I won’t call that a moral victory, because Wichita State thought it was good enough to win and almost did. They’re not a team that needs to take consolation in close losses. I think it was another step in the learning process most teams must go through. This team sped up that process with this season’s success. Nothing that happened at UNI should be discouraging. I consider it one of WSU’s better efforts of the season. The Panthers are a better, more veteran, more consistent team.
The Shockers played a legit NCAA team – experienced and tested – to almost a draw on the road. It’s fair to be disappointed in the free throws and the rebounds. The whole package looked pretty good for the Shockers. They shot 45.2 percent from the field to UNI’s 38 percent. They committed 11 turnovers. They survived subpar scoring nights from Clevin Hannah and J.T. Durley. They made 8 of 19 threes.
UNI, largely because Jordan Eglseder is in better shape, is an improved team over last season. It’s in the conversation with the best Southern Illinois-Creighton-Wichita State teams of recent season, teams that won NCAA Tournament games. That’s different than last season. Eglseder, like WSU’s Paul Miller in 2006, gives the Panthers a difference-maker most teams can’t match.
- WSU coach Gregg Marshall didn’t have a problem with J.T. Durley’s three-pointer near the end of the game, pointing out Durley made one moments before. I don’t have a problem with Durley shooting a three. That shot at that time didn’t make sense to me. I will watch the replay when I get home to see if my initial impression stands up.
- UNI did a great job of making Clevin Hannah work hard and give up the ball with double teams. Hannah committed four turnovers and twice had to call timeout when trapped in the second half. It’s tough being the focus of the other’s team defense. The Shockers survived subpar scoring games from Hannah and Durley at SIU. Doing it against UNI is a different matter. Foul trouble continues to be a problem for Durley. The Shockers need more than 25 minutes and eight points.
- Free throws missed and those not taken hurt WSU. The Shockers missed seven. They were in the bonus with 14 minutes to play and the double bonus with 9:40 remaining. Yet they made 8 of 13 free throws in the second half. They needed to make more and get to the line more often. That might be one of WSU’s biggest shortcomings on offense – nobody is great at getting to the line. Toure Murry can do it at times and leads WSU with 87 free throws. Durley has 71. Northern Iowa has two players with 90 or more free throws.
- Murry made more than one three for the first time since he made three at Indiana State on Jan. 13.
- The home/road difference: Marshall shortened his bench at Cedar Falls and played six people 25 or more minutes. UNI coach Ben Jacobson went deeper on Wednesday – in Wichita his reserves weren’t a factor. The biggest factor on Wednesday was Lucas O’Rear, who looked like the energy guy he was last season. He is non-stop action and will be a big boost to the Panthers if he continues to contribute like that. Durley scored 19 points in Koch Arena – 11 more than Wednesday. Graham Hatch scored 14, seven more than Wednesday.
- The NCAA resume took a hit. We won’t know if it’s fatal for weeks. I think finishing strong keeps them in the conversation, and you just never know. Winning their six remaining MVC games makes the Shockers 25-5 and then a lot depends on Utah State. The big thing is not to let the UNI loss take the edge off for Indiana State on Saturday.
- Sometimes it’s tough to watch the WSU offense with Demetric Williams when Hannah sits. Marshall is doing the right thing by playing Williams in those situations. He spots him a few minutes in each half. Williams is good enough to help. Next season, he needs to help. He’s not going to learn on the bench.
Around the Valley
- Creighton makes 66.7-percent of its shots to beat Evansville.
- P’Allen Stinnett rejoins the team to watch from the bench. We may see him in a Bluejay uniform again.
- Missouri State wastes a 29-point effort from Adam Leonard at Southern Illinois.
- The Salukis got the message about getting the ball to freshman center Gene Teague, who scored 16 points against the Bears. Teague got a late start and probably can’t catch Evansville’s Colt Ryan for Freshman of the Year. Teague would be my No. 1 draft choice among the MVC’s rookies.
- Illinois State is a team I can’t figure. The Redbirds lost at Indiana State. They should be better than .500 in the MVC with their talent. A game with no baskets for Osiris Eldridge is a testimony to Harry Marshall’s defense.
- Marshall, in another painful twist to the season for the Sycamores, may be hurt. He scored 18 points and didn’t commit a turnover.