

Baker will redshirt, but he's going to be super the next 4 years. Ede is leaving school, that's official. I can't believe Cotton won't find minutes...he plays too good a defense to not play some. I know White isn't ready, but we'll need him at times, and he has skills...it will be a tough year for him.