S9Ep06
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Dustin Kuhn: [00:00:00] Welcome to talking gree with Coon and Eldridge. The shockers will play three games in five days this week. We'll get you ready for the matchups with Tulsa and SMU and discuss where the team goes from here after a one in five star in conference. Play great show coming up right after this. Welcome back to talk angry with Coon and Eldridge Taylor. Since our last show, the shockers are. They've been swept by two lane, a team that had not beat them since joining the American athletic conference. it's really been a tale of a, just a complete opposite of what happened last season. We had so many close games that the shockers were able to pull out last year.

Won 10 out of 13, two possession games. They're five and five in those such games this season. And really, I was surprised that there even five and five, it seems like they just can't seem to make the plays late, to be able to win. There was a COVID pause in between that timeframe as well. And you have the win against UCF at home last week.

And I was encouraged. I felt they came out with some energy. They still do. It seemed to play for a full 40 minutes, but you saw some nice signs, two lane, they get down early and they battle back. They have a commanding lead. these double digit leads that always seem to be disappearing. So just in your opinion, what's the biggest difference between last season shockers and this season where it's still the same guys out there?

I believe it's the same names on the jerseys and everything, but much different results.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. I mean, I guess there there's a couple of differences. you know, Alterique Gilbert was obviously a huge part of last year's team. He had the ball in his hands. He's like replaced with. Porter most of the time down the stretch this year. So that's a difference, you know, Trey Wade, was also out there.

I mean, it wasn't like he was doing a lot of scoring, but, he did have a couple of key shots and he's obviously been replaced by, you know, Joe pleasant, who had a, you know, a pretty big shot. I thought down the stretch of the Tulane game to that nice little, little Dirk fadeaway jumper. yeah, I mean, I think it's just a, it starts with the offense, you know, last year it just seemed like they were able to, you know, come up with points, find a way to score whether it's getting to the free throw line or, or just making shots.

And, you know, you just look at. The shots that they're getting down the stretch or these close games, you know, it's not great quality. And then on the very few times that they actually do get a good shot, you know, they're just not making open shots and, you know, they got a couple,another handful of them.

I guess two lane and, you know, if they make any one of those in the last four, four minutes of that game, you know, they probably win. And, you know, that's just the tail of the season is that, you know, they're not, you know, making shots, you know, good teams. To win games down the stretch. And, you know, Wichita state has just not been able to consistently, you know, make those winning plays.

And then it's just been compounded because, you know, they, they are really struggling to get defensive stops late in games. You know, when it's crunch time, you know, their, their defense is just, you know, really, really struggling to, to get a stop. You know, they build that 13 point lead at two lanes. And then they let two lanes score 13 of the last 17 trips down the floor.

So, you know, only four defensive stops in the last 17 possessions. You know, that's just not going to get the job done.

Dustin Kuhn: The shockers have blown a double digit lead in five games. This season, they already have five home losses. And you had a good article on kansas.com today where you talked about coach IB, you know, watching. For these losses, trying to figure out the right buttons to press with this team. But the confusing thing for me is they seem to make the same mistakes game after game.

At the end of that two lane game, everyone in the arena knew that Tyson was going to take the last shot. And just that doesn't seem like there's a lot being drawn up, or if they are watching film, they're not really changing the whole. From game to game because we still see these same lapses, particularly in late game situations.

So just, you know, I guess w where exactly do they need to go from here?

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. I mean, it's a, you know, I had that detailed kind of video breakdown on Kansas star.com, on Monday looking at Wichita, state's the late game offense against two lane. And, you know, they, they were trying to run sets, you know, they, they had success, with them and the second half. But, you know, it was, it was [00:05:00] kind of weird, you know, watching it back.

It was like, you know, things got sloppy and maybe that's fatigue because you know, those guys were pointing heavy minutes, whatever it is, you know, they just, the execution was just not there, late in the game, you know, they, they go to the ball screen offense, and this is the same offense that was getting wide open shots for Tyson at 10, for most of the game.

But it was dependent on, you know, a hard role after the screen. And you look at one of those possessions and most that's the screen up top, just kind of, you know, barely walks off the screen. You know, it doesn't hard role. So, you know, because he doesn't hard role that the help side defender doesn't have to help.

And then that lets him stay attached to Tyson. That means, you know, the, the plate blows up, nowhere to go. And then that's where you get these ISOs at the end of the shot clock with Tyson, you know, fallen in his hands and it's just having to make something, work and, and the same thing, you know, they, they tried to run a set for Tyson.

They had to work, multiple times earlier in the game. And then, you know, Craig Porter doesn't set a, you know, a good enough screen. and, and it blows up. And once again, you know, same thing, late game or late in the shot clock, tests and ball in his hands, he has to make something work. And, you know, personally, you know, after watching, you know, a lot of films, I think they would be better off, you know, having using Tyson off the ball, you know, obviously.

Most teams, you know, you just turn the ball over to your star player, put the ball in his hands and let them make the right reads right. Decisions down the stretches of games. But what should I say? Just isn't working with a lot of other shooting gravity, I guess. And you know, when Tyson has the ball, you know, the whole defense can hone in on.

'cause, you know, th they're not really concerned about the rest of the shooters on the four surrounding him. And they just don't really have the respect of other teams defenses. So it's so clogged up for Tyson and it's just not producing very high quality looks. Whereas, you know, if Tyson's off the ball, then he has, you know, so much shooting gravity, even though his shooting percentages of, you know, obviously dipped this season.

