2017 Basketball Guide v.122 i.22

THE SUNFLOWER

THE 2017 BASKETBALL GUIDE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017 • VOL. 122, ISS. 22 • THESUNFLOWER.COM

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BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State Shockers forward Rashard Kelly makes a unopposed dunk in the first half of the charity exhibition game against Newman.

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Zach Brown, Rashard Kelly and C.J. Keyser pose for a photo during media day.

PLAYERS POISED FOR A BREAKOUT SEASON

OPINION

S

hocker standout and AllAmerican guard Ron Baker started his five-year journey as a 6-foot-3, curly-haired walk-on freshman. He left poised for the NBA, where he’d eventually find himself a member of the New York Knicks’ 16-man roster.

Not every player joins the Shockers as a top-notch recruit with preseason accolades, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a breakout season.

Here are the guys who are poised to do just that.

ZACH BROWN

Nobody has more drive than Zach BROWN Brown. Gregg Marshall said when Zach Brown entered his sophomore season, he set himself the goal of becoming the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Marshall leveled his expectations, reminding Brown that he was playing behind the All-American backcourt of Baker and Fred VanVleet — VanVleet eventually claimed the honor that season.

Pundits will agree Brown is one of the best defenders in college basketball, possessing the ability to guard all positions from point guard to center. His quickness and ability to slow a scorer is simply unmatched.

What Brown hasn’t shown yet is superior offense, but that should change this season. In the postseason last year, Brown picked up scoring responsibilities, including streaks of three-pointers when the offense went stale.

This could be the year Brown shows that he can be a complete player on both ends of the court. With Markis McDuffie out until mid-December at the earliest, Brown won’t compete for minutes with anyone other than freshman Rod Brown — giving him the largest boost in playing time he’s seen in his four years. More playing time will be invaluable for Brown.

He’s poised and ready for a breakout.

SAMAJAE HAYNESJONES

Samajae HaynesJones brings chamHAYNES-JONES pionship experience to Wichita State, having won the NCJAA title with Hutchinson Community College and a state championship with Wichita East high school.

How is he just now playing his first game at the Division-I level?

high-percentage shots, this could be his breakout year.

EVAN PFLUGRADT

DARRALL WILLIS, JR.

OPINION EDITOR • @EVPFLU

Haynes-Jones can move back-and-forth and create separation unlike any Shocker guard since VanVleet. Gregg Marshall called Haynes-Jones the fastest player he’s ever seen on Devlin Court. His only setback might be scoring, if his quickness affects his efficiency shooting the ball.

Separation isn’t the problem, but getting set for a shot might be. HaynesJones inherits a role of backup point guard behind Landry Shamet. His real utility might not come until Shamet’s departure, which could come next season, but if Haynes-Jones takes the opportunity to showcase versatility scoring the ball in early-season opportunities, it could be hard to cut such a talented player’s minutes.

Haynes-Jones enters as a veteran, but limited without experience against Division I opponents. If his experience translates the same to Division I as it has for Division II and high school, HaynesJones will have a breakout season.

RASHARD KELLY

While plenty of attention in the frontcourt will likely be focused European forwards, 7-foot KELLY newcomer Asjbørn Midtgaard and 6-foot10 senior Rauno Nurger, senior Rashard Kelly is the one to watch.

Darral Willis Jr. took the spotlight from Kelly last season when he stole a share of the minutes and inherited the starting role for the four-spot in the Shockers rotation, but now is Kelly’s time to shine.

Kelly has a knack for rebounds. His prime ability though, is that of tying the frontcourt together on defense and offense. He’s about as vocal as a point-forward can be. Kelly will be the glue guy because his four years of leadership experience will bind the team together.

In his final season, Kelly stands to compete with Willis, Jr., who has showcased higher offensive and defensive efficiency than Kelly in the past. Willis, Jr. worked on adding a three-point shot to his routine, and if it works, he’ll earn the starting role.

But that’s not enough to rule out Kelly, who is bound and determined to make earning minutes a competition.

Kelly knows his role in Gregg Marshall’s system better than anyone else, and should he continue to shoot

Darrall Willis, Jr. is a one-of-a-kind JUCO transfer for Gregg Marshall. His work on the low-block is likely the reason he led the WILLIS Shockers in offensive efficiency last season.

Willis Jr. ensures his shots are high-percentage — and, if he can continue to shoot those shots, he could potentially put up some of the best numbers for a shocker four man in years.

WIllis, Jr. added a three-point shot to his routine this offseason after dabbling with it last season. This year, he looks intentional when he shoots from outside the perimeter. He displayed this at Shocker Madness, where he took the court for a three-point competition, hitting 14 shots (not an incredible score, but a surprising score for someone who’s 6-foot-9).

If he can hit more than 35 percent from beyond the arch this year, he’s dangerous.

Offensive production like that means the Shockers can space the floor in ways they haven’t been able to in the past — which puts more options in the playbook.

Willis, Jr. has shown he knows a thing or two about offensive efficiency. With a year of knowledge in WSU’s system, he has a breakout season to gain.

C.J. KEYSER

Based solely on physical abilities, Keyser is one of WSU’s best. His speed, agility and jumping abilities KEYSER speak for themselves.

Keyser, a sophomore, saw limited playing time in a crowded backcourt last year, earning the majority of his minutes at shooting guard behind veteran Conner Frankamp and early-season breakout star Austin Reaves.

With Reaves battling illness and off-season injuries — including surgery to repair a torn labrum — and Daishon Smith transfering, an opening should appear for Keyser to see some time in the backcourt.

Keyser could earn minutes at the twoguard spot, or even at the three should Wichita State play small ball, using three guards and two forwards in an up-tempo setting.

For a breakout year, Keyser will have to compete with a revitalized Conner Frankamp and a potentially-healthy Austin Reaves.

Keyser was excluded from WSU’s two exhibition games for personal reasons, not disclosed by the team.

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Shockers score commitment from four-star point guard

BY EVAN PFLUGRADT

The signing of 5-11 Memphis point guard Alex Lomax completed a successful day of recruiting for Wichita State, ending the first day of the early signing period.

The early signing period is open until Wednesday and recruits aren’t able to sign again until April 18, 2018.

Lomax announced his commitment to join the Shockers for the 2018-19 season via Twitter. Lomax is listed by Rivals as a four-star prospect and the No. 123 player in the class of 2018.

