After early NCAA Tournament exit, what’s next for Wichita State?
By Chris Stone
Wichita State faces a potential rebuild following its loss to Marshall.
Over the last decade, Gregg Marshall’s built one of the premier mid-major programs in the country at Wichita State, but an 81-75 loss to Marshall in the first round of the NCAA Tournament raises questions about where the Shockers go next.
Wichita State’s 2017-18 roster features seven seniors, including the team’s four frontcourt rotation players, its best perimeter defender in Zach Brown and Conner Frankamp, the former Kansas transfer who dropped 27 against the Thundering Herd. Obviously, they’ll all be gone before the start of next season.
Then, there’s Landry Shamet’s upcoming decision. The sophomore point guard is viewed by many analysts as a borderline first round quality NBA prospect because his ability to knock down shots both off the dribble and off the catch is a valued skill at the next level. Not all potential first rounders leave school early, but Shamet will have the opportunity to if he wants.
And if he does, the Shockers will be in a rough spot because that’s a ton of roster turnover.
Wichita State would have just two returning players from their late season rotation, Austin Reaves and Markis McDuffie, assuming he doesn’t unexpectedly also declare for the NBA Draft. Both Reaves and McDuffie has shown themselves to be competent roleplayers at the college level, but neither player has proven himself capable of carrying a roster on a consistent basis. It’s not a task that fits Reaves’ current skill set and while it is potentially one McDuffie could handle, he hasn’t looked the same since a foot injury sidelined him for the beginning of this season.
Alongside Reaves and McDuffie would be a full recruiting class. Marshall’s received commitments or signatures from seven prospects in the class of 2018 — a reflection of how many seniors he’s losing — but few of those players are likely to contribute significant value immediately. Alex Lomax, ranked No. 143 in the class by 247Sports, and Morris Udeze, at No. 152, are its highest-rated freshmen.
In short, the Shockers may not be very competitive in their second season in the American, which will likely fuel speculation about the future of Marshall. The head coach has been pursued by major programs across college basketball, but the situation at Wichita State was always rosy (and buttressed by plenty of money from Charles Koch). Facing down a 2018-19 roster with fewer prospects of immediate success, could the 55-year old finally be wooed elsewhere?
If Shamet returns, the outlook for the program and the answer to that question likely change, of course, but if he leaves, Wichita State could be set for a complicated rebuilding period.