It doesn't really matter. All that matters is how defense play you. And right now they're still treating Tyson, you know, like he's the player of the year, you know, averaging 20 to 20 points a game. And because he has that gravity, it's opening up so much other stuff for teammates, even when he doesn't, you know, get the assist.

You know, just because the defense is so worried about him, it's opening up things for other players. And man, you know, it's pretty tempting to use him more like that off the ball, down the stretches of these, these games, because you know, like you said, and you know, clearly what they're doing right now is not working.

Dustin Kuhn: Tyson's eighth in the conference in scoring at 14.71 points per game. They had a season high, 19 turnovers. On Saturday and they're number 224 in the country on turnover percentage. One thing in your article today, a coach IB referenced the 1819 season when Dexter and Moe were freshmen. The shocker started one in six in conference play, and then one 14 out of the final 18 to reach the nit semi-finals.

I was, you know, I'm happy to have that in there cause I was. Find a time really in the last decade plus where I felt as low as a shocker fan, as I felt on Saturday after watching that lead that nine point lead dwindled down in the final three minutes. And so we're, we're suffering from a little bit of recency bias here in that, you know, it's probably not ever as bad as it feels at the time.

But it's just the way in which they're losing. And I'll also go back to the home atmosphere at Koch arena really has seemed to dwindle. So, you know, I guess for us that need a little bit of a pick me up after a shocker loss and a chiefs loss. Give me a little light at the end of the tunnel, as far as you know, w where, where could things build the rest of this season to try and, and, and salvage ships, salvage everything and bring us back.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. Yeah. Well, first off, let me, let me hit you with another gut punch and then I'll bring you back up. I was looking at like wind probabilities, you know, on Ken Pom. And what should I say? Both of those two lane games greater than a 95% win probability. And both games. So I wonder what, you know, the chances of, you know, losing both of those games where you have, you know, a 95% chance of winning, would be, I mean, that's gotta be pretty minute minuscule.

So that's what makes these losses even more painful and arguably, you know, it's,it's even more painful than that. One in six start and AAC play, you know, four years ago, three years ago. because, you know, in that one in six star, you know, they were getting blown out. they weren't competitive.

And a lot of those games, you know, it was pretty clear that team had, you know, a lot of issues. you know, they were obviously super young. They had a, you know, a pretty far way to go, you know, this team, you know, it's, [00:10:00] you can really just sit there and look at the schedule and just say, you know, man, if they just, you know, avoid a seven minute scoring drag here, you know, if one point it goes differently down the stretch that.

Yeah. That's like five games right there, you know, five losses that could easily be turned around. And so when, so it's not like the shockers are far away from,being that team that they thought they were going to be before the season. But you know, at this point, you know, when you continually lose these games, you know, it's gotta be tough mentally for the players to, to, you know, keep that belief.

But, you know, I keep talking to him after games and you know, it sounds like they're locked in. you know, the, the, you know, for what it's worth, you know, they're saying that their spirits are not diminished. You know, they, they feel like they, they still have town on this team to make her run. And, yeah.

You know, that, that, you know, Dexter and Mo are a freshmen on that team. And I'm sure that they're talking to these guys and telling him, telling them, you know, what's possible. Now that team started 1 6, 1 14 of their last 18 games. May it's the nit semi-final. You know, maybe that would be a disappointment for this team considering their preseason expectations.

But you know, at this point I think, you know, shocker, France just want to see them get back to playing winning basketball. And I do think that that that level is still there with this team, you know? there's just a few things. It just seems like every game there's just, you know, just crazy stuff that happens.

And, you know, you want to say it's crazy, but you know, if it's happening in this. you know, there, there's gotta be a common theme. And, you know, at the end of the day, it does fall on the coaching staff. you know, they have to, to, you know, swallow that criticism, even though I thought that two lane game scene, a lot of people criticize IB, but it's like, you know, w what do you want?

You know, there's not much the coaching staff can do when, you know, the players are throwing it off refs, you know, out of bounds, stepping out of bounds. you know, pulling the trigger on a three-pointer, you know, when you're, you're protecting a lead with 20 seconds on the shot clock, you know, these are a lot of split.

Second decisions made by players that, you know, the coding staff doesn't really have a lot of control over. It really did feel like, you know, it was, you know, just a series of unfortunate,that costs them down the stretch of the two land game. But at the end of the day, you know, it's on the coaching staff, you know, they, they have to figure a way to, to get this turned around and, you know, the defense, you know, the pieces are there, to be a great.

And the pieces are there. I mean, all they have to do is just be an average offense. And, you know, you saw probably, you know, the best 20 minutes stretch of the season from which they'll say when they outscored two lane, 46 to 18, when they turn a, you know, a third or 15 point deficit into a 13 point lead, you know, they just absolutely dominated to land for a 20 minute stretch.

So, you know, it's clearly there within this team. they just have to figure out how to close these games. Avoid silly turnovers and just make an open shot every now. And then

Dustin Kuhn: It's surprising to me there. Ken Palm rankings, 82, which actually is a little higher than I would've anticipated. They're currently ninth out of 11 teams in the American

one team that is right below.

Taylor Eldridge: sorry. I just want to point out through that. you know, that, that kind of puts me in perspective. You know, a lot of people are saying like this, the, you know, the program. Is, you know, just completely down and out, like you say, I mean, there's still a top 85 Ken Fon team. It's not like, you know, these losses.

They're not that they don't have a single bad loss on the schedule. You know, you could argue two lane, but obviously two in is playing like a new team and conference. Every other loss is to a top 75 team and the Kim Palm rain. And also, I want to point out to a lot of people. We're, we're kind of making fun when I said early in the season that Jacksonville state and south Alabama were actually good teams because they, you know, I think they were both started out outside the top one 50 and Kemp, ah, you know, look at them now, you know, Jacksonville state and south Alabama and even tartlets and state, you know, all three of those teams are doing much better.

