Northern Iowa at Wichita State - Wed 2/8

[2livewu]

5 of the last 7 in Wichita, and 10 of the last 15 overall. Borderline dominance...

Nothing borderline about the dominance now.

[2livewu]

WSU looks really really good. They are far and away the better team.

Fixed, and thanks.

[unipanther99]

It obviously had no bearing on the outcome at all, but what about that offensive goaltending on UNI. The replay clearly showed it was falling off the rim. Didn't goaltending and basketball interference used to be a reviewable play in college basketball?

[2livewu]

James has gone missing. He is a good example of why you can't assume someone not physically built for D1 is going to improve every year. He was a MUCH better player last year.

Why anyone lets Sonnen catch and shoot is beyond me. He's so good when left alone, but you just don't need to leave him alone.

Mitchell is the next Ahelegbe, if he can improve his D (no reason to think he won't).

For no reason whatsoever, Jake Koch is the softest player on the team. If he had Sonnen's heart, he'd be all conference. What a waste.

I like Tuttle. Tough and smart and takes great shots. I'm not sure I'm sold on his upside, but he'll be solid at a minimum.

Chip Rank and Austin Pehl....lol.

Johnny Moran will be missed more than UNI fans think.

Tekele Cotton and Jake White would be solidly in the every game rotation for UNI.

[2livewu]

It obviously had no bearing on the outcome at all, but what about that offensive goaltending on UNI. The replay clearly showed it was falling off the rim. Didn't goaltending and basketball interference used to be a reviewable play in college basketball?

I saw it again, and I don't think it was clear at all. It was very close, and at first glance I didn't think it was goaltending, but now I really don't know after watching it a half dozen times.

WSU shot 4 free throws. If you think UNI got jobbed, just keep going back to that little stat. Stutz touched the ball in the post almost every possession. UNI shot jump shot after jump shot. Tuttle had 0 fouls.

The officiating wasn't ANYWHERE NEAR in WSU's favor.

WSU was close to making more free throws than their opponents shoot before last night, in conference play. Last night 4-13 UNI.

[unipanther99]

Whoa there... I don't think you read the part about "no bearing on the outcome at all." UNI did not get jobbed, and I really have no problem with the officiating, even on this play. In real time, it's a very difficult call to make.

It's one of those things that happens so rarely in games, that I think that a replay review could be warranted in these situations. The Fox Sports replay clearly showed the ball moving away from the hoop and slightly downward when Tuttle touched it.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I'm with '99 on this one. On the replay, it definitely was NOT goal tending. I admit that I was waiting to see the refs go to the replay since they seem to be doing that about every ten minutes this year. I'm not sure whether the rule specifically allows them to check the replay on these calls or not.

I also agree that it had no impact on the outcome of the game.

[unipanther99]

James has gone missing. He is a good example of why you can't assume someone not physically built for D1 is going to improve every year. He was a MUCH better player last year.
Did you not watch the Creighton game?
Why anyone lets Sonnen catch and shoot is beyond me. He's so good when left alone, but you just don't need to leave him alone.
We have good shooters... If you leave any of them open, eventually it will catch up with you.
Mitchell is the next Ahelegbe, if he can improve his D (no reason to think he won't).
Not ready to go that far yet, but he is going to be good.
For no reason whatsoever, Jake Koch is the softest player on the team. If he had Sonnen's heart, he'd be all conference. What a waste.
Jake Koch's softness if overstated.
I like Tuttle. Tough and smart and takes great shots. I'm not sure I'm sold on his upside, but he'll be solid at a minimum.
As far as I'm concerned, you described the best possible "upside" of anyone who wants to play in Jacobson's system. Give coach Jake 7 or 8 guys who are smart, tough, and take good shots and UNI can beat anybody.
Chip Rank and Austin Pehl....lol.
Rank is playing well this year, Pehl can give solid minutes.
Johnny Moran will be missed more than UNI fans think.
You're preaching to the choir here.

We didn't play all that great last night, and WSU was lights out... Not a good game to use to give a balanced evaluation of our team. But I give you credit for at least paying attention.

Tekele Cotton and Jake White would be solidly in the every game rotation for UNI.
You really think that?

I don't think this was the best game for evaluating UNI's talent. I do appreciate that you are at least paying attention though.

[2livewu]

There were a few subtle jabs in there, but my overall point would be this:

I am a little tired of hearing how team A (UNI in this instance) is so well coached and gets so much out of their players, while WSU is a brain fart or coaching blunder from the abyss.

Either there is a wide gap in talent between the 2 programs (amongst others btw) right now, or Coach Marshall does a much better job than most people want to admit. You choose.

UNI didn't play poorly, at all, last night. In fact, I thought they were pretty darned good for the most part, outside of getting sucked into a little more up and down game than I'm sure Ben wanted, but the Shocks deserve at least a little credit for making that happen.

And yes, Cotton and White would be in the rotation for UNI had they started the season at UNI. If you think Rank or Pehl is better than White or Morrison (for example) is better than Cotton, you need some remedial Basketball 101. Ben would have those 2 contributing a bunch for a .500 Valley team.

[unipanther99]

Gotcha... I've never been one to question Marshall's coaching. Some decisions at times, yes. But he's a great coach and is probably the leading COY candidate IMO. Do I think Jacobson is a better coach over the last few years, yes. But this year it should be COYHCGM.