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Shockers Venture to USF Tuesday

1/20/2020 6:12:00 PM

rv/22 WICHITA STATE (15-3, 3-2) at USF (8-10, 1-4)
TUESDAY, JAN. 21, 2020 | 6:01 P.M. CT (7:01 P.M. ET)
TAMPA, FLA./ YUENGLING CENTER (10,411)
TV: ESPNEWS (WatchESPN)
RADIO: KEYN 103.7 FM (GoShockers.com/Listen)
SERIES: Tied 1-1 (USF leads 1-0 in Tampa)
LAST: Jan. 22, 2019 in Tampa (USF 54-41)
 
The Wichita State Shockers (15-3, 3-2 and ranked No. 22 in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll) head back out on the road Tuesday night for an American Athletic Conference matchup against the USF Bulls (8-10, 1-4) inside the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla.
 
The 6 p.m. CT tip airs nationally on ESPNEWS with streaming available through the ESPN App, accessible on computers, smart phones, tablets and devices to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider. Mike Corey & Sean Harrington have the call.
 
Mike Kennedy and Bob Hull describe the action on KEYN 103.7 FM and online at goshockers.com/listen. Kennedy, who is now in his 40th year as Voice of the Shockers, will call is 1,246th consecutive game.
 
WSU coaches will wear tennis shoes on Tuesday night and again for Saturday's home game against UCF as part of Coaches vs. Cancer's Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week. Learn more at NABC.com.
 
 
OPENING TIPS:
 
Wichita State dropped two games in four days last week after suffering just one setback in the first 70 days of the regular season. Poor shooting was the theme in both losses. The Shockers scored a season-low 53 points on 30.3% shooting last Wednesday at Temple and managed just 54 points on 30.4% accuracy Saturday against Houston.
  • Prior to the Temple game, WSU had won eight-consecutive true road games. The Shockers are 2-1 in hostile territory this year and 58-16 (.784) since the start of the 2013-14 season. The latter percentage is the nation's second-highest behind Gonzaga.
  • 2019-20 marks the first time that WSU and USF will play a full home-and-home during the conference season. Tuesday's meeting is just the third all-time. So far both sides have held serve at home.
  • The two previous games couldn't have been more different. In the series debut (Jan. 7, 2018 in Wichita) the Shockers led 51-20 at halftime in a 95-57 rout. They finished the game 12-of-20 from distance. In last year's rematch (Jan. 22, 2019 in Tampa), WSU managed just 41 points for the entire game -- its lowest output in 22 years. The Shockers shot 28% from the field, missed 13-of-22 free throws and committed 20 turnovers in a 54-41 loss at the Yuengling Center.
  • The Shockers rank among the national leaders in turnover margin (20th, +4.0) and field goal percentage defense (31st, .388). KenPom rates the Shocker defense 16th nationally in efficiency.
  • USF's defense has been equally stout. The Bulls are forcing an average of 17.1 turnovers-per-game (tops in the AAC and No. 21 nationally). USF also leads the league in scoring defense. Foes average just 62.3 points.
 
 
THE SHOCKS, IN SHORT:
  • For Wichita State, youth and success have not been mutually exclusive traits. Ten of the team's 13 scholarship players are underclassmen, but the Shockers find themselves ranked No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and one spot out of the AP top-25 after a 15-3 start.
  • Last year the rebuilding Shockers missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011 but rode a second-half surge to 22 wins and the NIT semifinals. Seven of the top-nine scorers from that team are back, joined by the highest-rated recruiting class in head coach Gregg Marshall's 13 seasons.
  • This year's goal: return to the NCAA tournament. The Shockers have put together an at-large quality resume that includes five Quadrant I or II wins. Two of their three losses have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top-25 (West Virginia and Houston). Signature wins include No. 20 Memphis and VCU at home, plus a 4-0 record vs. "Power 5" foes: South Carolina (N), Oklahome State (A), Oklahoma (H) and Ole Miss (H).
  • The 2018-19 team found an identity with defense, rebounding and ball security. Those qualities still apply, but the 2019-20 backcourt has raised the bar with its perimeter shooting and ability to force turnovers.
  • KenPom rates the Shocker defense 16th nationally in efficiency (up from 44th last year). WSU has held 13 of its 18 opponents under 40% from the field. Only two teams have scored more than 70 points against the Shockers this year in regulation and none more than 75.
  • Eight players are averaging at least 5.5 points and 12 minutes-per-game. The starting lineup of (1) Burton, (2) Etienne, (3) Stevenson, (4) Wade and (5) Echenique has started every game since Dec. 5 and is 9-2 together.
  • Sophomore guard Erik Stevenson -- a two-time AAC player of the week pick -- leads the Shockers in points (12.9) and steals (32) and is the team's third-leading rebounder (5.1). He's topped 20-points three times.
  • Sophomore Jamarius Burton (11.2 ppg) can play point guard or wing, as needed. He's averaging a team-high 3.6 assists with a 1.65 A:TO ratio and has been the WSU's top scorer in conference play at 13.8-per-contest.
  • The team's lone senior -- 6-11 center Jaime Echenique -- averages 10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He's coming off two stellar road games at UConn (19 pts, 8 reb) and Temple (career-highs 20 pts, 13 reb). 
  • 6-foot-6 forward Trey Wade -- a JUCO transfer from South Plains (Texas) College -- has been an impactful addition at the four-spot. He puts up 8.1 points-per-game and is the team's top rebounder (6.2).
  • A couple of four-star freshman guards have also helped elevate the Shockers. Tyson Etienne (9.8 ppg) has nailed a team-high 39 triples with 41.9% accuracy. He ranks among the AAC's top-five in threes-per-game and three-point percentage. Combo guard Grant Sherfield (8.7 ppg) has been the team's other primary point guard while providing scoring off the bench.
  • Sophomore Dexter Dennis (6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg) -- an athletic wing and the team's most versatile defender -- was an AAC All-Freshman pick last year.
  • The Shockers are one of the league' deepest teams in the post with Echenique backed by 6-9 sophomore Morris Udeze (5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg). 7-foot junior Asbjørn Midtgaard and 6-9 sophomore Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler are  also capable contributors.
  • Three other true freshmen are on the roster: Forward DeAntoni Gordon (11 games) and point guard Noah Fernandes (12) have shown flashes of potential. 6-10 forward Josaphat Bilau is redshirting.
 
