Watching the NBA Summer League is a refresher course on the past few seasons of Shocker basketball. It seems every game – even those without a Shocker player – features a player or two that we’ve seen connected to the Shockers.
Bradley’s Patrick O’Bryant (Suns). Missouri State’s Kyle Weems (Warriors). Denzel Bowles (a Shocker commitment who switched to Texas A&M and then James Madison) is playing for the Hornets. In 2011, the Shockers charged past Andrew Goudelock (Lakers), Malcolm Delaney (Pistons), Klay Thompson (making every jump shot for the Warriors) and JaMychal Green (Spurs) in the NIT. Missouri State’s Blake Ahearn (Jazz) played in the Orlando summer league. Luke Babbitt (Blazers) zinged the Shockers in the 2010 NIT with Nevada.
Summer leagues have been a mixed bag for the three Shockers involved. Guard Joe Ragland is getting prime opportunities to play for the Warriors in Las Vegas. if you stayed up late Wednesday night (and have NBATV), you got to watch Ragland play 18 minutes against the Heat, sometimes guarding Norris Cole (who played against WSU twice in BracketBusters-related matchups). Earlier, he scored 11 points in 11 minutes against the Nuggets.
Toure Murry (Lakers) played 19 minutes on Tuesday against the Spurs. He scored four points and recorded an assist.
Garrett Stutz hasn’t been as fortunate. He played a few minutes in two games for the Nets during the Orlando summer league. In Las Vegas, he has the misfortune of being on the league’s biggest roster – 21 players – with the Timberwolves. He didn’t play in Minnesota’s first two games. The Wolves play three more, including one tonight.
Remaining games for the Shockers:
Timberwolves – 7 tonight vs. Cavaliers; 7 p.m. Saturday vs. NBA D-League; 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Grizzlies
Warriors - 7:30 p.m. Friday vs. Bulls; 5:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Hornets
Lakers – 7:30 tonight vs. Clippers