AfterShocks | 7/25/2022 11:19:00 PM
Demetric Williams from the 2013 Final Four team knew the play immediately while watching from the floor of Koch Arena. Chadrack Lufile, from the 2014 35-1 Shockers, also recognized the screen, the pass from the corner and the open big man near the basket.
So did almost every other former Shocker watching the AfterShocks in Koch Arena or on ESPN2 on Monday.
How many of them said "Jacksonville," with a smile and a memory of that play flashing in their brain?
It's safe to say almost all, after Darral Willis got the ball in the lane and scored to defeat Bleed Green 70-69 to win The Basketball Tournament Wichita Regional. The AfterShocks advance to the quarterfinals for a second straight year and will play the
Gutter Cats at 8 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN2).
"You come through this program and if there's one set you know, it's that one," AfterShocks coach
Zach Bush said. "That's the bread and butter."
Former coach Gregg Marshall loved the play and delighted in running it over and over against unprepared teams.
The AfterShocks had not practiced it. They tried to run it early in Monday's game and Bleed Green defended it. The AfterShocks trailed 69-68 and needed one basket to reach the Elam Ending target score of 70.
With five former Shockers on the court, AfterShocks coaches knew they could run "Jacksonville." Assistant coach Garrett Stutz suggested the play, one he scored on countless times during his time as a center at Wichita State from 2008-12.
"It's very tough to stop," he said. "I called "Jacksonville," and Zach modified it slightly. It worked out."
Monday's rendition came with two twists. The play usually goes to the right side of the floor. Because Willis is a lefty, they reversed it. The power forward usually screens for the center. AfterShocks guard
Conner Frankamp suggested using himself as the screener to draw attention away from Willis.
"Rashard (Kelly) made a great pass and D Will finished over like three people," Frankamp said. "It happens so quick. One quick pass and it's right there. It's like a five-second play and you're getting a layup most of the time."
Frankamp scored nine points, including three foul shots to give the AfterShocks a 68-66 lead. Bleed Green limited him to six shots and put in great effort to deny him three-point looks. Frankamp leveraged that mind-set against the opponent and threw his body into Thomas Bell to free Willis to take a bounce pass from the corner from Kelly.
"Conner's such an intelligent guy – he said, 'Let me be the screener,'" Bush said. "Boom. For the win."
Willis scored after bobbling the ball and his debut with the AfterShocks continued to pay off big. He banked in the winner and flexed before teammates mobbed him. He scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench, his third game scoring in double figures.
"Darral had the hot hand, and he was a monster down there," Kelly said. "He was either going to get a layup or two (foul) shots."
"Jacksonville."
It worked in the Bahamas against LSU in November, against UNLV in December at Intrust Bank Arena. It worked against Creighton in January and Bradley in February and opponents such as Arizona and Indiana in March over the years.
It is perhaps the ultimate Shocker play call for this generation, and one that works in July for the AfterShocks just as effectively.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
