2011–20: A Decade to Remember

[WuShock Reaper]

Well, it hasn’t been all unicorns and rainbows in the last decade either! So what are some of Wichita State’s worst collapses during this time period using Torvik’s GameScript https://www.barttorvik.com/ +/- stat? Whether it was a turnover, missed free-throw, poor shooting, unable to collect a rebound, or etc., somehow the Shockers were able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory after playing not to bad. Here’s a list of the bottom five.

#5. Illinois State (03/03/12) - Loss, 65-64 (+/-, 4)
Illinois State went over 12 minutes between baskets in the first half and WSU gained a 13 point 2nd half lead, but ISU stayed in range by going 12 for 14 at the charity line and was able to prevail in the semi-final game of the MVC Tournament.

#4. Illinois State (02/06/16) - Loss, 58-53 (+/-, 5)
No. 21/22 Wichita State let a 16-point second half lead slip away and suffered its first Missouri Valley Conference loss of the season.

#3. Seton Hall (12/19/15) - Loss, 80-76 (+/-, 5)
A strong second half surge helped Seton Hall overcome a 13-point first half deficit to defeat Wichita State in overtime.

#2. Temple (01/06/19) - Loss, 85-81 (+/-, 6)
For the game, Wichita State shot 49 percent from the field (31-of-63) and 77 percent at the free-throw line (13-of-17). The Shockers outrebounded the Owls, 41-34, but committed 21 turnovers compared to just 11 for Temple, but couldn’t finish after leading by 15 points in the first half.

#1. vs Note Dame (11/22/17) - Loss, 67-66 (+/-, 7)
WSU led for nearly 38 minutes in the Championship game of the Maui Invitational but couldn't finish off the Fighting Irish even after having a 16 point lead in the first half. Up three with the ball and 21 seconds to play, the Shockers turned it over, then missed the front end of a crucial one-and-one.

[WuShock Reaper]

Couldn’t get any worse than a "collapse" could it? Yep, it could! Blowing a lead and then losing is bad, but what about getting punched it the face from the tip-off and saying, “Hey that hurts, could you keep doing that to us for the next couple of hours?” So what are some of Wichita State’s worst “beat-downs” over the last decade, using Torvik’s GameScript https://www.barttorvik.com/ +/- stat? Here they are:

#5. vs Houston (01/18/20) - Loss, 65-54 (+/-, -10)
For the game, Wichita State made only 17-of-56 from the floor for 30 percent, and were just 6-for-25 (28 percent) from three-point range and 13-of-24 (54 percent) at the free-throw line, and ended losing by 11 points. . “They just beat us in every way.” – Gregg Marshall

#4. at Connecticut (01/26/19) - Loss, 80-60 (+/-, -14)
The Shockers missed their first 10 attempts and finished at 33.8 percent on 22-of-65 shooting (4-of-16 from long range). WSU’s first field goal didn't come until the 12:59-mark and ended losing by 20 points. “We have a very young and inexperienced team that struggles to score,” said Greg Marshall,

#3. at Houston (02/09/20) - Loss, 76-43 (+/-, -14)
Not much went right for Wichita State in a 76-43 loss at No. 25/25 Houston on Sunday afternoon at the Fertitta Center. Wichita State missed 17 of its first 21 shots. Houston capitalized with runs of 16-2 and 9-0 to build a 38-18 halftime lead. The Shockers lost by 33 points. ""That was one of the most thorough whippings we've had in my career. We will have to go back to the drawing board to see what we can do to try to resurrect our team and our season," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said.

#2. vs Oklahoma State (12/17/16) - Loss, 93-76 (+/-, -15)
You thought the weather was cold outside? Oklahoma State handed Wichita State it’s first-ever loss at INTRUST Bank Arena, 93-76, on a frigid, snowy Saturday night losing by 17 points. WSU couldn't find a rhythm, shooting only 37 percent from the field, including 3-of-17 from long range. “There was a lot of less than ideal Shockers in terms of energy, passion, aggression and toughness,” Gregg Marshall said.

#1. vs Iowa (11/29/15) - Loss, 84-61 23 points (+/-, -16)
Down 31, WSU finally rallied at the 12:37 mark, holding Iowa to just four points over a stretch of eight minutes, by going on a 20-4 run. The Shockers finished the AdvoCare Invitational in 8th place out of 8 teams. “It's the first time the Shockers have gone 0-3 in a tourney under my watch”, Gregg Marshall said.

[WuShock Reaper]

There is a reason we have “Buy Games” and that is to prove our superiority. The players wouldn’t disappoint. So to finish on a positive note, what are some of Wichita State’s best “blow-outs” over the last decade, using Torvik’s GameScript https://www.barttorvik.com/ +/- stat?

#5. vs Chicago State (12/14/11) - Won, 94-44 (+/-, 21)
Wichita State out-rebounded the Cougars 53-34 and limited them to 27 percent shooting. Twelve players scored for the Shockers, who finished with 44 percent accuracy from the field. Blowout win by 50.

#4. vs Tennessee Martin (11/16/19) - Won, 103-62 (+/-, 23)
WSU shot 56.3 percent for the game and knocked down 15-of-28 three-point attempts, tying a mark set four times previously. The Shockers won both the rebounding (43-26) and turnover (18-9) battles while holding UTM to 38.6 percent shooting. Shocks win by 41 points.

#3. vs Drake (01/04/17) - Won, 90-65 (+/-, (+/-, 23)
WSU out-rebounded the visiting Bulldogs by 24 in the first half and led 51-21 at the intermission before cruising to its fourth consecutive win. WSU held a 36-12 rebounding edge in the first half and turned 12 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points. Another big win for the Shockers by 35 points.

#2. vs Charleston Southern (11/13/11) - Won, 85-57 (+/-, 24)
A crowd of 10,181 watched the Shockers (1-0) shoot 53.4 percent and hold the visiting Buccaneers to 29.7 percent shooting. With 11:31 remaining in the first half, the Buccaneers were shooting 9.1 percent on 1-for-11 shooting, while the Shockers made 8 of their first 13 field goal attempts (61.5 percent). Shockers win by 28 points.

#1. vs UMKC (11/10/17) - Won, 109-57 (+/-, 27)
WSU posted its largest margin ever in a season opener, topping a 69-18 win over Sterling College on Jan. 13, 1920. Its 109 points were the highest opening night total since the 1964-65 team kicked off its Final Four season with 114 points against Long Beach State. Shockers win by 52 points.

[WuShock Reaper]

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