I think south Alabama. This first place in the Sunbelt Jacksonville state is undefeated right now in the son. So, you know, those are two quality mid-major teams that have a they're both top one 30 now and Ken bombs. So, you know, what should I say? It has played a very, very challenging schedule, but you know, that's been true in, in years past, and they've been able to find a way to come out on top, but I just wanted to point that out that, you know, the, the, the schedule difficulty is, has been very high this year.

but also, you know, obviously no excuses for which I'll say, you know, they expect to play a tough schedule and expect to win games.

Dustin Kuhn: They do expect to win games.

I've already mentioned, you know, five losses at home. I just hit. If it didn't look the way that it did, I can understand having a young team and just getting out matched and different things like that. But [00:15:00] when you have the high expectations and then it doesn't come to fruition, just makes it a little bit.

More difficult. But as I mentioned, Tulsa does come to town on Tuesday night. It's an 8:00 PM tip on ESPN, U it's MTX night. I think this team could use them MTX AC, to, to get going. This is frankly just a must win game against Tulsa who comes in at one and seven in conference before.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah, it's almost to the point where yeah. You scan, you know, take a loss at home to your right. If you were, you know, the MTX see jerseys, you know, you can't lose at home to your rival Tulsa and those yeah, you're right. You know, and then also, you know, regardless of the fact, you know, it would put them at one and six, you know, drop them to the bottom of the conference.

so there's a lot of bad things can happen, on Tuesday night, but, you know, it's also a chance for WSU to win its second straight game at Koch arena, you know, try to get that bad taste out of their mouth from this weekend, because you know, they're going to have to play really, really well later in the week when we get to that, that doubleheader against SMU, you know, probably the second best team in the conference.

Taylor Eldridge: So a chance for what should I say to build some moments? You know, Tulsa, you know, I picked them last or I picked them 10th and the conference before the season, you know, I kind of saw this coming. There's not a lot of scoring help outside Uriah horn and Sam Griffin. so this is a team that wished off state, you know, Nate.

To, you know, play well against, you know, they employ a little bit of that matchup zone, which they just saw against two lanes. So, you know, they should be well versed in how to, you know, move the ball and score against it. So, you know, the shockers, they need to see the ball, go through the basket, you know, see an offensive explosion and then finally protected, protected lead, you know, that would be a nice change for this team.

You know, even when they built that, that big lead against UCF, they let them come all the way back and make it interesting down the stretch. So, you know, a 10 plus point when for what shall I say is what the doctor needed is what the doctor orders for a game like.

Dustin Kuhn: Yeah, outside of purview, a and M they really never have just exerted their will on another team for the entire game. It's always that back and forth. And last season I felt like they played up to higher competition, sometimes played down to lower competition this season. You're not seeing that upside there as well.

Tulsa is Ken Palm ranked one 50. They did beat south Florida on Saturday. pretty handedly actually by, by 31 points, they score and allow 69 points per game. They shoot it 43.7% from the field and 35% from three, they are minus 2.7 and rebounding margin. So, another, you know, the one thing when they beat UCF at Coquina last week, They did a good job of getting the ball down low to Odessa.

If you listened to the broadcast on Saturday at Tulane, that was the plan again, but he got in foul trouble. But when they're exerting themselves, you saw Ricky council getting all those free throws against UCF. It just, they need to be the aggressor for once. And hopefully that starts tomorrow night.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah, I thought, you know, they had some chances to get to mow in the middle and they didn't take them. I noticed that a few times, you know, watching the game back, but also, you know, Mo wasn't, you know, terrific. You know, when he did catch the ball, I think he had three or four turnovers. So that was an issue for him.

He's gotta be wary of that. you know, in a zone with so many people around him, Yeah. I mean, WCBA just their overall lack of aggressiveness going to the basket. you know, I would say to end zone, you know, it makes you want to take three pointers and you know, too many times they sell it for him.

And you know, like you said, you know, Ricky council was so good. And that 31 point game, because, you know, he was aggressive going to the basket. He had shots falling obviously, but you know, a big part of it was being aggressive, going to the basket, drawing fouls, you know, shooting 20 free throws. And, we just didn't see that very much against south Florida.

Yes. You know, WSU. I didn't get the, you know, they probably lost out on a couple of 50 50 calls, but, you know, overall, I didn't see a ton of boys that, that could have been called fouls, you know, down the stretch or even in the whole game. So, you know, what should I say needs to be the aggressor, like you said, and you know, Tulsa, you know, they're, they're one in seven, but you know, they, they probably feel pretty similarly.

So which sustain, you know, they've had a, you know, four games I think decided by five points or less, or they've all came out on the wrong side. So, you know, they, they push Houston at home. You know, they push SMU at home. they took Memphis right down to the Y. On the road, you know, so you know, this is a good team, you know, or not a good team, but you know, this is a capable team.

So what should I say, it's going to have to play well, it's not like they can just show up. I don't think right now, what should I say is playing well to just show up and beat anybody. So they're going [00:20:00] to have to play well and, you know, make a point, you know, to get some moments and back on into that big double header against us.

Dustin Kuhn: You bring up SMU. They, it's kinda interesting that the doubleheader Thursday and Saturday, Thursdays at SMU and Saturday at Wichita state. Thursday's game tips off at 6:00 PM on ESPN plus Saturdays games at 5:00 PM on ESPN two. It is a yellow out. Although a lot of fans have been coming, dressed as empty seats these days at Coca Rena.