The Shockers beat out Memphis, Florida, and Ole Miss, who all showed interest in Lomax. Media outlets have compared Lomax to former WSU

All-American point guard Fred VanVleet.

Lomax represents a new territory of recruiting for Wichita State, becoming the second recruit from Tennessee in the last year, along with freshman Rod Brown.

Lomax joins Chance Moore, a 6-9 wing from Louisville, Kentucky, who announced his commitment earlier Wednesday afternoon.

Moore graduated high school last year and is currently playing for Beckley Prep, a prep academy in West Virginia.

Commitments from Moore and Lomax ensure six verbal commitments for Gregg Marshall and Co. next season.

Other commitments Erik Stevenson — 6-foot-4, 180-lbs

Stevenson is listed as a threestar shooting guard by 247Sports.

Isaiah Poor Bear Chandler — 6-foot-9, 260-lbs Chandler initially signed with New Mexico, and was granted release after the program fired its coach. After announcing a verbal commitment to Wichita State, he enrolled at Sunrise Christian Academy where he will play for a season. Chandler was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN. Morris Udeze — 6-foot-8, 240-lbs Udeze is a three-star prospect, as listed by 247Sports and Rivals. He enrolled at Montverde Academy, a prep school in Florida after graduating high school in Texas.

Jaime Echenique — 6-foot-11, 220-lbs Echenique is a sophomore at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where he started 26 games as a freshman.

No vacancies?

Wichita State graduates six seniors at the end of the season.

With the announcements from Wednesday’s early signing day, the Shockers have commitments from six players next season.

WSU could sign more than six players, which could allay any damage from the departure of either Landry Shamet or Markis McDuffie, should they consider the NBA Draft.

McDuffie exercised his right to test the NBA Draft last year, but decided to return for his sophomore season. Should he declare this year, he would forfeit his opportunity to return for a senior season.

Shamet still has the opportunity to return, should he test the NBA Draft market this summer.

If the Shockers receive commitments from more than two players and neither Shamet nor McDuffie declare for the NBA draft, recruits could spend a year in prep school at Sunrise Christian Academy.

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Wichita native Haynes-Jones looks to continue tradition of winning at WSU

BY RAY STRUNK

I

n 2015, Samajae Haynes-Jones captured a high school state championship on the floor of Charles Koch Arena.

Now he's back.

The junior point guard — a Wichita East High graduate — made his homecoming Saturday in the exhibition game against Henderson State. Haynes-Jones joined his former city league rival, Wichita North High’s Conner Frankamp, in the Shocker backcourt.

Frankamp said he is excited to finally be on the same side of the ball as Haynes-Jones.

“It’s really cool,” Frankamp said.

“He’s going to help us out quite a bit

this year. It will be really fun to have him on board with us.”

The duo combined for 21 points in Saturday’s 90-53 victory.

Haynes-Jones said he felt comfortable in his first action as a Shocker.

"When I first went out there, I was excited, not really nervous,” Haynes-Jones said. “I was just going to enjoy the moment.”

Haynes-Jones followed it up with a 12-point performance in another Shocker victory Monday — this time against Newman University.

Winning is nothing new for Haynes-Jones.

In his final two years of high school, all-state point guard Haynes-Jones led Wichita East to a 46-4 record and two state tournament appearances — including the

BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State guard Samajae Haynes-Jones and Landry Shamet react to a play from Rod Brown during the exhibition against Newman.

state title run his senior year.

He continued his winning ways at Hutchinson Community College.

Haynes-Jones was quick to make a name for himself on his new team.

As a freshman, he started 36 games, averaging 15.4 points.

He led the Blue Dragons to a 32-5 record and an at-large bid to the NJCAA national tournament.

The Blue Dragons made the best of the tournament bid, reeling off three straight wins on the way to the championship game. They fell short of the title, losing to Salt Lake Community College, 74-64.

Haynes-Jones came back with a vengeance for his sophomore season.

“We all just came together,” Haynes-Jones said. “The group that we had was very special.”

With Haynes-Jones at the helm and leading the country in total minutes played, Hutchinson compiled a 35-2 record and entered the NJCAA tournament once again, this time as the No.-4 overall seed.

A comfortable first-round victory and tight wins in the second and third rounds propelled Hutchinson to the national championship game once again.

The second time around, Hutchinson cruised to a comfortable 84-58 victory over sixth-seeded

Eastern Florida State to capture the title.

Haynes-Jones said the championship came as no surprise to him.

“I’m a winning type of guy,” Haynes-Jones said.

Haynes-Jones said his winning mentality will fit in perfectly at Wichita State.

“No matter what I’ve got to do — if that’s sitting on the bench and clapping or starting and playing phenomenal minutes — that’s what I’ll do.”

BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

Samajae Haynes-Jones looks for an opening during the charity exhibition game for hurricane relief against Newman. (Nov. 6, 2017)

Walk-ons keep it in the family Freshman walk-on guards Brycen Bush and Jacob Herrs share a unique quality — both have family ties to Shocker Basketball.

Jacob’s father, Ryan Herrs, played for the Shockers from 1992-96.

Ryan still ranks in the top-10 all-time for three-point field goals at Wichita State. “[Playing at WSU] was a blast,” Ryan Herrs said. “Playing at this level is incredible. I’m very proud to be a Shocker and very proud to see the program where it is now.”

Jacob Herrs said he has always dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps.

“I've always wanted to be a part of this program,” Jacob Herrs said. “I just never thought it was possible to get the opportunity to do it.”

As soon as he was given the opportunity to walk on, Jacob said he was determined to make it happen.

“It was a long process, and as the days went on, [making the team] became a little more possible every day,” Jacob Herrs said. “It was a quick decision but it took a while to make it happen.”

Ryan Herrs said he was proud of his son for working hard to earn his spot.

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“I was very proud and it was really cool because he was really excited,” Ryan said.

“I knew and he knew it was going to be the best thing for him.”

Brycen Bush followed the same path to WSU as his brother, Zach, who was a walk-on from 2012-17. Zach Bush was WSU's first five-year walkon of the 13-scholarship era.

"

BY ALIYAH FUNSCHELLE

I‘VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.”

— JACOB HERRS

Since Brycen had a connection to Shocker Basketball for five years prior to walking on, he was given a unique chance to get to know the program.

“I think [Zach] coming here and being around it all the time for five years and seeing the guys and seeing what’s expected made it a dream of mine,” Brycen said. “I was given the opportunity, so I’m blessed to have it.”

