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As the Wichita State men’s basketball team has endured turmoil and upheaval heading into this season, it has been good for the Shockers to have someone like Tyson Etienne on the roster.
The former Putnam Science Academy standout chose to return to the Shockers despite a flood of teammates leaving the program following allegations of abuse against coach Gregg Marshall, who resigned Nov. 17 amidst the investigation.
So with seven players transferred out and just eight scholarship players remaining, Wichita State is up against it. But Etienne, who sharpened his craft at PSA in 2018-19, is the right guy to lead them through.
Not only is he the team’s top returning scorer (he averaged 9.4 points per game as a freshman), the work ethic that made him legendary at PSA is doing the same at WSU. He was a three-time winner of Marshall’s “Junk Yard Dog” award, and the coaching staff voted him the team’s Most Inspirational Player at the conclusion of last season. His attitude and positivity are something that the Shockers desperately need at this time.
“Just to be on the court is a beautiful thing,” he told reporters after scoring 21 of his career-high 26 points in the second half to rally the Shockers to a season-opening win. “I thank God we got on the court and it was a blessing that we’re out here.
“Despite everything that’s been going on around our team over the past couple months, our locker room is the best it’s ever been. We’re all having each other’s back. We all like each other, we all mess with each other. And we just keep rallying each other when something bad happens. We just help each other as part of the process. Whatever happens is supposed to happen. We just come together and weather the storm.”
Wichita State fell in its second game, losing by 10 to a much deeper Missouri team, then dropped a 67-64 decision to Oklahoma State. Etienne had 19 points in 35 minutes, both team-highs, against the Cowboys.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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