The RoundHouse | 11/13/2024 3:22:00 PM

 Listen to a podcast with Mike Kennedy and Bob Lutz on the Turgeon era at Wichita State

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Wichita State men's basketball opened a new decade in a serious slump in 2000. New athletic director Jim Schaus needed a coach who could revive the school's most prominent program and boost the entire department.
 
On March 11, 2000, he hired 35-year-old Mark Turgeon. In the previous 11 seasons, the Shockers enjoyed two winning seasons and did not play in either the NIT or NCAA tournaments. In 10 of those seasons, the Shockers finished with a losing record in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Turgeon delivered, helped by the renovation of Levitt Arena and its accompanying facilities into Charles Koch Arena for the 2003-04 season. He compiled a 128-90 record in seven seasons (2000-07) with three trips to the NIT and the 2006 MVC title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
 
Turgeon began reviving the Shockers with a recruiting class headlined by forwards Jamar Howard and Rob Kampman, center Paul Miller and guard Randy Burns. Those four set the pace for the improvement to follow. Turgeon and his coaching staff added in transfers such as forwards Aaron Hogg, Ryan Martin and Kyle Wilson and guard Karon Bradley later in his tenure. High school recruits P.J. Couisnard and Matt Braeuer played large roles in the coming seasons.

Howard, Burns, Miller, Wilson and Cousinard all reached 1,000 points as Shockers (as did Turgeon recruit J.T. Durley, who played his career under coach Gregg Marshall).
 
Turgeon's teams played solid defense and rebounded better than most. His style created an unselfish offense and the Shockers usually shot well. His 2004 and 2005 teams ranked first in the MVC in offensive efficiency and the 2006 team ranked third. That Sweet 16 team finished in the top 50 nationally, according to Ken Pomeroy, in offensive and defensive efficiency.
 
Turgeon will be honored at Thursday's Northern Iowa-Wichita State game in recognition of his induction into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Mark Turgeon's top 10 wins

1. Wichita State 80, Tennessee 73 – March 18, 2006 (NCAA Tournament): The Shockers handled Tennessee's pressure defense to win the program's biggest game since 1981.
 
Couisnard scored 20 points, making all four of his three-pointers, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out five assists. Wilson added 17 points.
 
The Volunteers led 65-63 with 3:30 to play. A layup by Couisnard tied it and Bradley's jumper gave WSU the lead for good at 67-65. A three-pointer by Couisnard continued the run and the Shockers built a 72-65 lead with 51 seconds to play.
 
2. Wichita State 62, Creighton 61 OT – Feb. 14, 2006 (Koch Arena): Braeuer's three-pointer at the buzzer defeated the Bluejays and set the Shockers on course for their first MVC title since 1983.
 
Braeuer scored six of WSU's nine points in the overtime. Ogirri scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.
 
3. Wichita State 71, Southern Illinois 63 2OT – Feb. 4, 2006 (Koch Arena): Miller scored 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting while playing 43 minutes. He scored 16 in the second half and seven in the overtime periods while playing 29 of the 30 minutes.
 
The Salukis, who had won or shared the previous four MVC titles, shot 8 for 32 from three-point range.
 
4. Wichita State 86, Seton Hall 66 – March 16, 2006 (NCAA Tournament): The Shockers cruised past the Pirates after building a 16-point halftime lead.
 
Ogirri made 6 of 10 three-pointers to score 23 points and help the Shockers win their first NCAA Tournament game since 1981.

 
5. Wichita State 80, Creighton 74 – Feb. 15, 2003 (Kansas Coliseum): Hogg scored 27 points and snared 10 rebounds to knock off the 12^th-ranked Bluejays. Howard added 18 points, four assists and three steals.
 
6. Wichita State 85, Houston 69 – March 16, 2005 (NIT at Koch Arena): The Shockers earned their first post-season win since 1989 by making 15 of 21 shots in the second half. WSU outscored the Cougars 51-33 in the second half.
 
Howard scored 21 points and Wilson added 20.
 
7. Wichita State 64, Syracuse 61 – Dec. 2, 2006 (at Syracuse): No. 17 WSU led the 15^th-ranked Orange by 17 with 6:21 to play. Wilson led the Shockers with 17 points, including two free throws with 13 seconds to play.
 
8. Wichita State 57, LSU 53 – Nov. 25, 2006 (at LSU): Bradley finished off No. 20 LSU with six straight points in the final two minutes. His jump shot gave the 24th-ranked Shockers a 52-50 lead with 1:49 to play and he made four straight free throws to hold off the Tigers.
 
Five Shockers scored in double figures with Martin leading with 12. WSU trailed by nine early in the second half.
 
9. Wichita State 65, Kansas State 56 – Dec. 5, 2001 (at Kansas State): Troy Mack's 20 points and 10 rebounds led the Shockers to a second straight win over the Wildcats.
 
10. Wichita State 64, Illinois State 57 – Feb. 25, 2006 (Koch Arena): The Shockers cut down the nets after winning the MVC title. Wilson scored 18 points and Martin came off the bench to score nine and grab 13 rebounds, six on offense.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.