It's been five seasons since Wichita State had the defensive player of the year in its conference. The Shockers would argue mightily about some of the names overlooked in those years – VanVleet, Baker, Kelly, Brown top the list.
Coach Isaac Brown believes this is the season to give Shocker defense its due. Tekele Cotton won that award in 2014 and 2015. Junior Dexter Dennis is making a case - game after game, stop after stop – that he deserves to join Cotton, Jamar Howard (2003) and Dwayne Praylow (1989) voted as the conference's top defender.