WSU VS WINTHROP GAME THREAD
- Thread starter mikalalas
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Probably one of the worst halves I’ve seen under Kyle Smith. Just nothing good about it. Got about by 24 and forgot how to do anything. Defense was so bad. But it’s a good learning experience. Winthrop is going to be alright in their league, but can’t play like that and expect to beat better teams.
Give free tickets to locals and staff/students during break. They will return and pay to see the team later in Jan/February.
That is how the Mariners finally sold out their final home stand - COVID thank you comps that were due to expire were probably 33% of the crowd.
That is how the Mariners finally sold out their final home stand - COVID thank you comps that were due to expire were probably 33% of the crowd.
Won but lost focus and the edge we came out with in the second half. I watched Winthrop against Vandy and while Vandy isn't good you could see Winthrop could do some things. One more game it's Pac 12 against SC. Better have got their collective attention.
I am not upset or think it was as bad as most people. The first half came too easy, and after crushing Idaho, they didn't stay as focused as they could have. But, I give Winthrop a ton of credit. 16 of 30 from three point? That is incredible. Coach Smith threw different player after different player at Good, but he was unreal. When Klay does something like that, we don't say the defense didn't play hard enough. WSU tried, but sometimes you just have to give the other player credit.
What I will say is that the last 4 minutes of the game was so boring, and that in itself made the game feel worse than it actually was. Foul after foul by Winthrop slowed the game to a dead snails pace.
But, WSU dominated the boards, hit their foul shots when they were continually sent to the line, and scored 92 points. They do need to clean up the turnovers, as they had 16.
But, I expect them to play EWU the entire game.
Definitely give Winthrop credit. Good went off on 11-19 from 3. They didn't bail, played tough, and were a **** tough out.
In a perverse kind of way, I appreciated watching the display that Good , and to a lesser degree, Jones, who was 4-5 from three, put on.
2nd half should be a great teaching lesson throughout the season.
I'm slightly concerned as the team has really gotten after it early, but haven't pushed the pedal down completely and run teams out of the gym. UCSB and this Winthrop both snuck back into the games in the 2nd half. Going to have to clean that up as the season progresses.
But this team is talented and if they remained focused throughout games and the year, they're going to make some noise in the postseason.
I'm slightly concerned as the team has really gotten after it early, but haven't pushed the pedal down completely and run teams out of the gym. UCSB and this Winthrop both snuck back into the games in the 2nd half. Going to have to clean that up as the season progresses.
But this team is talented and if they remained focused throughout games and the year, they're going to make some noise in the postseason.
They ran Idaho out of the gym, and against SU, WSU outscored them by 15 in the second half after a close first half. Yes, UCSB and Winthrop both snuck back into the games, but the victories were never in doubt. Yes, WSU like all teams, need to improve, and I believe they will.
Probably a needed wakeup call for the team. Idaho just lost by 40 again to Utah Valley State, so perhaps a pumping of the brakes on the NCAA tourney talk is in order for the time being.
I disagree. The season is only five games into the season, and they are 5-0. It is still a very young team, and they are incorporating several new players into the team. If anyone expected WSU to blow out every team in the non-conference season, your expectations were unrealistic.
58 points given up in the second half though
Outside of that $hit show D of a second half, I've enjoyed watching this team. 5-0, let's go!
Dont remember if it was said in 1 of the Radio broadcast of the games, or if it was said by 1 of the Experts, but it was said that if WSU won, beat Winthrop for a 5th win in row that WSU would likely probably like be ranked #25, and about top 33 in other rankers like RPI, Kenpom, etc.
They said that the last time WSU was ranked top 25, it won 6 in row, 6-0, to start the season. They said that thats probably why WSU will be ranked top 25 to top 33, because of WSU going 5-0, and beating UCSB, and Winthrop.