 
TRENDING:
  • WSU has lost back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 19-26, 2019 when it dropped three-straight to Cincinnati, USF and UConn.
  • The Shockers play on three days' rest for the fourth-straight game. Tuesday night's contest ends a stretch of five games in 13 days (three of them on the road).
  • The Houston game was WSU's sixth-straight sellout at Charles Koch arena (capacity: 10,506) and the 175th in the 16 seasons since Charles Koch Arena's renovation. It was also be the Shockers' 15th sellout in 21 American Athletic Conference home games.
  • Gregg Marshall went to the bench looking for a spark during the second half of Saturday's Houston game. DeAntoni Gordon (8:31), Noah Fernandes (4:41), Asbjørn Midtgaard (8:58) and Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler (9:48) all saw increased minutes after playing sparingly during the first five games in January.
  • A 74-54 win over Ole Miss on Jan. 4 was WSU's 99th 20-point victory under Marshall (2007-Pr.).
  • This is WSU's fifth-consecutive week in the USA Today Coaches Poll dating back to Dec. 23.
  • Somewhat surprisingly, the Shockers have been out-rebounded in all five of their conference games. They had won the battle of the boards in 12 of their 13 non-conference contests and have annually been among the national leaders in that category.
 
 
ROAD WARRIORS:
  • WSU has been one the nation's most successful road teams under Gregg Marshall. Over the last 10 seasons (2010-11 to present) the Shockers' .778 winning percentage is second only to Gonzaga. The Shockers are 93-51 overall under Marshall in true road environments. Those wins have come in 37 different buildings. 

Top True Road Records; Last 10 Seasons:
1. Gonzaga – 84-18 (.824)
2. Wichita State – 84-24 (.778)
3. Saint Mary's – 72-31 (.699)
4. Kansas – 67-34 (.663)
5. Villanova – 69-40 (.633)

 

BUILDING A RESUME:
  • The Shockers are 1-1 in Quadrant I games and 4-1 in Quadrant II contests.
  • Six of the 13 remaining games on the Shocker schedule are of the Q-I or Q-II variety. Five are on the road.
  • Tuesday's game at USF misses Q-II status by a razor thin margin. The Bulls entered the week at No. 136 in the NCAA's NET ratings. True road games against Nos. 76-135 fall into the Q-II category.
 
 
SCOUTING USF:
  • Former Dayton and Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory is in his third season at USF. The Bulls jumped from 10 wins to 24 last year and captured the CBI title.
  • USF had 10 newcomers in its first season under Gregory, including a trio of graduate transfers who handled the bulk of the scoring. The 2018-19 roster had 12 more new faces. By contrast, the 2019-20 team has all five starters back. Returners have accounted for over two-third of the minutes played this season.
  • USF was picked fifth -- one spot behind the Shockers -- in the AAC preseason poll.
  • USF announced on Nov. 4 that redshirt sophomore forward Alexis Yetna -- the league's 2019 freshman of the year -- would miss the year with a left knee injury.
  • USF still has one of the nation's best defensive duos in  guards Laquincy Rideau (12.7 points-per-game) and David Collins (team-high 14.7 ppg) creating havoc. 
  • Rideau (a 6-1 senior) leads the AAC and ranks eighth nationally in steals-per-game (2.56). Collins (a 6-4 junior) isn't far behind (2.06; AAC No.3, No. 41 nationally.) 
  • The Bulls force an average of 17.11 turnovers – tops in The American and No. 21 nationally. Over a quarter of opposing team possessions end in turnovers.
  • USF leads the conference in scoring defense (62.3) but also ranks last in scoring offense (63.8). Per KenPom, the Bulls play at the league's second-slower tempo (behind SMU).
  • USF also has a top-20 defensive rebounding rate. The Bulls come away with boards on almost 76% percent of opponent misses.
 
