WSU vs Howard (Cancun Challenge) 2pm CST

[Wufan]

The second half was brutal. Crazy lineups and just playing a God awful team made watching it pretty unbearable. These games are such a waste.

Not true. The coach and the players can experiment with different combinations or sets and try to defensive schemes. If the game is a waste, it is because the players made it that way. This is why your coach is mad.

I agree with Ace Dad here. Marshall was very upset with the way the players executed. He even said that they didn't run their best zone offense in the second half so they could work on the #2 and 3 options. The players didn't take advantage of the opportunity.

[SHOXMVC]

First, if WSU "dismissed"

I wasn't talking about WSU, I'm talking about some of the poster in this here chatroom.

Second, I can see Howard "outplayed" WSU most of the game...them being down 20-30 points a great deal of the game, and all.

I guess because I'm not math challenged.

first 7:26 game - even (WSU 16, Howard 14)
Last 20:00 game -even Howard 36, WSU 32

It was only 21-0 run to end the half was the difference in the game.

27:26 of a 40 minute game, Howard 50, WSU 48

So if you want to dismiss Howard and say that they are "really bad" then it probably leads to the hypothesis

1. WSU is not that good and VCU probably had a really off night.

or the alternate hypothesis might be (and I''m particularly fond of) is:

1) Howard was up for this game and gave WSU their best shot
2) Howard is probably not as bad as some shocker fans would pretend, maybe not as good some of the lower tier MVC teams, but not that far off.
3) WSU when focused can play pretty good defense (e.g. 21-0 run to finish half)
4) Coach Marshall wasn't intent on winning this game by 80, he was more interested in seeing who maybe he can trust and not trust for those VCU type games and to work on things.

Congrats on your math.

3 & 4 are pretty good bets from your alternate hypothesis.

[DoubleJayAlum]

The second half was brutal. Crazy lineups and just playing a God awful team made watching it pretty unbearable. These games are such a waste.

Not true. The coach and the players can experiment with different combinations or sets and try to defensive schemes. If the game is a waste, it is because the players made it that way. This is why your coach is mad.

Of course, you could do all of those things against a D2/D3 squad too, without taking a hit to your RPI.

The added bonus is that the D2/D3 squad is probably better too.

[Born2Shock]

The second half was brutal. Crazy lineups and just playing a God awful team made watching it pretty unbearable. These games are such a waste.

Not true. The coach and the players can experiment with different combinations or sets and try to defensive schemes. If the game is a waste, it is because the players made it that way. This is why your coach is mad.

Of course, you could do all of those things against a D2/D3 squad too, without taking a hit to your RPI.

The added bonus is that the D2/D3 squad is probably better too.

This is part of the Cancun Challenge...not a game that WSU scheduled...

[DoubleJayAlum]

I don't blame WSU one bit.

Creighton had one of these stinkers today because of an exempt tourney as well.