Markis McDuffie and Samajae Haynes-Jones were tasked with perhaps the toughest leadership job in the Gregg Marshall era at Wichita State.
Not only would both be required to rise to the challenge of massively expanded roles, but they would also have to lead one of the most inexperienced teams in college basketball.
The challenge has brought out the best in both and now the Shockers are playing their best basketball when it matters most, as they won for the eighth time in their last 10 games with a 72-55 victory over East Carolina on senior night Tuesday at Koch Arena.