Wichita State's Gregg Marshall Named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year

By Paul Seaver
Geoff Burke-USA Today Sports

For a second consecutive season, the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year is Wichita State‘s Gregg Marshall.

After a number of losses off their roster from a season ago, the Shockers still responded under Marshall’s guidance and are likely bound for the NCAA Tournament when the bracket is announced on Selection Sunday.

Marshall becomes the first head coach to win this award without his team winning at least a share of the regular season conference championship since 1997. The Creighton Bluejays took home the regular season title behind a 41-point performance from MVC Player of the Year Doug McDermott just last weekend.

“It was a little bit of a pleasant surprise,” Marshall told Omaha.com. “I thought it was a tribute to these young men and their perseverance and toughness.'”

Marshall’s production on the bench this season has been keyed by the on the court play of his team, most notably Cleanthony Early and Carl Hall. The Shockers are on the verge of qualifying for their second consecutive NCAA Tournament. A year ago, Wichita State bowed out in the Round of 64 at the hands of VCU. This year however, they once again bring back that dark horse effect with the ability to potentially make some noise here in March.

On the season, Wichita State currently stands at 24-7 overall, finishing league play with a 12-6 mark. The Shockers are the second seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and are prepared to take on seventh-seeded Missouri State on Friday night.

 

Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS

 

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