Sports > Basketball > College Basketball '09-'10

Posted on Sat, Nov. 07, 2009

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What the critics are saying about Gregg Marshall's winter collection

The importance of the brain game hit the Shockers with full force last January.

They started Missouri Valley Conference play with six straight losses. Then they won five of their next six.

Same bodies. Different minds.

Nobody will be patient with a slow start this season.

"There's a lot of positives _ we're athletic, we're long, we're talented," WSU junior Graham Hatch said. "But, mentally tough _ I don't know if we're there yet. Last year it took us until midseason of the conference to get mentally tough. I hope it happens a lot sooner."

Coach Gregg Marshall came to define toughness as the ability to prepare, concentrate and play hard at all times. His young team learned the lessons the hard way. This season, there will be no better place to demonstrate toughness than on the road.

Hatch, a 6-foot-4 guard, might be the player who shows the Shockers the way.

"Graham _ he's a guy I want on the floor," Marshall said. "I think his teammates want him on the floor. He's a guy we can depend on."

The Shockers went 1-10 in road games last season, 1-8 in the MVC. Typical of their problems was a 65-50 loss at Bradley, a defeat that ended a three-game win streak. WSU went scoreless for almost six minutes in the first half and almost four in the second half.

Marshall called his team "glassy-eyed."

Sometimes WSU's defense slipped on the road. Most often, however, the offense disappeared. The Shockers failed to break 60 points in six of their eight MVC road losses. In those six losses, WSU shot 34.3 percent from the field, 28.3 percent from three-point range.

To improve on last season's 17-17 record (8-10 in the MVC), WSU must play better on the road. Making a few more shots will make everything easier.

"When we run our sets, and everybody does their part, we're a great offensive team," junior J.T. Durley said. "Our offense is going to be fine. Our motion is better because we've got people who know what they're doing without the ball, how to move and set screens and set cuts up."

The Shockers, in Marshall's third season as coach, should be better at everything. Marshall has 12 scholarship players healthy and eligible, more than the two previous seasons. Last season, first-year players started at least some games. This season, Marshall can bring his newcomers along slowly behind veterans.

Senior guard Clevin Hannah (11.2 points) starts his second season running the offense. Sophomore Toure Murry (11.0) added arch to his shot in the off-season. He needs to improve his 37.1-percent shooting accuracy. Hatch came off the bench last season; he will start if his scoring improves.

Durley, who averaged 10.8 points in his final 15 games, is the starting point for what could be one of the MVC's best frontcourts. While his defense sometimes lapses, Durley is a skilled scorer who should cause matchup problems. Juniors Aaron Ellis and Gabe Blair will handle the dirty work in the lane. Sophomore center Garrett Stutz could be a wild card. If his body catches up to his scoring skills, WSU can challenge for the MVC title.

Defense can help the offense by creating more turnovers and easy baskets. The Shockers are on their way to pressing more and disrupting offenses with long arms and quick feet. Sophomore guard David Kyles, also a good scorer, can team with Murry for a scary defensive combo. Freshman Kenny Manigault can earn minutes with his defense.

The Shockers start the season in an enviable position. Expectations are rising, but not suffocating. The schedule gives them a mix of easy wins and big-name opponents. They established confidence in Koch Arena with a nine-game home win streak last season.

Last season's trip to the College Basketball Invitational may serve as WSU's reintroduction to March basketball. The Shockers believe they are moving in that direction.

—Paul Suellentrop