By PAUL GOTHAM
DAYTON, OH — The numbers jump off the page. Tuesday’s First Four matchup between Wichita State (24-8/16-2 MVC) and Vanderbilt (19-13/11-7 SEC) pits two defenses with top ten numbers. The Shockers and Commodores use contrasting means, though, to arrive at the end.
Vanderbilt allows 67.3 points a game holding opponents to 38.6 percent (7th in the nation) from the floor. Led by seven-footers Damian Jones and Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt blocks 5.5 shots (9th) a contest.
Wichita State holds opposing teams to 59.3 points (1st) with a field-goal percentage defense of 38.5 (6th) and a turnover margin ranked second at 5.5.
Seniors Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet lead Wichita State into its fifth straight NCAA Tournament. The pair played on the 2013 Final Four team. A year later, they guided the Shockers to 35 straight wins before falling to Kentucky. Last year, WSU reached the Sweet Sixteen with wins over No.10-seed Indiana and No. 2-seed Kansas.
But this year is different. After punching their ticket with the Missouri Valley Conference championship in its last four appearances, Wichita State received an at-large bid this year.
A rash of injuries nearly derailed the Shockers in early in the season. Four of the top six in the lineup missed a combined 24 games in November and December. VanVleet battled a hamstring injury throughout those months. The two-time MVC Player of the Year missed missed four straight including all three games (three losses) in the Advocare Invitational.
“I remember walking off the court after losing the third game in Orlando to Iowa,” Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall said. “We played in the seventh-place game against Iowa. and we were just — the guys were really down, and it was a very difficult time, and I’m just thinking man, first of all, we’ve got to get some horses back in the stable so we can play this schedule that we’ve got upcoming. And then I’ve got to keep them confident.”
Wichita State rebounded and won 15 of 16 including a 17-point win over then N. 25 Utah. Their only loss occurred at Seton Hall in overtime, 80-76, but they lost twice in the conference season and then to Northern Iowa in MVC championship game.
“Unfortunately, when you lose in the Valley now, late in the year, people said, well, ‘what’s going on?'” Marshall explained. “‘Why are they losing in the Valley? You can’t lose in the Valley.'”
Wichita State forces 15.47 (16th) turnovers a game while committing just 9.9. Baker leads the way with 49 steals. Teammate Zach Brown has 27 thefts.
“We like to get in the passing lanes, get turnovers, easy baskets,” Baker said. “Once you get an easy layup, an easy two, your confidence gets going, not only for yourself but for the team.”
VanVleet hands out 5.7 assists per game. Per KenPom, his assist rate (percentage of assists/team baskets while player is on floor) of 40.6 is sixth in the country. The Shockers have averaged 73 points (170th) a game, but in their three conference losses they were held to 53 or fewer points.
“We have good shooters on this team that have just struggled as of late, and hopefully things start going our way,” VanVleet said. “It’s pretty contagious. So when one guy starts making them, it just lifts the whole team and catches on pretty quick. So as quick as it can go bad, it can turn good, you know, at the snap of a finger.”
Wichita State last played on March 5th. The time off could benefit WSU when it comes to neutralizing Vanderbilt’s front court. Shaquille Morris (6-8) along with Anton Grady (6-8) and Rauno Nurger (6-10) will rotate at the forward positions.
“There’s very little drop-off when you go from Shaq Morris to Anton Grady to Rauno Nurger,” Marshall noted. “So we’re going to try to keep them fresh and perhaps playing at 100 percent peak efficiency versus Damian Jones.
“But we’ve got to make sure that we’re the fresher, more energetic, more passionate team, and if we can do that, hopefully we can make a couple of shots and have a chance.”
Jones scores 14.2 a game for Vanderbilt with 1.6 blocks.
“He moves extremely well for a seven-footer,” Marshall said. “When you look at him, you think you’re looking at a 6’6” kid out there because of the way he moves. He’s so naturally gifted athletically.
“You can also attack him and eat some leather. He’s going to send it back at you. So I’m not sure. I think you can try that, and if you’re successful that’s great. But if it doesn’t work, you know, your shooting percentage is going to be way down, because he’s definitely a rim protector. And he’s going to meet you at the rim and challenge everything.”
Wade Baldwin VI leads the Commodores with 14.6 points.
“In order for us to make a run, we’re going to have to get a handful or more of good performances tomorrow and then if we get a chance to go to Providence, it’s got to happen there, too,” Marshall said. “Because there’s no — you have one bad day in this tournament and you’re done.”
Vanderbilt and Wichita State tip at 9:10 Tuesday night. The winner plays No.6-seed Arizona on Thursday.
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