The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Wichita State Shockers made an improbable run at the 2013 NCAA Tournament’s Final Four, Kadeem Coleby watched from the sidelines during his transfer period and missed a chance at history.

This season, Coleby is a major contributor as the Shockers rewrote the NCAA history books once again and became the first Division I men’s basketball programme to achieve a 30-0 regular season record.

The Shockers reached the mark with a 69-49 win on the road against the Bradley University Braves Tuesday night at the Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois.

The 6’9” 251-pound Bahamian centre said the experience has turned the 2013-14 season into “one to remember” because of the historic streak.

“It’s a crazy feeling. It’s kind of breathtaking,” he said. “They treat us like rock stars out here, even when we go to other teams’ city to play, people are gathered by our hotel asking for pictures and autographs. A lot of people underestimated us early on, but they have witnessed our greatness and now they are starting to believe.”

Coleby transferred from Louisiana-Lafayette prior to the 2012-13 season and missed last year’s NCAA tournament run which featured wins over Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, La Salle and Ohio State. The Shockers eventually lost to Louisville by four points in the Final Four.

“It was rough sitting out last year. I was able to practice with the guys everyday but I wasn’t allowed to go to road games. So playing this year was a big sigh of relief for me seeing that I missed out on that miraculous Final Four run last year,” he said. “However, to be on such a streak that we are on now, makes playing this year feel worth the wait sitting out.”

The Shockers, now the No. 2 ranked team in both the AP and USA Today coaches polls, improved to 17-0 in their Missouri Valley Conference.

They look to extend the streak in the regular season finale when they take on the Missouri State Bears at home in the Charles Koch Arena 2pm Saturday.

The 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks were the last team to finish with an undefeated regular season at 27-0.

It is the highest ranking for the Shockers’ programne since they reached No. 2 during the 1981-82 season.

Wichita State entered the 2013 tournament as the No. 9 seed in the West Region. Now, the Shockers have moved from the hunters to the hunted as one of the top teams in the NCAA and on pace for a regional No.1 seed.

“It would probably be harder to make a deep run in the tournament as a No.1 seed and the people favourites because it makes the target on our backs that much bigger. Everyone wants the opportunity to knock off a high ranking opponent because that is where you get your recognition,” Coleby said.

“But coach [Gregg Marshall] hasn’t made any comments about making a run in the NCAA tournament as yet. He talks about taking it one game and one day at a time.”

He is averaging 2.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as a part of a three-man rotation at centre for the Shockers which also includes Darius Carter and Chadrack Lufile.

“We are referred to as the three-headed monster in Wichita,” he said. “I am required to do a variety of different things but my main role is to protect the rim and orchestrate the activity of the defence.”

That leadership has led the Shockers to the top defensive ranking in the conference, allowing just 60.8 points per game.

At Wichita State, Coleby is with his fourth team in the last four years. He averaged 9.5 points and 4.9 rebounds for Louisiana-Lafayette in his junior season, starting 30 games. He also blocked 2.4 shots a game and led the Sun Belt Conference in shooting percentage (56.1). He scored double-figures 15 times, including a career-high 20 against Central Florida and also had a career-high 11 rebounds at Duquesne. He also was ranked 23rd in the NCAA in blocked shots.

As a sophomore at Daytona State College, he averaged 10.2 points and 8.1 rebounds. He also received first team All-Mid-Florida Conference honours, was ranked fifth in Region VIII in blocked shots per game (2.4) and eighth in rebounds.

As a freshman at Odessa College in Texas, he averaged 1.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in limited time.

Coleby closed out his high school career at the Christian Life Academy in Humble, Texas, posting 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game.

He has also been a member of both the junior national and senior national teams for the Bahamas most recently at the CBC Championships in 2012.

“I have been a part of losing teams and winning teams. I have started and have come off the bench. I have played in gyms with 10,000 fans cheering against me and I have played with 10,000 fans cheering for me. I have been through it all. My collegiate experience has been a long and hard-fought one. It has prepared me for all circumstances.

“I remember in JuCo taking the school bus on long road trips on the day of the game to play. Nowadays we fly by private jet a day before the game and spend the night in fancy hotels,” Coleby said.

“The most valuable thing I gained from my collegiate experience is the fact that I matured in all aspects. I learned how to be responsible and take care of business. That alone has kept me out of a lot of unwanted trouble and it has also brought me a lot of academic success.”

Coleby said he plans to continue that success when he gets his opportunity on the floor in the 2014 edition of the tournament, as the Shockers look to make history once again.