:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48582985/usa-today-9046981.0.jpg)
Wichita State has been taking care of business in the Missouri Valley Conference. It hasn't always been pretty, but it has been completed.
The Shockers continued their undefeated run in the conference Sunday, moving to 6-0 with an 82-62 win over Indiana State.
The win gave Wichita State yet another triumph over the main contenders for their title, letting everyone know that it isn't quite their time yet. Evansville, Southern Illinois and now Indiana State couldn't do it. Northern Iowa is next up Wednesday, which will complete the set.
Yes, the Shockers are still the team to beat in the Missouri Valley, even if it hasn't always looked that way this season.
Sunday's game belonged to Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker, the duo that Wichita State is going to have a very hard time replacing when they leave Wichita after this season. The backcourt mates combined for 45 of the Shocker points on an afternoon when the rest of the team had trouble landing the ball in the basket.
Anyone not named Van Vleet of Baker managed to shoot just 22.9 percent from the floor, with most of the misses coming from behind the 3-point line. The rest of the team was just 2-for-15 from long range.
This dominance of the game from the two guards could have been applied to almost any number on the stat sheet. Steals? They had five of the seven for Wichita State. Assists? 8 of 10. They even contributed a perfect 15-for-15 from the free throw line.
Meanwhile the Shocker defense did what it does best, keeping Indiana State from getting any kind of rhythm going in the game. The Sycamores shot just 35.2 percent from the floor, and outside of Brenton Scott (24 points, five rebounds), they had a very bad day. Indiana State had 16 turnovers to Wichita State's five and seemed to be in perpetual foul trouble.
No, it wasn't pretty, but parts of Wichita State's game continue to click as they look for some consistency from one of the deepest benches in all of college basketball.
Until that comes, they will rely on the old standbys, Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker, to keep them on top.