MSU checks in at #35, WSU in at #40

[Kip Dynamite]

I always like how as long as you praise the shocks and predict them to win the conference then everything is great, but the minute anyone makes a statement or writes an article questioning otherwise then they all come crawling out of the woodwork.

[WSUbballer]

Speaking of crawling out of the woodwork.. welcome back to the party Bear fans. Where have you been?

[Khan4Cats]

I just think that any team in the valley struggles to guard him he is so big outside and has a sweet stroke and so athletic inside he is just tough to guard and on top of that he is very solid at the other end of the floor

You're right, the 4 points and 4 boards he had against UNI in Springfield last year just go to show how he can absolutely dominate a game. Oh yeah, he did have 11 points on 3-14 shooting at Cedar Falls, too. Uncontainable.

I'd go with Murry as the best, Ahelegbe can also dominate when he's in control. Maniscalco is as tough a competitor as there is and can hold his own pound for pound with anyone.

And don't forget Jake Kelly...

[MoValley John]

Two words:

Colt
Ryan

[beatingrillz]

you know your right with that poor perforfmance he still managed to be the top ten in almost all stats in confernce i guess we will have to wait for his coming out party. Ask any coach in the valley what player is the toughest to shut down it will be weems. to big for the guards to athletic for the 4 spot

[BEELINE]

Whether Weems is the MVC's best or not, he certainly is in the conversation. Citing a game stat here and there while ignoring a year's worth of across the board top 10 league finishes is a weak argument. But to be at that level, Kyle needs to do the thing that top players ultimately are measured by, lead the Bears to a significant season.

Same goes for Marshall; things look to be on schedule for WSU, but only if they make the NCAA tourney this year. Right now it's 3 years and no post season wins. If this is an NCAA year, he's been a good investment.If not, you're looking at 4 years, no NCAA tourney, and there will be a number of coaches with alot less resources making alot less money doing better jobs. I think he'll probably get it done, but if it doesn't happen this year, then I think it's fair to say it hasn't gone the way it was expected.

On the same front to be fair, Zo is just one year behind the same time schedule and expectations. To date, things look on schedule, but you have to keep making progress and ultimately achieve or it's fair to say things haven't met expectations.

[45otseoj]

you know your right with that poor perforfmance he still managed to be the top ten in almost all stats in confernce i guess we will have to wait for his coming out party. Ask any coach in the valley what player is the toughest to shut down it will be weems. to big for the guards to athletic for the 4 spot

I'd say Downtown Taylor Brown (aka TB3) is comparable.
Points: TB3-14.2, KW-12.8
Boards: TB3-7.5, KW-6.4
Steals: TB3-1.0, KW-1.4
I'd give Weems the advantage in defensive and long range shooting,
but I think TB3 is the better athlete and has a much bigger upside.

[BEELINE]

I guess you used conference only stats as Weems averaged 13.6 ppg. Brown is comparable and I like his athleticism, but two areas he falls way short is he only shot 29.4% from treys compared to 40.7% for Kyle, and he had a terrible 30/60 assists to turnover margin , while Kyle who is very solid with his decisions was almost exactly opposite 65/38. Those are deficits for Brown and strengths for Weems.

[45otseoj]

I guess you used conference only stats as Weems averaged 13.6 ppg. Brown is comparable and I like his athleticism, but two areas he falls way short is he only shot 29.4% from treys compared to 40.7% for Kyle, and he had a terrible 30/60 assists to turnover margin , while Kyle who is very solid with his decisions was almost exactly opposite 65/38. Those are deficits for Brown and strengths for Weems.

I took conference stats so the variables were less. Of course that isn't perfect either because TB3 got himself suspended against WSU.

[Zardoz]

The guy might be right if the Shockers went with his starting line-up.

I doubt if that's the line-up Marshall uses. More likely the PG will be Demetric Williams, DWill, last years back-up point who showed a lot of gwowth over the last half of the season or Joe Ragland, Rags, a first team JuCo AA. Maybe Williams starts early and Ragland later as he adjust to the D1 game. Murry can play the 1 but something may have went wrong with the Shocker if he does.

Look for Murry back at the 2, he is a much better scorer when he doesn't have to handle PG responsibilities. Others that can play the 2 are Kyles, who this guy has starting, DWill, Rags, and Hatch.

Hatch looks to be a lock for the 3. The one guy that Marshall wanted in the game at crunch time last year was Hatch. Others that may see time at the 3 are Kyles, Murry, JuCo transfer Ben Smith and RS Freshman Tyler Richardson.

I also don't look for Ellis to start at the PF unless he can pick up he game and play up to his potential. I look for Durley here, who I think is more of a true PF than a C. That leaves Stutz at the 5 and I think he is way beyond where most expected in his development.

I think Bigs may be more useful in the MVC than PF and C. Competing for those 40 minutes we have Durley, Stutz, Blair, Ellis, RS freshman Hamilton and the highly anticipated Ehimen Orukpe.

The Shockers are a very deep talented team that returns almost everyone except All-Valley performing PG Clevin Hannah. The Shockers are hopeful the the added year of experience for the returners and the addition of 3 good JuCo transfers and 2 RS freshmen can offset that loss.