Coaches by nature are always searching for an edge. One last detail, they believe, could tell the difference between a win or loss, and in post-season tournament play, the difference between advancing or going home. Wichita State was to play Washington State in the first semifinal of the 2011 NIT. Before heading to Madison Square Garden coach Gregg Marshall watched some of Washington State’s game against Gonzaga from back in December. What Marshall saw was a ‘horror film’. Not Halloween or Friday the 13th type, but after a few minutes of watching the Cougars dismantle Gonzaga by an 81-59 count, Marshall had seen enough. He headed to the Garden wondering how his Shockers would stay with or attempt to stop the Pac-12 representatives.
For the record Wichita State was outstanding. They drilled the Cougars by a 75-44 count. Marshall, per his admission, saw his team play great while they caught Washington State on arguably their worst night. Klay Thompson, the Cougars’ marquee talent, epitomized their struggle. A 22 points per game scorer, Thompson was held to 6 points on 1 of 10 shooting. Wichita defended the future NBA star well by drawing three offensive charges in the first half. That foul trouble limited him to a 25 minute night where he never found an offensive rhythm.
In the other semifinal Alabama edged Colorado 62-61. The championship game saw a back and forth affair, featuring 6 ties and 9 lead changes. Wichita gained late game separation to earn the championship. The Shockers’ 66-57 victory was sealed in the stretch as Graham Hatch buried a few crucial three pointers. A senior swingman, Hatch earned the Most Outstanding Player award.
The Crimson Tide were coached by Anthony Grant, whom these days is on the sidelines at Dayton. Sophomore Tony Mitchell led Alabama with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The 6’6” Sophomore logged 33 minutes despite being hit with foul trouble.
Memories without a notebook. Marshall was pleased and humbled to win the NIT. The Wichita mentor showed great appreciation for the tournament’s long and storied history. Marshall even gave mention to the ‘70 World Champion NY Knicks. Heading on to the Garden floor for a team shootaround one afternoon, Marshall came across a picture of that Knick team on the wall. He stopped and noticed two Wichita alums in the photo-Dave ‘the Rave” Stallworth and Nate Bowman. At the post game press conference following the semis, Marshall proudly made mention of those Knicks and the Wichita connection.
A 1 of 10 shooter impresses? In this case, yes. Klay Thompson had a game to forget in his first trip to the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena’. Still liked the fact even with his shots not dropping plus getting called for three offensive fouls, his body language never altered and he just kept working. An off night is one thing, those latter observations though, can be more telling.
Garden PA system covered both teams in pre-final warmups. ‘Wichita Lineman’ by Glen Campbell was played as was the Grateful Dead’s ‘Alabama Getaway’.
The night and 2011 NIT, though, belonged to Wichita State.