So hopefully we'll be able to get a little bit more yellow in there than black SMU is one, five straight. They don't have a game before. Playing Wichita state on Thursday there, Ken Palm ranked number 60, there only conference losses to Cincinnati, but they do still have two games with Houston remaining.

As of right now, SMU is really, the AAC is only shot at getting a second team in the NCAA tournament. And if not, it'll, it'll just be Houston representing the country.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. You know, SMU is a, you know, I I've always liked their talent. You know, I thought I, Kendrick Davis, if he plays a few more games last year, you know, he was just as deserving as Tyson that TN last year to be the AAC player that year just an absolutely electric Playmaker. you know, I think he's the best player right now in the conference.

So, it's going to be huge, a huge challenge for which just state. like you said, you know, they're, they're coming in on a hot streak, you know, not only five in a row, but, you know, since I kind of a slow start, you know, they've won 13 other last 14 games. So, you know, they are playing very, very well.

This is finally, you know, seems like they're, they're finally putting it together. you know, under Sam Jankovich, you know, so many times over the last four or five years, SMU has had a lot of talent, but, you know, they just haven't been able to put it together. It seems like. Constantly underperformed, down there in Dallas.

but you know, maybe this is the year and like you said, and you know, they are kind of the, the conferences hope to, to get a second team into. The, the, or the NCAA tournament. So, you know, a couple of the teams nets are in that range. You know, I think SMU right now is at 55. so you know, that was right around where, you know, we should all stay was, you know, they're probably gonna want to get up into the forties, to work their way into an at-large bid and, you know, a good way of doing that, you know, sweeping Wishaw status.

Taylor Eldridge: Big week for them. cause I know obviously a lot of people are still, you know, it feels worse than it is for Wichita state, but you know, they're 82 in the net rankings too. So, you know, there's still, you know, a quality,Q2 when, you know, when you play them on the road. So, big, big week for SMU, you know, they're obviously going to be locked down.

which I state, you know, this is a huge challenge, you know, we've seen them play up. you know, at times I thought, I mean, I was impressed when they went down to Houston and pushed them. but you know, since then, and they probably haven't seen the team as talented. As SMU will be, come this week. So it's going to be a huge challenge for Wichita state.

Taylor Eldridge: And, you know, we'll, we'll see how they handle the challenge this week. I mean, who knows what, I mean, I feel like this team is capable of doing just about anything. You know, they could lay an egg, get beat by 20, you know, they could take it down to the wire. They could blow another lead. They could come from behind and win this game.

I wouldn't be surprised with anything that happens between these duty.

Dustin Kuhn: SMU score 76.05 points per game. They allow 66.85 shooting at 45.5% from the field and 36% from three. It is interesting with the two games and the effect of three days. Do you think there's any built-in advantage or disadvantage one way or the other when you see a team back to back like.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. I mean, I, I kinda like this, I mean, a couple of conferences did this last year due to COVID, just play two games against the same team, within a, you know, a couple of days. And I think it is kind of interesting to see, you know, what adjustments are made after the first game and will be kind of cool to see, you know, both sides, if you know, they just decided to run it back.

Or if they decided to make huge changes after the first game. yeah, I mean, I, I kinda like it and,you know, it is, it just presents like a different kind of, you know, you're gonna, you know, you're going to watch the game Thursday night and then, you know, less than, you know, 72 hours later, you're going to see the same match up again.

And then in Wichita, so it should be a, it should be a fun matchup. You know, these two teams have produced a couple of, you know, pretty crazy outcomes. You know, the, the shake Milton game at Coker arena was, you know, one of the craziest games I've seen there where he basically just single-handedly took down the shockers when they were, you know, top 15 in the country.

and then obviously the wishlist state game, I think this was actually the last time they've played SMU because all the COVID cancellations last year, the last time they went down to Dallas, you know, they had that crazy comeback. I think they were down by 24 points and that was a team that was basically already shuttered.

Taylor Eldridge: You know, they had, you know, there were so broken behind the scenes, so much division and then they went up. [00:25:00] Dexter Dennis catches on fire. grant Sheffield had a really good game. They come back, incredible comeback, 24 points on the road to come back and win that game. So these two teams that produced fireworks in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if we get two more great ones.

Dustin Kuhn: I know we're in the middle of the season here. And so this is a difficult question, but the team has lost six out of eight games. Currently, every single one of these players could come back next season if they wanted to due to the, the extra COVID year. But in your article, you know, IVC. If I thought the players were the problem, I'd be out there recruiting, but I still have confidence in these guys in your opinion, you know, can they come together and make a late season run here, or, you know, even with the extra eligibility, do you think it's time to maybe shake things up a little bit and, and some people have been calling for some of the freshmen and sophomores to start getting more playing time and, and treat it more like a rebuilding.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. I mean, I think, yeah, let's, I mean, there's lots of unpack there. let's just start with, The recruiting that that part kind of cracks me up. I seen a lot of people criticized, you know, the coaching staff, you know, they, they don't have any recruits landed already. And, you know, a lot of teams do have, you know, recruits, built in, but you know, with this Ross.

You know, there's so many decisions that are going to be made after the season. That's going to determine, you know, what, which I say needs now, right now they have a lot of freshmen and sophomore currently on the roster. So, you know, do you really want to bring in, would it make you feel better if they had two, two or three freshmen signed right now, are those players going to be able to come in and play right away?

