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September 28th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Wichita
State Shockers
Overall Rank:
#41
Conference
Rank: #4 MVC
2005-06:
26-9, 14-4, 1st
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 Last season was
supposed to be a transition year for
Wichita State after the
team lost four starters. There was little doubt that the
Shockers had the talent, but how quickly they came together
should have surprised even the hardcore yellow and black kool-aid
drinking WSU fans. The frontcourt will take a major hit, but
the backcourt is spectacular and with a year of experience
together, this group will be heading back to the NCAAs.
Who’s Out:
Paul
Miller was the senior leader last year and led the squad with
13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds. The absence of the 6-10 center
will leave the five spot relatively inexperienced. The
backcourt lost a few roleplayers in Jared Young, Nick Rogers and
Cameron Ledford. They all spent most of the year coming off the
bench and their numbers will be easily replaceable.
Who’s In:
The help is
needed up front and Phillip Thomasson will provide just that.
The 6-7 forward started the first eight games for Colorado State
two years ago before opting to transfer to WSU. Although, he’s
not the ideal replacement for Miller, Thomasson at least has
some experience and can help on the glass. David King
redshirted last year and the increase in strength gained during
that time will help the 6-10 center find some minutes this
year. Arbry Butler has the athleticism and quickness to be a
major match-up problem at the power forward spot. He needs to
gain some strength and work on his interior scoring before he
can be a superstar, but that will come with time. Incoming
freshmen Chris Brown and J.T. Durley will also battle for
minutes up front off the bench. Gal Mekel, a 6-3 Tel Aviv,
Israel native, will spend his freshman campaign as one of the
backup point guards and shooting guards. Mekel has the talent
to contribute right away, but it will be tough goings to find
many minutes in this backcourt. Incoming walk-on Derek Brown
will have a similar problem with the minutes.
Who to Watch:
It’s
all about the perimeter and Sean Ogirri, P.J. Cousinard, Matt
Braeuer, Karon Bradley, Ryan Martin and Wendell Preadom are
quite the backcourt. Ogirri is an excellent long range shooter
and connected on 44% from long range last year. It would be
helpful if Ogirri could get to the basket a little more, but
that job can be handled by Cousinard for the time being.
Cousinard, a 6-4 wing, will start at the three. He’s an
excellent rebounder and can occasionally hit the outside shot.
Ogirri might lead the team in scoring, but Cousinard won’t be
far behind. Braeuer returns to run the point after averaging
5.4 points and 2.7 assists as a sophomore. Along with newcomer
Mekel, Bradley and Martin will provide most of the depth in the
backcourt. Bradley started 13 games last year and averaged 8.0
points. The 5-11 guard, who played on Marquette’s final four
team before heading to Wichita State, will provide plenty of
talent and experience off the bench, if he indeed is relegated
to the bench once again. Although listed as a guard, at 6-5,
Martin should see most of his minutes backing up the forward
spots this year. Preadom showed promise as a freshman and will
be one of the backup point guards once again during the
2006-2007 campaign.
Final
Projection:
Kyle Wilson will
take over the leadership role up front. Last year the former
Illinois hoopster averaged 11.3 points and 5.8 boards. He has a
nice stroke from long range, but the Shockers need him to hit
the glass and spend more time in the paint. Ryan Bradley will
find some more minutes up front this year after seeing action in
just nine games as a freshman. The frontcourt issues keep the
Shockers off the top of the MVC, but the backcourt will win its
fair share of games on their own. For a team that was
accustomed to the size of Miller on the inside, the lack of a
proven big man will cause some problems. Still, anything less
than an NCAA bid will be disappointing.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Matt Braeuer,
Junior, Guard, 5.4 points per game
Sean Ogirri,
Junior, Guard, 12.0 points per game
P.J. Cousinard,
Junior, Guard, 10.2 points per game
Kyle Wilson,
Senior, Forward, 11.3 points per game
Phillip
Thomason, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
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