Shocker Hopes Pinned on Heroic Defense

(Indianapolis, IN) – When you look at the accolades, the historic accomplishments and incredible fan base, Wichita State has no chance in its game with Kentucky today in Indianapolis. How can the poor little Missouri Valley Conference team hope to compete with John Calipari’s future NBA stars?

Some will give the Shockers a ‘puncher’s chance’, some will politely nod and say ‘they could win’, but outside of the black and yellow clad Shocker fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, there aren’t many that expect Kentucky to lose this ‘home’ game. The higher a team is seeded the greater the chance there is they will play close to home, and Louisville (who plays Michigan) and Kentucky are in this pod, less than 200 miles from their respective campuses.

Kentucky is the national leader in NCAA Tournament wins with 122. They are also the national leaders in tournament victories during Calipari’s eight year reign in Lexington with 24. His team of ‘one-and-doners’ is actually producing at a higher level than the 2009-10 group that included John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe. The Wildcat media guide gives you the statistics of all their NBA guys.

And Donald Trump thought he was taking on the establishment.

How can Wichita State compete with the No. 5 team in the land? They have to play ‘heroic defense’. The Shocker depth and willingness to defend as if their lives depend on it, is what could carry this team to the Sweet 16.

WSU and the Cats are two of four teams nationally that rank in the top 20 in Ken Pomeroy’s offensive and defensive efficiency rankings. So both can score (they both average over 80 points per game, and they both defend, but this is where the Shockers have a slight edge.

Their defensive field goal percentage (.377) is fifth nationally and they suffocate teams with wave after wave of willing and athletic defenders. Kentucky is a great team, but their top four players are on the floor 30 minutes per game. No Shocker plays more than 27 minutes per game.

Depth and Defense are the keys!

Head coach Gregg Marshall says his team is versatile defensively and he has a three headed monster in the post.

 

 

Kentucky all-american Malik Monk is not a player you can absolutely stop, and fellow freshman De’Aaron Fox is and electric performer. Center Bam Adebayo is a FULL GROWN MAN, so the task is daunting, but as Markis McDuffie told me Saturday, defense wins games and championships. Monk has struggled in recent games due to a lower back issue.

Coach Cal is impressed with the Shockers and the way they play.

“I can just tell you that they viciously go after offensive rebounds,” said Calipari. “If you don’t rebound in the game, you don’t have a chance to beat them. They also are not afraid to go inside. They’ll be physical when you drive. You’re going to have a body on you.”

Four tournaments ago, Kentucky ended Wichita State’s undefeated season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, in an arena that was supposed to favor the Shockers (St. Louis’ Scottrade Center). Today the Shockers have the opportunity to return the favor.

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