Wichita State basketball Q&A: Who plays in Canada?

Hello from Eisenhower Airport. I’m on my way to Canada. The Shockers are too, although the team is dealing with a flight cancellation this morning. The Shockers are split up into several groups and will fly out throughout the day.

Let’s babble about the Shockers.

It’s not quite fair to judge Reaves because he had shoulder surgery in the spring and isn’t playing 5-on-5 yet. He is doing other things in practice and he’s making a good impression. Good passer. Good shooter. Isn’t backing down against older players. He is thin and his work in the weight room will likely play a big role in his ceiling.

When you combine the fact he’s missed chunks of summer practice and his body, a redshirt seems like a good option at this point. It is, however, more than three months before that decision is made and much can change.

Daishon Smith and Conner Frankamp, at a minimum, are talented and experienced to different degrees. Their skills seem to complement each other. Smith is a blur. Frankamp, as we’ve seen, is a careful steward of the basketball. With Smith, the challenge appears to be playing at the proper pace. Teammates say he is slowing down and using the offense better as the summer rolls on.

Coach Gregg Marshall isn’t afraid to use J.R. Simon for short periods and he is a steady player who knows the system expertly.

Reaves could work his way into the picture. Landry Shamet is a backup option, but it appears he will spend most of his time off the ball.

I think the Shockers will be at least solid at point and likely much better by January. Frankamp might be the difference-maker if he shows more of his offensive skills and can create good shots for teammates.

Markis McDuffie did some light practice stuff on Thursday. If he plays in Canada, it won’t be for long. He wants to avoid surgery and this is the kind of injury (minor meniscus tear) where that can work. I would guess McDuffie will stay off his legs as much as possible until it really matters in the fall.

Smith and Darral Willis are the only newcomers who are healthy and I think both will play important roles. Both are learning the system. Willis is an energetic guy and a good shooter who needs to learn how to be in the right place at the right time. Lefty. Unorthodox scorer. I would expect foul trouble, at least early in his season.

Willis is a power forward who will give the Shockers a physical player who likes contact and plays hard. He can make mid-range jump shots. I think he will help a lot if he can learn the system and avoid fouls. He will be a good complement to Morris, Kelly and the other big men.

Yes, but I would say it’s an option for both, largely because of injuries. Keyser isn’t practicing yet. When healthy, he will be one of the most athletic Shockers. There appear to be at least two older players at their positions, so they will have to decide if playing time is available. As we’ve seen, some players refuse to redshirt even when it makes a lot of sense.

I’m not sure anybody can surprise, because we don’t know what to expect from most of these players. Perhaps Peyton Allen fits, if only because he’s been here quietly for a season. While his shooting numbers at Texas A&M weren’t great (32.3 percent from three-point range), he’s capable of better. If he’s improved his quickness, maybe he’s a player who steps into a larger role than expected in the backcourt. He had a season of experience in the SEC and that shouldn’t be ignored.

Yes. Plus, Mike Kennedy and Bob Hull.

My August guess would be Allen is a reserve player on the wing. He’s a big kid who should be able to guard big guards and small forwards. He had some good shooting games at A&M.

Eric Hamilton is a bouncy, aggressive player who can shoot. He’s still learning how to control those physical gifts and get to the right spots at the right times. With McDuffie limited by injury, this could be a good chance for him to show what he can do at power forward.

Carleton University is streaming Sunday’s game. https://portal.stretchinternet.com/oua/portal.htm?eventId=297068&streamType=video

With my Tim Raines jersey.

Frankamp, Shamet, Brown, Kelly, Morris. When in doubt, I’ll go with experience. Marshall will play many lineups, so use a pencil to prepare your scorecard.

I would temper my expectations for officiating. We’ll see.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Wichita State basketball Q&A: Who plays in Canada?."