TEMPLE (10-3, 0-1) at WICHITA STATE (7-6, 0-1)
Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 | 3:01 p.m. CT
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena (10,506)
TV: ESPNEWS // WatchESPN
Radio: KEYN 103.7 FM // GoShockers.com/Listen
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>>> Wichita State (7-6, 0-1) plays its American Athletic Conference home opener Sunday afternoon against the Temple Owls (10-3, 0-1) at Charles Koch Arena. The 3:01 p.m. CT tip airs on ESPNEWS.
>>> Seats are still available. Fans can purchase $15 general admission tickets, online only, as GoShockers.com/Tickets.
>>> Listen on KEYN 103.7 FM and online at GoShockers.com/Listen. Join Mike Kennedy, now in his 39th season as "Voice of the Shockers," and Bob Hull for the INTRUST Bank Pregame Show, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
>>> Back after a holiday hiatus, join Kennedy on Monday nights for the
Gregg Marshall Radio Show from 6-7 p.m. at AJ's Sports Grill at The Alley. Listen live on KFH (98.7 FM / 1330 AM), or watch the show in a television format Mondays at 9 p.m. on YurView Kansas (Cox 2022) and online at YurView.com/Kansas.
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OPENING TIPS:
***This is the Shockers' first Roundhouse appearance in 18 days (since an 84-63 win over Oral Roberts on Dec. 19). They've won five-straight home games (four at CKA and one downtown).
***The Shockers are coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season and will look to avoid their first three-game skid since November, 2015. WSU fell 85-74 at Memphis on Thursday night in its American opener.
Markis McDuffie (19 points) led a group of four Shockers in double-figures, joined by
Samajae Haynes-Jones (15),
Dexter Dennis (12) and
Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler (12).
Ricky Torres had eight assists and no turnovers.
***Temple (10-3, 0-1) fell at preseason favorite UCF, Wednesday night in Orlando, 78-73. The trio of Nate Pierre-Louis (21 pts), Shizz Alston Jr. (18) and Quinton Rose (17) combined for 56 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome UCF's 60.4% shooting.
***Due to the league's unbalanced schedule, this will be the only regular season meeting between the teams. WSU and Temple played three tightly-contested games over a 40-day span in 2017-18, with the Shockers taking two-of-three... Temple won the first (Feb. 1) in Philadelphia, 81-79. The Shockers led by seven with just over 5:00 to play in regulation and by five in overtime but couldn't hang on... WSU turned the tables two weeks later (Feb. 15) in Wichita, overcoming a 14-point halftime deficit and Temple's arena record 16 three-pointers for a 93-86 victory... The Shockers won the rubber match, 89-81, in The American quarterfinals (Mar. 9), behind
Landry Shamet's 6-of-8 three-point shooting.
***Sunday's game opens up a stretch of four-straight games against KenPom top-75 teams: Temple (70), @Houston (32), UCF (36) and Cincinnati (23). That group combined for a 43-6 non-conference record. Houston is ranked 19th in the latest AP Poll, and Cincinnati is receiving votes.
***The Shockers face two teams this week that rank among the national leaders in steals: Memphis (which had 12 against WSU on Thursday night) is tied for 15th at 9.3 steals per game. Temple (13th) averages 9.4.
***McDuffie entered the weekend tied for second on The American scoring chart. He's reached double-figures in 12-straight games, which is tied for the fourth-longest streak of the Marshall Era.
***6-11 junior
Jaime Echenique leads the team in rebounds (5.9) and blocks (15).
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Consecutive Double-Figure Scoring Games (Marshall Era, 2007-Pr.)
19 – Cleanthony Early (2013-14*)
14 – Ron Baker (2015-16)
13 – Cleanthony Early (2012-13)
12 – Markis McDuffie (2018-19)
12 – Ron Baker (2014-15*)
12 – Ron Baker (2014-15)
12 – Fred VanVleet (2014-15)
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ALWAYS FRESH:
***In his first 11 seasons at WSU, Marshall had just one true freshman average more than 20 minutes per game (Toure' Murry played 28.2 in 2008-09). This year he has three of them:
Erik Stevenson (24.6),
Dexter Dennis (23.8) and
Jamarius Burton (20.7).
Minutes Played by True Freshmen (Marshall Era, 2007-Pr.)
28.2 -- Toure' Murry (2008-09)
24.6 -- Erik Stevenson (2018-19)
23.8 -- Dexter Dennis (2018-19)
20.7 -- Jamarius Burton (2018-19)
18.5 --
Markis McDuffie (2015-16)
16.2 -- Fred VanVleet (2012-13)
14.2 -- Morris Udeze (2018-19)
14.0 -- Aaron Ellis (2007-08)
13.8 --
Rashard Kelly (2014-15)
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ON THE LEADERBOARDS (As of Jan. 4):
***
Markis McDuffie entered the weekend at No. 73 nationally in points-per-game (18.8).