Zach Bush said he wanted to see his brother end up wherever he would be happiest and most successful, and that he was proud to see him follow in his footsteps.

“He really liked what this program

was about and everything that goes with it,” Zach Bush said.

“I want him to do what makes him happy and what puts him in the best position to be as successful as possible.”

Over the summer, Brycen Bush received pointers from his brother to prepare him for what would come next.

“I worked with him on things that took me a little bit to learn when I first got here,” Zach Bush said. “So I tried to instill that in him.”

He said he tried to prepare his brother not only physically, but also mentally. “[I was] just trying to mentally prepare him for everything,” Zach Bush said. “This place is a lot different from our circumstance as a walk-on.

You’re expected to practice, and not just to practice, but to keep up and to perform.

“Coach treats you like everyone else which is good and bad. It really pushes you, so I’m trying to prepare him for that.”

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BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State Shockers guard Brycen Bush is fouled by Newman forward Grant Meininger during the charity exhibition game in Koch Arena.

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‘He’s one of the reasons I chose to go here.’

SEE XXXXXXXXXX PAGE 4

BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

"

Midtgaard and Nurger are both from Europe and the biggest players on the team.

Midtgaard finds a mentor in Nurger

here, especially because he’s a big man and I’m a big man and this is his fourth year here.”

BY ALIYAH FUNSCHELLE

Asbjørn Midtgaard and Rauno Nurger have followed almost identical paths.

The freshman center from Denmark has looked to the senior center from Estonia as a mentor to not only help him on the court, but off the court as well. “[Referring to Nurger as a mentor] was the perfect word,” Midtgaard said. “He’s like my mentor here.

He’s telling me how we do things around

HE’S TELLING ME HOW WE DO THINGS AROUND HERE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE’S A BIG MAN AND I’M A BIG MAN AND THIS IS HIS FOURTH YEAR HERE. — ASBJØRN MIDTGAARD

Not only is Nurger a mentor figure to Midtgaard, but Nurger being on the team was one of the reasons Midtgaard was drawn to playing at Wichita State.

“He’s just incredible for me. He’s one of the

reasons I chose to go here,” Midtgaard said.

“They have another European big man.”

Nurger has tried to be of help not only when it comes to basketball, but adjusting to life in Wichita.

“I’ve just been trying to help him on and off the court,” Nurger said. “I think he’s been doing a really good job here and he’s going to continue it.”

Nurger has seen great improvement in Midtgaard since arriving at Wichita State.

“I think he’s a lot better on his feet...he’s a good rebounder and can play some good defense,” Nurger said. “I’m looking forward to playing with him.”

Midtgaard thinks his transitions to the

states is going smoothly; although the biggest culture shock for him is how spread apart Wichita is. “[Wichita is] everything I expected. The biggest shock is everything is so spread apart,” Midtgaard said. “In Denmark you can just walk down to the grocery store and get some food but here you have to drive everywhere.

I’m hungry all the time so I need food.”

Midtgaard credits the Wichita State basketball program for helping his skills develop all around. “[I’ve developed] on everything. We work on everything,” Midtgaard said. “There’s not one thing I try to improve, I try to improve as a player as a whole.”

the

7’ 6”

TACKO FALL (UCF)

BIG BOYS of the AAC

7’ 6” 7’ 3” 7’ 0”

Midtgaard and Nurger are among the tallest players in the AAC.

7’ 0”

ASBJØRN MIDTGAARD

6’ 9” 6’ 10”

RAUNO NURGER

6’ 6” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” 5’ 9” 5’ 6” 5’ 3” 5’ 0” 4’ 9” 4’ 6” 4’ 3” 4’ 0”

COURTESY OF UCF ATHLETICS SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

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‘All is new here’O P I w w w. t h e s u n f l o w e r. c o m

Freshmen bond over international student experience Performing with Wichita State’s

that made me want to come here, team — junior Cesaria Ambrosia because it’s so big here and it from Fully, Switzerland and sophrom ornate castles to makes it more fun.” omore Khady Sene from Mbour, gourmet foods, France is Both Faye and Hakanson had Senegal. formed atU.S. a 9/11 world-famous for a multionly been to the once unity before Fayedance. said she has formed a speColumn by gathering hosted by Global what religion tude of things. Basketball committing to Wichita State. cial bondForget with Hakanson over theirt Ragini Faith In Action, a local were—they just wanted isn’t one of them.

“It’s a really big difference from shared experience as freshman Venkatasubban organization that promotesinternational dance.students.

Alyssia Faye, a freshman Sweden, but I like it,” Hakanson religions Dance crosses all forward for the Shocker Women’s said. bringing “People are all so nice and the “We have a lot of things in When my cousin Anjana together. religions, races, cultures Basketball team and a native of team is so nice, so everything is common because we’re from andFrance, I founded Shocker and Valence, has found her good so The far.” hour-long show Europe too,boundaries. so we share the same Wichita State’s included Jewish prayer, Even though sportShakthi, of choice to be exponentially Teams are almost always tightexperience,” Faye said. “WeI’m are South Asian dance devotional Christian Indian, I’vehere done balle morefirst popular in the United States. knit units, but, when players aresongs, far freshman.

All is new — it’s a team, in the ofreally 2008, from Islamic and since new age language.”

3, a dance th “The people here fall really, their lovedexpression ones, they can also new country, our only motivation was chanting. originated France.

I enjoy basketball, and in France, we a serveHindu as de facto families.

Hakanson said sheinand Faye to culture,” bring Indian don’tdesire have that Faye said.

“I think thatdance [the team is] really other through hip the hard Our team, which help each taken zumba, hop, fusion dance ato the Fanny Hakanson, Shocker important because that I get times tap, as theyjazz, continue to adjust to is made up it’s of all many African danc Midwest. freshman guard from Stockholm, here,different so I really enjoy being with a new coutry. cultures, chose life in belly dance, modern Sweden, said basketball the my team andsongs all thatthat because I “Wedance can talkand aboutsoeverything Compared to was other three represent many oth driving force behind her decision have my family here,” Faye and— like when we miss home down and universities on the east and don’tremembrance, struggle Dance breaks to come the U.S. for college. said. hope—the three themes ofsomething is really different here,” westtocoasts, which frebarriers because it’s on “[Basketball in Sweden] is dance Besides Faye and Hakanson, Hakanson said. “It’s good y quently host Indian the event. achieved byreally lowering so much smaller thanand here,” two other we can talk about it and competitions shows, there areAfter ourinternational performance, because inhibitions—and when Hakanson “That’s onemuch thing of astudents on the women’s basketball we have eachhappens, other.”

