WICHITA, Kan.  --  Wichita State opened women's basketball practice for the 2016-17 season with a spirited and focused two hours and 45 minutes inside the practice gym Tuesday afternoon.

"For a practice that went 2 1/2 hours with a lot of teaching, I thought our energy was unbelievable, and I'd give us an A-plus," Adams said.  "We were into completing the play instead of just making the play. I thought that was an important thing for us to see, and really good for our players to see. Today we were building their confidence individually and as a team.

"I thought they were prepared (for practice), and had done an outstanding job in our preseason phase of conditioning, getting their bodies healthy and fit, and just mentally being ready. It was an outstanding practice and very spirited."

Adams announced team captains selected by the team in returnees junior Diamond Lockhart and senior TaQuandra Mike for the 2016-17 season. Mike, a second-year transfer and second-leading scorer a year ago at 12.5 points a game, experienced the opening day of practice with 10 other Shocker returnees.

"I thought today's practice started out great, and finished great," Mike said. "We came in with a lot of energy, ready to learn, and ready to get to the next step. I feel that today's first practice was better than last year's with so many players back, and everyone was enthuiastic with everything we were learning."

Lockhart, also a second-year transfer, felt the energy and enthuiasm flow through the first day of practice and felt comfortable with a year under her belt.

"I think it really good," Lockhart said. " I think everyone communicated on the floor really well and everyone was excited. I think this was the most fun we have had in a practice, everyone was communicating, pushing each other, just trying to make each other better, and just encouraging each other."

The Shockers open with the first of two exhibitions on Nov. 2 against Newman University, and follows that with its second exhibition Nov. 6 against Cameron University. Wichita State's home and season opener is Nov. 13 against Creighton.

The Creighton game will be the first of three Shocker games televised on Cox Channel Kansas. WSU's noon game on Dec. 2 against Arkansas State and WSU's MVC game at approximately 3:30 p.m., on Jan. 1 are also set to be televised by Cox Kansas.

Cox Channel Kansas (HD 2022) and Cox Channel Extra (HD 2122) can now be seen by Cox Cable subscribers in more than 90 communities across the state, making it the widest geographical television option in Kansas.

Wichita State is the only league team to return all five starters after a seniorless squad during the 2015-16 campaign (8-22, 5-13). The Shockers had won the three previous three Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles and secured three-straight NCAA appearances, all first for the program.

Rangie Bessard, who earned honorable mention all-MVC honors last season as the MVC's Newcomer of the Year, will be a force in the paint. Bessard led the Shockers offensively in 2015-16, averaging 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Mike also averaged double figures for Wichita State a year ago, averaging 12.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing.

Senior guard Jaleesa Chapel (4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds), junior guard Diamond Lockhart (7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists) and junior guard Aundra Stovall (4.2 points) also return to the backcourt for the Shockers after starting in the majority of the games a year ago.