UT MARTIN (2-1) at WICHITA STATE (2-0)
SATURDAY, NOV. 16, 2019 | 2 P.M. CT
WICHITA, KAN./ CHARLES KOCH ARENA (10,506)
TV: YURVIEW KS (COX HD 2022 / YurView.com/Kansas)
RADIO: KEYN (103.7 FM / GoShockers.com/Listen)
SERIES: First Meeting
 
After a full week off, the Wichita State Shockers (2-0) return to action at 2 p.m. Saturday against UT Martin Skyhawks (2-1) inside Charles Koch Arena.
 
Tickets are still available for this game, as well as for the Nov. 19 Gardner-Webb contest at 316-978-FANS or goshockers.com/Tickets
 
Saturday's matchup will air statewide on YurView Kansas, available to Cox subscribers on HD 2022 and to fans in all 50 states on YurView.com/Kansas. Shane Dennis and Bob Hull have the call.
 
Division I college basketball's most-tenured tandem, Mike Kennedy and Dave Dahl, tip off their 39^th season together on radio (KEYN 103.7 FM and online at goshockers.com/listen).
 
Catch the Gregg Marshall Show on Monday nights throughout the season. Join host Mike Kennedy and Coach Marshall LIVE from 6-7 p.m. at A.J.'s Sports Grill at The Alley, or listen on KFH (97.5 FM / 1240 AM). The show is rebroadcast in a television format Mondays at 9 p.m. on YurView Kansas (Cox 2022). Show dates: Nov. 18, Dec. 2, 9, 16; Jan. 6, 13, 27; Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24; Mar. 9
 

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OPENING TIPS:

• The Shockers survived one of the worst shooting performances in school history to beat Texas Southern, 69-63. Erik Stevenson scored a career-high 22 points to go with 18 from Dexter Dennis. WSU shot 24.2% -- its lowest in a home game since the advent of the shot clock (1985-86). It was the lowest percentage for a winning team in a Division I game in nearly five years [more inside].
• Picked fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference, UTM has been one of the nation's highest-scoring teams (93.0 ppg, 15^th). Senior guard Quinton Dove (23.0 ppg) leads a group of four double-figure scorers.
• WSU and UTM have never met on the hardwood. This is the first of two preliminary round games tied to the upcoming Cancun Challenge. UTM and Gardner-Webb (which comes to Wichita on Tuesday) will be competing in the Mayan Bracket in Cancun.
• WSU is 2-0 for the eighth time in 13 seasons under Gregg Marshall and is in search of its sixth 3-0 start.
• As of Thursday, 97 teams are still undefeated. Only six have done it while shooting less than 40%: WSU (30.7%), Vermont (3-0; 37.6), Fordham (2-0; 38.9), Virginia (2-0; 39.3), UNI (3-0; 39.8) and Brown (3-0; 39.8).
• Despite relying heavily on freshmen to run the point, WSU is tied for third nationally in turnovers-per-game (7.5) and tied for ninth in turnover margin (+9.5).
• Sophomore Dexter Dennis was named to the American onference Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. He averaged a team-high 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds last week while hitting 7-of-14 threes. Dennis' streak of 19-straight games with a three is the fifth-longest in school history. He's 49-of-110 (.445) in that span.
• WSU has been without the services of its top shot-blocker Jaime Echenique yet entered Thursday tied for 14^th nationally in that category (7.0 blocks-per-game). Dennis, Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler and Morris Udeze have all swatted 3-each.

SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS:

• UTM is out to a 2-1 start. The Skyhawks defeated St. Louis College of Pharmacy (106-48) to open their season but fell at home to ETSU (coached by former WSU assistant Steve Forbes) last Saturday by a score of 92-75. On Wednesday night, they out-ran Western Illinois, 98-91, to score their first road victory.
• The Riverhawks are averaging 93.0 points-per-game (15th nationally as of a Thursday) while shooting 49.3 percent from the field.
• UTM returns three starters and five total letterman from a team that finished 12-19 last year and in seventh-place out of 12 teams in the Ohio Valley Conference race. The Skyhawks are picked fifth this year.
• Senior Quintin Dove is averaging a team-high 23.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in 31.3 minutes-per-game. He ranks among the top-10 nationally in offensive rebounds (5.3-per-game). Dove was second team All-OVC last year for UTM after transferring from Cuyahoga Community Col-lege where he was an NJCAA Division II All-American.
• Senior guard Derek Hawthorn Jr. is the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder averaging 16.0 and 7.3 respectively.
• Redshirt senior guard Craig Randall II played his first two seasons at Memphis (2015-17) under Josh Pastner and Tubby Smith, then sat out the 2017-18 season at Duquesne before landing at UTM last year.  He's averaging 12.0 points.
• Sophomore guard Parker Stewart – the son of head coach Anthony Stewart – is averaging 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds along with a team-high 33.3 minutes. Stewart sat out last year after transferring from Pittsburgh, where started 20 games as a freshman and averaged 9.1 points with 71 three-pointers.

MATCHUP MASHUP:

• WSU shot a combined 30.7 percent in its first two games – fourth-worst nationally. Game No. 3 comes against a UTM team that ranked No. 344 (out of 353 Division I teams) last season in adjusted defense, per KenPom. Skyhawk foes shot 48.3 percent from the field (11th-highest nationally) and averaged 80.2 points (15th-most).
• Fourth-year UTM head coach Anthony Stewart was an assistant coach under Chris Lowery at Southern Illinois during the 2011-12 season. He twice faced the Shockers that year in Missouri Valley Conference play.

GREAT OUT OF THE GATE:

• If Trey Wade grabs 10-or-more boards on Saturday he would be the first Shocker since Xavier McDaniel (1984-85) to open a season with three-straight double-figure rebounding games. The X-Man led the nation in scoring in rebounding that year.
• Wade finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the season-opener against Omaha becoming the first Shocker newcomer in 20 years to debut with a double-double. He had six and 10 against Texas Southern.

Double-Figure Rebound Games to Begin Season (1984-Pr.):
7 – Xavier McDaniel (1984-85) – 13, 12, 16, 15, 15, 15, 13
2 – Ramon Clemente (2008-09) – 12, 17
2 – Carl Hall (2012-13) – 13, 11
2 – Jason Perez (1997-98) – 10, 12
2 – Trey Wade (2019-20) – 11, 10
2 – O.J. Robinson (2000-01) – 10, 10

• Grant Sherfield totaled 25 points in his first two games -- most by a Shocker true freshmen in 18 years.
• Randy Burns tallied 33 in the first two games of the 2001-02 season and went on to score 1,566 more over the next four seasons. Burns still ranks ninth on WSU's all-time points list.

Most Points by a True Freshman in First 2 GP (2000-Pr.):
33 – Randy Burns (2001-02) – finished w/ 1,599 career points (9^th all-time)
25 – Grant Sherfield (2019-20)
22 – Rob Kampman (2001-02) – four-year start finished w/ 974 career points
21 – Toure' Murry (2008-09) – 1,539 career points (12^th)

• Grant Sherfield and Tyson Etienne each have four steals. Game-by-game data for steals are available back to 1980. In that 40-year span, just three other true freshman have tallied as many in their first two games.

Most Steals by a True Freshman in First 2 GP (1980-Pr.):
5 – Aubrey Sherrod (1981-82) – finished w/ 148 career steals (t-7^th)
4 – Toure' Murry (2008-09) – freshman record 44 steals / 180 career (3^rd all-time)
4 – Landry Shamet (2014-15) – injured after third game
4 – Tyson Etienne (2019-20)
4 – Grant Sherfield (2019-20)

TRENDING:

