21/22 MEMPHIS (12-2, 1-0) at 23/23 WICHITA STATE (13-1, 1-0)
THURSDAY, JAN. 9, 2020 | 6:01 P.M. CT
WICHITA, KAN./ CHARLES KOCH ARENA (10,506)
TV: ESPN2 (ESPN App)
RADIO: KEYN 103.7 FM (GoShockers.com/Listen)
SERIES: Memphis Leads 12-11 (WSU leads 7-4 in Wichita)
 
>>> It's a battle of nationally-ranked teams Thursday night when No. 23 Wichita State (13-1, 1-0 American) hosts No. 21 Memphis (12-2, 1-0).
 
>>> It's also a black-out. WSU players will be dressed in black. Fans are encouraged to do the same.
 
>>> Thursday's matchup airs nationally on ESPN2 and via the ESPN App, accessible on computers, smart phones, tablets and other devices to fans who receive their video subscription through an affiliated provider. Kevin Brown (pbp) & Bryce Drew (analyst) have the call.
 
>>> Division I college basketball's most-tenured tandem, Mike Kennedy and Dave Dahl, tip off their 39th season together on radio (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 1,242nd consecutive game.
 

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OPENING TIPS:

• The Shockers are 2-0 against ranked opponents this year. Both Oklahoma State and VCU entered matchups with WSU at No. 25 in the Coaches Poll.
• WSU hosts an AP ranked team for the first time since the 2017-18 regular season finale. No. 10 Cincinnati escaped with a 62-61 victory over the 11th-ranked Shockers and denied them a share of conference title.
• The Shockers are in search of their first AP top-25 win since Feb. 18, 2018 at No. 5 Cincinnati.
• Under Gregg Marshall, WSU is 6-2 at home against AP top-25 teams (14-20 overall).
• Thursday's game marks only the sixth head-to-head matchup of top-25 teams in Roundhouse history (1955-Pr.). WSU is 3-2 in such games.
• Saturday's 74-54 win over Ole Miss was Wichita State's 1,600th all-time. Erik Stevenson scored 19 of his career-high 29 points in the first half to help the Shockers build a 15-point lead at the break. Jamarius Burton added 16 points. WSU held Ole Miss to 30.8% from the field and outscored the Rebels 20-1 off turnovers.
• On Monday Stevenson was named AAC Player of the Week for the second time. He ranks among the league's top-10 in scoring (9th, 14.1), free throw percentage (10th, .778), steals (t-5th, 2.0) and 3-pointers (t-4th, 2.1).
• WSU's seven-game winning streak matches its longest since joining The American.
• As of Wednesday, the Shockers are one of only nine teams with one loss or fewer.
• Thursday night ends a six-game home stand – WSU's longest in 17 years.
• This is Marshall's 199th game at CKA. He's 172-26 (.869).
• Memphis was the last team to beat the Shockers in Wichita (Feb. 23, 2019). WSU's 13-game home winning streak is one of the 10-longest in school history.
• The Shockers rank among the national leaders in scoring margin (17th, +14.8), turnover margin (22nd, +4.4), field goal percentage defense (29th, .384). They lead the AAC in A:TO ratio (1.26) and scoring defense (62.1 ppg).
• Both teams rank among the top-20 in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency: WSU (17), Memphis (15).

 

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TRENDING:

• Erik Stevenson averaged 23.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 steals in the two wins last week. He joins Markis McDuffie as the only Shockers to win multiple AAC player of the week honors.
• 15 of Stevenson's team-high 28 steals have come over the last four games (5 vs. VCU, 2 vs. ACU, 5 vs. ECU, 3 vs. Ole Miss). It's the most-productive four-game stretch by a Shocker in the Marshall Era, edging out Fred VanVleet who had 13 steals over the first four games of his junior year (2014-15).
• Stevenson's 2.0 steals-per-game ranks among the top-50 nationally. Just five Shockers have averaged 2.0 or more over a full season, most recently Jason Perez in 1999-00.
• On a per-40-minute basis, Jaime Echenique leads the team in plus-minus (+24.8), points (20.9), rebounds (11.1) and blocks (2.4).