WSUsaid. didn’t have many people congratulated that any pre-

dance troupe breaks down social

BY MATTHEW KELLY

F

MATT CROW /THE SUNFLOWER

Forward Alyssia Faye drives to the basket against Oklahoma Baptist.

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presence. We wanted to change that.

As we started performing around Wichita, however, another purpose came into play—bringing the world together through dance.

Sunday, Shakthi per-

us for showing them a snippet of our culture.

What really struck us, however, were the Muslim gentleman, Catholic woman and countless others who asked if we could teach them how to

conceived notions abo religion and race automatically get lowered a well.

Take Shakthi—we’v had dancers of Indian, African, Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodian,

Obama’s jobs speech st delivery, but weak in c Column by

Derek blair

President Barack Obama held a joint session of Congress on Thursday to share his plan to fix America. His plan was very secretive until the day of the speech, when almost

every detail was given to the press.

His plan is ambitious.

Nearly $250 billion in tax cuts, more jobs for teachers, firemen and cops, massive amounts of money spent to rebuild roads and bridges, spending in a new super fast rail system, and investments in green energy.

All for the low, low price

of … $449 billion.

Oh, and this would al paid for without adding the deficit.

How can this be done That is an amazingly g question, because it rem unanswered by the Oba administration, who say will be answered “soon.”

The only plausible answ that taxes will be raised

MATT CROW /THE SUNFLOWER

Gaurd Fanny Hakanson looks to pass during Wichita State’s victory over Southwest Baptist.

Shockers open season Friday against UMKC

BY ALIYAH FUNSCHELLE

Wichita State Men’s Basketball will officially open their season at home against UMKC. The Shockers and The Roos have met a total of nine times, with WSU leading the series 6-3 overall and 4-1 at Koch Arena The most recent matchup was Nov. 29 of 2010, when the Shockers won 71-52.

Sophomore guard Landry Shamet played a 12 minute cap in Monday night’s exhibition against Newman.

After using that game as a “test

run”, Shamet said he is ready for anything Head Coach Gregg Marshall may need him for in Friday’s game.

“I’m at coach’s full disposal for what he needs on Friday and games following that point,” Shamet said.

There has been no update regarding sophomore guard C.J. Keyser suiting up Friday. Keyser did not suit up for either exhibition game due to a personal issue the team said he was working to resolve.

Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Koch Arena Friday night.

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‘WE’RE JUST A GROUP OF BROTHERS’ Teammates, man’s best friend offer Kelly support off the court

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BY HANNAH TOBIAS

ashard Kelly, an energetic senior forward for the Shocker Men’s Basketball team, says there’s much more to life than just playing basketball.

Kelly came to Wichita State from his hometown in Fredericksburg, Virginia specifically to be a part of the basketball team, but said he soon discovered there was more to being a part of a team than wins and losses.

Now, almost halfway through his fourth and final year at WSU, Kelly recognizes the impact that his involvement in the athletic program has had on his life, even off the court.

“This is probably one of the closest teams I’ve been on,” Kelly said. “We’re just a group of brothers and we understand what we all want. We just challenge each other and we don’t let each other slack off. We know what we expect and we help hold each other accountable. We’ve all got a common goal.”

Kelly said even the limited free time he has is spent with teammates.

“We just have homeboy time,” Kelly said. “We watch football games, play videogames, and just kick it. We really just try to always look out for each other.”

In addition to the support of his teammates and friends, Kelly said he receives emotional support from Tank, his nearly-one-year-old bullmastiff.

“Honestly, he gets most of my attention,” Kelly said.

Because his family and home in Virginia are so far away, Kelly set his mind to finding an easier, safer way to transport Tank back and forth for trips.

“I wanted him to come home with me, and I knew flying isn’t the best for animals,” Kelly said. “But I’m 18 hours away from home, so I did some research and

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Zach Brown, Rashard Kelly and C.J. Keyser take a selfie at media day.

I found faster ways to get him on the plane with me.

Now he sits between my legs in first class.”

Kelly said having Tank around eases the stress of sports, school, and other responsibilities.

To give insight into his daily routine, Kelly described a typical Tuesday.

“I usually wake up early, then go to class at 11,” Kelly said. “I have lunch and some downtime between 12 and 2. Then I lift from 2 to 3, go to practice from 3-5:30, then go home, get dinner, relax and watch TV.” Kelly said that, because his basketball performance is so important, he does his best to stay focused on his game, even when he has time to relax.

“When I have free time, I’ll either be at home

ON POINT

BY EVAN PFLUGRADT

Before college, sophomore Landry Shamet hadn’t experienced much injury in his life.

His mother, Melanie Shamet, said Landry never experienced anything more than a jammed finger or a rolled ankle — nothing that would sideline him for more than a day or two from basketball, baseball or dirt biking.

But in less than two years at Wichita State, Shamet, 20, has endured two stress fractures on his feet. He underwent surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal on his right foot on July 31 after sustaining the injury in a scrimmage at the Under Armour All America Camp.

But Shamet said it isn’t a setback. He said he considers the titanium in each of his feet a motivation tool.

Sitting on the sideline can be the most painful part of an injury.

Back on the court, Shamet made his presence felt in 12 minutes of action during Monday’s charity exhibition game with city-rival Newman, going 3-3 from the field for eight points while picking up two assists and two rebounds — a selfless performance.

“I’m back . . . I’m at Coach’s full disposal for what he needs Friday and games there out,” Shamet said post-game Monday.

In three years, Shamet has learned lessons about patience.

He watched All-Americans Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker from the bench his freshman season.

Now the NBA pros watch him.

Even off the court, bearing crutches, Shamet worked on his game during the offseason. His goal, he said, was to be more vocal.

“I’ve been working on being more engaged and involved when I’m not on the floor,” Shamet said. “I don’t think it will take me long to get up to speed.”

National pundits agree, predicting a bright year for the sophomore point guard.

Shamet was one of 32 players named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy watch list, which is awarded to college basketball’s player of the year, as voted on by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Shamet was also named to the Bob Cousy watch list, which recognizes the best point guard in college basketball.

