The RoundHouse | 11/19/2019 10:16:00 PM
Wichita State guard Jamarius Burton watched the video from last season and knew something had to change. Defenders sagged off him, daring him to shoot and feeling free to help guard other Shockers.
"Players were leaving going to double my teammates and stuff," Burton said. "When I watched it on the film last year and coaches pointed it out, I was like 'Yeah, that's kind of disrespectful. I need to do something."
Burton is not, at least at this early point, someone defenders want to neglect this season. He scored 15 points on Tuesday in Wichita State's 74-52 win over Gardner-Webb at Koch Arena. He made 5 of 8 shots and both of his three-pointers to bring his three-game total to 6 of 8 from three-point range.
"He's a veteran point guard, knows the system," sophomore guard
Erik Stevenson said. "He worked on his jumper all off season. That gives us another perimeter guy that can shoot it."
Burton, a sophomore, shot 26.3 percent from three-point range as a freshman. He tweaked his mechanics over the summer, smoothing out his release, and his confidence rose. The rest of his game didn't need much tweaking – he has 10 assists and one turnover this season. His defense is strong and his fullback-style drives to the rim make a regular threat to draw fouls.
The Shockers (4-0) shot 47.4 percent from the field, helped by advantages in paint points and second-chance points. They held the Bulldogs (0-4) to 35.6 percent shooting.
On Monday, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall talked about his three-headed monster at center. He reminisced about past big-man groups, such as Darius Carter, Kadeem Coleby and Chadrack Lufile, who shared duties in 2013-14.
On Tuesday, all Marshall needed was one monster. Sophomore center
Morris Udeze scored a career-high 15 points, making 6 of 8 shots. On Saturday, Udeze scored 14 points (then a career high) by making 6 of 8 shots in 13 minutes.
Watching, proudly, is senior center
Jaime Echenique, out with a hand injury. His practice battles with Udeze helped push him toward this success.
"He looks more confident," Echenique said. "He is being really aggressive around the basket, taking advantage of his size."
Udeze played in 16 games as a freshman before shoulder surgery ended his season. He showed flashes of production before the injury, highlighted by 10 points in a win over Providence. The injury, however, cast some uncertainty on this season.
"I'm really excited for him," Marshall said. "At one point he was talking about redshirting when he was rehabbing that shoulder. Those shoulders are a problem."
Udeze scored his points around the basket, no need for dribbling or many fancy moves. He overpowered the smaller Bulldogs to lead the Shockers to a 34-6 edge in paint points.
"He has a motor," Echenique said. "He is a player who likes the contact. He's going to go get it."
The Shockers forced 16 turnovers and limited the Bulldogs to 16 baskets. That led to a 19-6 edge in points off turnovers.
Marshall liked the hustle and reach on defense, although he lamented a few too many open three-pointers and drives allowed. The Shockers forced a shot-clock violation on Gardner-Webb's first possession and totaled six steals, four by its guards. They did a solid job of doubling post players and preying on unaware ball-handlers.
"We had 18 deflections at halftime," Marshall said. "I thought we were very ratty and made them play in tight spaces. We got a lot of hands on balls and I think our size may have affected them some."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
