Van Vleet Adjusting to College Ball 2/18/13
By: Scott Leber
Updated: February 18, 2013
Normal, Illinois-Fred Van Vleet thrilled Stateline basketball fans the last four years with his play at Auburn High School. Now the former All-State guard is handling the transition to major college ball at Wichita State.
Sunday night he was back in Illinois. His Shockers were facing Illinois State in a Missouri Valley Conference game. Van Vleet was coming off his best game of the season a 17 point, 9 assist game against Drake.
Against Illinois State he struggled. He had three early fouls, four turnovers, and he made only one basket a three-pointer midway through the second half.
Those are the ups and downs of a college freshman.
"I'm kind of dealing with the continuous going back and forth," said Van Vleet after the game.
"Early on it's all learning. After I figured I had to play a big role then it was kind of learn on the fly. You're always learning every day, but sometimes you've got to learn by being thrown in the fire a bit."
Van Vleet came into this game averaging 16 minutes of court time a game and a shade under three points per game. He's one of the first guys off the bench.
Despite Van Vleet's ups and downs his head coach Greg Marshall says he loves having Van Vleet on the team.
"I love him to death. I wish he were my son," said Marshall. "Don't take this game as a snapshot about what he's been doing. It might have been jitters coming this close to home."
Marshall sees in Van Vleet what we've all witnessed in him, a player with a great head for the game.
"He's not just a coach on the floor, he's a head coach on the floor," says Marshall.
Wichita State senior guard Malcom Armstread has helped Van Vleet ease into the college game.
"He's a great mentor," says Van Vleet. "Just bringing me along and showing me as we go. A lot of guys in his position could shun a freshman, but he's definitely been positive."
Wichita State beat ISU by one point Sunday on a three point basket with four seconds to play. That was the Shockers 22nd win, and it solidified their hold on first place in the Missouri Valley Conference. With each win it's looking more and more like Van Vleet will get to experience the NCAA Tournament next month. All of this reinforces in his mind that he made the right choice in going to Wichita State.
"I can't complain. We're winning, so that's all you can ask for at the end of the day," says Van Vleet.
"He's in a great situation, because he's got a great opportunity to play 17 minutes on a team that's 22-5 in first place. It's not all on his shoulders, but he's helping us win," says Marshall.
Sunday night he was back in Illinois. His Shockers were facing Illinois State in a Missouri Valley Conference game. Van Vleet was coming off his best game of the season a 17 point, 9 assist game against Drake.
Against Illinois State he struggled. He had three early fouls, four turnovers, and he made only one basket a three-pointer midway through the second half.
Those are the ups and downs of a college freshman.
"I'm kind of dealing with the continuous going back and forth," said Van Vleet after the game.
"Early on it's all learning. After I figured I had to play a big role then it was kind of learn on the fly. You're always learning every day, but sometimes you've got to learn by being thrown in the fire a bit."
Van Vleet came into this game averaging 16 minutes of court time a game and a shade under three points per game. He's one of the first guys off the bench.
Despite Van Vleet's ups and downs his head coach Greg Marshall says he loves having Van Vleet on the team.
"I love him to death. I wish he were my son," said Marshall. "Don't take this game as a snapshot about what he's been doing. It might have been jitters coming this close to home."
Marshall sees in Van Vleet what we've all witnessed in him, a player with a great head for the game.
"He's not just a coach on the floor, he's a head coach on the floor," says Marshall.
Wichita State senior guard Malcom Armstread has helped Van Vleet ease into the college game.
"He's a great mentor," says Van Vleet. "Just bringing me along and showing me as we go. A lot of guys in his position could shun a freshman, but he's definitely been positive."
Wichita State beat ISU by one point Sunday on a three point basket with four seconds to play. That was the Shockers 22nd win, and it solidified their hold on first place in the Missouri Valley Conference. With each win it's looking more and more like Van Vleet will get to experience the NCAA Tournament next month. All of this reinforces in his mind that he made the right choice in going to Wichita State.
"I can't complain. We're winning, so that's all you can ask for at the end of the day," says Van Vleet.
"He's in a great situation, because he's got a great opportunity to play 17 minutes on a team that's 22-5 in first place. It's not all on his shoulders, but he's helping us win," says Marshall.