Individual awards aside, Shamet said he wants to approach this season as a team challenge.

relaxing with my feet up or at the gym shooting,” Kelly said. “I don’t try to do too much. I think everything I do is preparing for a game in a way so when I’m sleeping, that’s the only real downtime I have.

That’s the only time my mind is not on basketball.”

Looking ahead to the end of his senior year as a Shocker and student athlete, Kelly said he’s most excited for graduation itself.

“I’m excited just to graduate,” Kelly said. “For my family and my mom. My mom deserves it. She sacrificed a lot, so for me to walk across the stage just knowing she’s in the stands . . . I’ll be proud.”

“I’ve been here long enough. I want to explore more opportunities in the world.”

Two stress fractures won’t define Shocker point guard Landry Shamet

SEASON AVERAGES

44%

81%

11.4

3-1

three-pointers

points per game

“We don’t have guys saying they want to be player of the year or national player of the year,” Shamet said. “It’s all about what we can do as a team, and we’re going to let that carry us as far as we can.

“We’re approaching this season with our eyes on a National Championship.”

TAKING POINT GUARD

Landry Shamet is naturally a shooting guard.

Following VanVleet’s departure, Wichita State had an opening for a leader to command the point. Shamet admitted to coaches that he believed his talents would better fit the two-guard spot.

Gregg Marshall and the Shocker coaching staff experimented, placing sharp-shooting off-guard Conner Frankamp and Daishon Smith in the point guard role. After the Shockers fell to Illinois State by double digits in a battle for the topspot in the Missouri Valley Conference, coaches took a hard look at the team. They realized they needed Shamet as point guard.

Shamet flourished, averaging 11.4 points per game and posting a 3-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio — the third best among freshmen in college basketball.

UCLA’s Lonzo Ball finished marginally better. Shamet scored in double figures 23 times and topped 20 points in three appearances.

“The move opened up a lot for us,” Shamet said.

Following Shamet’s move to the point, WSU went 16-1, with just one, three-point loss at the hands of Kentucky in the NCAA tournament.

Shamet finished his redshirt-freshman season averaging 44 percent from three-point range and boasting an active streak of 25 games with a three, just two games shy of a school

free throws

assist-toturnover ratio

record. Against Missouri Valley competition, he shot 52 percent from long distance.

Shamet led an offense that averaged 1.21 points per possession in conference play, slightly better than a Lonzo Ball-led UCLA team that posted 1.20 points per possession.

“I think I hit a point where I took a lot more of that on my own plate, took pride in it, and wanted to take up more of a role offensively and more of a leadership role,” Shamet said.

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Wichita State Shockers guard Landry Shamet breaks around a Newman defender during the charity exhibition game in Koch Arena.

THE BENCH

BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State Shockers react to a play from WSU forward Rod Brown during the charity exhibition game against Newman.

FINGER ROLL

MATT CROW/THE SUNFLOWER

Guard Keke Thompson attempts a layup during Wichita State’s 65-54 victory over Southwest Baptist.

FRIENDSHIP

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Members of the Women’s Basketball team get silly during media day.

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COURTESY OF JEFF TUTTLE

“The arena shot was a game against Indiana State, on January 16, 2014. Each section wore the same color.

I remember shooting the photo, which is actually nine photos stitched together in Photoshop and thinking how awesome it was to see the arena that way.” —Tuttle

BEHIND THE

LENS Q&A

COURTESY OF JEFF TUTTLE

“In Coach Marshall’s years, our fans started to travel really well to that tournament. To see the Shocker students celebrating at mid-court makes it all full circle. I lost one of my best friends a few years ago, a huge Shocker fan, Kelly Williams. St. Louis was always a time to spend with him when I wasn’t working.

I will miss St. Louis, for that selfish reason.” —Tuttle

Men’s team photographer Jeff Tuttle talks photos, basketball, memories Wichita State Men’s Basketball photographer Jeff Tuttle is a freelancer from Augusta, Kansas. A graduate of Kansas State, Tuttle was a staff photographer for the Wichita Eagle for 20 years and the Herald in Jasper, Indiana, for two years. He left the newspaper industry eight years ago to start his own photography business. Here, Tuttle explains why he got into photography and shares his experiences documenting men’s basketball for Go Shockers and Wichita State Strategic Communications over the last six years. — Andrew Linnabary WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PICK UP PHOTOGRAPHY?

“I was 21 before I ever picked up a camera. My wife bought me a camera for a wedding gift. I loved sports photography, but I never looked at the pictures as anything other than ‘That’s a cool action shot.’ I didn’t really think about the photography part of it.”

“After I got the camera — this was about 1981 — I would go out to WSU and shoot roll after roll of film, trying to get good shots of the baseball team.

And then I shot a few Wichita State basketball games with Antoine Carr, back in those days. I’m not even sure how I got down to the floor to shoot that — I don’t think I had a pass.”

“I was there when Marshall wrote ‘play angry’ on the chalkboard for the first time.

Seeing what that grew into was awesome. I was there before the Final Four when he gave the pregame speech. I don’t go in at half time. I figure I don’t want to be there for that. But that also means you’re in there for some pretty big victories. When we beat Gonzaga, the pictures were amazing.”

“Before the game, they talk a lot about basketball, and I didn’t play. I played in my front yard, but I have no idea what they’re talking about. Baseball guy here, you know. I just don’t get it. I’ve played sports. I wasn’t very good. So it’s kind of cool to hang out with a bunch of thoroughbred athletes. I’m just a short, old guy with no basketball skills at all.”

“I’ve also been in the locker room after some great wins and through some tough losses.

And that’s really, really hard. I work in the locker room after the game, so I find a little hole and kind of hide and send my pictures back to the university. So that’s tough.

Kids and coaches, after they lose a big game, that’s a tough thing to see.

And I don’t photograph that. I usually go hide. It’s a hell of a lot nicer when we win, you know? But that’s part of the sports. You want to hug those kids, and I have. I’ve had really good relationships with all the players, and I’ve had my favorites that have been my guys. And not all of them were the stars.”

WHO ARE SOME OF THOSE FAVORITES?

“Tekele Cotton was a quiet kid, but very, very, very funny. He loved my camera equipment and would get that stuff out and play with it. He loved all that stuff. He was a good kid.”

“Fred VanVleet — I got to know him really well.

Fred was a real great basketball player, but also a really solid kid. The day my mom passed away, I got a text from Fred, and one from another kid, J.R. Simon.

