There isn’t a team in the country who would move on without missing a beat if they had to play without their best player. So it’s more than understandable that Wichita State would be out of sorts, a bit, without Fred Van Vleet.
But losing two in a row, to USC and Alabama, was not exactly what anyone saw coming.
See, the Wheat Shockers still had senior Ron Baker, one of the most experienced and talented wings in the country. Yet in the two losses, Baker shot just 12-for-32 from the field and had five turnovers. Not exactly numbers that will get it done with or without his backcourt-mate.
The true measure of this week’s losses will be felt in March. With only two real non-conference opportunities left, against Utah and UNLV, they will likely enter MVC play without a single “good” win on their resume.
Conference play will definitely provide opportunities for them to collect those kinds of wins, but at this point, are we ready to trust them to collect them, especially on the road? Freshman Landry Shamet is about to have surgery on a stress fracture, meaning he will miss upwards of two months. Van Vleet may need time to come back from his injury.
Sure, Connor Frankamp becomes eligible soon, but the Shockers are reeling right now and are staring at a strong MVC that they may need to win if they want to ensure their dancing chances come March. There’s no question that the sooner Van Vleet returns, the better it is for Gregg Marshall and WSU.
