The RoundHouse | 12/16/2017 9:56:00 AM

Oklahoma at No. 3 Wichita State
 
When: 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Intrust Bank Arena
Records: Oklahoma 7-1, Wichita State 8-1
Listen: KEYN 103.7 FM/goshockers.com
Watch: ESPN2/WatchESPN
 
By Paul Suellentrop
 
Wichita State's defensive numbers are weird enough to wonder about at this early point in the season. The Shockers are excellent at defense's objective – stop scoring. They rank No. 13 nationally in Ken Pomeroy's defensive efficiency statistic, in line with other recent teams (top 20 each of the previous five seasons).
 
Defense is an equal partner in Wichita State's rise to No. 3 in the Associated Press ranking and it will get better when junior forward Markis McDuffie returns.
 
The Shockers, however, aren't forcing turnovers at their usual high rates. For the season, they've forced 108 (12 a game) and committed 120. Wichita State ranks No. 301 (out of 351 teams) nationally in forcing turnovers, according to Pomeroy – 16.5 percent of opponent possessions end in turnovers. Last season, it ranked No. 119, forcing turnovers on 19.4 percent of opponent possessions.
 
Several factors influence the turnover numbers.
 
Wichita State's schedule is strong, much stronger than last season's non-conference offering. In 2016-17, the Shockers faced four schools ranked No. 225 or lower by Pomeroy, plus a non-Division I opponent. This season, that number is two with a third (Arkansas State) awaiting. The Shockers have had fewer chances to rack up turnovers against over-matched teams.
 
 Seven of Wichita State opponents (plus OU) rank in the top 100 of Pomeroy's stats for avoiding turnovers. Even overmatched Savannah State, the kind of opponent you might traditionally count on throwing the ball away, ranks No. 72. Notre Dame is No. 5. The Shockers scheduled several teams with experienced guards who don't fold under pressure.
 
"It starts there," Shocker coach Gregg Marshall said. "When you play good teams, they don't turn the ball over as much."
 
McDuffie, who recorded a team-leading 42 steals last season, has not played while he recovers from a foot injury. His return will add a long, experienced defender to the rotation. Who was second in steals last season? Daishon Smith (35), who transferred.
 
The Shockers played teams who play fast and don't pass often. Seven opponents (including No. 5 OU) rank in the top 155 for tempo. Savannah State is No. 1.  It's hard to force turnovers when teams pass twice and shoot.
 
The Shockers dominated turnover battles in 2015 and 2016, led by elite defenders Ron Baker, Tekele Cotton and Fred VanVleet. They ranked No. 39 nationally in 2015 and No. 5 in 2016 in forcing turnovers. The current Shockers are good perimeter defenders; they're not in the class of that trio for their abilities to disrupt ball-handlers and pressure passes.
 
"We don't have those guys that are out there denying as much," Marshall said. "Conner Frankamp doesn't deny as much as Ron Baker. Austin Reaves doesn't deny as much as Tekele Cotton. Some of it's personnel."
 
The Shockers would, of course, love to force more turnovers. They are an easy way to produce points. But they can't sacrifice sound defense to gamble for steals.
 
"We've talked about it over the last two weeks or so," Reaves said. "Our on-ball defense has been really good. You make teams take tough shots."
 
Oklahoma's schedule is solid – wins over Ball State (which won at Notre Dame), Oregon and Southern Cal. Its loss is to Arkansas. Saturday's game will be OU's first in what I would consider a real hostile atmosphere. It defeated USC at Staples Center.
 
Opponents are making 38.6 percent of their three-pointers against the Sooners. The Sooners want opponents to shoot quickly to feed their breaks. Wichita State will get open threes. Are they the right threes? Threes taken in a hurry or when the Shockers aren't in position to rebound or hustle back on defense can turn into easy baskets for the Sooners.
 
The Shockers want to limit the time the Sooners have the ball, which means fewer opportunities for freshman guard Trae Young to work his magic. They also want Young to face an organized half-court defense. Letting him run against retreating defenders is a disaster.
 
Although the Sooners are solid defensively, they won't want to defend for long stretches. It is not what they do. The Shockers can get into their legs and take away the breaks that fuel their scoring with patient offense that ends with good shots. OU ranks fifth nationally in tempo; WSU 177^th.
 
In addition to guarding Young as he crosses half-court and defending the pick and roll with all five players, the Shockers would do well to keep him off the line. He made 17 of 18 free throws in a 90-80 win over Oregon and shoots 86.3 percent for the season. He is 63 of 73 this season. No other Sooner has attempted more than 20 foul shots, which speaks to how much Young dominates the ball.
 
Shocker guard Samajae Haynes-Jones practiced late this week and I'd expect him to play while trying to keep his stomach issues under control.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.