• WSU is averaging 41.5 points on 40.6% shooting after halftime compared to 27.0 (.21.9%) in the first half.
• Dexter Dennis is tied for the American Athletic Conference lead and ranks among the top-50 nationally in minutes-per-game (36:38). His 39 minutes against TSU tied his career-high during the NIT win at Indiana.
• Dennis also ranks among The American's top-10 in scoring (t-5th, 18.0), rebounding (t-10th, 8.0), blocks (t-5th, 1.5) and three-pointers-per-game (2nd, 3.50) and three-point percentage (t-9th, .500).
• The Shockers are in the midst of a five-game homestand -- their longest since 2003-04.  They'll play a school record 19 regular season home games in 2019-20.
• WSU's shooting percentage against Texas Southern (24.2%) was the lowest by a winning team in a Division I game in nearly five years. On Nov. 14, 2014, Temple toppled American 40-37. The Owls shot 22.9% (11-of-48) while holding their opponent to just under 31%.
• The Shockers' assist total against TSU (6) was their lowest in a home game since Feb. 8, 2011 when they registered six assists on 18 baskets in a 56-53 loss to Southern Illinois.
• An already youthful roster looks even younger without senior Jaime Echenique. Nine of the 11 scholarship players that have seen action are freshmen or sophomores. Underclassmen have accounted for over 79% of the minutes so far.
• WSU has had at least one freshman on the court for every second of every game (39-straight) going back to last year's season opener.
• According to KenPom's experience rankings (which account for minutes played and average year in school), just two Division I teams have fielded a younger lineup than the Shockers.

ONE ONE IN; ONE ONE OUT:

• Sophomore Jamarius Burton (ankle) missed his first game as a Shocker last Saturday, but WSU avoid a potential point guard depth dilemma thanks to freshman Noah Fernandes' timely return to active duty.
• After missing nine weeks with a foot injury, Fernandes made his Shocker debut near the 14:00-mark of the first half against TSU and logged eight minutes.

EX ECHENIQUE:

• Gregg Marshall announced on Oct. 28 that starting center Jaime Echenique will miss at least four weeks with a fractured left (non-shooting) hand, suffered during the team's closed door scrimmage with Nebraska. The injury will not require surgery
• Echenique (9.1 ppg) made 34 starts last year and was WSU's leading rebounder (6.0) and shot blocker (51).
• Per KenPom, in 18 conference games last year Echenique led The American in block percentage (11.2) and defensive rebound percentage (27.8).

GETTING ALL DEFENSIVE:

• Going back to last March, the Shockers have held five-straight and 15 of their last 18 opponents to 40-percent-or-less from the field.
• WSU foes made more than half of their shots on just two occasions in 2018-19: Alabama (.510 on Nov. 19 at the Charleston Classic) and Tulsa (.532; Feb. 3; Wichita).
• Since Jan. 1, 2014 (a span of 82 games) just two visiting teams have shot better than 50% against the Shockers at CKA. WSU defeated Tulsa 79-68 on Feb. 2, 2019 despite the Hurricane's 53.2 percent shooting display. On Jan. 17, 2018, SMU shot 63.8 percent to claim an 83-78 upset against a Shocker team that ranked No. 7 in the national polls.

THREE'S COMPANY:

• Dexter Dennis has connected on a three-pointer in 19 consecutive games going back to last season. It's the fifth-longest streak in school history. Dennis is 49-of-110 (.445) since his streak began back on Feb. 2, 2019.
• Dennis made 54 threes with 40% accuracy as a freshman in 2018-19, but the bulk of the damage came in the second half of the year. He hit 42 of those 54 triples over the final 17 games.

Consecutive Game w/ 3-Point Field Goal (WSU, All-Time):
1. Conner Frankamp – 40 (Jan. 1, 2017 to Jan. 28, 2018)
2. Landry Shamet – 29 (Dec. 17, 2016 to Nov. 22, 2017)
3. Ron Baker – 27 (Nov. 18, 2014 to Feb. 22, 2015)
4. Ron Baker – 25 (Apr. 6, 2013 to Feb. 5, 2014)
5. Dexter Dennis – 19 (Feb. 2, 2019 to Present)

SOME LINES ABOUT LINEUPS :

• Sophomore center Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler made his first career start last Saturday against Texas Southern. He played 23 minutes (one short of his career-high), finishing with two points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals.
• Sophomore Jamarius Burton (ankle) missed his first career game last Saturday. He started 23-straight at point guard to end the 2018-19 season but came off the bench in the season opener.
• Dexter Dennis has the team's longest active starting streak: 15-straight going back to last Feb. 20.
• For only the third time under Marshall, WSU started multiple newcomers in its season opener: Sherfield and JUCO forward Trey Wade.

