Kansas-Wichita State notes: Shockers coach discounts idea that Conner Frankamp could help scout Jayhawks
Former Kansas guard Conner Frankamp transferred to Wichita State earlier this season, which leads to one pressing question: Could Frankamp’s knowledge of the Kansas playbook help the Shockers on Sunday? Frankamp hasn’t been in Omaha this weekend, and Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said on Saturday that he’d had limited contact with the transfer since he arrived in Omaha.
“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” Marshall said. “I don’t know that he’s talked to my assistant coaches — maybe he has, maybe he hasn’t. (Assistant coach) Steve Forbes is the primary scout guy for this game, so maybe I’ll ask him to see if he’s reached out to Conner. Maybe he can remember that stuff, maybe he can’t, I don’t know. It’s been a while since he’s worn their uniform.”
Ellis says knee injury is ‘mental’
Kansas forward Perry Ellis, who is still battling the lingering effects from a right knee sprain, had a positive practice Saturday. After finishing with nine points and two rebounds against No. 15 seed New Mexico State on Friday, Ellis is hopeful that the knee will feel even better on Sunday.
“The key thing is just mental,” Ellis said. “It’s just a mental thing. Each day, I’m getting better and better. Practice today went well. The key thing is just getting out there and just being aggressive and attacking, and I was doing that today, and I wasn’t thinking about it at all.”
Kansas City influence on Shockers
Kansas and Wichita State will both feature a Wichita influence on Sunday, with former Wichita Heights teammates Ellis and Evan Wessel on the floor. But if this game were played next season, it might feature a Kansas City flavor.
The Shockers have signed two players from Kansas City in their 2015 recruiting class: Park Hill’s Landry Shamet and Tyrone Taylor of Grandview.
To reach Rustin Dodd, call 816-234-4937 or send email to rdodd@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rustindodd.
This story was originally published March 21, 2015 at 7:32 PM with the headline "Kansas-Wichita State notes: Shockers coach discounts idea that Conner Frankamp could help scout Jayhawks."