***With a career-high eight assists on Saturday,
Ricky Torres now qualifies for the national leaderboard in assist-to-turnover ratio. His 2.31 ratio ranks 102nd.
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Jaime Echenique ranks among conference's top-10 in blocks (7th, 1.15) and field goal percentage 3rd, .603).
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TRENDING:
***Tabbed eighth in the preseason poll, the rebuilding Shockers play their first five AAC games against teams picked to finish in the upper-half: @Memphis (4th), TEMPLE (6th), @Houston (3rd), UCF (1st), CINCINNATI (2nd).
***The schedule eases a bit after Jan. 19 with five of the next six against teams picked seventh-or-lower: @USF (12th), @UConn (5th), SMU (7th), TULSA (9th), @ECU (11th), TULANE (10th).
***According to the NCAA's new NET formula, WSU has played the nation's 41st-toughest schedule. The non-conference portion ranks 43rd.
***Seven Shockers have taken a turn as leading rebounder over the past eight games.
***6-foot-3
Erik Stevenson is averaging 4.8 rebounds per game. If he maintains that pace, it would be the most ever by a freshman guard at Wichita State.
***
Markis McDuffie's 18.8 points per game was the highest non-conference scoring average by a Shocker under Marshall.
***Over the last three seasons, the Shockers are 56-2 (6-0 in '18-19) when outshooting their opponent, compared to 7-16 (1-6 in '18-19) when outshot.
***The Shockers have shot less than 40 percent from the field in seven of the 13 games this year. That happened on just two occasions all of last season.
***What a difference a year has made for
Samajae Haynes-Jones. The Hutchinson Community College product saw limited action in 2017-18Â behind the NBA-bound
Landry Shamet, appearing in just one game after Feb. 10. This year Haynes-Jones (12.3 ppg) is averaging a team-high 31.3 minutes per contest.
***McDuffie logged 38 minutes, 17 seconds of court time at Memphis -- 33 seconds off his career-high, set earlier this year against Davidson.
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Dexter Dennis returned to action Thursday night. He sustained a concussion in the second half of the Dec. 15 Southern Miss game and missed the next two contests against Oral Roberts (Dec. 19) and VCU (Dec. 22) while advancing through concussion protocol.
***In the final minutes at Memphis, Dennis drove baseline for a ferocious dunk through contact (which turned into a three-point play). The Shockers' best raw athlete, Dennis has been lauded for his highlight reel dunks during practices, but Thursday night was the first official dunk of his collegiate career.
***WSU is 0-1 in conference play for the first time since the 2009-10 season. The Shockers had opened league play at 4-0 or better in each of the six previous seasons. Last year's group started 5-0 with road wins at UConn, ECU and Tulsa and home victories against Houston and USF.
***The Shockers have used five different starting-fives. The grouping of Torres/Haynes-Jones/Dennis/McDuffie/Echenique is 3-2 together. Haynes-Jones and McDuffie have started all 13 games.
Jaime Echenique (12-straight starts) came off the bench in the opener.
Ricky Torres has started the last eight times. Over the past nine games, Dennis and Stevenson have alternated starts on the wing. Dennis returned to the lineup Thursday night and scored 12 points.
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THIS DATE IN SHOCKER HISTORY:Â Jan. 6, 1983Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
***On this date, 37 years ago, Aubrey Sherrod hit the first three-pointer in Shocker history. Though it wasn't until four years later that the NCAA implemented the three-point line nationwide, the Missouri Valley Conference was one of several leagues that experimented with the arc during the 1982-83 season. Sherrod, a slick-shooting sophomore, made 23-of-59 attempts (.390) that year. The first came in WSU's conference opener at West Texas State. At the 1:40-mark of the first half, Sherrod -- the only Shocker to try a three that night -- connected from the right wing. Though he finished just 1-for-3, his bonus point proved pivotal in an 89-88 victory. The Shockers went on to post a 17-1 record and win the 1983 MVC title.
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SEVEN WITH SEVEN PLUS SEVEN:
***
Gregg Marshall and Temple's Fran Dunphy are on a short list of just seven coaches who have led two different schools to seven-or-more NCAA Tournament bids.Â
***Marshall joined the club in 2018 with his seventh-consecutive bid at WSU. He also took Winthrop dancing seven times in nine years.
