The RoundHouse | 1/21/2020 8:33:00 AM

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)
 
 
Erik Stevenson played so well over the season's first 16 games, he made his job tougher.
 
His shooting improved from his freshman season and his passing turned into a weapon, thanks to a year of experience and physical development. According to kenpom.com, his offensive rating jumped from 91.9 as a freshman to its current spot at 108.9, which ranks eighth in the American Athletic Conference for players with at least a 20-percent usage rate. 
 
Opposing teams noticed and American Athletic Conference teams have the time and inclination to bear down on scouting reports. Stevenson is regarded as a key to Wichita State's offense, both for his shooting and his voice and leadership. Limit him and the Shockers are less scary.
 
Freshman guard Tyson Etienne's shooting ability is regarded in a similar way by defenses. Teams are denying those two the ball at almost all times, or forcing them to drive, to limit Wichita State's outside shooting. Houston added to that by double-teaming center Jaime Echenique.
 
"Erik's very tough," assistant coach Tyson Waterman said. "What we've talked about, and I know that he's understanding, is that teams are scouting now and they're getting more detailed in their scout and they're trying to play more aggressive. I think he's going to make the adjustment because he's such a tough kid. He's in the gym extra, working on his shot, working on things."
 
Not all teams can attack with the size and ferocity of the Cougars, but the plan is there and the Shockers know they will face it until they counter. 
 
Stevenson is 3 for 18 from the field, 1 for 10 from three-point range, in his past two games. Etienne is 2 for 12, 2 for 7 against Temple and Houston.  Echenique scored a season-high 20 points against Temple before Houston's defense and foul trouble limited him to six shots and eight points.
 
"Everybody is coming for you now," Waterman said. "We're the ones that are being hunted now. Our young guys have to understand that."
 
That gets back to executing the offense, as the Shockers talked about after Saturday's loss to Houston. The offense can help create open shots, if the Shockers trust it, screen hard, cut hard and look for teammates.
 
"The youth and inexperience of our team has now kind of reared its ugly head and we've got to do better," coach Gregg Marshall said Saturday. ""It's like we've gotten away from executing and now it's 'I've got to go make a play'. And that's just not who we are."
 
Wichita State freshman Noah Fernandes played four minutes in Saturday's loss. In that limited time, all in game's final six minutes, he showed some of the things the coaching staff wants to get the offense rolling. 
  
He scored in the lane. He drove and passed to Jaime Echenique for a layup. He found Echenique for another layup.
 
Fernandes let the offense help him create for himself and good shots for a teammate.
 
Two assists (of Wichita State 12 total) in four minutes. Fernandes lived up to his reputation as a pass-first point guard on Saturday and the Shockers are in need of more of those types of plays.
 
The Bulls have lost three straight. Their offensive struggles will sound familiar. 
 
In five American Athletic Conference games, they average 63.2 points. They are shooting 39.1 percent from the field, 29.4 percent from three-point range.
 
They are also last in conference games with a 63-percent accuracy from the line. Despite that poor shooting, the Bulls are outscoring conference opponents 68-50 at the line.
 
Guard David Collins is 73 of 115 (63.5 percent) at the line and his attempts rank 31^stnationally. Last season, Collins shot 293 foul shots, second nationally. 
 
He averages 14.7 points to lead the Bulls. 
 
The Shockers will also remember USF guard Laquincy Rideau, who had four steals in last season's meeting. The Shockers committed 20 turnovers in that 54-41 loss, a game in which they shot 28.3 percent. 
 
USF leads the American with an average of 9.0 steals a game in conference play. Their turnover margin of plus-4.20 also tops the American. Wichita State is third at plus-3.40.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.