No, probably not. You know, honestly, you know, the, the bulk of Wishaw state's recruiting class is going to be jucos, it's going to be transfers in the portal. And honestly, that's not unique, you know, it's not like, what should I say is out here doing something crazy. you know, a lot of the recruiters. It's just the, the, just, you know, when the portal rule, the transfer rule has changed and the portal, it went crazy.

Now this is just the new life and college basketball where a lot of the recruiting, is, you know, a lot of these coaches aren't going to want to take high school kids. Cause it's like, why would you want to bring a high school kid here? They sent for two years, and then they're going to go transfer somewhere else.

You know, you want, you almost want them to go somewhere else and then you get them, you know, two years down the road. So, you know, the transfer portal is going to be a ton of the recruiting. For WSU. So just kind of giving the fans up a heads up there also who could be coming back, you know, from my understanding, this is going to be a Dexter Dennis's last year.

I would assume Mo your Desi, although I don't know that for sure. But just talking to Dexter throughout the year, he's talked about this being his last year. He's always treated this, you know, he's been there for four years. He's graduating. I don't know if he's going to try to move on and play somewhere else next.

Or like Trey weight or if he's going to go pro, but, you know, I would probably not expect, Dexter or motor to be back, but, we'll see. I think a lot of those fourth year guys are treating it that way. And then, you know, Tyson at TN has made it pretty clear that, you know, this is going to be his last year in Wichita.

So I think those three, I wouldn't expect them to be back. And then after that, you know, who knows, you know, we'll just have to see how it plays. And then to answer your final question, can the scene pull it together? I do think so. you know, I, I keep, you know, just from the outside, looking in, you would assume that this many gut punches, you know, this much losing after coming in with so high expectations would cause tension would, you know, break apart this group.

And I've asked a lot of people inside the program, right outside of the program, people who know the. So, Hey, like, is there a division on this team? And everyone I've talked to has said that the players are still bought in they're banded together. And I think that speaks a lot. So, you know, Dextra Dennis Morris, you Desi the leadership of those guys, then Tyson at TN, you know, he's such a positive force, such an optimist, you know, just, he never gets negative.

you know, even after like such devastating losses. So I think it's a credit to those three that this team has stuck together. you know, their leadership as kept them together. And, you know, if they keep believing, then you know, I'm not going to bet against this team to, you know, turn it around and make a run because I really do believe in the town of this team, you know, I, I thought they would, I thought they would finish near the top of the conference just because of the.

Taylor Eldridge: Which has taken a huge slide back, which was harder to predict. And then they often, it just hasn't come together. Like they thought they would, but you know, there's still time left in the season to make a run. you know, February has typically been a very good month or which for Wichita state basketball, you know, we'll see if it plays out once again.

They have a great chance to get a jumpstart on a three games and this week alone, four games in the next eight [00:30:00] days. So, we'll know a lot more about where the season is headed, you know, next.

Dustin Kuhn: I keep going back to your article with IB today. And I guess it just speaks to, you know, kind of how much it hit to what shocker fans are thinking about right now, but it was these players that really earned. The job last year, when they went on the run that they did and won the AAC. And obviously there were COVID cancellations and different things.

Well, they could do their coach and other favor here and maybe start eliminating some of the mistakes and playing together a little better because when you have this happening time after time, again, all that credit that he had built up last year really is kind of dissipated here. And you acknowledged that in the article and it's not for lack of trying.

You know, they're, they're all coaching hard, but if we've said it once on this show, we've said it a thousand times, you are what your record says you are. And right now that's not very good, but it's, there's still certainly time to turn things.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. You know, I was kind of asking him yet more questions along that line. I haven't really asked him too much about that. you know, it just seems, you know, to me as like an outsider, I mean, I'm not, you know, Wichita state fan, so I guess I could kind of look at it. I think I can look at it more objectively just seems like kind of crazy that a coach.

When a conference championship out of nowhere, you know, out of the, you know, against all odds and then, you know, less than, you know, less than that eight months later, nine months later, you know, I think after the case, state loss, I mean, I was already hearing chatter about, you know, IVs, not the man for the job, you know, they're already raising questions and obviously, you know, the season has turned out a lot, like the naysayer.

We're thinking like it would, you know, at the start of December, but you know, it just seems like such a short rope to, you know, I just, I just wonder, like what kind of message that was send to other coaches, you know, if you can win a conference championship in year one, And then season year two, doesn't go the way you want it to, and you get fired, you know, that just seems like a bad message to send to future coaches.

You might want to come to Wichita state. So, I don't believe, you know, it, I mean, we'll obviously do more digging as the season goes along, but you know, the census that, you know, obviously there's a lot of frustration with how the season is going. but you know, obviously just sign that, that long.

Long-term deal five years, you know, he's under, under contract for a long time. you know, Darren Boatwright, the athletic director, you know, his contract is up in June, I believe. So. You know, there's kind of some question marks on, you know, who's going to lead the athletic department going on. So I have a hard time believing plus, you know, they're already paying Greg Marshall, you know, his, his settlement, you know, are they really gonna, you know, pay three coaches, you know?

Okay. You football style. At the same time. And you know, this, this a university does not have the money right now because of all the COVID stuff to be doing that, you know, barring, you know, another meeting of the, you know, the, the minds and, you know, if they want to put together a ton of money, who knows what could happen, but, those are all questions for the end of the season.

I, I still give the benefit of the doubt to IB and this coaching staff, they proved what they could do. And you're one, you know, obviously year two has not gone according to plan what they wanted, but man, you know, two years is a very, very short, Leisha. you know, I think you have to give them more time to prove you can, you know, turn things around.

