The RoundHouse | 1/20/2018 10:15:00 AM
By
Paul Suellentrop
HOUSTON - Houston coach Kelvin Sampson watched the Shockers rain down three-pointers in the first meeting and knew he couldn't watch it again. Houston played full-go defense at the three-point line to bother Wichita State's
Landry Shamet and
Conner Frankamp.
The Cougars trapped on the sidelines to keep the Shockers from reversing the ball and creating the open shots that come from those actions. Its big men flew around and altered shots to keep Wichita State from scoring near the rim. The Shockers missed several shots in the lane, mostly because they were rushed by physical and aggressive defenders.
The Shockers made 19 of 58 shots for a season-low 32.8 percent. Its 20-percent accuracy (4 of 20) from three-point range is also a season-low.
Wichita State finished with 18 turnovers (one off its season high) and 19 baskets. Shamet finished with seven points on 2-of-10 shooting. Frankamp had nine points on 3-of-11 shooting and the Shockers.
The enduring vision of the game will be Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall looking at his bench in search of a lineup that worked. He tried almost everything, playing
C.J. Keyser early in the game in hopes of a defensive spark. Wichita State played zone in the second half.
Wichita State found a few moments where things worked – some plays that got Shamet and Frankamp good shots. Nothing worked consistently, thanks to Houston's defensive pressure.
The Shockers bottled up Houston guard Rob Gray in the first meeting. Gray scored 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting with four assists and four turnovers in the rematch.
Wichita State saw its 11-game road win streak snapped. It lost consecutive games for the first time since November 2016, when it lost to No. 10 Louisville and No. 24 Michigan State in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Postcard from Houston
Houston plays home games at Texas Southern this season while its on-campus arena undergoes a renovation.
The $60-million Fertitta Center will open next season, replacing Hofheinz Pavilion. That project is part of facilities expansion at Houston, most done with the goal of promoting its candidacy for the Big 12.
The Cougars were not alone in that ambition – Central Florida, South Florida and other American members are pouring big money into arenas, stadiums, training rooms and locker rooms to keep up and impress.
Houston opened a $20-million football facility last fall. In 2016, it opened a $25-million practice facility for men's and women's basketball. In 2014, $125-million TDECU Stadium, which seats 40,000 for football, opened on campus.
Houston celebrated the 50th anniversary of its 71-69 win over No. 1 UCLA, Jan. 20, 1968 at the Astrodome. Dubbed "Game of the Century," it was the first college basketball game televised live nationally.
The game between the second-ranked Cougars, featuring Elvin Hayes, and defending NCAA champion UCLA, with Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabar) drew a crowd of 52,693 fans.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