Single-Season Steals/Per Game (WSU All-Time):

1. Jason Perez (1999-00) – 2.31
2. Robert George (1991-92) – 2.28
3. Preston Carrington (1970-71) – 2.19
4. Robert George (1990-91) – 2.03
5. Jason Perez (1997-98) – 2.00
   Erik Stevenson (2019-20) – 2.00

• Gregg Marshall has used just 13 timeouts in 14 games this year. Saturday against Ole Miss marked the sixth time this year that he hasn't burned one.
• After six-straight games with multiple three-pointers, Tyson Etienne went 0-for-2 in the Ole Miss game. He played just 12 minutes due to foul trouble.
• Etienne has recorded at least one steal in 13 of the 14 games this year, including an active streak of nine-straight.
• Jamarius Burton has hit at least one triple in five-straight games and has scored in double-figures in each of the last four contests. Burton's 36 minutes against Ole Miss matched his career-high. He was 6-of-8 from the field on his way to 16 points.
• The Shockers play their next two games against elite shot-blocking teams. Memphis (6.8 blocks-per-game) ranks fourth nationally. Sunday's opponent, UConn, is No. 2 on the list (7.1).
• WSU's seven-game winning streak matches its longest since joining the American Athletic Conference. The Shockers had a pair of seven-game runs during the 2017-18 season.
• A projected sellout against Memphis would be WSU's fifth-straight and the 174th in the 16 seasons since Charles Koch Arena's renovation. It would also be the Shockers' 14th sellout in 20 American Athletic Conference home games.
• The 74-54 win over Ole Miss was WSU's 99th 20-point victory under Marshall (2007-Pr.).
• This is WSU's 159th week all-time in the AP Poll. Just over half of them (80) have come in the Marshall Era.
• WSU is 81-29 in January games under Marshall (.736).
• WSU has won the turnover battle in 12 of its 14 games this year (-4 vs. ORU & -3 vs. Oklahoma) and finished with 10-or-fewer turnovers on five occasions.
• The Shockers have won the rebounding battle in all but two games (-17 vs. WVU on Nov. 27 and -3 against ECU on Jan. 1). They're out-boarding opponents by an average of 6.4 per-game.
• The Jan. 1 ECU game marked only the 19th time in 198 games under Marshall that the Shockers have been out-rebounded at the Roundhouse.
• No Shocker has fouled out of a game this year. Jaime Echenique was whistled for five fouls in the 2018-19 finale against Lipscomb at Madison Square Garden.

BACK IN BLACK (OUT) :

• Wichita State players will wear their black road uniforms. This is only the third "black out" game under Gregg Marshall and the first in seven years.
• On Dec. 28, 2008 the Shockers limped into a home game with Creighton at 0-6 in MVC play but upset the Bluejays 74-61. It was major turning point for the program. WSU was 17-31 under Marshall going into the game but is 304-83 (.786) ever since.
• On Jan. 19, 2013 the Shockers again upset Creighton -- this time with the Bluejays ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll -- by score of 67-64. A little of two months later that WSU team advanced to the Final Four.

GOOD TO GREAT:

• Wichita State's defense was very good last year – especially over the final two months. The Shockers forced opponents into low percentage shots and effectively controlled the glass to limit second-chances. KenPom ranked WSU No. 44 nationally in defensive efficiency.
• Those themes continue into 2019-20, but this year's group (ranked No. 17 in defensive efficiency) has simultaneously found a way to crank up the pressure.
• The Shockers are averaging an extra 3.2 steals and 4.3 takeaways-per-game this year. A year ago they ranked among the bottom-25 nationally in steals. This year they've jumped more than 250 spots to 79th. They're 42nd nationally in turnovers forced (up from 240th in 2018-19).
• The Shockers are averaging 17.3 points-per-game off opponent turnovers (while allowing only 9.2).

Wichita State's Defensive Improvement (2018-19 to 2019-20):
KenPom Def. Efficiency: 44^th in 2018-19 ---> 17^th in 2019-20
Scoring Defense: 68.7 ppg ---> 62.1 ppg
Field Goal % Defense: .415 ---> .384
Steals/Game: 4.7 ---> 7.9
Turnovers Forced/Game: 12.3 ---> 16.6

ON THE OFFENSIVE :

• KenPom ranks the Shockers 84th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency -- up from 135th last year.
• Shooting – especially on the perimeter – was a limiting factor for the 2018-19 Shockers. New back court personnel and dramatic improvements from some of the holdovers have played an important part in WSU's turnaround this year.
• The longer three-point arc has hurt shooting numbers across college basketball, but the 2019-20 Shockers are sinking 8.0 threes-per-game on 34.4% accuracy – up from 7.5 and 30.8% a year ago.
• The five WSU newcomers have combined to hit 36.9% from deep (55-of-149), led by freshman sniper Tyson Etienne (34-of-78, .436) and JUCO forward Trey Wade (12-of-34, .353).
• Jamarius Burton made just 10-of-38 (.263) three-point attempts as a freshman last year but now leads the AAC in three-point percentage (13-of-26, .500). He's connected in five-straight games.
• Erik Stevenson attempted 158 threes last year but shot just 27.8% from distance. This year he's firing at a .357 clip (30-of-84). Stevenson was 5-for-23 over the first five games but has nailed 41% of his tries (25-of-61) in the nine games since.
• Etienne (2nd, 2.42) and Stevenson (t-4th, 2.14) rank among the AAC's top-five in three-pointers-per-game. Both are on pace to finish among the top-10 on WSU's single-season triples chart.

