Evansville @ Wichita State

[Snaggletooth]

The Shox typically self destruct when they overlook an opponent. We almost blew it in Evansville so i assure you, the Shockers will come out focused and ready to put this one away early. Unless the Aces just light it up from 3, I don't see them hanging around this time. Shockers by 20+.

How can you assure anything?

[sect.3purple]

I haven't seen many, possibly any, UE fans predict a victory tonight. We know the teams in the Valley, strengths and weaknesses. What we know about our team is that these Aces work hard, hit their free throws, have fairly good shooters, including Colt, and we defend with a style that works for us. We're undersized, have freshmen learning their jobs in the middle, and we have our third-best scorer sitting on the bench with an injury. And....we STILL believe in this team's chances for success. I hope the Shockers are as glibly smug about their "superiority" as some of their fans are, but I doubt that the players and Marshall are. Tonight will be interesting....top-ranked Valley team at home against the "lowly" Aces. I'm sue glad my team decided to actually make the trip. What a crazy idea!!!

[2livewu]

I hope the Aces are as glibly smug as many of THEIR fans are.

Most WSU fans, including myself, expect a tough, hard fought game with WSU coming out on top. Based on history and current form, this doesn't smack of anything nearing smug.

Good Luck to both teams.

[WuShockNation]

Wow EU fans takes thing wayyyyyyyy too personal. All us Shox fans are saying we should win. We clearly have the better team, and if we even play just ok, we will take care of you guys at home.

[sect.3purple]

This fan is "serious" about my team being put down constantly by some WSU fans...too bad if my post defending my team was too serious for some....it is almost like we fans are expected to just roll over and play dead just like our team is expected to do! Sorry, just isn't going to happen. We may not win tonight, might even get beat bad; but I do believe we will show up ready to fight to the end. And, I will keep posting my support for my team.

[Ace Dad]

Wow EU fans takes thing wayyyyyyyy too personal. All us Shox fans are saying we should win. We clearly have the better team, and if we even play just ok, we will take care of you guys at home.

Fair. I agree.

[Ace Dad]

The comments on this string are prime examples of why WSU and their fans are the most disliked in the conference, hands down. I guess the Aces may as well just not make the trip to Wichita....since, according to some posters, UE is not in the same league. Maybe these same fans remember us bursting the Shockers' bubble in years past.

The Shox have won 15 of the last 18 times they've played Evansville. That includes Marshall's first year when WSU only had 6 scholarship players in April when Marshall arrived.

This year, UE was picked around 4th or 5th in pre-season polls and that's about where they're going to end up - and this is one of UE's best years in recent memory.

15-3. WSU has dominated the Aces. Depending on whether the teams met in St. Louis - that's 6 - 9 years worth of games. That goes back to when Colt Ryan was in junior high. That type of domination will create a feeling of superiority in a fan base.

And that feeling of superiority, not balanced with mature "respect for your opponent" will dissipate when the Shockers do not meet expectations. Ask the Kansas fanbase about their "feeling of superiority" regarding Bradley University and the University of Northern Iowa.

[Aces0976]

Oh boy, I see this thread going downhill quickly......my 2 cents on this perceived lack of respect -- Respect is not given, if you ask for respect, you will be given a lack of respect. Respect is earned, one way to cure any "lack of respect" is by winning consistently, not by competing, but by WINNING. Myself and most other Aces fans are proud as hell of our boys for the turnaround we've seen this season. The difference in the way we were playing in the nonconference to the conference season is night and day. However, its almost like some of our fans expect other fanbases to share in being "proud" of our guys and that's just not going to happen. Good luck to the Aces and the Shocks......

[Ace Dad]

Oh boy, I see this thread going downhill quickly......my 2 cents on this perceived lack of respect -- Respect is not given, if you ask for respect, you will be given a lack of respect. Respect is earned, one way to cure any "lack of respect" is by winning consistently, not by competing, but by WINNING. Myself and most other Aces fans are proud as hell of our boys for the turnaround we've seen this season. The difference in the way we were playing in the nonconference to the conference season is night and day. However, its almost like some of our fans expect other fanbases to share in being "proud" of our guys and that's just not going to happen. Good luck to the Aces and the Shocks......

One approach.

Another: In the military we respect our opponent, regardless of their historical record, size of Army, or perceived strengths and weaknesses. In sports, competitors respect each other because both understand how hard the other has worked at his craft. I respect all 10 Valley programs and teams and understand that from time to time each is going to struggle, whereas others may not. SIU comes to mind as the perfect example of how quickly the tables can turn on you.

My two favorite Valley teams are:

Go Shockers! (Manhattan 1982-1986, Leavenworth 1991, 1996-2001, 2008-Current)

Go Aces!

[shocktheheart]

Oh boy, I see this thread going downhill quickly......my 2 cents on this perceived lack of respect -- Respect is not given, if you ask for respect, you will be given a lack of respect. Respect is earned, one way to cure any "lack of respect" is by winning consistently, not by competing, but by WINNING. Myself and most other Aces fans are proud as hell of our boys for the turnaround we've seen this season. The difference in the way we were playing in the nonconference to the conference season is night and day. However, its almost like some of our fans expect other fanbases to share in being "proud" of our guys and that's just not going to happen. Good luck to the Aces and the Shocks......