We have a winner. Thanks to everyone who answered. Terrell Benton (with 19 points) is the correct answer. Read More
Bad night for the Shockers and there’s no way around that, as Bob Lutz points out. Wednesday’s night game is one the Shockers need to win. Both teams are young, although UMKC’s experience at guard trumps WSU’s, and that turned out to be important. Regardless, a disappointing evening for WSU and its fans. Read More
WSU is most likely overmatched in the 2008 Old Spice Classic against the likes of Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State etc. By 2010 (the 2010-11 season) the Shockers should be more capable of playing with that level of talent.
They better. We knew WSU was playing in the 2010 Maui Invitational. Now we know the rest of the field: UConn, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington and Chaminade.
Good stuff for basketball fans. Start saving now for Thanksgiving in Hawaii.
Steve Pivovar of the Omaha World-Herald called Saturday to ask if I had called the Creighton Bluejays “soft” in a recent story. I did not remember writing that word. I picked the Bluejays first in the MVC, as did everyone else, and remembered pointing out their depth, their talented guards and their inexperienced big men. Read More
Wichita State recruit Kenny Manigault has never heard of Paul Pressey. He can’t understand the respect and fear Pressey’s name inspires in Shocker fans old enough to remember the early 1980s. Pressey, who played two seasons at Tulsa under coach Nolan Richardson, is on the short list of scariest Shocker bogey-men. His long arms seemed to deflect every pass and alter every shot when that rivalry was at a fever pitch. Read More
WSU scored 77 points without working hard. If you followed last season’s team, that is a revelation. Coach Gregg Marshall started subbing in deep reserves with about four minutes to play and the Shockers didn’t need a red-hot shooting night to get there. The 24-point margin is the biggest of Marshall’s one-plus seasons. WSU won 11 games last season – three by double figures. Blowing out an underdog is a step forward.The Rattlers were overmatched, but they did have the advantage of playing Friday. Read More
The Shockers open the season today (Sunday) and I don’t think anybody knows what to expect. There is reason to believe WSU will be better. At this point, it’s largely faith in coach Gregg Marshall’s resume and numbers. There is also reason to believe the season will go through plenty of rough spots.
My guess: 17-13, 9-9 MVC. That’s wildly optimistic for a team that returns one starter from a ninth-place finisher. Read More
Before basketball, let me slip in some baseball news:
Eight MVC schools start their seasons this weekend (SIU is already 2-0 and Indiana State plays Tuesday). Four matchups stand out. MSU is at Auburn tonight in coach Cuonzo Martin’s debut. Bradley plays at Florida on Sunday (1:15 p.m., ESPNU). Both could get ugly. Creighton plays New Mexico on Sunday afternoon. Drake and Butler play Saturday. The Bluejays need a win at home if they are going to be the Valley rep everyone expects. Read More
Before we get into Valley recruiting, former WSU assistant Tad Boyle’s Northern Colorado team plays at Oregon on Friday, where he and Mark Turgeon once worked together. There’s not much doubt Boyle is remembered fondly around here as a great guy and a key member of the staff that revitalized Shocker basketball. Read More