Illinois State

Cleanthony Early scored 16 points to lead Wichita State over Illinois State 74-62 Wednesday night. Early was 5 of 11 from the field. Williams scored 14 points and Malcolm Armstead and Nick Wiggins had 10 points apiece for the Shockers (16-2, 5-1 Missouri Valley). Carl Hall had a team-high 10 rebounds, and Tekele Cotton had seven points and seven assists. Wichita State led 31-20 at halftime. Wichita State shot 46.6 percent from the field and had 44 rebounds. The Redbirds shot 32.8 percent and had 36 rebounds.

Wichita State senior Carl Hall took part in his first live action in practice Monday afternoon and it's possible he will play on Wednesday against Illinois State.  Coach Marshall said on his Monday radio show that Hall has been cleared to play but he's not sure how much he'll play in the Shockers next couple of games. Hall has been out since December 15th when he broke his thumb during practice.  Hall was expected to miss one month which make this week his estimated reutrn date.

The next time I come to Evansville I'm going to drive.  The three worst flights I've ever taken in the Missouri Valley Conference have been in to and out of Evansville.  I'm not sure how I've wronged this city, but we are clearly not in sync. Back in the Hall - It appears as though Carl Hall could be back in the mix for the Shockers this week.  The senior won't play against the Aces today, but he could participate in their morning shoot around and will likely practice on Monday as Wichita State prepares for visits from Illinois State and Creighton this week.  Hall broke his thumb in a fall at practice and hasn't played since the Tennessee game on December 13. Baker still hobbled--- On the other hand, or foot - Ron Baker is still hobbled.  The freshman is on the trip, but so too is he still on crutches and will be for the next couple of weeks.  The Shocker medical staff doesn't want him to put any weight on his left foot for six weeks and then it's another week of walking only.  The earliest that Baker is expected back is the start of February.

Defending champion Wichita State has been picked fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll of league coaches, sports information directors and media, the league announced today. In addition, WSU's Carl Hall was picked as a member of the preseason honorable mention team. Creighton has been tabbed as the favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball title in 2012-13. The Bluejays, slated as high as No. 10 nationally in pre-season polls, received 398 of a possible 400 points (38 of 40 first-place votes)

No. 5 seed Wichita State will play No. 12 seed Virginia Commonwealth University of VCU in Portland, OR on Thursday. You can watch the game at 6:15pm on KWCH 12 or online (click on the link below for more information) Where do I Watch the Games? Click to Print Out a Bracket The Shockers finished the regular season with a 27-5 record, winning the Missouri Valley title. Gregg Marshall's team lost in the semi-final round of the MVC Tournament to Illinois State.

Despite a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double from Haleigh Lankster, the Wichita State women's basketball team fell short, 68-62, at Illinois State Thursday night. The defeat drops the Shockers out of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State turned the ball over 20 times, the team's highest total in MVC competition, and forced just 10 Redbird miscues. That soured a return to form in the rebounding department, where the Shockers held a 34-27 advantage. Illinois State scored the first seven points of the game before WSU rallied and took its first lead of the game, 21-20, on a Jazimen Gordon jumper with 7:13 remaining in the first half.

The 19th ranked Wichita State Shockers are the Missouri Valley regular season champions after defeating Illinois State 68 to 55 on the road Wednesday night. Joe Ragland led Wichita State (25-4, 15-2) in scoring with 14 points while Bryant Allen paced the Redbirds (17-12, 8-9) with 17.  Four Shockers finished in double-digits scoring including Garrett Stutz who recorded another double-double (12 points, 14 rebounds). The Shockers jumped out to an early 10-2 lead before going on a run and eventually building up a 12-point lead at halftime.  Illinois State rallied in the second to get within 5 but back-to-back three-pointers by Ragland and Ben Smith put the Shockers ahead by 17 points with less than 10 minutes to play.

Wichita State (24-4) has made the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll Top 25 for the first time this season and the AP Top 25 for the second week in a row. The Shockers are ranked 19 in both polls.  They received 183 points from the coaches in the Coaches Poll this week and 467 votes in the AP Top 25. The team won its Bracketbusters game against Davidson on Saturday.  The Shockers are in Normal, Ill. on Wednesday against Illinois State  and...

Springfield, Missouri is a hospitable town on the edge of the scenic Ozarks, but it might as well be a wasteland for Wichita State.  The Shockers are only 6-20 all-time in southern Missouri as they look to bounce back from a loss at Drake last weekend. Cue music from the Twilight Zone--the last time that WSU lost back to back Valley games was January of 2009 when they lost road games at---Drake and Missouri State.   If you're looking for a common thread in the Shockers four losses, look no further than 20'6" away.  Wichita State is hitting just 25 percent of it's three-pouint shots in their four laosses.