The RoundHouse | 12/5/2019 10:37:00 PM

 

Wichita State freshman guard Tyson Etienne is devoted to video homework on his laptop. The fun stuff – offense – is not his primary field of study. 
 
"I break down my film every day," he said. "Offensively, for me, is just playing. I'm really focused on the defensive side. I want to be a two-way player."
 
Etienne started his first game at Wichita State on Thursday and scored 13 points in a 95-69 win over Central Arkansas at Koch Arena. He made 3 of 5 three-pointers and also recorded three assists and a steal. 
 
While he is shooting 43.2 percent from three-point range, he knows defense is also important when earning playing time. He pays attention to opponent tendencies, how opposing offenses run their ball screens and his positioning when he studies his defense.
 
"Just different situations I'll be placed in," he said.  
 
The Shocker guards played a lead role in disrupting the Central Arkansas (1-7) offense to the tune of 16 steals, forcing 30 turnovers, and scoring 39 points off those turnovers. The Bears (1-7) made 24 baskets.
 
The Wichita State guards played aggressively, fighting through screens, deflecting passes and rarely letting the Bears enjoy a moment of calm. Grant Sherfield grabbed three steals. Erik Stevenson set the early example by busting up a dribble handoff to force a turnover in the game's first two minutes. 
 
Later, Sherfield made back-to-back defensive plays that helped the Shockers pull away. He forced a traveling violation by Jared Chatham with persistent, physical defense. After his three-pointer gave the Shockers (7-1) a 20-10 lead, the deflected the basketball off Chatham and out of bounds. Another three gave WSU a 23-10 lead. 
 
Wichita State's 16 steals are its most since 2009, also 16, against Arkansas-Monticello. The 30 turnovers are the most since the 1984 Shockers forced 34 (with three steals) in a 97-66 win over Hartford.
 
"We really put an emphasis in being in the gaps and trying to help each other out on defense," Sherfield said. "We translated it from practice into the game."
 
The Shockers bounced back from last week's 75-63 loss to West Virginia in the Cancun Challenge. More than anything, that meant rebounding. The Shockers surrendered a mere three offensive rebounds to Central Arkansas, leading to one second-chance point.
 
"We take our job seriously," center Jaime Echenique said. "We know what we did wrong. We know we're going to step up the next time."
 
Nobody took coach Gregg Marshall's emphasis on rebounding technique and desire more than Morris Udeze, who grabbed six rebounds in 11 minutes. 
 
In all, the Shockers viewed the loss to West Virginia and the win over South Carolina in Cancun as a learning opportunity.
 
"Adversity is going to come," Etienne said. "Either you cower in the face of it and take it as a learning experience. Our coaching staff stresses it. Our team is willing to learn from it and take that momentum into December."
 
Wichita State shot 39.3 percent from three-point range, its second-best accuracy of the season behind 53.6 against UT Martin.

Sherfield broke out of his slump by making 3 of 5 three-pointer and scored 15 points. He entered the game 2 of 12 from three-point range. Marshall said he thought playing Sherfield at shooting guard at times helped him. 
 
"He looked very comfortable playing off the ball tonight." Marshall said. "He's a point guard, but he can play off the guard. I think it freed him up a little bit tonight to be a more aggressive. I know he's a good shooter."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.