LUC vs Shockers

[Wufan]

Shox having the worst half I've seen since the first half in Springfield.

There will be some "coaching moments" when this game film is reviewed.

I think the Ramblers' pesky D has a bit to do with that. Nevertheless, Loyola should be in this game. We're also having one of the worst games of the season, and I while the Shox have a lot to do with that, we've also made a lot of silly mistakes and have missed wide-open shots that we should generally make.

For instance:
FG - 29% (we're one of the top 25 FG shooting teams in the country).
FT - 45% (that's atrocious)
3PT - 15 % (lowest of the season!)

I think playing in front of the large crowd and the fact that Shox are the # 3 ranked team in the country may have gotten to some of our young players.

Ramblers played with more intensity and energy than the Shockers in the second half tonight. Not many teams have done that to the Shockers this year.

[rlh04d]

Moral victory for Loyola, at least. Good on them for playing a lot better in the second half and not giving up.

As for the Evansville game, I don't think they'll be looking ahead of anyone for a bit after this game. They should be very focused on Evansville after this one.

[iSASO]

Loyola is a great team. Creighton who?

[goramblers2011]

Ramblers ice cold in first half. Shockers ice cold in second half. WSU clearly the top team in the MVC and one of the best in the country.

I am happy with the way my Ramblers fought in the second half. Down big but kept on fighting throughout. Pretty good sign especially given that we are the 6th youngest team in the nation.

I'll stand by my contention that LU avoids being a Thursday team this year.

Those commentators for WSU though...my God, they were awful.

[Wufan]

Those commentators for WSU though...my God, they were awful.

You won't get any arguments in Wichita.

[Shockerfan13]

Credit Loyola. SHOX stopped being aggressive and the Ramblers noticed and picked up the intensity. If they play with that intensity all game every game they might have won a few more games.

In the end the SHOX are what their record says they are 22-0.

Need to blow Evansville out from start to finish to get this bad taste out of the mouth.

Overall all Loyola has some nice athletes and are quick. Definately something to build with.

[LU Rambler12]

We're also having one of the worst games of the season, and I while the Shox have a lot to do with that, we've also made a lot of silly mistakes and have missed wide-open shots that we should generally make.

That almost exact sentence is said by just about everyone we play.

Because it's probably true. I think a lot of it is psychological. The Roundhouse is a tough place to play in. Add to it the fact that the Shox are one of the top teams in the country your opponents start beating themselves.

It goes without saying that the Shox are the better team, but we had a terrible first half and missed a lot of easy baskets. This game could have been a lot closer.

That said...I look forward to seeing you guys in Chicago. I think tonight's game may have given our guys a little bit of confidence, which, for a young team like ours, goes a long way.

[Aargh]

There will be some "Coach Angry" moments in practices the next several days.

Marshall deserves some of the blame for this breakdown. Too many key players were out (at the same time) too early and for too long. WSU's second unit isn't what it was last year. We've got some depth, but nothing resembling what we've had the last couple of years.

Putting a lot of second unit players in early in the second half broke the rhythm the Shox normally play with. It's tough to pull the starters and then put them back in and expect them to perform as if they had been in the game all along.

[Wufan]

We're also having one of the worst games of the season, and I while the Shox have a lot to do with that, we've also made a lot of silly mistakes and have missed wide-open shots that we should generally make.

That almost exact sentence is said by just about everyone we play.

Because it's probably true. I think a lot of it is psychological. The Roundhouse is a tough place to play in. Add to it the fact that the Shox are one of the top teams in the country your opponents start beating themselves.

Pitt said it last year when they lost in the first round. Ohio St. Said it when they lost in the elite 8. Louisville said it in the final four. Tennessee and BYU said it on neutral courts. Illinois State was 1-25 from three on their home court. Etc, etc.

[Aargh]

We're also having one of the worst games of the season, and I while the Shox have a lot to do with that, we've also made a lot of silly mistakes and have missed wide-open shots that we should generally make.

That almost exact sentence is said by just about everyone we play.

Because it's probably true. I think a lot of it is psychological. The Roundhouse is a tough place to play in. Add to it the fact that the Shox are one of the top teams in the country your opponents start beating themselves.

It goes without saying that the Shox are the better team, but we had a terrible first half and missed a lot of easy baskets. This game could have been a lot closer.

That said...I look forward to seeing you guys in Chicago. I think tonight's game may have given our guys a little bit of confidence, which, for a young team like ours, goes a long way.

What you've missed by being new to the party is that our neutral court opponents say the same thing. It's what we heard all the way through the NCAA's from both the opposing teams and from the media.

We just got lucky because Pitt, Gonzaga, LaSalle, and Ohio State all had "unlucky", bad shooting nights against us.

The supposed fact that 4 consecutive teams had off-shooting nights is being used to diminish WSU's F4 finish - even though Kenpom says WSU had the toughest route to the F4 in the last 11 years. Lots of teams get "unlucky" shooting against the Shox.