When you combine BEST EVER Talent, athleticism, Future NBA prospects, etc, in all of WSU history + BEST ever back to back Recruiting classes in WSU history + 5-0 start + 48 point 3rd highest Margin of Victory in WSU history + 2 wins vs UCSB and Winthrop, 2 teams that won their leagues, went to NCAA last year, will win their leagues, goto NCAA Tourney this year, where they were BLOWING OUT said teams in 1st half + likely top 25 to top 33 ranking by the EXPERTS projected by the EXPERTS, = 20 to 23 wins, 20-11 to 23-8 records, 11-0 in Non Con, to 10-1 at worst in Non Con, 11-7, 10-8, 9-9, 8-10 in conference, 3rd to 6th in conference. 1,2 pac 12 tourney wins, NCAA/NIT bubble where either goto either NIT, and either go NIT final four, championship game, win NIT, etc, or to NCAA bubble, 10th to 13th seed, 1st round elimination at average to NCAA 6th seed to 7th seed to 8th seed, 2nd roun, sweet 16, Elite 8 at best.
Thats logical, rational, reasonable Extrapolation, projection, prediction, forecast, etc. And the EXPERTS agree since MOST of the experts had WSU finishing 4th, 5th, 6th in conference, with a NIT/NCAA bubble, and that was BEFORE the season, BEFORE WSU won 5-0, etc, and now the EXPERTS think the same, since the EXPERTS dont usually either project or give a Top 25 to top 33 rankings to non NCAA tourny teams.
Oh sure it happens that a couple, few, some, dont goto NCAA tourny, but usually some to most of them do.
So its about a 67% to 69% to 73% chance that WSU will make NCAA tourny.
So no your wrong, or the EXPERTS logically disagree with you
And WSU will beat EWU(99.999% chance) That will make WSU 6-0. That would match WSU's Top 25 ranking when they went 6-0.
The real test, measuring stick is USC at home. If WSU gets blown out (19+ points loss) WSU will probably goto, be on bubble to make NIT, and then goto NIT, 1st, 2nd round of NIT, and be on NIT/NCAA bubble at best, unless that ends up as an abberation, anomally.
If WSU loses by 6 to 11 then WSU, NIT/NCAA bubble.
If WSU just barely loses by 1 point, or in 1,2,3 overtimes, then WSU NCAA bubble 10th to 13th seed, 1st round elimination.
If WSU wins, beats USC by 1, or in 1,2,3 overtimes, then WSU NCAA semi bubble, 8th, 9th, 10th seed, 2nd round.
If WSU beats USC by 6 to 11, then WSU NCAA, no bubble 6th, 7th, 8th seed, 2nd round, sweet 16.
If WSU blows out USC(19+)
Then WSU NCAA 4th, 5th, 6th seed, sweet 16, elite 8.
The talent is definitly there. There's a good argument this is the most talent we have had top to bottom. We seem a bit driven by the parts at this point. Not that we are playing selfish. Just not the best team yet and need better chemistry. Still a lot of good signs though.
This team is talented and very deep. We are down to about a 9 man rotation right now and I think we will probably see it drop down to 8 man rotation in the next few games. Played 10 against Winthrop but it looks like AJ for the forwards and Koulibay for the guards will start to see less and less time as we get closer to conference play.
Rotation seems more set than it has in past seasons. I do think Koulibaly could steal time if he continues to show he can defend and Roberts or Flowers leak. I also was encouraged with Jakimovski knocking down a couple 3s in limited minutes.
Smith in his post game disagreed, said that that in some games it will be a 8, 9, 10, 11 man rotation depending on situation, game, etc.
He said that they probably should have played 1 more player, in roation to have kept players more fresh, to have been better able to defend winthrop.
He said that it was unfortunate that Koulibaly didnt get more playing time, and that had hardly any playing time. He said that he should have given more playing time to Koulibaly to help with defense. He said Koulibaly might probably would get more playing time in some games, depending on game, situations, etc.
He said that a problem they are, were having is defending against bigger players at the 3 spot, when Noah at 3, and that either Bamba would back up play some more at the 3, an or might have Bamba play some next to Noah, with Bamba at 3, in situations where the other team has a big 3 spot player, guard, wing.
Smith also said that he will tighten up rotation in some games. He said that how many in rotation, will depend on the game, match ups, fatigue, rest, players, performance, situation, lots of variables, etc
