Wichita State Shockers: Expectations and concerns for 2017-2018 season
By Eric Hogan
Number Five – Team Depth
There are a lot of unknowns about this Shocker team and this upcoming season, but if there is one definite, it’s the fact that the team has the kind of depth and talent to take them all the way.
The question is who will step up to the challenge and make the most of their opportunity? Standing at 6’8” and weighing in at 280 pounds, Shaq Morris is a force to be reckoned with down low.
Rauno Nurger adds senior leadership and experience to make a formidable rotation that most teams don’t have the luxury of going to. Add newcomers Brett Barney and a seven-footer in Asbjorn Midtgaard to the mix and the Shocker big men are looking great.
Who will step up to the challenge and make the most of their opportunity?
With Markis McDuffie out for the time being, Darral Willis will be asked to step up offensively. Hopefully that doesn’t put the Shockers back a whole lot.
Fellow seniors Rashard Kelly and Zach Brown will be the defensive stoppers and also add sporadic, but important scoring. Incoming freshman Rod Brown will be asked to provide minutes in the early part of the season and rounds out the forward position.
Guard play will be the main question mark coming into the season. Many younger, less experienced players will be asked to step up and lend their talents a bit ahead of schedule. The Shockers are full of local talent, as Brycen Bush, Jacob Herrs, and Samajae Haynes-Jones, all Wichita area natives, will be asked to give valuable minutes at the guard position.
Returning players C.J. Keyser, Kaelen Malone, Austin Reaves, & Frankamp will be carrying most of the load handling the ball and distributing the rock.