The RoundHouse | 1/26/2019 7:58:00 PM

 
 
Wichita State started Saturday's game much like it did at South Florida four days earlier. The Shockers couldn't score and struggled to run their offense at UConn's Gampel Pavilion. They fell behind big and that told the story, again. 
 
UConn defeated Wichita State 80-60 to hand the Shockers their third consecutive loss.
 
On Saturday, the Shockers (8-11, 1-6 American Athletic Conference) started the game with a Jamarius Burton turnover that led to a UConn layup. They missed their first sevens and trailed 10-1 before two free throws with 14:56 to play in the half by Samajae Haynes-Jones registered on the scoreboard.
 
The Huskies (12-8, 3-4) stretched their lead to 14 quickly and 30-12 for the biggest margin. The Shockers trailed 43-28 at halftime after shooting 10 of 35 from the field and missing six of eight three-pointers.
 
The Shockers are 0-6 in road games. In five of those games, they shot below 40 percent from the field. On Saturday, they shot 33.8 percent from the field, 25 percent from three-point range. UConn blocked nine shots, often swallowing up smaller Shockers with several shot-blockers around the basket. Wichita State allowed 79 or more points in four of those road losses, so the defense plays a role in the struggles.
 
Much of Wichita State's offense depends on Markis McDuffie and the Huskies built their plan around denying him the ball and guarding him with a man or more when he did get the ball. UConn's Tyler Polley played a large role in holding McDuffie to nine points on 4-of-14 shooting. The foot injury that continues to slow center Jaime Echenique – scoreless in nine minutes on Saturday – also damages Wichita State's offense.
 
The Huskies pounded Wichita State on the glass by grabbing 15 offensive rebounds (almost half of their 31 missed shots). They made 31 of 62 shots and 11 of 24 three-pointers.
 
Wichita State's offense perked up a bit when the Shockers drove to the basket. Getting to the basket gave the offense some movement, drew some fouls and got the Shockers in place for a few high-percentage shots.
 
Burton scored a career-high 16 points, making 6 of 12 shots, largely by driving. Dexter Dennis shot poorly, but had some success on the move. 
 
The Shockers struggle from three-point range and the loss to USF showed the folly of passing the ball late into the shot clock. On Saturday, the Shockers showed some ability to get to the basket.
 
Wichita State comes home  for three of its next four games, starting against SMU on Wednesday. The schedule lightens a bit with the Shockers past a stretch against the American's top teams and four of the first seven on the road.
 
In their three previous home games, the Shockers upset Central Florida and played competitive games against Temple and Cincinnati before losing. 
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.