The RoundHouse | 12/21/2019 3:36:00 PM
A few years ago, national rankings felt like part of the routine and something to be handled and minimized for Wichita State basketball.
This is a new time for the Shockers and the current group very much wants to be in the top 25 rankings that come out every Monday. They see a spot in those rankings as proof last year's struggles over, as proof this season's team can play with anyone and as validation for all the work and all the improvement over the past two seasons.
Saturday's 73-63 win over VCU at packed and noisy Koch Arena may well push the Shockers (10-1) into the rankings.
They stood one spot out of the USA Today/Coaches poll and three out in the Associated Press last week. Voters will certainly take a good look at their resume after a win at Oklahoma State (No. 38 in the NCAA's NET ranking), over Oklahoma (No. 50) and now VCU (No. 59 in the NET and No. 25 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.
"We're trying to be the best team in the country," sophomore center
Morris Udeze said in the locker room, with teammate
Erik Stevenson chiming in "I heard you, I heard you," in the background.
Wichita State played without sophomore forward
Dexter Dennis. The team announced Saturday morning that Dennis, who started the season's first seven games, would take an indefinite leave of absence from the team due to personal reasons.
"We had some adversity today," Wichita State coach
Gregg Marshall said. "We talked to them about what had transpired (Friday) and the fact Dex is their brother, Dex is of the best teammates you can have. A straight-A student this semester, and he's struggling. We needed to tighten our circle and rally around one of our guys who's hurting a little bit. And they did that beautifully." The Shockers controlled a game that seemed kind of uncontrolled by limiting turnovers fast-break opportunities for the Rams (9-3). VCU entered the game averaging 22.3 points off turnovers (12 more than its opponents) and 10.5 on fast breaks.
Wichita State deprived the Rams of that easy offense and never trailed. The Shockers turned the ball over 16 times, leading to 14 VCU points, its second-lowest total this season. The Rams didn't get their first points on a break until well into the second half and finished with eight.
"We were playing from behind the whole game," VCU coach Mike Rhoades said. "They scrapped out a lot of rebounds and a lot of loose balls that really hurt us."
Shocker guard
Jamarius Burton led the press-breaking effort and got plenty of help from big men who offered pressure relief and guards who did the dribbling and passing. The Shockers used all options to space the court and beat VCU's traps.
With a few exceptions, the Shockers pushed the ball for good shots at the right times and played patiently at the right times. Never did the Rams rattle the Shockers or launch any kind of significant scoring run with their pressure defense.
"The key is keep your composure and not let them speed you up," Burton said. "We knew we needed this game to get in the top 25 and that was our main focus."
A year ago, VCU forced 17 turnovers and held the Shockers to 35.6-percent shooting in a 70-54 win in Richmond.
Burton played through last season's struggles. A return to the top 25 – Wichita State was last ranked at the end of the 2018 season – would show people the Shockers belong in a discussion of the nation's top teams.
"It's a great turnaround in one year to go from not a good record to 10-1," he said.
Wichita State and VCU are linked by history, playing style and coaching trees.
Wichita State held the Rams to 20 baskets and forced 18 turnovers. The Shockers recorded nine steals and took four charges. In a physical, grabby, defensive game, the Shockers won the battle to disrupt.
"We didn't want them to come in our building and out-tough us," Burton said.
Rhoades and Wichita State coach
Gregg Marshall both coached for Hal Nunnally at Randolph Macon College (Marshall played there). Wichita State's brand from the 2013 Final Four is "Play Angry." VCU's "Havoc" defense earned its fame during the 2011 Final Four run.
"Both teams were exhibiting that today, but we certainly didn't take a backseat," Marshall said. "(VCU) is grown-man team. From an experience standpoint, we were stepping up a weight class or two. You couldn't tell. Our guys were so focused and locked in."
Udeze did his part to help the Shockers match VCU's physical, aggressive style. He took two charges, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a shot. He made 3 of 7 shots to score seven points.
The charges – also taken by Burton and
Jaime Echenique – helped discourage VCU's guards from driving and limited an already limited offense.
"I enjoy it," Udeze said. "Taking charges is part of my duty. If I see the guard with his head down and coming hard, I stand there and let them attack me. If I wall up, I may get a foul. I stay there and take the charge – much easier."
Wichita State used a team effort to out-rebound VCU 42-37. It grabbed 16 offensive rebounds. Burton and
Trey Wade both grabbed eight.
"We were the aggressor, especially early," Marshall said. "
Trey Wade . . . he was tremendous, battling and fighting. That's how you have to play against. VCU. They play so hard and they're so trained to compete. That's why I have such respect for Mike and the program. That's our brand, too."
Perhaps in 10 years, Shocker fans will look back on series with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and remember those games as part of important rivalries.
For now, Wichita State's non-conference rivalries are spotty. Tulsa once moved the needle, but it is now a conference opponent. Schools such as Alabama, DePaul, Utah and Saint Louis made brief appearances on the schedule with varying degrees of importance.
That puts VCU among, if not atop, the most significant recent rivalries. Saturday's game added to that legacy.
The schools met for the fifth time since 2011 on Saturday. The Rams won the first two, at Koch Arena in a 2011 Bracket Busters game (VCU used that win to get to the 2011 Final Four) and in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. The Shockers won at VCU early in the 2012-13 season, a win that helped their NCAA at-large resume later that season on the way to the Final Four.
The five most consequential non-conference regular-season wins of the
Gregg Marshall era:
Wichita State 53, VCU 51 (Nov. 13, 2012) –Malcom Armstead's jump shot gave the Shockers a win at Richmond. Without that road victory, Wichita State's NCAA Tournament resume looks significantly different in March 2013.
No. 12 Wichita State 70, Saint Louis 65 (Dec. 1, 2013) –A rare tight game during Wichita State's unbeaten 2013-14 regular season. Saint Louis won the Atlantic-10 title, helping Wichita State's NCAA resume, and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Wichita State 67, No. 25 Utah 50 (Dec. 12, 2015) –The Shockers were 4-4 entering the game at Intrust Bank Arena after injuries to Fred VanVleet and Anton Grady short-circuited much of November. Freshman
Markis McDuffie made 4 of 5 three-pointers and scored 13 points.
No. 8 Wichita State 69, No. 16 Baylor 62 (Dec. 2, 2017) –Wichita State won at Baylor, removing some of the sting from a Maui Invitational loss to No. 13 Notre Dame. The victory over the Bears, coupled with a win at Oklahoma State, pushed the Shockers to No. 3 in the AP poll. Conner Frankamp scored 17 points and WSU snapped a 46-game home non-conference win streak.
Wichita State 67, LSU 47 (Dec. 19, 2007) –A taste of what was to come from the Shockers in an otherwise forgettable season. The Shockers routed LSU by grabbing 17 offensive rebounds and out-rebounding the Tigers 50-31. Phillip Thomasson scored15 points and Ramon Clemente added 11 points and 10 rebounds
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
