New-look Shockers get off on the right foot

Gregg Marshall won’t say it. And he certainly won’t compare this season’s Wichita State basketball team to any of the others he has coached.

But I think this is Marshall’s type of team. It’s unproven with a lot of depth and upside. There are no marquee players — yet — so there’s nothing to get in the way of teaching and demanding.

Like so many of Marshall’s Shocker teams, this one will continue to improve as the season goes along.

And it’ll look back on its 85-39 season-opening win over South Carolina State on Friday night at Koch Arena as the start of something good.

Sixteen players got on the floor for WSU against the Bulldogs, who were 12-4 in the MEAC last season. None played more than 20 minutes. None took more than seven shots.

And a 46-point blowout ensued.

“Proud of our guys, the way we competed,” Marshall said. “We shared the basketball (21 assists) and took care of the basketball (10 turnovers).”

There is apprehension about the Shockers, who for the first time in 10 years, or so it seems, are without Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet and Evan Wessel. Their stories have been well-documented and they were well-adorned with trophies, banners and medals to accentuate their stellar careers.

It would make sense that with their departures — Baker and VanVleet are in the NBA, mind you — that the Shockers could fall on tough times at least until they got their wits about them.

Marshall, though, is one of the best at gathering wits. His steady hand is Wichita State’s biggest attribute. His ability to develop players is the Shockers’ greatest hope.

Marshall talked after Friday’s win about the importance of defense and how he’s put this team through the rigors with nowhere to go but up. He refuses to accept anything less than a best effort, which builds confidence.

Wichita State players are in this together. There’s little attention paid to the stats so many basketball players and fans normally pay attention to. Marshall looks at the rebounding, turnover and assist figures long before he ever checks the scoring column.

It’s why Wichita State has had only one player during Marshall’s first nine seasons average more than 15 points per game. That was Cleanthony Early, who averaged 16.4 points as a senior in 2013-14.

How about this?

Redshirt junior Conner Frankamp, the City League’s all-time leading scorer at North with a zillion points, started Friday at point guard for Wichita State. He played 20 minutes. He did not score.

You want to know the last time Frankamp started a basketball game and didn’t score? How about never.

Yet does it really matter?

Frankamp missed three shots, but had four assists.

“And his defense is continually getting better,” Marshall said. “He runs our stuff and is communicating with the bench really well. Neither he nor Diashon (Smith) were able to get a basket to go down tonight, but I thought they were effective in their own way. I’ve always said I judge a point guard on wins and losses and right now they’re 1-0.”

The Shockers’ leading scorer Friday was reserve center Rauno Nurger, with 14. Sophomore forward Markis McDuffie also didn’t start — that likely will change — but added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Junior Rashard Kelly, who did start, had nine points, nine rebounds and he went hard to the glass.

“I love the fact he was very aggressive,” Marshall said of Kelly, one of the forgotten Shockers whose career hasn’t taken off like some expected. “He was a man tonight on the defensive glass and he does a wonderful job of running our stuff. I thought he was really good and I like it when he’s aggressive and taking the ball to the basket.”

The Shockers piled on early, soaring to a 41-15 halftime lead. With four starters back from a 19-win team, it was surprising to see the Bulldogs struggle so mightily.

But, really, South Carolina State doesn’t see defense like it saw Friday in the MEAC. The Shockers swarm, they’re long and they can replace anyone who is tired with a fresh body.

It’s about to get more serious, though. Long Beach State is at Koch Arena on Sunday for a 7 p.m. tip and the 49ers are good. They scored 95 in their opener against Cal State-Los Angeles.

And how about this for Long Beach’s next five games: at Wichita State, at North Carolina, at Louisville, at UCLA, at Washington. Later the 49ers play at Kansas and Texas.

“We’ll know a little more about things after Sunday,” Marshall said of the Shockers. “Then we have Tulsa coming in Wednesday.”

It’s far too early to know how good Wichita State can be. But Marshall has a long history now in getting teams to play beyond their abilities. Or to at least to stretch a player’s abilities to the max.

Fret about the lack of experience and the losses of key players if you want. Just know that Marshall has moved on with determination to make this team better than anyone could expect.

This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 11:44 PM with the headline "New-look Shockers get off on the right foot."