But, but we'll see, you know, that's just my opinion. I'm not, you know, I'm not a fan, I'm not a donor. you know, I'm not, you know, working for the university, so we'll see how they feel. You know, they're the ones that are going to make that decision afterward. But, yeah, just, it just seems crazy to me that, you know, here we are, you know, less than one year later.

From a conference championship, FirstNet and WSU program history and the American. And, and here we are, you know, talking about IB on the hot seat, the hot seat. So, I put it in my story today, you know, high level basketball and college, it's a fickle world, you know, it's a lot about, you know, what have you done for me lately?

And, you know, 40 games in, you know, IB is already found out, you know, the highs of that and the lows of that.

Dustin Kuhn: Yeah, it's definitely what have you done for me lately? I'm I'm not a quick trigger guy either. I think he's certainly gonna have the opportunity, but it's just, it's, it's frustrating when you, you know, not only look at what's happening on the basketball. But you look at the area surrounding the basketball court.

The stands, the fan support really has fallen off here. And it's just, you know, in my opinion, Wichita, state's a top 50 job in college basketball. They had had such momentum, you know, really since 2008, 2009, when coach Marshall took over and, and this isn't even backward looking anymore, you know, we gotta look forward and, and you know how you improve things going on here, but.

Put on top of that, the changes that are coming to the American athletic conference with the three teams leaving. The teams [00:35:00] replacing them, not very good for, from a basketball perspective. So you just start to worry. And then he also sees the Missouri valley, adding Murray state, and a couple other schools.

And you start to think, well, you know, what is the grass really greener on the other side here? Or, or, you know, what, what, what is what's going on with the program right now? But, that'll all be conversations we'll have, as we get through the end of the year here, Producer Bryan, do we have a buy or sell?

Producer Bryan: Of course we've got buy or sell. So I want to start, we, we ended our conversation there, just talking a little bit. The temperature around the program and Isaac brown and, and certainly for a season, one bad game does not a season make. And certainly one bad year does not make a coaching career. However, you know, all the chatter.

Do you feel like buyers sell Isaac brown is feeling the temperature on his seat rising considering, you know, he said when he got the job full time, that's really when the pressure started to ramp up. So by herself, is he feeling that heater.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. I mean, I asked him that question today, the press conference, and he told me. you know, he tries to block out that noise. He doesn't, you know, he's not on social media, he doesn't read those comments, but you know, it's hard to believe he doesn't sense, you know, the frustration. So I'll buy that, to a degree, but, you know, I don't think, you know, this coaching staff feels like it's coaching for its jobs.

Like it did last year, you know, when they were up against all the odds and, you know, they, they felt like they were almost a lame duck, staff. and, and now I think that, you know, obviously they feel the pressure, you know, that they see, you know, it's hard not to notice that, you know, the fans, you know, aren't, packing Coca Rena, like they used to, you know, it's hard not to notice, you know, a couple, couple Boobers, you know, come out every now and then, but, you know, I think that these coaches, they, they don't feel like the pressure they did last year, compared to, you know, just how much pressure and adversity they were going through that.

Dustin Kuhn: Yeah, I'm going to buy that.

as well. Although the one thing I do like about IB is, you know, he, he never really changes who he is. He's the same guy All the time. I feel. You know, he, he's got to be that way in the locker room as well. The only thing I have to question though, is, is that, you know, falling on deaf ears right. now, if you listen to his press conferences, he, you know, he says like, we got to grow up, we gotta do better.

We gotta do this, that and the other. But I have not. There's just been a pattern of no changes happening over these last few weeks. So at some point change the starting lineup, call more timeouts, do something to try and wake, wake up the. Players and the play on the court right now. But, you know, I think it'd be hard not to, particularly when you're the only team in town like which Chelsea basketball is.

It'd be hard not to feel that pressure. So.

Producer Bryan: All right. Secondly, the end of the game against. Comes down. Cook elevates for a three point attempt and gets a foul called on him. Looks to me like he kicks his legs out pretty wide to try and get that foul called. So buyer sell, should that have been called a flop under the new rules that are intended to keep a shooter vertical and keep that defender from doing something.

Dustin Kuhn: I'm going to sell that. I thought Tyson came down with. Which that that was more, what was called then, you know, the contact down below. Had he not done that then? Yeah, I would agree that, not the best foul, but just even being in that situation. and, and the fact that it got to that point, you know, Ricky stepping out of bounds.

It's, it's just, I'm still not recovered and I'm crabby today. Cause the chiefs lost too. I'll I'll admit that. I'm sorry, but it's just.

Taylor Eldridge: Dustin's in a dark place right now. I'll also that too. I agree. I thought, you know, originally, you know, I, I did think that he kicked his legs out. I saw the same thing that. you know, felt, when he was protesting it right after the play. But, you know, after watching the replay, it did look like he, you know, made contact with the shooting arm, which makes sense.

Cause you know, the ball fell like five beats short to the basket. So it was pretty clearly that, you know, he hit his arm. but you know, I'd be curious to hear, you know, the referee, you know, say like what, what the foul was called, you know, if they called it on the legs, you know, at the bottom. Then you could PR protest, but you know, if you, if you called it the action on top, then you know, it's hard to argue.

Although I will say, you know, I B said that he saw an angle, you know, he originally agreed with us. He said, you know, the Tyson, that was a foul. And then I guess he, he saw another angle that boy, and he came away thinking that it wasn't a foul. He actually said he called up Tyson. you know, after the film study and apologize to him because he, his mind had changed.

So I didn't see that angle. you know, the one that I saw on ESPN, it looked like a foul to me.

