The RoundHouse | 1/15/2020 11:11:00 AM

16/16 WICHITA STATE (15-1, 3-0) at TEMPLE (9-6, 1-3)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15, 2020 | 8 P.M. CT (9 P.M. ET)
PHILADELPHIA, PA./ LIACOURAS CENTER
TV: ESPNU (WatchESPN)
RADIO: KEYN 103.7 FM (GoShockers.com/Listen)
SERIES: Temple Leads 5-3 (1-0 in Philadelphia)
LAST: Mar. 15, 2019 in Memphis; AAC Quarterfinals (WSU, 80-74)
 
 
When Wichita State joined the American Athletic Conference, it figured that Cincinnati and Memphis would become prominent rivals and that the sometimes sleepy non-conference series with Tulsa might regain some juice.
 
We didn't figure on Temple taking such an interesting status on the schedule. Wichita State and Temple met five times as conference foes and the Shockers lead 3-2. In that short time, the series stands out for its drama and unpredictability.
 
Perhaps it's a style thing. 
 
Both teams, until this season, were led by long-time successful coaches – Fran Dunphy at Temple and Gregg Marshall at Wichita State. While the Shockers thrived on discipline, patience and good shots, Temple does some of those things, but are willing to throw in a little chaos. The Owls may turn the ball over more than the Shockers and take more bad shots, but they are fearless and always seem to have a Shizz Alston or a Nate Pierre-Louis who gets hot and bothers the Shockers.
 
Aaron McKie, a former Temple assistant coach and star, took over for Dunphy this season. He was on the bench for all of the previous meetings with the Shockers. 
 
Don't stop watching. These games take twists and turns. 
 
The conference series started in 2017-18, with the Owls beating No. 16 Wichita State 81-79 in overtime in Philadelphia. The Shockers led 58-48 before turnovers and missed shots doomed them. Later that season, the 19th-ranked Shockers trailed by 14 at halftime before winning 93-86 behind dominant second-half performances by Shaq Morris and Darral Willis.
 
Wichita State won the rubber match in 2018 by defeating Temple 89-81 in the conference tournament. It led 76-64 with just under five minutes to play. The Owls cut the lead to 78-75 with 2:23 to play before the Shockers scored their final 11 points on foul shots. 
 
Last season, the Owls trailed by 13 at half and tied it at 63-all. The Shockers went on an 11-0 run to lead to 74-63 with 3:32 to play. Temple responded with an 11-0 run to force overtime and win 85-81. The Owls forced a season-high 21 Shocker turnovers. In the conference tournament, Wichita State won 80-74 behind double-doubles by Markis McDuffie (34 points, 12 rebounds) and Dexter Dennis (19 and 12). 
 
The Owls, while on a three-game losing streak, are capable of similar drama on Wednesday. They lost 70-44 at Tulsa and 65-51 at home to Tulane. However, they led Houston 60-59 before losing 78-74.
 
The common thread in the five-game series is Wichita State's edge on the offensive boards. 
 
The Owls, in addition to lacking size, often prefer to retreat on defense instead of going aggressively to the boards. The Shockers almost always go hard to the glass and they've outscored the Owls on second-chance points in all five meetings, sometimes decisively. In the second meeting in 2018, Wichita State outscored Temple 20-4 on second-chance points and 36-8 in the lane. 
 
This meeting sets up favorably for the Shockers, who grab 33 percent of available offensive rebounds to rank fourth in the conference. Houston, which attacks the glass with similar zeal, grabbed 23 offensive rebounds and outscored Temple 19-8 in second-chance points. 
 
Wichita State forward Trey Wade, who ranks eighth in the conference (according to kenpom.com) by grabbing 10.6 percent of available offensive rebounds, could play a big role. 
 
The Owls are shooting poorly, which might make Wichita State coaches nervous. Are they due for a few shots to go in? Or are they a poor shooting team?
 
In four American games, Temple is making 38.7 percent of its two-point attempts (last in the American) and 27.7 percent of its threes (10th), according to Pomeroy. It turns the ball over on 21.7 percent of its possessions, seventh in the conference and above Pomeroy's national average of 19.5.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.