UNLV poses big problems for Wichita State basketball
Wichita State is a little closer to complete after Saturday’s return of guard Fred VanVleet. The possible addition of guard Conner Frankamp could fill out the lineup a little more.
However, the Shockers (3-4) are still down two important players for Wednesday’s game against UNLV (7-1) in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge and Saturday’s game against No. 25 Utah (7-1). Center Anton Grady remains sidelined indefinitely with a spinal concussion and guard Landry Shamet is out with a stress fracture.
At stake are WSU’s winning streaks of 34 home games and 33 home non-conference games, both second nationally.
While VanVleet’s return restored some of WSU’s lost confidence in a win over Saint Louis, the tasks are more difficult this week, starting with UNLV.
“They look like an NBA team,” WSU guard Ron Baker said. “They’re huge.”
Huge just begins the description. The Rebels forced 21 turnovers in a 72-69 win over then-No. 13 Indiana. They forced 15 and made 10 of 23 three-pointers in Friday’s 80-69 win over then-No. 15 Oregon. UNLV ranks fourth nationally with an average of 19.2 turnovers forced and 12th nationally with an average of 9.6 steals.
“(Patrick) McCaw … this guy just takes the ball from people,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “He’s got a talent and a gift to be able to hawk the ball. Then you’ve got those shot-blockers, big guys, in the back. There’s no easy lanes for scoring. You’ve got be very creative and you’ve got to move the ball.”
Frankamp’s availability would help in both those areas. He is sitting out his redshirt year after transferring from Kansas. To become eligible, he must have grades for at least six hours worth of credits posted and to the registrar. When his eligibility form is completed and signed, he can play.
Marshall is prepared for a wait that could last until game-time.
“The groundwork has been laid,” WSU associate athletic director Korey Torgerson said. “It’s reasonable that he could play Wednesday. I can’t give you a percentage. We have completed the tasks we have control over. Now it’s a matter of waiting.”
With VanVleet back in the lineup after missing four games with a strained left hamstring, WSU shot a season-high 48.1 percent and handed out a season-high 19 assists against Saint Louis. Marshall described him as 75-80 percent healthy after playing 18 minutes against Saint Louis.
Paul Suellentrop: 316-269-6760, @paulsuellentrop
UNLV
at Wichita State
- When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
- Where: Koch Arena
- Records: UNLV 7-1, WSU 3-4
- Radio: KEYN, 103.7-FM
- TV: ESPN2
Lineups
P | UNLV | Ht | Yr | Pts | Reb |
F | Dwayne Morgan | 6-8 | So. | 4.4 | 5.1 |
C | Ste. Zimmerman | 7-0 | Fr. | 10.3 | 9.1 |
G | Ike Nwamu | 6-5 | Sr. | 8.6 | 1.9 |
G | Jerome Seagears | 6-1 | Sr. | 12.1 | 3.1 |
G | Patrick McCaw | 6-7 | So. | 18.4 | x-4.1 |
P | Wichita St. | Ht | Yr | Pts | Reb |
F | Evan Wessel | 6-4 | Sr. | 3.4 | 2.1 |
F | Zach Brown | 6-6 | So. | 5.9 | 2.7 |
C | Shaq Morris | 6-8 | So. | 5.5 | 2.5 |
G | Ron Baker | 6-4 | Sr. | 17.4 | 4.1 |
G | Fred VanVleet | 6-0 | Sr. | 7.3 | x-3.7 |
x-assists
UNLV (7-1): The Rebels have three NCAA Division I transfers, including Nwamu from Mercer. He scored a season-high 19 points and made 5 of 7 shots in Friday’s 80-69 win over Oregon. F Ben Carter, a transfer from Oregon, averages 8.9 points and started four games. Seagears started three seasons at Rutgers … Zimmerman was named Mountain West preseason Freshman of the Year. He is a McDonald’s High School American and ranked the No. 12 player in the class of 2015 by ESPN.com … McCaw earned all-tournament honors in the Maui Invitational after scoring 20 points in a loss to UCLA, 20 in a win over Indiana and 25 in a win over Chaminade … UNLV is 3-1 in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge.
Wichita State (3-4): Morris is averaging 11.5 points in his past two games after scoring 10 in WSU’s first five games. He made 10 of 14 shots against Iowa and Saint Louis … Brown is averaging 12 points in his past two games, making 7 of 11 shots and 3 of 6 three-pointers. He went 0 for 9 from three-point range in his first five games … WSU leads the series 2-1, winning 89-70 over then-No. 18 UNLV in 2011. WSU’s Joe Ragland scored 31 points, making 8 of 9 three-pointers … The Shockers are 3-1 in the MW-MVC Challenge, losing to San Diego State and defeating TCU, UNLV and Air Force … The Mountain West leads this season series 4-2.
This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 9:13 PM with the headline "UNLV poses big problems for Wichita State basketball."