The RoundHouse | 11/23/2019 6:39:00 AM

ORAL ROBERTS (2-3) at WICHITA STATE (4-0)
SATURDAY, NOV. 21, 2019 | 2 P.M. CT
TV: YURVIEW KS (Cox HD 2022 / YurView.com/Kansas)
RADIO: KEYN (103.7 FM / GoShockers.com/Listen)
SERIES: WSU, 7-5 (4-3 in Wichita)
 
Much of the talk after four games is about offense, problems on offense and solving those problems. It is time to turn to Wichita State's defense.
 
Last season, the Shockers buckled down over final weeks by holding eight of their final 10 opponents under 40 percent shooting. Most of those defenders are back and defending well again. More important, lineups that often feature two or three newcomers are also effective.
 
Also important – Wichita State's best shot-blocker hasn't played this season. That will change soon when senior center Jaime Echenique returns from a hand injury.
 
Wichita State (4-0) has held each of its opponents under 40-percent shooting. According to Ken Pomeroy's advanced statistics, it holds opponents to .89 points per possession to rank No. 32 nationally. It forces turnovers on 23.8-percent of possessions, No. 44 nationally. The Shockers haven't allowed more than seven second-chance points.

 

3:55 2H | WSU 70, GWU 41

Our defense has been shutdown here in the second half. We've held the Runnin' Bulldogs to 18 percent from the field and they haven't scored in nearly three minutes. 😳 pic.twitter.com/vbHm7o8nKk

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 20, 2019

 

The overall picture – and some excellent stopper performances from Shockers such as Dexter Dennis – means Wichita State can slump in an area and hold up in others on defense. 
 
Against Gardner-Webb, the Shockers allowed too much dribble penetration and the Bulldogs made 11 of 21 three-pointers. But Gardner-Webb didn't score in the lane in the second half and committed 16 turnovers while making 16 baskets. Guard Jose Perez, a preseason All-Big South pick, missed nine of his 10 shots.
 
The Shockers are doing it with a team effort that starts with depth that allows for maximum effort in half-court and full-court defenses. 

 

🤩💪 Throw it down, @treywade35! #WatchUs

The steal and slam capped off a 6-0 for us to start the game! pic.twitter.com/S9w1zrfzEd

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) November 20, 2019

 

Their bigs block shots and are showing good awareness of when to take charges or try to contest a shot without fouling. Foul trouble, of course, is less of an issue with the depth on the roster and that will improve Jaime, who blocked 1.4 shots a game last season, returns. Dennis and Jamarius Burton can shut down wing scorers. 
 
Shocker guards are aggressive, pesky defenders who know when to jump in passing lanes and when to help in the post. Erik Stevenson, Tyson Etienne and Grant Sherfield are each averaging more than a steal a game. 
 
The Shockers are almost done with what could be called the first segment of the schedule. After Saturday's game, they face South Carolina on Tuesday in the Cancun Challenge. Either West Virginia or Northern Iowa await on Wednesday.
 
Cancun is a step up in competition. It is the first exposure to the demands of travel, unfamiliar gyms and distractions for Wichita State's freshmen. It is the first look at how this team might fare against another critical stretch against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and VCU. That group of games will largely determine how Wichita State's NCAA Tournament resume looks when it begins American Athletic Conference play in January.
 
Before those thoughts become reality, however, the Shockers play Oral Roberts on Saturday (2 p.m.) at Koch Arena. It is another test to see if they can continue their offensive improvement, limit turnovers and focus on the final opponent before a high-profile trip to Mexico. 
 
"We've got to play harder and we have to share the ball more," guard Erik Stevenson said after Tuesday's win over Gardner-Webb. "We've shown that these last two games. If we continue to do that we'll be tough to beat. We're pretty deep at every spot and every guy on the perimeter can shoot the ball." 
 
Consistency matters and Saturday is a chance to show that attribute.
 
Oral Roberts (2-3) owns losses to Oklahoma State (80-75), Tulsa (74-67) and Iowa (87-74). 

The Golden Eagles play at a fast tempo to generate lots of possessions, but they're not shooting the basketball well. They are shooting 28.6 percent from three-point range and 45.7 percent from two-point range. ORU is small, with no one listed over 6-foot-8. Opponents average almost five blocked shots a game.
 
Forward Kevin Obanor scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, his second double-double this season, in a 73-60 win over NCAA Division II Rogers State on Tuesday. He averages 12.2 points and 8 rebounds a game. 
 
ORU sophomore Elijah Lufile is the younger brother of former Shocker Chadrack Lufile. 
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.