The RoundHouse | 10/29/2019 9:22:00 AM

Three things to watch in tonight's exhibition game vs. NCAA Division II Northeastern (Okla.) State: 

 
Wichita State's depth in the front court is a strength, or it should be at some point this season. Tonight, the Shockers are down senior center Jaime Echenique and sophomore center Morris Udeze, both out with injuries. 
 
Fortunately, that's the spot where the Shockers have a lot of big bodies. 
 
Junior center Asbjorn Midtgaard averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds, while shooting 65 percent from the field, over last season's final 18 games. Against Nebraska in Saturday's closed scrimmage, he again showed his ability to deter shots around the basket with a good understanding of "building a wall," as coach Gregg Marshall always says.
 
The absence of Echenique opens the door for sophomore Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler. He showed good offensive potential last season and is bigger and stronger in his second season. The Shockers need him to play a big role, especially with injuries sidelining others.
 
Fans also should get good looks at newcomers such as junior Trey Wade and freshmen DeAntoni Gordon and Josaphat Bilau. Wade seems assured of a regular spot in the rotation after Marshall has praised his all-around game throughout the preseason. Wade, a power forward, scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 17 minutes during Saturday's scrimmage. 
 
No one ruins a chance to redshirt this season by playing in tonight's exhibition.  
 
Freshmen guards Grant Sherfield and Tyson Etienne are physically and mentally mature. They will play significant minutes this season. 
 
They don't need to be big scorers, especially early in the season as they adjust to college basketball. They do need to defend and run the offense without committing turnovers. Both are skilled enough to score without needing to force shots. 
 
Sophomores Jamarius Burton and Erik Stevenson are back, so the burden isn't solely on the freshmen in the back court. 
 
When the shot clocked ticked away, the Shockers often went to Markis McDuffie or Samajae Haynes-Jones last season. Who takes those shots this season?
 
Sophomore forward Dexter Dennis is one candidate. He is an excellent three-point shooter who is big enough to get shots off against many defenders. He showed an off-the-dribble game at times against Nebraska that will be necessary in those situations.
 
On that topic, remember that the shot clock is reset to 20 seconds after an offensive rebound. That is a change this season, meant to keep play moving by shortening possessions. 
 
The other major change is the extension of the three-point line to to 22 feet, 1¾ inches. The Shockers prepared for that distance in the 2019 NIT. 

Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.