Wichita State weighs risk-reward of playing Fred VanVleet in opener

Skipping an exhibition game made sense, hard as it was, for Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet. The decision grows much more difficult, with short-term and long-range issues to be considered, when it comes to Friday’s season-opener.

Tenth-ranked Wichita State should be able to handle Charleston Southern on Friday at Koch Arena, even with its point guard wearing a tie and watching from the bench. The Shockers play at Tulsa on Tuesday, a game that appears more problematic if VanVleet is knocking off rust. A strained left hamstring has sidelined him since late October and coach Gregg Marshall called him a game-time decision for Friday.

“Obviously, I want to play,” VanVleet said Thursday after practice. “I know Coach wants to be conservative about it, which I understand. I’ve got 24 hours to see where I’m at.”

VanVleet didn’t play in Saturday’s exhibition win over Hawaii Pacific. He first injured the hamstring Oct. 29 and strained it more severely on Oct. 31 in a closed scrimmage against Oklahoma State. The two weeks of missed practices are weighing on his mind and the prospect of debuting at Tulsa, which returns from five starters from an NIT team, isn’t ideal.

“I think it would be really important to get out there and get some game flow,” he said. “I think it’s important, just being a player and knowing that a lot of things are about rhythm and confidence and seeing the ball go through the net, and even rhythm with your teammates. Now, is it important enough to go out there and reinjure myself and be out more time? That’s kind of what we’re weighing right now.”

Hamstrings injuries take time and care to repair and the goal is to reverse the deterioration before it results in a torn hamstring. A fatigued hamstring is more likely to tear, so the Shockers are treating VanVleet’s practice routine with care.

“He’s been doing all non-contact stuff, not going live,” Marshall said. “(Thursday), he went half-court, but I’m not sure he exerted himself 100 percent. He just didn’t look like the old Fred.”

VanVleet said the painful area diminished significantly over the past two weeks.

“At the time, it was like a constant cramp,” he said. “It shrinks every day after getting treatment. Right now, it’s very, very minimal pain and kind of like a tight knot in there.”

Charleston Southern is the kind of team that, in many seasons, could make short-handed Shockers nervous. The Buccaneers, picked eighth in the Big South poll, are used to winning with 2013 and 2015 Big South regular-season titles and trips to the NIT. Four starters are gone from last season’s 19-12 team and coach Barclay Radebaugh is trying to speed up a rebuild with several transfers.

“We knew we couldn’t replace (the starters) with high school players,” he said. “We needed to bring in some veteran guys. Playing at the Division I level won’t be something new for them.”

Guard Demetrius Pollard averaged 8.9 points in 2013-14 at Northeastern. Guard Patrick Wallace played in 11 games over two seasons at North Carolina State. Guard Raemond Robinson averaged 2.9 points in 2013-14 for The Citadel. Forward Ugo Mmonu, a transfer from Chattanooga (Tenn.) State Community College, averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds as a sophomore.

Radebaugh’s lone returning starter is senior Aaron Wheeler, a 6-foot-4 forward.

“Aaron is one of the most unselfish guys I’ve been around,” Radebaugh said. “He’s our best perimeter defender. He’s worked very hard this summer to improve offensively.”

Radebaugh spent two seasons as Marshall’s assistant at Winthrop and the two remained good friends.

“I think Gregg is the very best coach in the country right now,” Radebaugh said. “He is the most focused, intense, prepared, detailed coach I’ve ever been around. It’s amazing how every day is like Game 7 of an NBA series.”

Shockers add two guards — WSU received its letters of intent from guard C.J. Keyser (6-4, 180), of Brewster (N.H.) Academy and Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College guard Daishon Smith (6-1, 170).

Keyser scored 25 points in Brewster’s 105-81 win over Redemption Christian in its opening game. Smith is averaging 14.5 points, three rebounds and 2.8 assists in four games this season.

Pearl River (Miss.) Community College forward Darrlyn Willis will announce his decision at 2:30 p.m. Friday with WSU and Arizona State his top two choices. Marquette, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State are also finalists.

Willis (6-8, 215), who recently visited Arizona State, is averaging 16 points and 9.7 rebounds in No. 12 Pearl River’s 3-0 start. Last season, he averaged 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds a game, while making 62.6 percent of his shots and 75.5 percent of his foul shots.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Wichita State weighs risk-reward of playing Fred VanVleet in opener."