CANCUN CHALLENGE:

• For fans of scoreboard comparison, the Cancun Challenge's preliminary round matchups offer an early preview of the bracketed games that will take place less than two weeks from now.
• In addition to WSU, UT Martin will travel to Cedar Falls on Tuesday to take on Northern Iowa (a potential championship or third-place draw for the Shockers).
• Gardner-Webb faces WSU on Tuesday night, then takes on the Shockers' semifinal opponent, South Carolina in Columbia on Friday, Nov. 22.
• Two games in Mexico will be the Shockers' first international action since November, 2016 at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament (Paradise Island, Bahamas). WSU took fourth out of eight teams, defeating LSU in the quarterfinals before dropping back-to-back games to nationally-ranked Louisville and Michigan State.
• It's the Shockers' first trip to Mexico since winning the 2012 Cancun Challenge. That year WSU defeated Western Carolina (79-63) and Howard (69-50) in campus games, then took care of Depaul (75-62) and Iowa (75-63). The title was WSU's first outside of Wichita in a regular season tournament since winning the 1963 All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City.
• Four months after winning the Cancun Challenge, ninth-seeded Wichita State made its run to the Final Four, defeating Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, La Salle and Ohio State along the way. Malcolm Armstead (a member of the all-tournament team in Cancun) was the West Regional MVP.
• For information on the 2019 Cancun Challenge visit the tournament's website: CancunChallenge.Net

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Wichita State has been one of the decade's most ferocious rebounding teams. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Shockers have outrebounded their opponents by an average of almost 7.5-per-game. Only North Carolina, Michigan State and New Mexico State have put up better numbers in that span.
• The Shockers ranked second nationally in rebound margin in both 2016-17 (+8.9) and 2017-18 (+9.9) but took a step back last year (+3.2). It was the first time in Marshall's 12 seasons at WSU that the Shockers failed to lead their conference in rebounding margin.
• Marshall wants to see the 2019-20 Shockers reclaim their edge on the boards. So far, so good. They've outrebounded each of its first two foes by an average of 6.5.

Best Rounding Margins; NCAA Division I (2010-11 to Present):
1. North Carolina +2,745
2. Michigan State +2,575
3. New Mexico State +2,437
4. Wichita State +2,402
5. Gonzaga +2,297
6. Kentucky +2,297
7. Baylor +2,001
8. Saint Mary's +2,000
9. Arizona +1,983
10. Quinnipiac +1,966

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A SHOCKER WIN WOULD….
... make them 3-0 for the sixth time in Marshall's 13 seasons and the 38^th time in school history.
... up the series lead to 2-0 on GWU.
... make Marshall 4-1 against GWU.
...  give them five-straight home wins.
... give them seven-straight regular season victories going back to Feb. 28, 2019.
... make Marshall 505-196 (311-113 at WSU, 165-26 at CKA).
 
A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD…  
... drop them to 2-1.
... be just their second Nov. home loss since 2010.
... even the series with GWU at 1-1.
... be only their 27^th at CKA under Marshall (164-27).
... be less good than a win.
 
UP NEXT:
Wichita State continues a five-game homestand to begin the 2019-20 season when it plays host to Gardner-Webb on Tuesday evening. The 7 p.m. CT tip will air statewide on YurView Kansas (Cox HD 2022) and streams in all 50 states on YurView.com/Kansas and ESPN3.... WSU won the only other meeting in the series on Dec. 12, 2008 in Wichita (76-64).... Gregg Marshall is 3-1 vs. GWU (1-0 at WSU, 2-1 at Winthrop).... The Bulldogs (23-12) earned an automatic berth to the 2019 NCAA Tournament after winning the Big South Tournament title.