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Wichita State Shockers
I am quite aware that the Shockers are pretty good already, with a 15-1 record (4-0 in the Missouri Valley) so far. But they are playing without some key parts of their roster who have been shelved by injuries. If Gregg Marshall can get everyone healthy, he will have developed a deeper team going into the postseason. Twelve players have played 10 or more minutes in a game this season.
Senior center Carl Hall was the Shockers' leading scorer (13.9 points) and rebounder (7.6) when he went out with a broken thumb in December. He joined fellow starters Evan Wessel and Ehimen Orukpe and freshman guard Ron Baker on the sideline. All but Wessel should be back in the rotation soon.
In Hall's absence, junior college transfers Cleanthony Early and Nick Wiggins have picked up the scoring load. Early has scored 20 or more points four times already, and Wiggins, cousin of ESPN's No. 1 high school player Andrew Wiggins, is shooting 45 percent from the 3-point line.
While Wichita State's roster has been overhauled since last season's 27-6 edition won the regular-season Valley championship, one thing that has not changed at Koch Arena is the unwavering commitment to great defense and rebounding. Opponents are coughing up the ball at a 24 percent rate, and the Shockers, not surprisingly, are the 17th-best defensive rebounding team in the country.
Yes, there is room for improvement for a very good Wichita State team. That is a scary thought for its remaining conference opponents and for teams that will see the Shockers in March.
I am quite aware that the Shockers are pretty good already, with a 15-1 record (4-0 in the Missouri Valley) so far. But they are playing without some key parts of their roster who have been shelved by injuries. If Gregg Marshall can get everyone healthy, he will have developed a deeper team going into the postseason. Twelve players have played 10 or more minutes in a game this season.
Senior center Carl Hall was the Shockers' leading scorer (13.9 points) and rebounder (7.6) when he went out with a broken thumb in December. He joined fellow starters Evan Wessel and Ehimen Orukpe and freshman guard Ron Baker on the sideline. All but Wessel should be back in the rotation soon.
In Hall's absence, junior college transfers Cleanthony Early and Nick Wiggins have picked up the scoring load. Early has scored 20 or more points four times already, and Wiggins, cousin of ESPN's No. 1 high school player Andrew Wiggins, is shooting 45 percent from the 3-point line.
While Wichita State's roster has been overhauled since last season's 27-6 edition won the regular-season Valley championship, one thing that has not changed at Koch Arena is the unwavering commitment to great defense and rebounding. Opponents are coughing up the ball at a 24 percent rate, and the Shockers, not surprisingly, are the 17th-best defensive rebounding team in the country.
Yes, there is room for improvement for a very good Wichita State team. That is a scary thought for its remaining conference opponents and for teams that will see the Shockers in March.
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