ON A ROUNDHOUSE KICK:

• The Shockers are 10-0 at Charles Koch Arena this year. Eight of the 10 wins have come by double-digits and all have been decided by at least six points.
• Collectively the Shockers have held opponents to 61.1 points on 35.4% shooting over those 10 games. WSU is +6.9 on the glass while forcing an average of 17.5 turnovers-per-game. Foes have tallied almost twice as many turnovers (175) as assists (96).

NON-CONFERENCE CONFIDENCE:

• Wichita State's 12-1 non-conference run ranks among its best ever. Just four other Shocker teams have won 90%-or-more. Those four are some of the most-accomlished in program history.
• The Shockers will take a 15-game non-conference home winning streak into next season. It's their seventh-longest streak all-time.
• WSU is 125-36 under Marshall in regular season non-conference games (.845).

Best Non-Conference Regular Season Percentages (WSU All-Time):
1.000– 2013-14 (13-0) – NCAA No. 1 seed
.950—1953-54 (19-1) – First modern postseason bid (NIT)
.923—2012-13 (12-1) – Final Four
.923 – 2019-20 (12-1) -- ???
.900 – 1980-81 (9-1) – Elite Eight

WORKING AHEAD:

• The Shockers opened the 2018-19 campaign at 8-11 but are 27-5 since.
• Last year's team didn't win its 13th game until Feb. 20. This year's team beat that mark by 47 days (Jan. 4).
• Win No. 14 came on Feb. 28 last year (a buzzer-beater against UConn). With a win on Thursday, the 2019-20 Shockers would hit that mark 51 days earlier.
• The Shockers' 13-1 record is tied for the fifth-best one-loss start in school history.

Best One-Loss Starts (WSU All-Time):
35-1 – 2013-14 (Finished 35-1)
18-1 – 1926-27 (19-2)
16-1 – 1953-54 (27-4)
15-1 – 2012-13 (30-9)
13-1 – 1982-83 (25-3)
13-1 – 2019-20 (???)

SCOUTING MEMPHIS:

• Memphis is in its second season under Penny Hardaway. He starred for the Tigers in the early 90s before launching a 14-year NBA career.
• Memphis is co-favoite in the AAC (with Houston), despite losing all five starters from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the NIT second round. The Tigers had one of the nation's highest-rated recruiting classes.
• Memphis is out to a 12-2 start and won its conference opener against Tulane on Dec. 31. Saturday's home loss to Georgia snapped a 10-game winning streak and dropped Memphis 12 spots to No. 21 in the AP Poll.
• Memphis ranks second nationally in field goal percentage defense (.352) and fourth in blocks (6.8). The Tigers are outscoring opponents by an average of 17.0 points and out-rebounding them by 7.1 boards-per-game.
• The Tigers can score, too. They're averaging a league-high 79.3 points. Per KenPom's tempo ratings, Memphis is one of the nation's 10-fastest-paced teams (75.7 possessions-per-40-minutes). The average Tiger possessions lasts less than 15 seconds.
• Preseason freshman of the year James Wiseman left the team last month but the Tigers still have plenty of talent, including a pair of five-star freshmen forwards Precious Achiuwa and D.J. Jeffries.
• The 6-foot-9 Achiuwa is the conference's leading rebounder (10.2) and ranks among the top-20 nationally in that category. Achiuwa is averaging a team-high 14.6 points with 23 blocks and has an AAC-best seven double-doubles.
• Jeffries averages 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and just over a block-per-game while shooting 56% from the field.
• Sophomore Alex Lomax is tied for the AAC lead in assists (4.7) and No. 2 in A:TO ratio (2.06). His 25 steals are tied with Boogie Ellis for the team lead.

