Wichita State is getting the band back together for one more season. Weeks after coach Gregg Marshall accepted a hefty raise to stay with the Shockers, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reports that Marshall’s starting backcourt of Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet will return for their senior seasons.
Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet are returning to Wichita State
The most accomplished starting backcourt in the country will reside at Wichita State next season.
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Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
VanVleet and Baker have ushered in Wichita State’s emergence as a national power the last three seasons. As freshmen, both were reserves on a team that went on an unlikely run to the Final Four as a No. 9 seed. As sophomores, the pair helped Wichita enter the NCAA Tournament undefeated before losing to Kentucky in the round of 32. This past season, the Shockers upset second seeded Kansas to reach the Sweet 16 before eventually losing to Notre Dame.
Wichita State loses wing Tekele Cotton to graduation but will gain Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp, who was once a four-star recruit. With Seth Tuttle graduating from Northern Iowa, Wichita State should be the favorites in the Missouri Valley Conference and a potential top 10 preseason team. No team in the country will have a backcourt as experienced and accomplished as Baker and VanVleet.
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