UNLV vs. Wichita State
WHEN: 6 p.m. today WHERE: Koch Arena, Wichita, Kan.
TV/RADIO: ESPN2 (31); KWWN (1100 AM, 100.9 FM)
LINE: Wichita State -6; total 138 which rewarded him with a new contract worth more than $3 million per year. He had reasons to stay other than money, the main one being a preseason Top 10 teamthatappearedsetforanother strong NCAA Tournament run.
But this is not what Marshall planned. A rash of injuries in the season’s first month wrecked the Shockers.
“I think it was justified, but it’s all based on everybody staying healthy,” Marshall said of the lofty ranking. “We’re nowhere near being ahealthyteam. Wewill have to deal with the adversity.”
After drawingthetoughestcard in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge, UNLV (7-1) faces Wichita State (3-4) at 6 p.m. today at Koch Arena. The game will be televised by ESPN2, and it’s another shot for the Rebels to pick up a marquee win and state their case as a Top 25 team.
It’s not the ideal time or place to catch the Shockers, however. Senior point guard Fred VanVleet recently returned from ankle and hamstring injuries, and although Marshall said VanVleet is operating at “75 to 80 percent,” his presence is a major boost.
In coach Dave Rice’s first season, the Rebels traveled to Wichita and were ambushed and blasted 89-70 before a delirious crowd.
Still, Marshall had nothing but positive things to say about this UNLV team after watching tape of its victories over Indiana and Oregon.
“It’s an extremely talented team, long andathletic,” Marshall said. “They have got some guys that have played a lot of college basketball. It’s a very good team on tape. I’m sure it looks impressive when they get off the plane, and their play backs it up.
“I’m sure we’ll have our hands full, but I’mglad the gameisatour place.”
The size difference in the teams might be what concerns Marshall most. The Shockers’ forwards — 6-foot-7-inch Shaquille Morris and 6-6 Zach Brown — should have a tough time matching up with Stephen Zimmerman Jr., the Rebels’ 7-foot freshman.
Anton Grady, a 6-8 forward, remains sidelined after taking a blow to the head and leaving on a stretcher in Wichita State’s loss to Alabama on Nov. 27.
“It’s an NBA team,” Shockers guard Ron Baker said of UNLV. “Ahugeteam.(Zimmerman)isthe real deal on film. He’s a 7-footer that moves fairly well. He can shoot about 18 feet away from the basket. It’s goingtobetoughforus to guard him.”
Baker and VanVleet were stars on Wichita State teams that went 35-1 in 2013-14 and 30-5 last season. The Shockers stumbled out of the gate in November, but when healthy, they should be a factor again in March.
And help is on the way. In a surprising development, Marshall said sophomore guard Conner Frankamp, a transfer from Kansas, could become eligible to play against the Rebels. Frankamp, a dangerous 3-point shooting threat who was the Wichita City League’s all-time leading scorer with 2,275 points, had been expected to debut Saturday against Utah, after the semester break.
“He’sgottohavehisgradesregistered into the system in time,” Marshall said. “He’s a good student; that’s not an issue. It’s just a matter of getting the tests graded and put into the system so that he’s deemedacademicallyeligible.