***Dunphy logged nine appearance at Penn and has seven more with Temple.
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Coaches with 7+ NCAA Tournament Appearances at Multiple Schools:
Fran Dunphy* -- Penn (9) and Temple (7)
Steve Fisher – Michigan (7) and San Diego St. (8)
Lou Henson – New Mexico St. (7), Illinois (12)
Bob Huggins* -- Cincinnati (14), West Virginia (9)
Gregg Marshall* -- Winthrop (7), Wichita State (7)
Eddie Sutton – Arkansas (9), Oklahoma State (13)
Roy Williams* -- Kansas (14), North Carolina (13)
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*=Active Head Coach
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THE SERIES vs. TEMPLE:
***The Owls lead the all-time series, 4-2, but WSU has won back-to-back. Temple is 2-1 in Wichita.
***All six games have been decided by eight points or less and two of them have gone to overtime.
***WSU took two of the three games last year.
***In the 2011 Puerto Rico tipoff, Temple won 78-74 in extra time behind 23 points from Ramone Moore. Toure' Murry scored a game-high 24 for the Shockers, who went on to win 25 of their next 27 games en route to the first NCAA Tournament bid of the Marshall Era.
***The teams met twice in the 1980s in Wichita, with Temple winning both.
***In Dec. 1983, junior Xavier McDaniel played all 40 minutes and tallied 24 points and 18 rebounds, but Temple survived, 78-73.
***Two seasons later, the Owls squeezed out a 62-60 win at the finals of the Pizza Hut Shoot Out. The Shockers held 51-42 with 8:56 remaining, but Tim Perry's three-foot jumper at the buzzer capped a furious Temple comeback.
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SCOUTING TEMPLE:
***Temple won 17 games a year ago and earned a spot in the postseason NIT. This year, the Owls are one of six American schools that posted at least 10 wins during non-conference play.
***Quinton Rose was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2018 and opened the year as a preseason first team all-conference pick.
***Nate Pierre-Louis has enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign after making the All-Rookie team last year.
***Senior guard Shizz Alston Jr. (19.2 points) is The American's leading scorer ahead of
Markis McDuffie.
***Alston is one of the nation's best foul shooters (51-of-56, .911) – 19th in D-I. He also ranks among the national leaders in assists (5.3, 55th), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.72, 57th) and three-pointers per game (3.15, 37th).
***Alston (19.2 points), Rose (16.4) and Pierre-Louis (12.6) have accounted for over 65 percent of the team's points, but they're not just scorers. The trio are averaging a combined 6.2 steals per game.
***As a team, Temple's 12.4 steals per game ranks 13th nationally. The team is +4.5 on turnovers for the year (18th nationally).
***Temple is 3-2 this year in true road games with wins at Mizzou, St. Joseph's and Drexel. Losses came at Villanova and UCF.
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MATCHUP MASHUP:
***
Gregg Marshall (487) and Fran Dunphy (567) have combined for 1,054 wins.
***Dunphy (257-155 in 13 seasons at Temple) is coaching his 30th and final year. He's 2-2 all-time against the Shockers. All four games have come against Marshall.
***WSU and Temple share two common opponents: VCU and Davidson. The Shockers lost to both – the latter came down to the wire. Temple dropped a neutral court game against VCU but defeated Davidson in overtime on Dec. 15.
***
Markis McDuffie's sister, Sierra, spent the two previous years on the Temple staff as a graduate manager. She played Division II hoops at Felician University.
***McDuffie played with former Owl Josh Brown at St. Anthony's High School.
***Temple's 86 points last year are the most ever allowed by a Marshall team at Charles Koch Arena. Less than a week after the WSU-Temple game, Tulane tied that mark in another 93-86 Shocker win.
***Shocker big men factored heavily last year.
Shaquille Morris averaged 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds over the three games, and WSU outrebounded the Owls by an average of +10.0.
***McDuffie is the only Shocker returner who saw meaningful minutes last year against the Owls. He averaged 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds in 21.3 minutes.
***
Samajae Haynes-Jones played three minutes in the first game at Temple but did not see action in either of the next two contests against the Owls.
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A SHOCKER WIN WOULD…  Â
… improve their record to 8-6 (1-1 in conference play) and snap a two-game losing streak.
… extend their home winning streak to six games.
… be their third-straight against Temple and narrow the Owls' lead in the all-time series to 4-3.
… make them 77-4 at Charles Koch Arena over the last six seasons.
… move Marshall to within 12 wins of 500 for his career (488-187) and within six victories of 300 as Shocker head coach (294-104).
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A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD… Â
… drop them to 7-7 and give them their first three-game losing streak since November, 2015 when – minus Fred VanVleet – WSU went 0-3 at the AdvoCare Invitational.
… be their first 0-2 conference start since 2009. That group opened 0-6 but rallied to win eight of the last 12.
… be just their fifth loss at Charles Koch Arena in the last six seasons (76-5).
… give Temple a 5-2 lead in the all-time series and make them 3-1 in Wichita.
… be less good than a win.
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UP NEXT:
***WSU enjoys a six-day break before visiting the Houston Cougars on Saturday, Jan. 12 at the newly renovated Fertitta Center. The 7 p.m. CT tip airs nationally on CBS Sports Network.
***Houston is currently undefeated at 14-0 (1-0 American) and ranked 19th in the latest AP Poll.
***Due to the league's unbalanced schedule, this will be the only 2018-19 regular season matchup between the schools.
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