(St. Louis, MO) – Wichita State has he best winning percentage in all of college basketball over the past five years, but they are facing stiff challenges early in the 2k15-16 season.
All-American guard Fred VanVleet has missed time with two different leg injuries is likely missing the Shockers’ game with USC on Thursday. Joining VanVleet in sick bay is highly touted freshman guard Landry Shamet. The 6’4 combo guard was averaging almost nine points per game, but will be out several weeks with what seems to be a stress fracture.
Shamet is part of this year’s highly touted freshmen class. One ranking service called him the 88th best player in the nation and fellow class mate Markis McDuffie as number 95.
Incoming sophomore transfer Conner Frankamp (Kansas) was believed to be the 46th best player of 2013. However he isn’t eligible until December 12th.
With VanVleet and Shamet injured and Frankamp ineligible, Head Coach Gregg Marshall’s ability to develop players and a working rotation will be tested. Playing a ‘money conference’ team like USC in the Advocare Invitational will be difficult.
After the Thanksgiving challenge the 20th ranked Shockers will battle either Alabama or Xavier, so there are no free passes for the limping Shockers.
Wichita State’s recent success has brought more difficult schedules and better players. Many want to come and play with stars like VanVleet and fellow all-American Ron Baker. Marshall told me the recent run of success has been fun but requires a lot of work. Recent recruits have begun to realize that playing at Koch Arena is a ticket to improvement and possibly a professional basketball career.
Marshall and other Missouri Valley Conference coaches know they have to recruit players that the ‘money conference’ staffs underestimate and then help them develop into great players.
Baker was a walk on at WSU. So was Larry Bird Award winner Adam Emmenecker (Drake). When Creighton was in the Valley, Doug McDermott was almost red-shirted his freshman year and ended up as a two-time all-American. Former Shocker Toure Murray came to Wichita as a good player and left as an NBA player. The same could be said of Cleanthony Early.
Good players, wise coaches and time to grow. That’s part of what makes the Valley special.
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.@SEMOMBB wins at home and is 2-0, tied with @MSUEaglesMBB atop the @OVCSports. Our prayers are with the @LRTrojans after the death of one of their managers Josh Claxton. Their game with EIU was postponed today.
Good officiating in the @SEMOMBB/@SIUEMBB in a little late game dust up.
BTW, @LindenwoodWBB is 2-0. @CoachAmyEagan has that program headed the right direction.
With @SkyhawkHoops winning on the road and @LUMensBball winning at home, right now, 5 @OVCSports teams are 1-1.
