Many people are aware that Memphis improved over the course of last season under HC Hardaway, playing very well in the closing weeks of last season, but fewer may recall that HC Greg Marshall achieved something of a miracle with his team during the closing weeks of the 2018-19 season.

Wichita began last season with an 8-5 OOC record and had a modest 10-8 record in conference play, finishing with 4 wins (vs UConn, @ SMU, vs ECU, @ Tulane).

However, the Shockers turned things completely around in post-season play (in Memphis), beating #11 seed ECU and #3 seed Temple (80-74), before losing by only 3 points (63-66) to #2 Cincinatti in the AAC semi-finals.

The Shockers then proceed to win 3 consecutive away games in the NIT tournament, @ #3 seed Furman (76-70), @ #2 seed Clemson (63-55), and @ #1 seed Indiana (73-63), before losing to #5 seed Lipscomb in the NIT semi-finals in NYC.

Given their modest AAC record, Wichita played extremely well in the post-season, winning 2 games in Memphis and 3 games on opposing courts.

Most of us know that Memphis is predicted to have quite a good season, but Wichita is also likely to be improved this year once they gel as a unit, and given Marshall's coaching skills, the Shockers might be likely to surprise some people in post-season play.

Tulsa?

But otherwise, good analysis.

(10-01-2019 03:41 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  Tulsa?

That was a slip - was writing about Wichita State but inadvertently typed "Tulsa."

(10-01-2019 03:38 PM)jedclampett Wrote:  Many people are aware that Memphis improved over the course of last season under HC Hardaway, playing very well in the closing weeks of last season, but fewer may recall that HC Greg Marshall achieved something of a miracle with his team during the closing weeks of the 2018-19 season.

Wichita began last season with an 8-5 OOC record and had a modest 10-8 record in conference play, finishing with 4 wins (vs UConn, @ SMU, vs ECU, @ Tulane).

However, the Shockers turned things completely around in post-season play (in Memphis), beating #11 seed ECU and #3 seed Temple (80-74), before losing by only 3 points (63-66) to #2 Cincinatti in the AAC semi-finals.

The Shockers then proceed to win 3 consecutive away games in the NIT tournament, @ #3 seed Furman (76-70), @ #2 seed Clemson (63-55), and @ #1 seed Indiana (73-63), before losing to #5 seed Lipscomb in the NIT semi-finals in NYC.

Given their modest AAC record, Wichita played extremely well in the post-season, winning 2 games in Memphis and 3 games on opposing courts.

Most of us know that Memphis is predicted to have quite a good season, but Wichita is also likely to be improved this year once they gel as a unit, and given Marshall's coaching skills, the Shockers might be likely to surprise some people in post-season play.

Memphis and Wichita took two different directions this postseason though.

Memphis lost nearly every key contributor from last years team but added insane talent.

WSU is returning 7 of 9 rotation players along with adding in some solid young depth.

I'd say Memphis has the higher ceiling but more uncertainty. WSU doesn't have the same ceiling as Memphis (this year), but I feel like we know what to expect more. Both should be tourney teams.

(10-01-2019 03:42 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  But otherwise, good analysis.

I was really impressed that the Shockers beat 3 more highly seeded teams in a row - all of which were NCAA bubble teams - and won all of those games on opponents' basketball courts.

That was really a remarkable accomplishment!

============================================

On a related manner, while not deeply acquainted with Marshall's post-season coaching career, I have the impression that his teams have at times been particularly impressive in post-season play when they were considered "dark horses."

Like most people, I remember when Marshall first made his splash onto the national scene when he was playing a 10 or 11 man rotation of relatively unheralded players, guys who nobody expected to see in the elite eight.

That impressed me deeply. It's the same kind of skill - getting the most out of diamonds in the rough - that made John Chaney a great coach, although Chaney rarely went with more than an 8 man rotation.

So - looking ahead at this season - Wichita State isn't generally considered a series contender to make a deep run in the post-season, but if they emerge as a dark horse by post-season play, I could see this team making their way at least to the second weekend of the NCAA.

(10-01-2019 03:53 PM)jedclampett Wrote:  

(10-01-2019 03:41 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  Tulsa?

That was a slip - was writing about Wichita State but inadvertently typed "Tulsa."

potato potaato

Sometimes, Marshall does his best when he doesn't have a superior starting unit, but has a deep bench and when expectations are low.

He has the unique applicability to utilize most of his bench players - putting some of the deep bench guys in for limited stretches - playing the game at a faster pace or applying longer bouts of pressure defense.