 
MATCHUP MASHUP:
  • Both sides went through massive roster overhauls prior to the 2018-19 season. USF juniors David Collins and Justin Brown and WSU junior Asbørn Midtgaard are the only players who saw time in both previous games.
  • Since the start of conference play, WSU (17.6) and USF (17.2) have forced more turnovers than any other teams.  The Bulls are averaging a league-high 9.0 steals in AAC play. WSU is second at 8.6-per-game.
  • In five conference games, Shockers opponents have connected on just 25% of their three-point tries (20-fo-80). Only Tulsa (.246) has been better. By contrast, AAC opponents are shooting a league-best .372 vs. USF.Both sides have a Frenchman. True freshman Josaphat Bilau (from La Roche-sur-Yon) is redshirting for the Shockers. USF's Alexis Yetna is from Paris.
  • Brian Gregory led Dayton to the 2010 NIT championship. A year later, Gregg Marshall coached the Shockers to the 2011 NIT crown.
 
 
Jan. 7, 2018 (Wichita) | #9 WSU 95, USF 57
  • WSU shot a season-best 62.7% from the field, thanks to a 12-of-20 performance from three-point range. 
  • 28 assists (on 37 baskets) were a Marshall Era best.
  • Defensively, WSU blocked eight shots and turned 18 USF turnovers into 32 points. The Bulls shot just 36.4%.
  • WSU led 51-20 at the break after hitting 75 percent from the field (21-of-28). It was the second-best  shooting half of the Marshall Era, trailing only an 80 percent second half effort at Davidson in 2012.
  • WSU's 31-point halftime lead was the fifth-largest in school history (boxes prior to 1972 are unavailable). 
  • Eight Shockers finished with eight-or-more points, led by Shaquille Morris' 15 points in 18 minutes. Morris was 7-of-9 from the field and collected three blocks.
  • Zach Brown was a perfect 5-for-5 from field, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, to finish with 13 points.
  • Markis McDuffie (12 points) went 4-of-5 from three and cleared a team-high six rebounds... Darral Willis Jr. added 11 points, five boards and three blocks... Conner Frankamp missed the game due to illness, clearing the way for Austin Reaves (career-high seven assists) to make his third start.... Rashard Kelly became the sixth in school history to participate in 100 wins.
 Jan. 22, 2020 (Tampa, Fla.) | USF 54, WSU 41
  • WSU squandered a gritty defensive effort at USF. 
  • The Shockers forced 18 turnovers and held the host Bulls to 30% from the field but committeed 20 turnovers of their own and hit just 28.3%. They were 2-of-18 from three and made just 9-of-22 free throw attempts.
  • 41 points marked WSU's lowest output in more than 21 years. A 15-point first-half was a Marshall Era low.
  • Markis McDuffie scored 11 points. Jamarius Burton and Jaime Echenique added eight-each.
  • David Collins paced USF with 13 points. Laquincy Rideau added 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.
  • WSU trailed 30-15 at halftime after shooting 22.7% and missing all eight three-point tries.
  • The Shockers scored 21 of their 41 points over the final 11:30. An 11-0 run pulled them to within 37-31 at the 7:16-mark. Burton nailed two free throws to slice the margin to five, 42-37, with 4:48 left. USF answered with consecutive treys from Alexis Yeta and Collins to bump the lead back to 11.
 
 
A SHOCKER WIN WOULD….
... make them 16-3 and snap a two-game skid.
... move them into a fourth-place tie with Cincinnati at 4-2, chasing Memphis (3-1), Tulsa (4-1) and Houston (4-1).
... make them 3-1 this year in true road games with wins in nine of their last 10 trips going back to last February.
... give them a 2-1 series lead vs. USF (1-1 in Tampa).
... give Marshall road wins in 38 different venues since arriving at WSU.
 
A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD…
... drop them to 15-4 (3-3).
... give them three-straight losses for the first time since a three-game skid from Jan. 19-26, 2019.
... make them 2-2 on the road this year.
... give USF a 2-1 series lead (2-0 in Tampa).
... be less good than a win.
 

UP NEXT:
  • The Shockers are back home Saturday to face the UCF Knights in American Athletic Conference action. The 7 p.m. CT tip airs nationally on ESPNU.
  • For tickets dial 316-978-FANS or visit goshockers.com/tickets.
  • At halftime five new members will join the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, including former basketball standout Jamar Howard (2001-05)..
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