Producer Bryan: All right. And we we've talked a lot about the shooting struggles that Tyson has had this year, but certainly it seems like in the game against two lane, he was really hitting his open, looks at a good clip. [00:40:00] Do you feel like this is the sort of game by herself that Tyson breaks out of his shooting slump and is the shooter that we expected him to.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah, I buy that. I think, you know, obviously the, the degree of difficult difficulty has gone up to Susan, but, you know, he was still missing a lot of the open shots that he was getting the season. It just felt like, you know, a shooting slump, you know, even in the shots that he was getting that cleaning.

And, you know, who knows, maybe this will get him going. I actually wrote that in my story. It was like, the narrative was saying, you know, he made that deep three career, high seven, three pointers. I put WSU up nine with like three 30 left, you know, right in front of Marcus Camby, you know, he's giving them high fives and, you know, it just felt like, you know, that was going to be the narrative, you know, Etienne snaps out of the shooting slump, you know, the AAC player of the year, he's back.

He's got a swagger back, you know, the shockers, you know, when two in a row. And obviously we saw it all unraveled the last, you know, three 30, but you know, maybe that is the positive that, you know, Tyson does get, you know, that shooting swagger back, because they, they certainly need it. And you know, what should I say?

I will say, you know, they did a lot of, for as much criticism as I've seen online of, you know, the coaching staff, not running. They ran, you know, I think six of the seven three is he got, were offset plays. So, you know, even if it doesn't look like sets to people, you know, you just have to go back and watch it on film and, and really study it because, you know, Wichita state, or you can just go to my story on guinness.com.

I broke it all down. today. Online. So, you know, they were running good stuff, good actions to get him open. And then he was finally burning the open shots he was getting. So I, it just feels like, you know, he's too good of a shooter. To be, you know, that poor for the whole season and also, you know, Dexter Dennis too, you know, that's another one I'm kind of curious about, you know, obviously he's had kind of a huge swing, you know, first half the second half of the season, but man, he's getting a lot of wide open looks and you know, he's shooting 27% on the season right now on three.

So that's another number that feels like it has to go up, you know, in February and March.

Dustin Kuhn: You all agree with Taylor? The biggest thing I'd like to see Tyson to improve on is just the shot selection. I understand, you know, the expectations coming into this season. I understand that defenses are giving him all the attention and. You know, two, sometimes three guys at, but just, you know, that last play against Tulane.

In my opinion, there had to be a better option. Like use Tyson as the decoy and let Ricky counsel take the last shot or, or, you know, let someone else.

Taylor Eldridge: He had Ricky actually threw the ball in and, he just floated in to end in an account for him and like, Yeah, it's tough to criticize Dyson because, you know, he had such a good shooting game and they're not in it, you know, without them. But man, you know, Ricky was standing like a wide open on the wing and you know, if you pass them the ball, you know, the other, you know, I think the corner defender has to come up and then Dexter has a wide open shot.

But yeah, I mean, it, I certainly agree with you that, you know, it felt a little, a little too hero ball, just because he was playing so well early, I think he just had in his head, you know, I gotta take this shot, but man, it's stuff, you know, upon, you know, obviously hindsight's 20, 22. but man, you know, like you said, I think you gotta use Tyson as a decoy, you know, going forward.

and, and I think it's going to open up a lot of looks for other people.

Producer Bryan: All right. And finally, Dexter Dennis, you know, shooting percentages. Can it come up? You know, he's at 27. From three, but he does so many things. The defensive ability, the ability to get off offensive, rebounds, find, and create opportunities. He creates plays for others. It just feels like, you know, if somebody can get going and be the X factor to really be this glue guy that gets the whole team cooking, it feels like Dexter, Dennis is that guy by herself.

Dustin Kuhn: I'm going to sell that. Dexter historically has always done much better in February and March sheet for whatever reason has been a slow starter, but I'd like to see a little bit more from Craig and a little bit more from Ricky. I think those two are really what would lead to this team, reaching its fullest potential, or at least turning things around from where we're at.

Right.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. I mean, I'm going to piggyback on that. I think Craig is the one that's really caught my eye. you know, ever since he scored those 18 points, career high, you know, against two lane and the first matchup, it seems like a flip has switched. you know, we saw him, he only had eight against UCF, but, you know, he was more aggressive.

He hit, you know, a couple of big step back through. Down the stretch and then two lane, the second time, 15 points, another, you know, a couple of, three is, you know, you have to remember, he was only averaging like three points, a game for the first, you know, 14, 15 games of [00:45:00] the season. And, now when he's finally starting to look to become more aggressive, you know, that just opens up what Shaw states often. And honestly, you know, I would rather see him on the ball late in games, you know, running the pick and roll, having Tyson as the, you know, the roll-up on the wing and then having Mogo, you know, Mo rolls to the middle, Craig running the screen, you know, Ricky and the, in the corner. I think that's wished, I'll say it's best bet, honestly, because you know, It's pretty smooth with the ball.

He has, you know, some uncared uncharacteristic mistakes, you know, you had two or three turnovers down the stretch, on just bad passes. So, you know, I mean, I don't think that's going to happen very often though. I think Craig is the X-Factor for this team. but like you said, Brian, you know, Dexter does so many good things on defense.

You know, he's having another, you know, if there was an all defensive team in the conference, you know, he'd be a unanimous pick. you know, I don't know if it's been as effective to be a, you know, defensive player of the year. Usually that goes to. But man, you know, Dexter is so good on, on the defensive end.

but you know, I think Craig can have a little bit more of an impact just cause he's going to have the ball in his hand.

