Noah Fernandes already a Shocker fan favorite for good reason: his relentless energy
Shocker fans love to give a warm introduction.
After Erik Stevenson dropped 29 points on Ole Miss, Wichita State fans made Koch Arena sound like a rock concert when he was announced as a starter for the Memphis game that followed. They did the same for Dexter Dennis when he returned to the court after a stint away from the team.
And Sunday as the starters were announced for the Tulane game, freshman guard Noah Fernandes’ introduction produced the loudest roar. It was Fernandes’ first home start and second of his career. He didn’t score, but he didn’t need to in order to affect the game.
He brought that same kind of energy.
With about five minutes left in the first half, Fernandes had a 218.3 offensive rating: the number of points produced by a player per 100 possessions. The next highest player on the court was at 143.7.
Fernandes’ first three offensive possessions ended the same: a brilliant pass and a ball through the net.
The first was a flawless entry pass to center Jaime Echenique for an easy layup; Echenique pointed back at Fernandes on his way back down the court. The second was a quick outlet pass to Dennis for an uncontested three-pointer. The third was a swing to Dennis in almost the same spot for another three.
Lost in that offensive frenzy was a charge Fernandes took that set an early tone. Tulane’s R.J. McGee drove through the paint, saw the smaller Fernandes in the way and tried to go through him. Fernandes got his feet set in time.
That was Tulane’s first attempt near the basket, and the Green Wave finished the first half with just four points in the paint.
“He’s not putting up gaudy numbers, but he’s making plays that are effort plays, making plays that are toughness plays,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said on his radio show Monday. “I’ve really enjoyed watching him have some success. He just has a way of helping his team win.”
Marshall said he isn’t the only one in his house who loves watching Fernandes play.
“(My wife) was (No.) 11 when she played,” Marshall said. “She loves Noah, and he’s No. 11.”
Marshall said Fernandes went through his struggles this season. On the radio show, Marshall mentioned the UConn game in which Fernandes had two turnovers in five minutes. It was his first action in an American Athletic Conference game.
In his next AAC action against Temple, he committed two fouls in less than a minute. Marshall said none of that affected Fernandes’ attitude or effort at practice, and that is what has helped carry him into the starting lineup.
Even with WSU’s issues against Houston this season, Fernandes started to show signs of potential against the Cougars. In the first meeting at home, he made his only shot and had two assists in five minutes. On the road, when the wheels seemed to come off, he had two assists, a rebound and a steal in 12 minutes.
“With issues of who’s starting and who’s playing more, he’s a guy who remained positive,” Marshall said on his radio show.
Marshall rewarded Fernandes with his first career start at Central Florida. Fernandes said he was “shocked.” He had seven points and two assists — good enough for another shot, and he made the most of it Sunday culminating with arguably the play of the season for the Shockers.
Fernandes fought through two good Tulane screens. He fell on the floor twice and came up with a steal that lead to a transition layup for Dennis at the other end.
There was 7:05 left in the first half of a 19-point game.
Fernandes is your typical “Play Angry” Shocker. Marshall said he has the build of Matt Braeuer, who was a senior in Marshall’s first season with the Shockers and led WSU to a Sweet 16 run.
High praise for a freshman who has already fought through a nine-week injury, bruising a bone on the bottom of his foot before the season. Shocker fans would never know the way Fernandes plays now.
“And I don’t think he’s as quick as he was when he first got here before the foot injury,” Marshall said. “He has another gear that hopefully he will get back.
“He’s practiced really well; that’s what I like, and I like his positive attitude.”