The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Spoets Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was a bitter pill for centre Kadeem Coleby and his Wichita State Shockers to swallow after they had their winning streak snapped when they got eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Shockers went into the game riding an impressive 35-0 win-loss record as the top seeded team, but they suffered a heartbreaking 78-76 loss to the No.8 seed Kentucky Wildcats to bring an abrupt end to their season.

For Coleby, it was the end of his collegiate career and he took it all in stride. “Everybody played their hearts out. They gave it their all and we performed at a high level,” Coleby said. “We raised the performances of our opponents as well, so that’s all I could say. Kentucky didn’t play that well all season long. But against us, they stepped it up and shot 50 per cent from the field and 48 per cent from the three-point line.

“I wouldn’t say that they caught us by surprise, but I would definitely say they didn’t play that well all year, so it was kind of surprising, but not really. We didn’t take them for granted by any means, they just outplayed us when it counted the most and they won.”

The Shockers, who ended the regular season at 34-0, opened the tournament with a 64-37 win over Cal Poly Friday night at the Scottrade Centre in St Louis. In that game, Coleby started, playing 19 minutes as he connected on 2-of-4 shooting from the field and 1-for-6 from the free throw line for five points. He also pulled down three rebounds and blocked four shots.

Against Kentucky on Sunday, Coleby again started and played just seven minutes. He only scored one point on his only free throw attempt and was 0-for-0 from the field as he didn’t put up any numbers in the other stats.

“I didn’t really get to play much. I started in both halves, but that was basically it. I was left in for about 3-4 minutes per half,” he said. “The coaches were trying some different positions, trying to get the rotations right. That’s just how it ended up going for me.”

On the season, Coleby ended up playing 465 minutes, an average of 12.9 per game. In their 36 games, in which he started 19 times, Coleby shot .360% from the field (38-for-84) and .500% from the free throw line (18-for-36) for a total of 96 points or an average of 2.6 ppg.

The six-foot, nine-inch 251-pounder also finished with 100 rebounds for an average of 2.8 rpg, dished out six assists, blocked 45 shots and stole three balls, while committing 78 personal fouls, fouling out twice and turning the ball over 22 times.

“It was a big time experience for me, something that I will cherish for life,” said Coleby, who transferred from Louisiana-Lafayette after the 2011-12 season. “It’s something that I hope to share with my kids and my grand kids. It’s been a wonderful year where we achieved so much. We broke so many records, put our names in so many history books. It’s something to be proud of.”

The only regret for the 24-year-old Coleby is that the Shockers did not shock the NCAA by staying alive to remain undefeated.

“It was heartbreaking, but the guys played so well,” Coleby said. “A lot of people got to see what we are capable of doing and they saw what a great game it was. Everybody was talking about it. They considered it to be, if not one of, the greatest games to be played in NCAA history.

“It was like a championship game. So despite the fact that we lost, I think we went out there and gave it our all and we played like we wanted to be the champions. Unfortunately, we fell short, but me and my teammates have nothing to hold our heads down in shame for.”

Coleby, who has already earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies-sociology and is now majoring in ethnic studies, said his focus is now on his professional career.

“The season is over, so the first step is to take a week or so off to try and get your body back in sync and then just start working on getting bigger, better and stronger,” Coleby said. “I have to hire an agent and then take it from there. I’m planning to do some work for the NBA Summer League and see if I can get on their permanent roster.

“If not, I will just continue to work out, play in the Pro-Am throughout the United States until I can get a contract to go overseas in Europe to play if things don’t work out for me in the NBA.”

Coleby, son of Dwight Coleby and Annabell Mass, said he has some plans to come back to the Bahamas to spend some time with his family and friends, but he’s not sure when that will work out. In the meantime, Coleby said he will take some time off to relax and reflect on the dismal ending to what has been a Cinderella season for him and the Shockers.