Dustin Kuhn: Well, you know, this is not the most fun podcasts we've ever recorded, but I think it is good to hear your perspective. Taylor, it's good to hear, you know, some of the inside for my baby. And from the players. And, you know, if we learn anything from that 18, 19 season, a couple of years ago, it's that, you know what it feels bad.

It can always turn around. Basketball is a game of streaks as it is. And a lot of times the schedule and the calendar can be that. I think the fans are frustrated because they care. but certainly the, the players and everyone associated with the program does as well. So next week, we're going to have a special treat United way of the plane CEO, Pete, and the Hara is going to join the show.

He'll be talking about the hoops for literacy game. That Wichita state is, hosting. Next week against south Florida, I believe. And we'll get his insight on, just everything they're doing to advance, literacy and, and help kids right here in the Wichita community. And, we'll, we'll see if we might be able to have a few other guests.

as well. So, have a great week, you know, if you're white basketball, you get plenty of it this week. I need a break from football. So three games in five days and, who knows you, you go to, and one, not that you're going to be out of the cellar, but at least that kind of starts that arrow pointed in the right direction.

Dustin Kuhn: Any final thoughts, Taylor?

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. I mean, it's just a, you know, a chance, I think two in one, it should be the goal for this week. You know, if you can, split with SMU, you know, obviously got to take care of business against two Tulsa, two and one would be a win in my book. And then, you know, you're right back at it, you know, at UCF, next Tuesday.

So, you know, if you can go three and one and that's true. Then you start to feel like you had some positive momentum, you know, you would be four and six at that point. That seems, you know, it just sounds so much better than, you know, one, five, but you know, if you go one and three. Which I think on kenpom let's see.

Okay. There's still projected to be SMU at home. So projected two and two, that should be, you know, the, the lowest bar to come away with two and the next four games. But, yeah, you know, obviously NCAA tournament hopes are Oregon, you know, challenging for an American, conference title. Those are gone.

so now it's just focusing on. Getting better playing your best basketball come March. And then, you know, who knows, you know, just make things interesting and Fort worth, you know, they're going to be a tough out and forth worth, you know, nobody's gonna want to see this team. And the first round is. It's not going to feel like much of a, you know, a reward for finishing, you know, if they finished like 7, 8, 9, 10, you know, for the higher seat to be able to, to, you know, draw them in the first round, it's not going to be much of a reward for them.

Taylor Eldridge: So now they're going to be a tough out. it's just a matter of, you know, can they get the offense working? Can they shore up the defense down the street? I had another good set to this is, something that think about, let me pull it up real quick, but really it's, you know, they have a, a more issue does a problem when he's on the bench.

So, you know, when he's on the, for, the offense, you know, the offense doesn't, isn't really impacted by that. Wa wa is really the astonishing part is how much, WSUS defense levels off or just completely creators when Moe is on, on the bench. Let me see if I can find it real quick. Okay, here it is. So when Mo is on the Ford, WSUS defense Paul's opponents, and this is conference games too.

So in the five conference games, he's played a U Desi on the four WSUS defense 0.9, eight points per possession, which is. When he on the [00:50:00] bench, 1.20 a, you know, points per possession, just, you know, which would be league worst. so it's a huge difference when, and he's only playing, you know, 50% of the men.

so, you know, that's a huge chunk of the game 20 minutes that, which I'll say is just getting slaughtered out there. you know, Kenny, Poteau, that's a lot to ask for a true freshmen, to be able to defend at such a high level right away, you know, in the post and ball screen stuff, you know, a lot of other teams are really exploiting him.

you know, and then when WSU tries to get. Downsize or Joe pleasant, you know, it's just really tough for which I'll say to rebound. They just get killed on the glass, you know, point of six, seven guy at center, even though they're there, you know, the area will switch everything. It just doesn't matter.

Taylor Eldridge: Cause you know, they can't get a rebound and a start for them to, you know, if they're gonna just switch the five one ball screen, you know, that's a tough ass for Joe wasn't to be garden guard or point guard. what should I say? It has to figure out those minutes when Mo you does days on the bench, because there's getting absolutely killed right now.

And that's like one of the biggest things that I've noticed so far, and just looking at the advanced stats and all that stuff is that, you know, they're actually outscoring teams when you Desi is on the floor, but when he's on the bench, they're just getting killed. So we got to figure that.

Dustin Kuhn: And, you know, we've been got a negative today, so we'll end with some positive. You shrink a couple of wins together. The middle of the conference is really just a mess right now. there. Euston and SMU are clearly at the top two lane with these two winds over which just state is there as well, but it wouldn't take a whole lot, you know, kind of pull yourself up to that six, seven seat in the conference.

If they could get hot here, down, down the street.

Taylor Eldridge: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you're, you're absolutely right. You know, it's not like, you know, it's Houston than SMU and then the next year is, two lanes Cincinnati and then another tier. And then it's probably, you know, it's probably the best of the rest, you know, temple, Memphis. you know, east Carolina, which I'll say, would like to think it's in that class, but then, you know, USF and Tulsa, in my opinion are kind of like the bottom tier.

You know, those are probably going to be 10 11, but you know, man, if Wichita state has a bad week, it's going to be hard to avoid, you know, a bottom three finish in the, in the conference. But like you said, you know, if they, if they can get a hot street here, turn it around and get up to that four and six mark.

And they're going to be right in the mix. Like you said, for the middle, a lot of, a lot of games before.

Dustin Kuhn: Lot of games to play starting with three this week, have a good week. And we'll be back with you next week. And Taylor, what's your listeners do.