Holding your own on the boards will be tough. It's one of the things WSU prides itself in. I believe for the year we're out rebounding teams by over 8 per game which is one of the best in the country. But if you can get some offensive boards and keep us off the offensive glass, it'll definitely help your cause. It's just much easier said than done.

If Doyle has a good game against Cotton, I'll go ahead and put him on the 1st team list. He's a hell of a talent but as a FR, I'd be surprised if he handles the pressure well. Especially after reading recently that he's struggled on the road as it is. Add in one of the nations top defenders and 10,000+ fans and I'll be increadibly impressed by an already impressive young man.

Depth is where this one gets blown open. I've read this board for some time obviously and it seems as though you haven't been going very deep. WSU does a great job of wearing teams down and that's one reason we have such a large point differential in the 2nd half of games this year. While are bench isn't insanely productive putting up points on a consistent basis, we mix them in well with the starters and the defense, rebounding and all around intensity doesn't drop. When your legs start to go, it's over.

I wish I could be in the arena tonight, but will be enjoying the game on the big screen in my living room. I miss having season tickets.

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The Roundhouse

I have no delusions of grandeur that the Ramblers are going to win this game. Given what I've seen people say (be they Shocker fans or other MVC fans), I just want it to be a respectable showing. If we can, in some way, keep it around 10 points...i'll be over the moon.

I'm just hoping it's not in the 25-30 point range that many are predicting.

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Cigarboy sucks!

I understand. My best guess would probably be 17-23.

Our average margin of victory at Koch so far is 18.3

In conference home games only it's at 18.8

Average for all games, home, road, neutral is 15.4

As I've said before though, we won't run up the score and use a large advantage to get our starters rest and bench more experience. And to reward the walk-ons who go through hell and don't get the glory.

I am curious to get a good look at your young team. There's a lot of young talent between Doyle, Thomas and White. I don't have a feel for your bigs yet. This could be a good learning experience and will show them at what level they need to play to compete at the top of the conference and nationally. We went through the same process here a few years back.

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The Roundhouse

My prediction is: WSU by 13 at halftime. They'll push the lead up to the mid/high 20s by the 10 minute mark, then empty the bench. The final will be 74-50.

No reason to expect our trip to Wichita will be glaringly different than any other conference team. WSU has scored between 66-72 in all four of their previous conference home games, and allowed between 47-53. That's a pretty tight window in both directions, even for a four game sample size. Even Indiana State, the second best team in the conference, and one of the most experienced-- averaging 75 ppg on offense-- only managed 48 points, 14 points below their second lowest scoring output on the year.

WELL, here we are !! This SHOCKER team is not just the best team in the VALLEY, but I feel the absolute best in College Hoops today--Simple as that. This will be a learning experience for EACH of our players--I trust they file this away in their hearts and minds--If they do , we will be the better for it.
It is what it is--WSU is the best --we are not. BUT we are now reaching a stage where we can stay with and defeat any of the rest --even Indy St who has beaten us twice--then , not now.
We still must play the game--Our guys will and HAVE done their best since first Indy game.--SO--being that it appears to be a foregone conclusion and that there is LITTLE else on TV this evening, I still will be watching on ESPN 3.

I just know that we will file this away for future reference--What starts around , comes around-- Book it !


IF ONLY we had a deeper bench---That is now PM's big job.

GO RAMBLERS !!

Ramblers by 5, because...eh, why not, they're 20 year old college kids...and I want to see the MVC board implode with disbelief and anger.

Did you get one of those "prescriptions" that became legal this year? Totally not mad...just curious how you accomplished that goal.

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Cigarboy sucks!

The Amish are good farmers. Just sayin'

I could be mistaken, but I think some of WSU's juco transfers are in their early 30s. Kadeem Coleby, I believe, is a grandfather of 2.

As for imploding message boards, I took the precaution of registering on Shockernet Forum just in case Loyola pulls off the upset of the century. I wanted to be able to share my perspective on the game with the Shocker fans while the memory of it was still fresh...

Good start!

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Cigarboy sucks!