Wichita State players enjoy a highlight during Friday's win over Bradley.
The score: Wichita State 78, Bradley 41
Key statistics: WSU made 29 of 58 shots (55.8 percent) and out-rebounded the Braves 44-26. Garrett Stutz had his fourth double-double in six MVC games with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Records: BU 5-13, 0-6; WSU 14-3, 5-1
- Before we brush aside the result as preordained because of Bradley’s weakness, let’s remember WSU did play without point guard Joe Ragland, its leading scorer. While the Braves haven’t won an MVC game, they have been competitive in varying degrees. Not against the Shockers, even when they are missing a key player. The loss of Ragland could have been an excuse for a sloppy game. After some early turnovers, the Shockers played well for long stretches. Ragland, out with a sprained right toe, said he will play on Sunday at Indiana State.
- Bradley coach Geno Ford went out of his way to praise WSU’s Toure Murry. Murry had four points, three rebounds, six assists and five turnovers, so it wasn’t a vintage effort. I know Murry’s shooting and turnovers are a sore spot with some fans. It seems coaches enjoy a greater appreciation for Murry’s talents. Ford made a point to talk about Murry without being asked. “He’s an all-conference player, and he does not force,” Ford said. “A lot of guys feel a need, because they’re an all-conference player, like ‘I’ve got to go out and force my will on the game and I’ve got to my shots and I’ve got to get my touches.’ There are a lot of games, when you watch them on film, that he just finds a way to get five rebounds, five assists and he may not take a lot of shots. He took three shots tonight. That’s a pretty big statement out of a senior who’s an all-conference player. He wants to win, and that’s kind of their M.O.” WSU coach Gregg Marshall appreciated Ford’s sentiment. His issue (one he would share with fans) are the turnovers. “Toure plays his best basketball when he is penetrating, getting in the lane, finding others and getting others shots,” Marshall said. “The problem we have with him. . . he gets in a hurry. He tries to do things too quickly and throws the ball away. Five turnovers is too many. That being said, I know how valuable he is and I’d like to maybe get an extra year for him.” The people who voted him second-team All-MVC as a junior must agree. While his stats aren’t always pretty, Murry is a big part of what makes WSU go.
- I agree with Eagle columnist Bob Lutz on Garrett Stutz’s recent stretch of fine play. Stutz, playing starter minutes, is producing at an All-MVC level. I think he is getting more confident and more aggressive in recent games, showing post moves that we haven’t seen in previous seasons. I think I remember spouting off before the season that if Stutz was an All-MVC player, WSU would win the regular-season title. We’ll see if that holds up.
- Friday’s 37-point margin ranks sixth among all MVC victories for the Shockers, two points behind their December win at Bradley. I’m fairly confident those two wins set a Shocker mark for combined margin of victory in an MVC series. In 1961-62, the Shockers beat North Texas State by 30 points on the road and 41 at home.
- WSU’s defense didn’t get a lot of post-game attention, despite holding Bradley to a season-low 41 points. One key was keeping guard Walt Lemon Jr. from driving and scoring. Lemon, who averaged 12.5 points entering the game, scored two and missed all three of his shots. He did hand out six assists and had one turnover. Marshall credited Demetric Williams with a good chunk of the work on Lemon. “We knew that he and (Dyricus) Simms-Edwards and Taylor Brown were their strikers, those were the guys that can hurt you,” Marshall said. “Demetric did a good job. When his mind is right, he can really, really defend. He’s so quick and so competitive.”
- The Shockers now take off on a two-game road trip that could be a turning point, playing at Indiana State on Sunday and at Northern Iowa on Wednesday. The Shockers and Creighton are both 5-1 in the MVC and 3-0 on the road. Creighton, with wins at WSU and Illinois State, is in a much stronger position. WSU can level the playing field some with two more wins.
Next up: at Indiana State, 7 p.m. Sunday (ESPNU)