Good thing I’m not a Steeler fan. Otherwise, I would take yesterday as a bad sign.
Tonight’s game is 45 years in the making. The two teams met last in 1964 when the Schockers blew out Pitt 109-58 in Philly.
I can’t say I’m shocked that Jermaine Dixon is not going to be ready for the CBE Classic. Even if he was ready, I’m not sure how much he could contribute in his first game back. Not even surprised that he’s probably another 2 weeks away from rejoining the team. Just let it heal properly.
As for tonight’s game, well both coaches are being highly complimentary of the opponent.
“They really beat up Fairleigh Dickinson, that was very evident,” Dixon said Friday during a conference call with the four coaches. “This team is very physical and we’re going to get a quick look at that.”
WSU coach Gregg Marshall sends the compliments right back. The Panthers tied Michigan State for the NCAA lead in rebound margin at plus-9.3 in 2009.
“Big, athletic, very solid in their approach,” Marshall said. “They really rebound well.”
WSU (2-0) cruised to wins over Fairleigh Dickinson and Arkansas-Monticello. The physical edge enjoyed by the Shockers is over starting Monday.
“We’ve got two good wins, but this is a whole different ballgame,” Marshall said. “They’re going to be bigger, stronger, more athletic. We won’t be able to overwhelm them.”
And vice versa.
Still, while Coach Dixon is willing to talk-up the Shockers he isn’t short-changing his own players.
Dixon, who will be without shooting guard Jermaine Dixon (foot) until at least early December, is pleased with his youthful team’s progress.
“We haven’t gone backward in our three games,” the seventh-year coach said. “We’ve done things better. We’ve seen improvement, and that’s all you can ask.”
Wichita State has their own issues with youth, their leading scorer from last year suspended for one more game and an injury to one of their players that may at least hobble him a bit tonight.
Wichita State will play the game without its point guard and leading returning scorer from last season. Clevin Hannah, who averaged 11.2 points per game last season, was suspended by the NCAA for the first three games of the season because of an administrative error by the school.
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The suspension has forced Marshall to reshuffle his lineup. Toure’ Murry, the shooting guard last season, started at the point in Wichita State’s first two games. Further complicating matters, reserve point guard Demetric Williams sustained an ankle injury against Fairleigh Dickinson and did not play against Arkansas Monticello.
“We’re a little undermanned with injuries and the suspension, but we’re playing pretty well,” Marshall said. “You have to have more than one point guard, and this is a great example why. It would be nice to get another win without him, but we just have to get by for one more game.”
WSU Coach Marshall admits that the Shockers will look to make a mark with the chance to play Pitt.
“I’m excited about the challenge,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “Just like Arkansas-Monticello played up for us, we’ll likely play up for Pitt.”
And of course, a bigger stage and competition.
Wichita State steps up in class against the Panthers, the Big East power that lost four starters from last year’s Elite Eight team.
“We’ve got two good wins, but this is a whole different ballgame,” Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. “They’re going to be bigger, stronger, more athletic.”
Last year, the Shockers played a tournament in Florida and gave Michigan State and Georgetown tough games. Then knocked off Siena — but then started 0-6 in the MVC to kill their season. Their relative youth (starting 3 sophs and 2 juniors) and their performance in the MVC have them tabbed for 5th.
Here’s a short Q&A with P-G’s beat writer Ray Fittipaldo by the Wichita Eagle‘s beat writer.
There will be a liveblog tonight at 7:30 where everyone can overreact to the action as it happens.
