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The WSU live scrimmage and other sorted entertainment was held tonight. It was a 20 minute running clock.

The returners:

VanVleet and Baker both looked really good. No surprise there.

Cotton did nothing to stand out, but played just fine.

Carter looked REALLY good. Hit a 10, 15, and 18 footer.

Wessel will get plenty of minutes. Didn't show any long range touch though (which was sorely missing last year).

The JUCOs:

7-footer Bush Wamukota tweaked his back and DNP.

Tevin Glass looked lost.

The Freshman:

6-2 guard Henderson will do a fine job backing up FVV. He can shoot, but needs to gain a little strength.

6-0 guard Ri'an Holland will be a good player in the MVC. He's a little small, but an athletic SG.

6-6 guard Zach Brown is good enough to contribute, but will be buried on the bench.

6-7 forward Rashard Kelly did all the little things you expect from a veteran. He will be a 4 year contributor, but did not stand out offensively. I expect he will back up Carter at the 4.

6-7 forward Shaq Morris road a bike during the scrimmage. It was disappointing to not see him play. I imagine Marshall will enjoy riding his ass all year. We will see how he responds.

6-10 center Rauno Nurger was IMPRESSIVE. He had a monster dunk in traffic and hit 2 of 3 from behind the arc. He played good D and has good footwork. He runs the court very well. He needs to get stronger, though he already weighs over 240. I think he's the 5th starter.

Ron Baker is a bad, bad boy. He's added a post-up game to what he already had. If Nurger and Carter can pull the defensive bigs away from the basket, Baker (at 6'4", 220) can post up on the block and pretty much have his way with a 200 pound defender. His NBA stock may go up this year.

Carter was unstoppable. He was hitting on inside moves, a left-handed baby hook hit nothing but net, and he was scorching nets from past mid-range. I don't know if he was just having a great night, but he was easily the most dominant player on the floor tonight. The guy guarding him was only a Fr, but he's 6'10", very mobile for a big guy, and was a prolific shot-blocker in prep school.

Speaking of the guy guarding Carter, Rauno Nurger looks like a FoY or NoY candidate. He's comfortable shooting out to about 25'. He made 2 of 3 3's in less than half of a basketball game. Moves easily and is surprisingly coordinated for a 19-year-old guy who's 6'10, 240.

Word is out that if Cauley-Stein (7' post for kentucky) had declared for the draft, Kentucky would have offered Nurger. Nurger missed 3 weeks of practice with the precursor to a stress fracture that was caught and treated while the bone was still intact. If this is what he looks like at this stage of his career after recently missing 3 weeks, I can believe that Kentucky was looking.

Henderson (6'2" Fr) looks to have the backup PG role under lock and key. After 2 years of working with VanVleet, he could be special. He did not look like Fr PG just a few months into the system. Played a solid PG on the team with Baker and Carter.

The 2 Fr we thought were going to be the stars of the class (Zach Brown and Rashard Kelly) had some moments, but mostly disappeared.

Bush Wamukota (6'11" JuCo) tweaked his back and did not play. Shaq Morris (6'7, 261 RFr) tweaked his coach and rode a stationery bike throughout the scrimmage, while being encouraged by an assistant coach to go faster.

Evan Wessel (40%+ from 3 as a Fr, Medical RS year, then miserable shooter last year) seems to have some of his shooting touch back. He will probably be the main backup for Cotton and Baker.

We had our Redbird Hoopfest last night as well. Very excited about our potential as a team. Teddy Hawkins is a stud may be the best guy on the court. Knight is improved and looked really good. McIntosh and Purcell not only can jump out of the gym and put on highlight dunks but have a good feel for the game overall, especially on the defensive end. My favorite part about our team is that all of them are flat out competitors and it really shows on the court. Very excited about our team this year.

Rollbird5 wrote:We had our Redbird Hoopfest last night as well. Very excited about our potential as a team. Teddy Hawkins is a stud may be the best guy on the court. Knight is improved and looked really good. McIntosh and Purcell not only can jump out of the gym and put on highlight dunks but have a good feel for the game overall, especially on the defensive end. My favorite part about our team is that all of them are flat out competitors and it really shows on the court. Very excited about our team this year.

I have not doubt that Teddy will be a stud. Otherwise, Wichita State wouldn't have wanted him. That's just how we roll.

sounds like the brids have some serious athletes. It will be interesting to see if they can put it together and play team ball.

The Redbirds could be interesting this year.

Hunter, Knight, and Lee at the guard spots makes for a small, but quick and effective back court. Akoon-Purcell, Hawkins, and McIntosh at the two forward positions gives size, athleticism, and range. Lynch manning the post with respectable back-ups of Jones and Ransom. McCloud and Wills add formidable depth. Strong team on paper, but pretty inexperienced.

Bradley is a bit of an enigma.

Three JUCOs to man the backcourt in Sutherland, Jones, and Amerson. Two top 100s to play the forward with returning starters Barnes and Grier are Cunningham and Shaw. JUCO big Jermaine Morgan to man the post with Xzavier Taylor. Geno might have 5 new starters and three returning starters off the bench. Probably necessary after last years debacle.

MSU had their scrimmage yesterday. Any updates from one of the Bears fans would be appreciated.

moshock wrote:MSU had their scrimmage yesterday. Any updates from one of the Bears fans would be appreciated.

Bears suck. Will be lucky to avoid the playin game.

bleach wrote:

moshock wrote:MSU had their scrimmage yesterday. Any updates from one of the Bears fans would be appreciated.

Bears suck. Will be lucky to avoid the playin game.

Well I snoop around on other fans boards and Bears fans are saying almost nothing about the scrimmage. Lots of talk about the athletes being in good shape, and then I took these nuggets away:

Marshall is healthy.
Ruder shoots well.
Mvouika is out of control.
McCullough isn't aggressive enough.
Kendrix is the best athlete.
Gerring is the best newcomer.