And those kids — J.R. and Zach Bush from last year — just great guys.

“Right now, Shaq’s my guy. For whatever reason, it’s great to have the biggest guy on the team on your side. He’s just a sweet kid. Coaches too. Coach Marshall lets me do pretty much whatever I want. Hopefully I’m documenting some things that will be in Wichita State history forever — long after I’m gone, long after Marshall is gone. That’s why we’re doing this.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING MEN’S BASKETBALL?

“I didn’t shoot basketball again until I started at The Eagle in about ‘88 or ‘89. Back then, the Eagle’s photo staff was pretty big, so we had beats. Fernando Salazar and I would share Shocker Basketball and Baseball. I also shot Kansas State Football. I was just a beat photographer, and Wichita State was the local team, so several of us shot that.”

“I’m old enough that some of those pictures that are on the outside of the arena on the concourse are mine. And then baseball, the big mural, most of those are mine. So yeah, that’s my portfolio at 21st and Hillside.”

BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

Jeff Tuttle looks at photos on the back of his camera during the Shockers vs. Newman game.

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE TEAM CHANGE AND GROW OVER THE YEARS?

“I’m old enough to remember how it was in the early ‘80s with coach Gene Smithson. And then I remember of course Eddie Fogler’s teams. They were really good. I noticed a change in Mark Turgeon’s teams — they went above and beyond.”

“But we were in the tank. We were pretty bad. We had some good players but it never worked out, and then the whole thing changed when Coach Marshall came. People probably don’t remember or think about it, but he’s won everywhere he’s gone. He was very successful at Winthrop for 10 years. He came here and was kind of handed a rough deal, but Shocker Nation was hungry enough to be patient. From that first year when they won the NIT, it has just grown from there. I’ve noticed more than anything how the community has gotten really, really excited about Shocker Basketball, which has really helped our town and our city. That’s what I see.”

“Obviously, [Marshall] is gonna win, but it’s not just that — he’s really helped our city and the university too. It’s been a great deal. He’s done a great job and he’s awesome to work with.”

WHAT DOES THE TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER GET TO SEE THAT NO ONE ELSE DOES?

“Other team photographers from other schools, rarely do they get to go into the locker room before the game. They may get to go in after a win, but rarely before, because it can be a distraction. I’ve been doing it long enough with these guys that they kind of don’t even notice me.”

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST DEFINING OR ICONIC MOMENTS THAT YOU’VE SHOT AT A GAME?

“Beating the big teams. When we beat Ohio State to get to the Final Four. Obviously the Final Four was the highlight, but the win over Gonzaga, oh my gosh, that was insane. Beating Kansas, I’m a K-State guy so of course I loved that, but it was big to Wichita State — fans stick their chests out a little bit like, ‘We beat big brother.’”

“To travel with these guys and get to know them a little bit helps you to understand that they’re just kids. They may be 6’9”, but they’re just kids. And they’re a lot of fun. And they work hard. They work really hard. The tournaments are probably a little bit more fun for me than them, because they get very little free time. And I’ve seen probably a lot of things I can’t tell you about. Let me just put it this way — I know when to walk out of the room.”

WHAT’S THE KEY TO PHOTOGRAPHY?

“It’s tougher now. When I started, there wasn’t a phone you can take a picture with. And now I’m editing pictures on my iPad now, so it’s changed. If you want to do it, you have to live and breathe it. I don’t think there’s any shortcuts. I think you get better by, just like anything, practicing and failing and realizing why you failed.”

“And to a young photographer now . . . I don’t know. My son is 22 and he’s very good, a very good photographer. But there’s nowhere for our kind to work anymore.”

“There were 17 photo positions at The Eagle when I started. Now there’s four. They’re still doing a great job with four, but it’s harder. You don’t get to do some of the things you used to do when you had a full staff, and then there’s the business side. It’s’ tough. It’s tough. You gotta work hard. You gotta work hard. You have to love it or it’s not going to work — that more than anything. You gotta want to do it.”

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THE SUNFLOWER PICKS

The Sunflower editorial, sports staff make their picks for this season’s games

CHANCE SWAIM

EVAN PFLUGRADT OPINION EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

MATT CROW

KYLIE CAMERON

28-0

24-4

25-3

25-3

EDITOR IN CHIEF

LAYOUT EDITOR

MATTHEW KELLY COPY CHIEF

RAY STRUNK

ENTERPRISE EDITOR

ALIYAH FUNSCHELLE SPORTS REPORTER

BRIAN HAYES

PHOTO EDITOR

UMKC COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CALIFORNIA SAVANNAH STATE BAYLOR SOUTH DAKOTA STATE OKLAHOMA STATE OKLAHOMA ARKANSAS STATE FLORIDA GULF COAST UCONN HOUSTON USF ECU TULSA SMU HOUSTON UCF TULSA TEMPLE MEMPHIS UCONN TEMPLE CINCINNATI TULANE SMU UCF CINCINNATI OVERALL

24-4

19-9

26-2

25-3

11

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Will Gregg Marshall ever leave Wichita State?

Gregg Marshall returns to coach Wichita State for his eleventh season, poised to deliver the Shocker faithful what could potentially be the greatest season of successes in program history.

Marshall appears happy, content, and ready to face the new challenges and opponents the American Athletic Conference has to offer.

His Shockers are an early favorite to lead the conference.

Yet, speculation continually surrounds WSU’s winningest coach and whether he’ll leave for a job at a higher-profile school. Conjecture started after the termination of Indiana’s Tom Crean in March.

Many wondered whether Marshall, who was in Indianapolis for the second round of the NCAA Tournament, would leave to travel back to Wichita or join the Hoosiers.

Dayton’s Archie Miller promptly filled the open position.

Assumptions about Marshall, however, didn’t stop after Indiana signed Miller.

Earlier this year, Louisville, in the midst of F.B.I investigations, placed Head Coach Rick Pitino on administrative leave, adding that the program would review Pitino’s employment at a later date — the nice way of announcing the Hall of Fame coach’s termination.

Instantly, news outlets across the country compiled names of replacements, with Marshall topping almost every list.

EVAN PFLUGRADT OPINION EDITOR • @EVPFLU

At this stage in his career, Marshall, 54, is soon going to have to decide whether he will step into a premier program or retire a Shocker — his contract expires in 2022.

