Evansville @ Wichita State

[iSASO]

Congrats Shockers, unfortunately the game went pretty much as expected.....Wichita is just flat out impressive and if that performance is typical of Murry, he's got my vote for defensive POY. Still, very proud of our team, especially our 2 freshmen up front, they didn't back down and never gave up.

That has been a typical defensive performance from Toure Murry for 3.5 seasons. Thanks for noticing in Year 4.

[Wufan]

Congrats Shockers, unfortunately the game went pretty much as expected.....Wichita is just flat out impressive and if that performance is typical of Murry, he's got my vote for defensive POY. Still, very proud of our team, especially our 2 freshmen up front, they didn't back down and never gave up.

Sawell is a nice player right now, and he will be a GOOD player sooner rather than later. Very athletic for 6-8. He would really benefit from playing PF versus C, but I think everyone is aware of that.

For whoever said size doesn't matter, I give you Garrett Stutz.

As to Evansville: I like what Marty does with the personnel he has. You have a nice group of guards/wings. They defend hard and run the motion offense as well as about anyone I've seen this year. The Aces continue to be a dangerous team on the rise, however tonight they ran in to a first half buzzsaw that would be difficult for anyone to overcome.

[Smooth007]

I thought Evansville struggled defensively tonight. Even so, I will be rooting for them down the stretch. Good game and I hope we don't play again this year.

[Wufan]

I thought Evansville struggled defensively tonight. Even so, I will be rooting for them down the stretch. Good game and I hope we don't play again this year.

They did struggle defensively, but I think that had a lot more to do with the match-up difficulties that WSU presents for UE than it does with effort. They defended hard, but; they couldn't handle Stutz one-on-one and they couldn't guard our perimeter three-on-four.

[Ace Dad]

I thought Evansville struggled defensively tonight. Even so, I will be rooting for them down the stretch. Good game and I hope we don't play again this year.

They did struggle defensively, but I think that had a lot more to do with the match-up difficulties that WSU presents for UE than it does with effort. They defended hard, but; they couldn't handle Stutz one-on-one and they couldn't guard our perimeter three-on-four.

The Shockers have too many quick guards for us to handle at the same time, especially when they can stretch the defense with NBA threes or dribble penetrate when we play man. Again, our only hope was for your threes to not fall or for your guards to lose composure. If you play well, we cannot match up and beat you.

[glm38]

I agree WSU should be top 25.

[WSUbballer]

Simmons is a good coach. The grab and hold stuff gets annoying though. It's really not the best styles in the world though when the referees actually officiate the game of basketball.

Regardless, you have to wonder where Simmons stands right now. What year is he into now? What's his overall record? How many times have the Aces avoided Thursday night under his watch?

He may be a good in-game coach but he just doesn't get the personnel into Evansville. Outside of Colt the Bolt Ryan, it just doesn't all come together at the right time. At the end of the day, in the coaching world, you are graded on wins and losses, not "competitive" basketball games.

Unless UE has low expectations for the basketball program, I have to wonder what Aces fans think of the subject. They were everybody's sexy pick to finish upper-half going into the year. And even with the logjam right now, they are in the picture, but also precariously close to another Thursday night outing.

Just some observations.

Again, respect is earned, not given.

[Aces1982]

It's easy to just say they should be in the top 25. But for that to happen they would have to replace someone. And right now, as it stands, I don't see anyone they should be in over.

[Shockerfan13]

Aces do not quit.

Aces still lose by double digits.


Sorry but for the last decade its always about how the Aces compete or don't quit. While they play hard and can surprse nyone...at the end of the season the results don't lie.

If you want respect, you have to move beyond the role of the spoiler.

I would be more concerned with your inability to pummel teams that you should pummel. You limped out of Evansville with a one possession win. You allow the Aces to come back and make it a 3 possesion game in the last 5 minutes. Hell, take away the 7 footer and I would love to see the outcome

Now, stop worrying about us and figure out how you are going to beat competitive teams in the NCAA.

I could be wrong but I believe the Shox are something like #7 in the nation in margin of victory. Generally speaking we put away teams just fine.

Gratz on the aces for almost making a game out of it though. I've always thought Marty was a heck of a coach and I still do. If he had talent/size like Creighton or somebody has...my goodness he would have some really good teams.

[iSASO]

I too, enjoy watching the Aces play. The Shockers shot the best percentage from the floor this season(.630), only slightly better than the .629 number they posted against Kansas Newman.