The RoundHouse | 3/2/2018 4:53:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Chris Lamb's love of counting spread from Wichita State volleyball from women's basketball this winter. Women's basketball coach Keitha Adams is happy she stopped by his office to chat.
 
"I was telling him about our shooting struggles," Adams said. "'What would you do if you were having a hard time serving? How are you going to win if you can't serve?'"
 
Lamb, as most Shocker volleyball fans know, loves statistics. He and his staff document almost every moment in practice, from serving accuracy to kills to perfect passes, to establish standards. The idea stuck with Adams and she went to practice with a plan to improve her team's shooting.
 
"He's a mastermind with that stuff," she said. "For us, I've got four coaches counting and I've got my (director of operations) over there with a calculator."
 
Sixth-seeded Wichita State (14-16) opens play in the American Athletic Conference Tournament at 11 a.m. Saturday vs. No. 11 Temple (11-18). The Shockers take a four-game win streak into the tournament in Uncasville, Conn., a streak that started with an 88-81 win over Temple.
 
The Shockers made a school-record 70 percent of their shots (35 of 50) in the win over Temple. They continued to shoot well from three-point range and the foul line in the next three games. In that span, Wichita State is 20 of 43 from three-point range. While they dipped below 40 percent overall in two of those wins, they shot 54.4 percent in a win over Tulane.
 
Adams credits shot selection and the daily reinforcement in practice borrowed from Lamb. When the Shockers shoot, Adams provides a goal. Jumpers from around 15 feet might require 62 percent makes. For three-pointers, she might demand 40 percent.
 
If the Shockers hit the goal, they move to another spot. If they fall short, sprint.
 
"We do it every day," she said. "Shoot-around, we do it. Game-day, we do it. Practice. So, they're hearing what percentage they're making. It creates great focus."
 
The Shockers needed that focus to recover from their 124-43 loss at No. 1 UConn on Feb. 10. Adams is proud that they didn't let that experience knock them off course permanently. They started their win streak with the next game and finished 9-7, tied for fifth, in their first season in the American. The preseason poll of coaches ranked Wichita State 10th.
 
"We showed some maturity and some composure in the locker room after the Connecticut game," she said. "I looked at them and said 'I want to win every conference left.' We loaded up. We came home and we did."
 
The trip back to Connecticut offers the Shockers and their seniors a chance to extend their debut season in the American. On Friday, senior forward Rangie Bessard earned second-team all-conference honors. She scored a career-high 38 points in the earlier win over Temple. Angiee Tompkins added 17.
 
The winner of Saturday's game faces third-seeded Central Florida (20-9) at 11 a.m. Sunday. UCF defeated the Shockers 59-53 in their lone meeting in Orlando.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.