It’s fair to list Marshall as a prospect for top-level coaching openings. Despite the rise of the Shockers in the last five years, WSU has just two Final Four appearances and no National Championship appearances in program history.

That’s an underwhelming program history for a coach as nationally acclaimed as Marshall.

Programs with track records like WSU’s don’t often attract top-level talent, challenging Marshall and Co. to work from the ground up.

Marshall and his players have embraced the chip-on-the-shoulder culture, making it their mentality.

The results speak for themselves.

The Shockers are sitting comfortably in the top 10 in most national polls, and ESPN’s BPI probability rankings give the Shockers a 26 percent chance of making the Final Four — better than any other team in the country.

Sure, now isn’t the time for Gregg

Marshall to jump ship, but he could be tempted in the near future to walk away from the program he has brought into the national spotlight.

Next season, Marshall loses six graduating seniors. He could also lose his top two production players in point guard Landry Shamet and small forward Markis McDuffie, both of whom could depart for the NBA at the end of the season.

Replacing eight players is hard work, and WSU could easily see a decline in success moving forward.

Marshall won’t have to look hard to see the benefits of leaving for a big-time school.

But if Marshall’s past actions are any indicator, he’ll at least attempt to meet the challenge of replacing a star-studded veteran class. The last decade offers plenty of evidence to support Marshall’s loyalty to the program. Expect him to stick through this phase.

In the coming years, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, 67, and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, 70, will retire, opening the nation’s most-highly-coveted coaching positions. We could see the biggest coaching shake-up in the history of college basketball. Until then, expect Marshall to be content right where he is.

BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

Marshall calls a play during a game against Henderson State during the season opener on Nov. 4.

MATT CROW/THE SUNFLOWER

Keitha Adams talks to players before their game against Oklahoma Baptist.

KEITHA FROM KANSAS

BY JENNA FARHAT

W

ichita State’s new women’s basketball head coach Keitha Adams is happy to be home.

After 16 years of coaching at The University of Texas at El Paso, Adams is back where it all began.

Adams grew up in Oxford, Kansas, a small town about 40 miles south of Wichita.

“My dad was an elementary teacher and both my parents drove school buses,” Adams said. “I grew up understanding the importance of education and academics.”

Being back in Kansas means seeing a lot of familiar faces, Adams said. Her first coaching job was at Winfield High School.

“This was a unique opportunity for me to come back home and take on a new challenge,” Adams said. “I love Kansas. I love sunflowers. I grew up here.”

Home is where Adams learned work ethic and community pride.

Home is where Adams started her basketball career. Home is where Adams began a career coaching basketball. Home is bluegrass music, too.

When she’s not on the court, Adams said she enjoys playing the guitar. She grew up going to the bluegrass festival with her father in Winfield, Kansas.

“My dad was a great guitar player, so that's what made me start playing it after he passed,” Adams said.

For Adams, Kansas is where it all started. It’s not her first time in Koch Arena, either. She once coached at Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas, where she led her team to the Region VI Championship “right here in Koch Arena,” she said.

“I’ve been in Koch Arena and actually been a part of being on the floor and coaching back in the junior college days.”

Adams said she believes she was in Texas for 16 years for a reason.

She also believes she is back in Kansas for a reason.

“I'm just trusting the good lord upstairs that this is part of his plan,” Adams said. “I've been where I'm supposed to be, and now I'm where I'm supposed to be.”

Adams left UTEP as the all-time-winningest coach in program history.

“It’s always time for change,” Adams said. “Had a great run, great experience. Nothing stays the same forever.”

Adams called herself a people’s person, a trait she said will help bring stability to a women’s basketball program that has seen a rocky recent history.

Former head coach Jody Adams-Birch, who coached at WSU from 2008 to 2017, oversaw a turbulent time for the women’s basketball program. Nine players left the women’s basketball program before the end of Adams-Birch’s first season, citing objections to her coaching style.

Four players quit following the 2014-15 season, the team’s third straight season that ended in the NCAA Tournament.

The departures sparked an investigation into the program. After 38 people associated with the team were interviewed by the university, changes were made to the program. The changes called for players and coaches to work with sports psychologists and for players to communicate better with department administrators.

“I’ve come in here with an approach of being respectful of everyone from the past,” Adams said. “We are going to respect all former players that have come here, all former coaches that have been here before me.”

“We're just really trying to work hard in moving forward in a positive way with one another.”

Adams said her ultimate goal is to help those that she coaches achieve their own goals.

“The kids I coach, that’s my legacy in life,” Adams said. “When I’m retired and I look back, it’s going to be kind of like what you do when you look back at your children.”

Adams said one similarity between WSU and UTEP is that they have well-known men’s basketball programs.

“The legendary coach Don Haskins coached at UTEP, and that was the team that won the championship in the movie 'Glory Road,'” Adams said. “I went to this school that had this phenomenal history with their men's basketball program.”

She said she saw parallels between the legacies of men’s basketball at UTEP and WSU. “I feel like I can definitely learn and grow as a coach from being here where [Gregg Mashall] is at,” Adams said.

Adams said she is encouraged by the success of the men’s team.

“I'm embracing the success that our men's program has had,” she said. “We're going to utilize their success to help our success.”

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MATT CROW/THE SUNFLOWER

The American Athletic Conference banner is unveiled in Koch Arena.

CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT

How do teams typically fare in their inaugural season?

BY EVAN PFLUGRADT

W

ichita State isn’t projected to win the American Athletic Conference in their inaugural season, according to AAC coaches’ preseason projections. The new kids on the block lost out by a single vote to Cincinnati.

Conference realignment is a ripple effect, with expanding conferences and teams moving into spots as they open up.

The Shockers’ move to the American is the highest-profile case of conference realignment this season, and expectations are high as WSU enters with one of the nation’s top-ranking teams.

When the Shockers joined the AAC in the offseason, Valparaiso

slid in to fill the opening in the Missouri Valley Conference. The IUPUI Jaguars traded the Summit league for the Horizon league. The list goes on and on.

Coastal Carolina was the only team to sport a new conference for Division I basketball last year. After jumping from the Big South to the Sun Belt, the Chanticleers finished eighth out of 12 teams in their inaugural season.

Northern Kentucky, who jumped from the Atlantic Sun to the Horizon in 2015, also experienced a rough entry — suffering a 5-13 record in their opening season.

2014 was a year of monumental conference realignment. Ten teams, including Louisville, Maryland, and Davidson, to name a few, made the

big move.

