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Postgame Interview WICHITA, Kan. – Balanced scoring and tenacious defense led Wichita State to a commanding 88-54 win over Bradley Saturday afternoon at Charles Koch Arena.
Fred VanVleet scored 13 points in just 23 minutes of action and picked up four steals and four assists without a turnover.
Ron Baker tallied 12 points and three steals,
Shaquille Morris (10 points) notched his second-consecutive double-figure scoring game, and nine Shocker reserves – led by
Markis McDuffie (10) - combined for 38 bench points.
WSU (14-5, 8-0 Missouri Valley Conference) upped its winning streak to nine-games and posted its 13
th-straight series win over Bradley (3-18, 1-7 MVC) in a game it led from wire-to-wire.
The Shockers jumped to leads of 10-0 and 17-3 within the first eight minutes and were up by 23 at halftime after holding the Braves scoreless over the final 4:16 of the opening period. The WSU lead grew to as many as 37 (73-36) with 8:25 to go in the game, helped by another 18-5 push early in the second half.
WSU turned the ball over just four times and forced 20 on the other end for an impressive plus-16 margin. The Shockers' 14 steals matched a Marshall Era-best, and they won the rebounding battle 39-24.
The Shockers shot 49 percent from the field for the game, even though they knocked down only 6-of-22 three-point attempts. WSU dominated almost every aspect of the game, outscoring the Braves in the paint (40-12) and off turnovers (31-7).
BU's Ronnie Suggs scored nine of his game-high 14 points in the second half on 5-of-8 shooting. Luuk van Bree scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Donte Thomas and Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
A 23-point halftime lead for WSU turned into a 33-point lead just over four minutes into the second half thanks to an 8-0 run that was punctuated by a steal and one-hand slam from
Zach Brown. The dunk forced a Bradley timeout with its team down, 57-24.
With just over seven minutes left Wichita State had built a 73-37 lead. Fourteen of the 15 players that saw action for WSU scored in the game.
Not even a minute and a half into the game Bradley used its first timeout after a Baker layup and a Morris steal and breakaway dunk. After the timeout WSU stretched its lead to 10-0 before the Braves got a point on the board from a free throw.
Trailing 17-3, Bradley finally found a pulse after connecting on back-to-back three-pointers from Luuk van Bree to cut the WSU lead to 17-9 at the under-12 media timeout. The Shockers eventually pushed their lead over 20 at the 1:44 mark on a basket by
Eric Hamilton to put WSU up 42-21. Wichita State closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 44-21 lead into the locker room.
McDuffie led all Shockers with eight points off the bench in the first half. VanVleet added seven points, three assists, two boards and four steals in the first 20 minutes.
Luuk van Bree led all Bradley players with eight points and four rebounds in the first half.
WSU hit just 2-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc, but still shot 48 percent from the field in the first half. Bradley struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 29 percent from the floor, while committing 12 turnovers. Off those 12 turnovers WSU converted them into 17 points. The Shockers also outrebounded BU, 22-12 and outscored them in the paint, 22-4.
Up NextLoyola (8-10, 1-5 MVC) comes to Charles Koch Arena next Wednesday night for a late 8 p.m. CT start on CBS Sports Network.
POSTGAME QUOTES: Gregg Marshall on… …Giving reserves extra playing time?
"It's very important. We played 10 guys with double digit minutes, another guy with eight and another guy with seven. We had four guys in double figures, another with nine and another with eight, so we were very balanced. Fred and Ron played 24 and 23 minutes respectively, no one else played more than 20. Not that we're trying to save our legs, but we were able to not tax us too much and we get to take tomorrow off…It's a well-earned day off."
?
… Taylor and Hamilton's progression?
"They've been playing well, that's why they got a chance to get in there today. I thought Ty has been practicing very wel. Eric has been practicing pretty well. They got an opportunity today not only to play with the third group, but they got a chance to play with some regular guys as well."
… On potentially rejoining the ranks of the nationally-ranked on Monday"It doesn't matter. I don't think it has any bearing on whether you get in the tournament and where you're seeded. I don't think they even consider that. Last year we were in the Top 25 and we ended up being a seven-seed, so it doesn't make any difference. I just think it gives more incentive for other teams to want to beat you when you come onto their court, if you have a number by your name."
… Freshmen players developing out of the spotlight ?"It's better for us if they get to do that. It's tough to play a bunch of freshmen…They're able to get better in practice and learn how to defend. That's the biggest thing, they're learning how to defend and play our way."
Ty Taylor II on……Finding the balance of earning playing time while understanding his role behind VanVleet and Baker"It's an invaluable experience with two of the best players in the country, first and foremost. Being around them everyday is a learning experience because they don't take days off. I can honestly say from the time I got here to yesterday, they haven't taken one day off…as far as balancing it out, you want to be able to play your game and also play the right way. It's a fine line. You don't want to step on anybody's toes either. Guys like Fred and Ron have embraced me like a little brother, so they make it a lot easier on and off the court."
Fred VanVleet on……Preparing and getting focused for games where a big win is expected"It's easy honestly. With guys Ron, Evan and myself, we've been around long enough now that we know that if you don't play your best on any given night, anybody can be beaten. [Bradley] is a young team, obviously they're going through some growing pains. We just wanted to come out aggressive, stay locked in, and bring a lot of energy…we just go out and focus on the team that's in front of us."
…Being a mentor to young players like Taylor"I try to help him more off the court…I've been there before: the backup, backup point guard who wasn't playing very much. Just going through that is a process when you're coming straight out of high school. As much as everybody may think I tell everybody what to do all the time, I want him to be his own player and be his own man…I'll give him tips if he asks, but I'm just trying to help him keep his mind right. That way, he can go out there and play aggressively and confidently when he gets out there so that his talent can shine through."
…The rest of the Valley competition being happy with, and prospects of the program, once he, Baker and Wessel are graduated"I'm pretty sure guys were ready to be rid of Garrett Stutz and Toure' Murry and those guys too, and then here come Cle[anthony Early], Ron [Baker], and then myself. I don't think this train's going to stop any time soon. These younger guys have an incredible amount of talent. I think the hardest challenge for them are peoples' expectations, and so [the question is] do you give into that or do you break through and make your own footsteps? Don't try to be the next Fred or Ron, be your own person. It's going to be hard to follow in those footsteps, but I think it'll be easy to make your own.
Shaquille Morris on……His steal and breakaway dunk near the start of the game"I got to give credit to Fred for the ball pressure. He made [Ronnie] Suggs pick up the ball, and I knew to deny the ball…I just kind of baited [the pass], saw my chance, and took it.
It felt good. I was more worried about finishing it with two hands because I knew somebody was going to try and block it from the back, and to try and take care of my body, I don't want to get hurt on a play like that."
-Wichita State-
