The RoundHouse | 10/30/2018 10:24:00 PM

Three points from Wichita State's 75-64 win over NCAA Division II Catawba (N.C.) College on Tuesday at Koch Arena:
 
Samajae Haynes-Jones provided an encouraging performance at point guard, which is perhaps Wichita State's most important question entering the season. Haynes-Jones, a senior, scored 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting with one assist and one turnover in 32 minutes, 50 seconds of playing time.
 
"He looks way more confident, way more comfortable this year," teammate Markis McDuffie said.
 
As a junior, in his first season at WSU, Haynes-Jones excelled in up-and-down games in non-conference play. He struggled when the games slowed to half-court contests and his playing time slipped in January and February (the fact he competed for playing time with first-round NBA pick Landry Shamet and Conner Frankamp contributed).
 
This season, the Shockers need their most experienced guard to run the team and keep things steady. On Tuesday, he did a solid job scoring late in the shot clock.
 
Just as important, he said, is remaining calm and positive to set a good example.
 
"Being a senior, I've got to pull these young guys together," Haynes-Jones said. 
 
As advertised, guard Jamarius Burton is quickly adjusting to college basketball.
 
"He's an old soul," WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. "He's really methodical and mature."
 
Burton settled the Shockers early in the game when he came off the bench with his calm and ball-handling. He scored Wichita State's first six points (keeping the Shockers within 10-6) and assisted on a McDuffie basket to cut the lead to 10-8.
 
Burton finished with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting and made all four of his foul shots. He had three assists and three turnovers.
 
He ignored the crowd of 9,981 and gave the Shockers a solid effort on both ends of the court.
 
"I didn't look at the crowd and that helped me," he said. "My biggest focus coming out was to not even focus on the crowd."
 
The Shockers needed those guards to carry them in the first half because McDuffie played too wild for his coach's taste. He missed 5 of 6 shots and committed three turnovers in the first half, playing 10:34.
 
"The first half I was trying to figure out how I'm going to help this team," he said. "I know I'm going to have a load to carry.  I tried to do too much."
 
He played more within the offense in the second half, forced fewer shots, and finished with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting and four turnovers. Marshall said McDuffie's strong recent practices did not carry over into the first half.
 
"Markis just slowed down (in the second half)," Marshall said. "He played like a mature senior. In the first half, he played like another freshman. Tonight, he reverted to the way he played last year when he struggled."