Do you remember the setting? 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Quarterfinals. Creighton holds a 22-point lead against Wichita State in the second half, seemingly poised to blow the Shockers out of the building and send them home from Arch Madness. But then the Shox worked their way back into the game and before you know it, they took the lead as time was running out. But we know how that turned out:
Fans from both schools still lament over that ending: CU fans can’t believe the game even came to that point, considering how easily the Jays were handling the Shockers; WSU fans can’t believe there wasn’t some sort of clock error or divine intervention from The Powers That Be to keep the Bluejays around for the semifinals. Saturday’s matchup with the Shockers in Wichita will be the first of two meetings between the teams in the next week, and you can bet the folks filing into Koch Arena haven’t forgot Booker Woodfox’s shot from last March.
The 2009-2010 version of the Shockers seem to have captured the momentum they grabbed from the Bluejays late in the second half of that quarterfinal game, bringing a 14-2 record into Saturday’s matchup and sitting at 3-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. For more insight about the start to the Shockers’ season, White & Blue Review caught up with WSU beat writer and the all-knowing source on Shocker hoops Paul Suellentrop from the Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com with his Shockwaves blog.
White & Blue Review: The last time the Bluejays and Shockers played it was full of controversy. What kind of motivation does the team have to take it to the Bluejays on Saturday at Koch Arena?
Paul Suellentrop: That MVC Tournament is definitely on the minds of WSU coaches, players, and fans. It was hard to take, especially because Creighton was the opponent. I know the crowd will be jacked up — it usually is for Creighton. I think the coaches and players will try to ride that line between being motivated and out of control. The fans will not.
WBR: The Shockers’ win against Texas Tech obviously looks great because of the Red Raiders’ ranking and their conference affiliation, but could you make the case that beating Missouri State in Springfield is Wichita State’s best win so far this season?
PS: I think that is very possible, depending on how the next two months play out. For WSU, winning on the road has been very difficult the past two seasons. Getting a win over a team that apparently will contend in the MVC is a big step. I’ve covered WSU for five seasons and I think it’s the best MVC road win WSU has had in that time.
WBR: Speaking of Texas Tech, they’re one of only two teams (Illinois State is the other) to score more than 70 points against the Shockers this season. WSU’s top 20 defense gives up just about 58 points per game. Is their defense that good, and will it keep up through MVC play, or are the early stats reflective of the Shockers’ easier non-conference schedule?
PS: The stats are skewed in part by several bad teams on the schedule. That said, WSU plays very good defense at times. It held Drake to one point in the final eight minutes. It made Missouri State look bad for more than 20 minutes. WSU is putting more people in the passing lanes than in past seasons. It is getting more steals. Sometimes it gives up a few more easy shots because of that. WSU is, after two-plus seasons under coach Gregg Marshall, able to play enough good athletes to put more pressure on teams. The Shockers are so deep that foul trouble isn’t a problem and players are fresh in the final minutes. WSU has had its issues on defense, especially in the second half. Texas Tech, Illinois State, and Missouri State all scored easily for long stretches after halftime.
WBR: Pound for pound, position for position, who is Wichita State’s best defender?
PS: I will say Toure’ Murry, although coaches may argue for somebody else. Murry usually draws the other team’s best scorer. Osiris Eldridge lit him up. He did a fine job on Andrew Warren. He took Adam Leonard totally out of his game for a half. Murry is long and quick and he wants the job of guarding good scorers.
WBR: Where are Wichita State’s weaknesses? Where would Dana Altman and his coaching staff be best served to attack the Shockers?
PS: Dana asked me this the other day — it’s kind of the Valley’s dirty little secret that many coaches consult me for my X and O acumen. I helped Creighton with its defensive plans for Illinois State in last season’s MVC Tournament, I designed all last-minute defenses for Mark Turgeon, and consider myself the genius behind Southern Illinois’ quick-strike offense. I will be interested to see how WSU defends Kenny Lawson. The Shockers haven’t faced many good post scorers this season. Missouri State had some success getting physical with point guard Clevin Hannah. WSU doesn’t have an experienced backup. If you can wear down Hannah or disrupt his timing, that’s a plus. If a team plays zone, I would try it against WSU because it has three post players who can score. WSU has some good shooters. I would make them prove it, as opposed to letting J.T. Durley get rolling. Zones seem to slow down WSU a little, at least for a time.
WBR: You gave UNI the MVC Title in your Shockwaves blog after Wednesday’s games, seeing as they won at Creighton and Southern Illinois for the second straight season — what are the chances the Shockers pull off similar road wins when they go on the road to UNI and SIU at the end of January/beginning of February?
PS: I’m glad you caught that. I’m hoping I don’t have to travel to Cedar Falls in a blizzard if the Valley race has been decided. The Shockers should be a better road team, and winning at MSU is a good start. Winning both those games will be a surprise. SIU Arena isn’t as intimidating as it has been. WSU, in my experience, has never played well at all there. WSU hasn’t won at Creighton in those seasons, but at least it has played well at times. SIU sucks the life out of the Shockers in Carbondale. I could see WSU getting one of those games. If it gets both, watch out.
WBR: Who has been the biggest surprise for the Shockers this season?
PS: Gabe Blair’s free-throw shooting. He is nails. I have no idea how. You will understand when you see his form.
WBR: If I am making a trip to Wichita, what are the “must see” attractions or food establishments?
PS: Does Omaha have a zoo? Wichita’s Sedgwick County Zoo is excellent. Even in bad weather, there are enough indoor exhibits that it is worthwhile. Wichita isn’t really a “big attraction” city. It’s a comfortable-living-because-there-is-no-traffic town. WSU has the first Pizza Hut building on campus. I think Wichita has the best movie theaters in the nation. Once you go to the Warren, no other place is worthy. The Keeper of Plains area on the river is cool, but it’s outdoors. Old Town is a bar-and-restaurant area with a lot of options. Koch Arena is worth getting to 20 minutes early to walk around. There is a Shocker history museum where Bluejay fans can see highlights of the 1991 College World Series.
WBR: What has to happen for the Bluejays to beat WSU on the road, in front of a hostile crowd? What has to happen for the Shockers to win their second straight against Creighton in Wichita?
PS: Creighton probably needs to rebound better than it has most of the season. And avoid turnovers. If the Shockers get a lot of easy baskets on breaks, that’s a big problem. I think the Shockers can’t get too caught up in revenge. Creighton is too good to try to beat by 50 points. Every MVC fan is waiting for the Bluejays to get hot, and they’re hoping it doesn’t happen against their team. If I were WSU, I would let Durley go at Lawson and try to get him in foul trouble. It doesn’t appear Creighton’s inside depth is strong.