Davidson didn’t wait to up the intensity. In their inaugural season, the Wildcats went 14-4 in league play, topping the division for the regular season before falling to Virginia Commonwealth in the A10 conference tournament.

Davidson had outgrown the Southern conference, where they not only won the regular season for their final three seasons, but dominated the competition, losing a mere four games in conference play from 2011-2014.

Davidson proved that their skillset could translate at a higher level — exactly what Gregg Marshall hopes to prove with WSU in their inaugural season in the AAC. Louisville won the AAC’s

regular-season title in 2014, their final year, before bouncing for the Atlantic Coast Conference, where they amassed a 12-6 record while placing fourth in the ACC standings.

Eventually, teams that make the switch, turn it on. Northern Kentucky advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season after winning the Horizon league conference tournament. East Tennessee State claimed the top spot in the Southern conference last season after making the switch.

Success takes time.

Teams in their inaugural season of a new conference haven’t always fared well, rarely competing for the top spot in the conference standings — just don’t tell the Shockers.

OPINION STAFF PICKS TOP FIVE POSITIONS OF THE AAC NICK

BEACH

COLUMNIST • @NICKBEACH1

TOP GUARDS

best recruit of 2015 by ESPN. He’s explosive off the dribble and stands a sturdy 6’3, 195. He’s hard to guard and could very well score at will this season. He averaged more than 14 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds per game last season. UCONN has a lot of talent and shouldn’t be taken lightly in the AAC. 2. SHAKE MILTON, SMU

JUSTIN

HAMPEL

COLUMNIST • @JHAMP_232

TOP FORWARDS 5. JUNIOR ETOU, TULSA

This one could be a surprise to most. However, with a strong showing in the final month of last season, Frankamp showed college basketball fans what he has always been capable of. He’s a lights-out shooter who just needs some aggressiveness. He improved his shot fake and drive to the hoop to complement his high-volume three-point shooting. Frankamp will average in the double digits in points for the first time in his career and boost his 44-percent three-point percentage from last year even higher.

Shake MIlton is without a doubt the most talented guard in this conference. Coach Tim Jankovich wants the Mustangs to be competitive in what is projected to be somewhat of a rebuilding year for the program. Milton is too good of a player to not make something out of this season. He’s a sure-fire NBA talent because of his 6’6 size and ability to score in multiple ways. He can also rebound and assist with the best of them. Milton could raise his stock and get drafted in the first round in 2018 if he leads the Mustangs to another 25-plus-win season.

4. JACOB EVANS, CINCINNATI

1. LANDRY SHAMET, WICHITA STATE

4. KYLE WASHINGTON, CINCINNATI

5. CONNER FRANKAMP, WICHITA STATE

Evans is a veteran leader on what should be a hard-nosed, competitive team all season long in Cincinatti. Evans is likely to lead the Bearcats in scoring, even though they have a balanced attack and are built off of defense and physicality.

Expect him to lead the Bearcats to a great seed in the NCAA Tournament.

3. JALEN ADAMS, UCONN

Adams was rated as the 25th

Shamet may not have the most flashy stats on this list, but his skillset, leadership, and big-game ability set him apart from the competition. Of course he’s nursing that broken foot from back in July, but his recovery seems to be going smoothly. Expect Shamet to put up big numbers, starting with the Maui invitational Thanksgiving week. He is the most important player for a Wichita State team with Final Four aspirations.

Etou is another guy the coaches of the American picked to be a Second Team AllConference player. Etou led his team in points and rebounds per game last season, and the Golden Hurricanes basically ran their offense through him.

He was also a frequent visitor to the free throw line, taking 146 shots from the charity stripe, among the most in the conference. Tulsa will live and breath through Etou’s production this year, so expect him to have big stats once again.

Washington is the first player on Preseason All-Conference Team to make the list. He finished second in points and rebounds per game for the Bearcats last year, and was tied for the most blocks per game.

The big difference between Washington and the three players listed above him on this list is that he’s the prototypical big man down low, while the others are lengthy guys who can play both on the perimeter and

down low. Paired with fellow Second Team All-Conference choice Gary Clark, Washington will become be a force in the American, both offensively and defensively.

3. OBI ENECHIONYIA, TEMPLE

Enechionyia is a similar inside-out threat to Reynolds, just not to the same extent. Last season, he finished second on the team in points per game and led Temple in rebounds per game. He was also one of the top three-point shooters in the American.

Paired with talented point guard Shizz Alston, you can expect a lot of offensive production out of Enechionyia this season on a much-improved Temple squad.

2. MARKIS MCDUFFIE, WICHITA STATE

McDuffie is a ballplayer. He can score, play defense, and get rebounds. His stats aren’t eye-popping by any means, and his minutes have been considerably lower than most of the other top players in the league, but that’s the nature of a team that goes 10, 11, 12 players deep every game.

McDuffie will take the American by storm when he returns from his injury.

1. CAMERON REYNOLDS, TULANE

A lot of basketball experts

would disagree with me on this, saying Reynolds is a guard, but he’s six-foot-eight and his twitter bio says he’s a small forward, so I’m rolling with it.

Tulane isn’t a very good basketball team, period. Reynolds is the only player they have worth naming, but he’s a good one. Last season, he finished sixth in the American, averaging 17 points and almost seven rebounds per game. He also made the fourth most three pointers in the conference.

Team-wise, he finished in the top three of every important statistical category, further showing how he carried his team. Unfortunately for Reynolds, his team won’t be much better this year, but he should be fun to watch.

Honorable Mention: Tacko Fall, Central Florida — Fall is not a forward — he’s too tall to be a forward, and when I say too tall, I mean seven-foot-six.

The tallest player in college basketball put his height to good use last season, cracking the top 10 in the nation in blocked shots and the top 20 in rebounds.

Even more impressive, he was top five nationally in fieldgoal percentage, making over 70% of his shots. The scariest part about Fall? That was just his sophomore season. Fall is the type of player that keeps opposing coaches up at nights trying to figure out how to handle him.

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THURSDAY, NOV. 9, 2017

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OUR TOWN. OUR TEAM. In Wichita, our success is more than numbers on a scoreboard.

It is our rising spirit and tenacious drive to earn our victories, large and small. It’s evident in our support for our Wichita State athletes, who remind us that our true character reveals itself in the heat of fierce competition.

We are Wichitans. And we are Shockers. One and all.

bravelyonward.com