The RoundHouse | 2/3/2021 2:56:00 PM

 
Isaac Brown heard about Fred VanVleet before he coached him. The reality of VanVleet lived up to the hype.
 
Before coming to Wichita State for the 2014-15 season, Brown worked as an assistant at Louisiana Tech. He did the scheduling and, at a time the Bulldogs won big, considered a game with the Shockers.
 
Upon further investigation, Louisiana Tech decided against that game.
 
"We were beating people, and I just wanted to play anybody," Brown said. "The head coach . . . said 'Brown, no way we can play them.' I said 'Why not?' He said 'Our press is not going to work against them because Fred VanVleet does not turn the ball over.' Then I started watching Wichita State."
 
VanVleet is once again a topic of discussion after Tuesday's 54-point performance in Toronto's 123-108 win over Orlando. VanVleet scored 54 points, most by a Raptor, on 17-of-23 shooting. He made 11 of his 14 three-point shots.
 
Brown arrived at Wichita State for VanVleet's junior season and a trip to the Sweet 16 with wins over Indiana and Kansas. VanVleet made an immediate impression with his overwhelming competitive spirit. He wanted to win every drill, every scrimmage, no matter the opponent. He wanted to play one-on-one after practice to work on his skills, instead of shooting alone.
 
"I don't care if you had walk-ons out there, he was trying to win, embarrass you as a player," Brown said. "He didn't care. Tough kid. Mentally tough."
 
Brown, now Wichita State's interim head coach, uses VanVleet often as an example. VanVleet quickly understood scouting reports and often offered suggestions worth using.
 
"I'd be talking about the team (during video), and as soon as we would get to practice, he would say 'We should guard this like this and we should guard this like that,'" Brown said. "You trusted him if he said 'Hey, coach, I think this is a good way to guard this action.'"
 
VanVleet scored 17 points in the first quarter and finished the half with 28. He entered the final quarter with 46 points. His total of 54 passed the team record of 52, set by DeMar DeRozan in 2018.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.