MATCHUP MASHUP:

• Reserve point guard Alex Lomax originally signed with WSU but was granted his release after Penny Hardaway accepted the Memphis job.
• Memphis' Isaiah Maurice spent his first two collegiate seasons two hours up the road at Kansas State. He redshirted the 2015-16 season and averaged 3.0 points and 8.8 minutes in 2016-17 as a redshirt freshman.
• Before landing at Memphis, Maurice helped South Plains (Texas) College win the 2018 NJCAA national title. He scored 20 points in the championship game, played less than an hour away in Hutchinson, Kan.
• WSU junior Trey Wade also played a year at South Plains (in 2018-19) after transferring from UTEP.
• Two of the youngest teams in college basketball will share the floor. Memphis has seven freshmen and four sophomores on its 12-man roster. Maurice (a senior) is the only upperclassman.  Ten of the 13 scholarship players on the Shockers roster are underclassmen.
• Maurice (who played a season at K-State) and WSU junior Asbjørn Midtgaard are the only scholarship players with more than two years of Division I experience.
• Drawing largely from class listings and minutes played, KenPom rates Memphis the nation's least-experienced team with an average of 0.43 years. WSU is also among the bottom-20 (1.01).
• Memphis has The American's top scoring offense (79.3). WSU leads the conference in scoring defense (62.1).
• The teams share one common opponent. Memphis defeated Ole Miss at FedExForum, 87-86, back on Nov. 23. The Shockers downed the Rebels 74-54 last Saturday.

THE SERIES:

• This is the 24th meeting all-time. Memphis swept the 2018-19 series to take a 12-11 lead.
• WSU is 1-2 against Memphis in The American Era.
• WSU is 2-2 against Memphis under Gregg Marshall, having also won a neutral site meeting against the Tigers during the 2014-15 season in Sioux Falls, S.D.
• WSU is 7-4 against Memphis in Wichita. Last year's visit was the Tigers' first since 1976.
• WSU is 3-8 all-time against the Tigers in Memphis (1-1 at FedExForum).
• The Shockers are 3-2 overall at FedExForum, helped by a semifinal run in the 2019 American Tournament.
• Marshall is 2-3 against Memphis (2-2 at WSU). On Jan. 8, 2006, his Winthrop team lost to John Calipari's fourth-ranked Tigers, 73-63, at FedExForum.
• WSU and Memphis played 11 times from 1968-73 during Memphis' six-year stopover in the MVC. The Tigers won six of the 11 games between the two.

MEMORABLE SERIES MOMENTS:

• In the first-ever meeting (Feb. 7, 1959 in Wichita), Ron Heller hit a jumper in OT to lift the Shockers, 95-92.
• On Jan. 13, 1968, helped by big plays from forwards Ron Washington and Warren Armstrong (Jabali), WSU fought off Memphis State's second-half comeback bid for a 77-69 victory in the first Missouri Valley Conference meeting between the schools.
• On Jan. 30, 1969, Greg Carney's jumper with six seconds left gave WSU a 71-69 home victory.
• On Dec. 30 1974, Calvin Bruton, playing with a leg cast to protect torn ligaments in his right foot, scored 18 points in WSU's upset win at No. 16 Memphis, 95-91.
• On Feb. 7, 1983, the Tigers (led by Keith Lee and Andre Turner) downed WSU (led by Antoine Carr and Xavier McDaniel), 85-73. It was one of just three losses for the 1982-83 Shockers, who finished 25-3 but were ineligible for postseason. It would be more than 31 years before the teams met again on the hardwood.
• On Nov. 18, 2014, No. 11 WSU won a neutral site game at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, 71-56. All-American Ron Baker led the scoring with 21 points.
• On Feb. 6, 2018, the Shockers won their FedExForum debut and the first American Era meeting, 85-65. Landry Shamet scored 20 points.

 

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A SHOCKER WIN WOULD….
... make them 14-1.
... be their eighth-straight -- longest since 2017 when they won 16-in-a-row from January to March.
... improve their home record to 12-0 (11-0 at CKA).
... give them 14-straight home wins -- tied for the eighth-longest in school history.
... make them 2-0 in American play with at least a share of first-place.
... be their first AP top-25 win since Feb. 18, 2018 at No. 5 Cincinnati.
... make the 3-0 against top-25 Coaches Poll foes.
... tie the all-time series at 12-12.
... make them 82-29 in January under Marshall.
 
A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD…
... drop them to 13-2 and end a 7-game win streak.
... snap a 13-game home win streak (12 at CKA).
... be their first at home since 2/23/19 (Memphis).
... give Memphis a 13-11 series lead (3-1 AAC Era).
... be just their 12th  setback in Wichita in the last nine seasons (127-12).
... be less good than a win.
 

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UP NEXT:            
The Shockers hit the road for the first time in more than a month with a road swing to UConn (Sunday, 11 a.m. CT, CBSSN) and Temple (Wednesday, 8 p.m. CT, ESPNU).