With these abilities, it wouldn't surprise me too much to see Wichita State in the sweet sixteen this year, maybe deeper, given that he's returning a good number of players from a unit that performed extremely well in tournament play last season.

(10-01-2019 04:02 PM)jedclampett Wrote:  

(10-01-2019 03:42 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  But otherwise, good analysis.

I was really impressed that the Shockers beat 3 more highly seeded teams in a row - all of which were NCAA bubble teams - and won all of those games on opponents' basketball courts.

That was really a remarkable accomplishment!

============================================

On a related manner, while not deeply acquainted with Marshall's post-season coaching career, I have the impression that his teams have at times been particularly impressive in post-season play when they were considered "dark horses."

Like most people, I remember when Marshall first made his splash onto the national scene when he was playing a 10 or 11 man rotation of relatively unheralded players, guys who nobody expected to see in the elite eight.

That impressed me deeply. It's the same kind of skill - getting the most out of diamonds in the rough - that made John Chaney a great coach, although Chaney rarely went with more than an 8 man rotation.

So - looking ahead at this season - Wichita State isn't generally considered a series contender to make a deep run in the post-season, but if they emerge as a dark horse by post-season play, I could see this team making their way at least to the second weekend of the NCAA.

Their three game run in the NIT was impressive. I watched Lipscomb play many times (their arena is about 1/2 mile from my former house). The loss to Lipscomb looks bad to the ignorant because the Bison are in the A-Sun but Lipscomb was actually a very good team deserving of an NCAA bid.

WSU is the favorite to win the AAC this season, IMO.

(10-01-2019 04:39 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(10-01-2019 04:02 PM)jedclampett Wrote:  

(10-01-2019 03:42 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  But otherwise, good analysis.

I was really impressed that the Shockers beat 3 more highly seeded teams in a row - all of which were NCAA bubble teams - and won all of those games on opponents' basketball courts.

That was really a remarkable accomplishment!

============================================

On a related manner, while not deeply acquainted with Marshall's post-season coaching career, I have the impression that his teams have at times been particularly impressive in post-season play when they were considered "dark horses."

Like most people, I remember when Marshall first made his splash onto the national scene when he was playing a 10 or 11 man rotation of relatively unheralded players, guys who nobody expected to see in the elite eight.

That impressed me deeply. It's the same kind of skill - getting the most out of diamonds in the rough - that made John Chaney a great coach, although Chaney rarely went with more than an 8 man rotation.

So - looking ahead at this season - Wichita State isn't generally considered a series contender to make a deep run in the post-season, but if they emerge as a dark horse by post-season play, I could see this team making their way at least to the second weekend of the NCAA.

Their three game run in the NIT was impressive. I watched Lipscomb play many times (their arena is about 1/2 mile from my former house). The loss to Lipscomb looks bad to the ignorant because the Bison are in the A-Sun but Lipscomb was actually a very good team deserving of an NCAA bid.

WSU is the favorite to win the AAC this season, IMO.

Yes, and after pulling off that amazing 3 game win streak on the road, they still had the stamina required to take Lipscomb into the final minutes of play, losing by only 3 pts.

I could definitely see them winning the conference or the AAC tournament, but it will depend on how quickly the various teams gel. If Memphis gels too late to win the regular season, then the Tigers might win the AAC tournament to propel their way into the NCAA tournament.

Teams like Houston and Cincy will be in the mix most of the way, and as many have noted, USF or Temple could sneak into the NCAA field as well. The whole season should be interesting, with some early upsets and some teams coming on strong in the closing weeks. It could be one of those seasons that just builds and builds from start to finish.

Memphis: https://theathletic.com/1258524/?source=twittered

Wichita: https://theathletic.com/1247169/?source=twittered

Offseason thread

(10-02-2019 07:33 AM)shere khan Wrote:  Offseason thread

Yet you are clicking on and commenting in.

(10-02-2019 09:22 AM)ShockerFever Wrote:  

(10-02-2019 07:33 AM)shere khan Wrote:  Offseason thread

Yet you are clicking on and commenting in.

He was trying to redirect it to its proper place in the order of the universe.

(10-02-2019 07:20 AM)GoShox7 Wrote:  

CJ,

You wrote that you were impressed by what you saw and posted an impressive photo. However, you didn't provide any specifics other than the shooting wasn't too good the day you visited practice.

What particularly impressed you during your visit? I'm assuming it might have been the players' athleticism, talent, energy, morale, etc.

"Inquiring minds want to know."