Rauno Nurger makes most of NCAA opportunity in First Four win

Every practice, Wichita State sophomore forward Rauno Nurger’s teammates stayed in his ear. It never stopped. Day after day, week after week, month after month.

Stay ready. Stay sharp. We’re gonna need you.

Eventually, they got in his head. Tuesday night, in a 70-50 win over Vanderbilt in the First Four, the rest of the world got to see the end result as the 6-foot-10 Nurger was forced into duty after foul troubles waylaid one Shocker post after another. First Shaq Morris. Then Evan Wessel.

Waiting for Nurger were a pair of Commodores 7-footers – Luke Kornet and Damian Jones, a projected NBA lottery pick.

Nurger was up to the task. He played 17 minutes — his second-highest total of the season — and most since playing 20 minutes in a win at Missouri State on Jan. 13. He also picked up a crucial foul on Jones midway through the first half — a double foul that sent Jones to the bench for the rest of the half. Nurger also scored six points to go with three rebounds and one block.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment the whole season,” Nurger said. “I was supposed to redshirt ... just waiting for a big moment like this, just working hard every day in practice. Get rebounds, play defense. That’s my main job. I didn’t even realize I was on the court that much.”

It was a far cry from the player that had his redshirt plans scrapped six games into the season after the Shockers found themselves down a post player. Senior forward Anton Grady suffered a spinal concussion in a loss to Alabama at the AdvoCare Invitational on Nov. 27.

“It wasn’t disappointing when Coach told me I wasn’t going to redshirt,” Nurger said. “I thought about myself, but I also thought about the team and what we need. The coaches decided, and I went with it.”

Nurger sat the bench for most of the season. He entered Tuesday’s game averaging 1.5 points in 7.2 minutes. But away from the lights, he was putting in work.

“In practice, he’s one of our hardest workers,” WSU assistant coach Isaac Brown said. “And that paid off for him tonight when he got the opportunity to help us. The kid works really hard and he’s always in good spirits even thought he doesn’t play much. He put himself in a position to be successful when coach called his number.”

His teammates took notice.

“He never stopped working hard, never slacked in practice or his preparation,” Wessel said. “Everyone in the locker room knew we could count on him when he got his chance.”

Tuesday, that moment finally came.

“It’s amazing, I can’t put into words how great it feels,” Nurger said. “It feels great to help my team get a big win like this. It’s an amazing feeling.”

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 11:39 PM with the headline "Rauno Nurger makes most of NCAA opportunity in First Four win."