Shocker Madness

[Aargh]

Shocker Madness was a little late this year. Marshall decided to go with a 40 minute scrimmage and wanted it to be valuable as a practice instead of losing a practice to a street ball pickup game. So, WSU got some practice in before they played a 40-minute game using what they've done in practice to this point.

Observations:

Defense is way ahead of the offense. Neither Shocker team would have scored 50 points in a game.

Stutz could have a breakout year. Quicker, smoother, faster, stronger, more athletic are legitimate terms to describe what was seen. From what I saw, if WSU has a first-team All-Valley player it will be Stutz instead of Murry.

Orukpe looks like he could get 10 minutes or so without doing much damage (other than from the opponent's FT line).

Carl Hall resembles Randall Falker - in appearance, play style, and other ways. Think of a more physical version of Falker. Hall is PHYSICAL! I imagine he will have a reputation as a "dirty" player because there won't be many 3-point plays if he fouls on a shot attempt. I think he's best described as Falker's style with O'Rear's physical play.

Jake White (Fr) will get some minutes at PF. Nose for the ball, hustle, basketball IQ, 6'8" guy with a great stroke from 3. Ability to lose his guy on D as well as on O.

Another Fr who appears to be in the 2-deep rotation is Evan Wessel (6'5" 2/3 combo). Wessel looks like a Graham Hatch clone - probably a year ahead of Hatch in development. Wessel can drive to the hoop, has a nose for the ball, tends to be in the right place at the right time, and can stroke from 3.

Smith, Stutz, and Hall were the leading scorers. Hall had a double-double in 40 minutes of "real" time - not "game" time. Getting a dozen boards playing beside or against Stutz and Orukpe is significant. Hall also had a double double against the top Brazilin national team, so he's a legitimate player, but he's having trouble adjusting to covering PF's who play more than 5' away from the basket.

The apparent replacements for Kyles and Murry are on th4e team and likely to red shirt thie year unless Marshall wants to get one of them some minutes for experience this year. Meaningful back court minutes will be scarce for deep reserves this year, so I suspect two back court red shirts.

[ictjay]

I attended. Tend to side with coaches comments in the paper this morning. Ways to go. Hall looked good. He stays close to the basket. Gregg wasn't happy with shot selection. Waaay too many 3's. Ragland suspension put a damper on the PG play.
I think Gregg will have a short bench this year.

[DoubleJayAlum]

How long is Ragland's suspension?

[Aargh]

How long is Ragland's suspension?

Ragland missed class after getting a warning for missing class. He might be suspended for the exhibition against Emporia State. That hasn't been determined yet.

Yeah, yeah - I know it was just an NIT ring, but...

...missing a scrimmage and an exhibition is kinda ho-hum. Missing the celebration and ring ceremony for the NIT Championship was probably more significant. He wasn't even mentioned in the ring ceremony.

[SubGod22]

I disagree with the short bench comment. Stutz will play, and play a lot. He may be able to be in the POY talk as the offense is going to go through him.

Ehimen will provide 10-15. He played much better D in the 2nd half and still altered a number of shots. Offense is still coming around but he fights on both sides of the ball for position.

Hall is a beast who'll rebound and get his points in the paint.

White can definitely contribute this year. Like any FR, he has some work to do, but the kid is talented and appears to be the primary backup at PF.

On the perimeter, Murry will be the main guy. Probably playing close to 30 minutes. Kyles and Smith will have the other spot filled. Wessel could very well contribute 10 or so minutes if they're there. If not, he'll RS.

DWill could see some of the minutes mentioned above, but will spend a lot of time at the point. He and Rags should be more than fine there. If there are any questions about Rags and eligibility, FR PG Tekele Cotton would be just fine. Smart, strong player who plays within himself and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Could contribute this year but will probably RS due to depth.

6'6" SF Ede will probably RS as well. Great athlete but needs some time to figure it out. Not sure what to expect out of Anacreon. He got a late start and shows promise. But when it comes, we dont' know. Could contribute this year. May end up on the bench behind White.

WSU will go at least 9 deep with Stutz, Ehimen, Hall, White, Murry, Kyles, Smith, DWill and Rags.

Anacreon will probably find time at some point. Wessel and Cotton are both very capable of contributing.

We will have a little more of a drop off this year than last between our top 10, but not a huge gap. And when the newer guys get more comfortable, that gap will close some.

[ictjay]

Not to flame Sub, but watching White last night, he made a nice putback on the baseline and had a hustle play on a loose ball along with a nice outside shot. He pretty much positioned himself on the perimeter. A #4 got to do the dirty work. White's future is a #3. A #4 has to hang around the basket.

[SubGod22]

Not to flame Sub, but watching White last night, he made a nice putback on the baseline and had a hustle play on a loose ball along with a nice outside shot. He pretty much positioned himself on the perimeter. A #4 got to do the dirty work. White's future is a #3. A #4 has to hang around the basket.

A #4 doesn't have to hang around the basket.

He also had a beautiful post up turn around jumper on the baseline and appears to be stronger than he looks. He's not afraid to be inside but is more comfortable facing the basket right now. There are a lot of 4's that are that way. Hell, we've seen some 5's in the Valley that fit that as well.

And he'll get stronger the more he works with Kerry. He's going to be a hell of a PF for the Shox over the next few years.

[ictjay]

Valley 4"s ain't gonna like guarding Hall!

[SubGod22]

Valley 4"s ain't gonna like guarding Hall!

That I can agree with.

Not sure Valley 5's will enjoy Stutz either. Can't wait to see WSU and CU go at it this year. Gonna be a lot of fun!!!

[ictjay]

Valley 4"s ain't gonna like guarding Hall!

That I can agree with.

Not sure Valley 5's will enjoy Stutz either. Can't wait to see WSU and CU go at it this year. Gonna be a lot of fun!!!