Bob Lutz: Little things adding up again for Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet was 12 of 44 in Wichita State’s games against Utah, George Washington and Northern Iowa.

What do they games have in common? That’s a rhetorical question. You know what they have in common.

VanVleet had maybe his worst half of the season at Bradley on Feb. 4 and the lowly Braves almost pulled off one of the big upsets of the season.

The motto to this story is that the Shockers need VanVleet to play well, which he does almost all of the time and he did Wednesday night during WSU’s 74-57 win over Indiana State at Koch Arena.

He had 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Mr. Triple-Double – he had 10 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists Saturday against Missouri State – didn’t quite get there this time, but he’s playing of late like the preseason All-American that the Associated Press dubbed him in November.

“I’m back on an upward trajectory,” VanVleet said. “And that’s what I’ve been trying to do. I can’t say I ever hit rock bottom, but the second half at Bradley was probably one of my worst performances from what I need to do with this team.”

VanVleet is one of the most impressive athletes I’ve been around. Specifically, he’s one of the most impressive people I’ve been around who happens to be an athlete.

He doesn’t turn 21 for a couple of weeks, yet he can have a conversation about any topic, sees outside of his own dorm room or locker stall, and loves being a leader.

To call him a point guard is to minimize his importance. As much as the term is supposed to symbolize the vitality of the position, VanVleet takes responsibility to another level.

When the Shockers fail, it’s because he has failed.

“I’m so competitive,” he said. “I hold myself to a higher standard than anybody in the world can ever hold me to. I take all the blame for any bad performance that we have because everybody wants to give me the credit when we do good.”

VanVleet might dispute my notion that he was trying to do too much early. He denies feeling any more pressure than usual after the AP bestowed such an honor, gift-wrapped in huge expectations.

“Obviously, I had some bad games,” VanVleet said. “I wasn’t shooting the ball very well. I didn’t ask for all of that preseason stuff or for people to crown me and put me on a pedestal. I don’t know if some people expected me to come with 20 points and 10 assists per game this year or what, but it’s not going to happen.

“I’m just trying to be the best I can be.”

VanVleet’s best is better than even the best at their very best.

He’s so smart, so in tune. He made a steal early on against Indiana State’s Devonte Brown. VanVleet picked his pocket, then drove through the bedazzled Brown for a layup and a 14-14 tie.

It was part of an 11-0 Wichita State run that gave the Shockers a 21-14 lead, from which they never looked back.

Every opposing coach who comes into a postgame news conference to talk about the Shockers ultimately praises VanVleet. Indiana State’s Greg Lansing is no different.

“I’ve said numerous times that I think Fred VanVleet is the best pure point guard in the country,” Lansing said. “I think he jumps off the page to coaches and people who watch just how good he is. He’s not jumping off the page because he’s a great athlete. It’s his leadership, the way he talks, the little things he does, the way he commands their offense.”

VanVleet might create more coach-envy than any player in the country, because there’s not a coach that doesn’t dream of having a floor leader like him. When VanVleet is in his groove, Gregg Marshall could coach from the 27th row.

“All I know,” Marshall said, “is that when Fred plays well, we usually play well.”

VanVleet’s scoring, rebounding and assists averages are actually up some over last season, when he was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

But he hasn’t come all the way back from his rough start shooting the ball. His overall field-goal and three-point percentages are down significantly.

VanVleet’s value, though, encompasses so much more than the numbers. It’s why those who don’t see him play frequently state confusion over what all the fuss is about.

Just watch him. See how he reacts, see how he rarely shows emotion, see how he is almost always in the right place at the right time.

Watch how, at just 6-foot, he takes the ball to the basket and throws in acrobatic shots while drawing contact. He’s shot 100 free throws this season, nine more than any other Shocker.

Then listen as he explains basketball on a level that can be difficult to understand. He speaks in intricacies, so much so that he could use a chalkboard as an accessory.

VanVleet is something. OK, he might not be an All-American this season. But Marshall wouldn’t trade him for anyone. He’s quite content coaching most nights from Row 27.

This story was originally published February 11, 2015 at 10:46 PM with the headline "Bob Lutz: Little things adding up again for Fred VanVleet."