The Wichita State Shockers have a Kentucky problem in the NCAA Tournament. Three years ago in 2014, the Shockers were unbeaten heading into the second round of March Madness. They played Kentucky and were knocked off their perch. This past March, Wichita State drew Kentucky again in the second round of the tournament, and again, the Wildcats stopped them. The difference between 2014 and 2017 is that the 2014 was Marshall’s best team at WSU, while the 2017 squad was young and ready to come back for another season. Wichita State has very high hopes for this team, which can build on last year.
Offseason Changes
The roster is virtually intact, with all the major players coming back for a big run at the Final Four, which would be Wichita State’s second in a six-year span. The big change is not a player or a coach, but a conference.
Wichita State moved from its longtime home in the Missouri Valley Conference to the American Athletic Conference. The Shockers thrived in the Missouri Valley, but they did not enjoy the same high level of competition they will face in the AAC. In the Missouri Valley, it was rare for the league to have three NCAA Tournament-worthy teams in a season. The reality was that either one or two teams got bids to March Madness, with no more than one at-large team joining the conference tournament champion in the field of 68. Now in the AAC, that will change. Cincinnati, SMU, Temple, possibly Connecticut, and maybe one other surprise team will join Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament. Being part of a five-bid league will mean that Wichita State has a lot more chances to get quality wins during the season. The pressure of having to win the Missouri Valley Tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament, which was real in some seasons, will fade away now. That’s a big plus for the Shockers, who will relish being able to go against better teams in January and February.
Will Succeed If…
Landry Shamet gets healthy and plays well. Shamet has been dealing with injuries, but he is a gifted defender, slasher and creator who makes so many things happen for this team and is probably its best all-around player. If Shamet is able to fully recover and make his maximum impact on the floor, Wichita State should be in very good shape. The other pieces should be able to coalesce around him and form the complete team Gregg Marshall thinks he has this season.
Won’t Succeed If…
Conner Frankamp is not a consistent three-point shooter. Wichita State’s offense bogged down against Kentucky because no one could regularly hit three-point shots. Wichita State’s defense will be its foremost strength. The offense has to carry its own weight. That will not happen if the wing shooters are off their game for any extended length of time. Frankamp is expected to be the foremost shooter in the bunch. If he is not able to rise to the occasion, this offense will suffer.
Roster
Rashard Kelly
Zach Brown
C.J. Keyser
Samajae Haynes-Jones
Rod Brown
Kaelen Malone
Landry Shamet
Austin Reaves
Jacob Herrs
Rauno Nurger
Darral Willis Jr.
Asbjrn Midtgaard
Brycen Bush
Shaquille Morris
Brett Barney
Markis McDuffie
Conner Frankamp
Schedule & Outlook
Wichita State will get a number of early tests that will tell us everything we need to know about them. It starts with a neutral-site affair against California on November 20th, which is their third game of the year. They’ll then go to No. 24 Baylor on December 2nd, which will be tough. Then they’ll have the Oklahoma schools back-to-back, with Oklahoma State (on the road) on December 9th and then Oklahoma (at home) on December 16th.
The AAC will drastically improve the quality of the Shockers’ schedule. They will be up for it as long as Shamet is healthy. If he is, and he remains strong the whole season, this is a Final Four-level team.
The 2018 March Madness futures are out. There has been plenty of news to keep up with in the offseason but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest college basketball betting lines right here.
