The RoundHouse | 11/24/2020 9:40:00 PM

 
 Wichita State opens its women's basketball season on Friday vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Koch Arena (2 p.m.).
 
Wichita State went 16-15 last season to record its first winning season since 2014-15. The Shockers return backcourt starters Carla Bremaud, Seraphine Bastin and Mariah McCully, as well as center Trajata Colbert and guard DJ McCarty.
 
Five questions for the 2020-21 season:
 
How has COVID-19 affected practices?
 
Like most teams, the Shockers are dealing with the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. They are often short-handed at practice.
 
"It's hard," Bastin said. "We just have to control what we can control. And the thing we can control is focus. One day at a time, because COVID-19 messed up everything."
 
Florida A&M canceled its season. UConn will cancel or delay its first four games. Cincinnati changed its opening opponent three days before the game. New Mexico moved its men's and women's teams to Texas to escape COVID-19 restrictions.
 
If it's any consolation, the Shockers aren't the only team scrambling to put 10 on the floor and wondering about their roster every day.
 
"You've just got to keep going," coach Keitha Adams said. "It's what everyone is dealing with right now in 2020. You've got to keep your faith and hang in there. It's not going to be like this forever. We're going to get through it."
 
Despite all that, what's the mood?
 
McCully describes the Shockers as a team with a positive outlook. 
 
"We've been more connected on the court and off the court," she said. "We pick each other up when we're down. We tend to hype each other up and pick each other up, and that's been a real blessing. For us to stick together like this, it's a really big plus."
 
Last season's winning record helps, as does the returning experience and newcomers with the skills to fill in gaps. Bastin and Bremaud are starting their third season with the Shockers and they set the tone.
 
"We've got some returning kids that have played for us that bring good experience and a good mentality," Adams said. "Seraphine and Carla, both of them have been great in their work ethic and their leadership."
 
Where is Wichita State's strength?
 
Without question, the backcourt is where the Shockers should feel capable of winning matchups.
 
Bastin and Bremaud are two-year starters. McCully was named third-team all-conference last season after averaging 12.6 points to lead the Shockers. Sophomore DJ McCarty started seven games. A 13-point performance in a win over Oklahoma flashed her capabilities. 
 
"Mariah, Carla – we know each other for two years and we know how we play together," Bastin said. "I know Carla is a shooter and I don't even have to look where she's going to be on the floor because I know she's going to be in the corner. Mariah, she likes to drive. We all have strengths."
 
Newcomer Rachel Johnson, a junior transfer, plays hard and isn't afraid of contact.
 
"Her defense is amazing," McCully said. "She goes hard to rim and she rebounds against anybody. She's very physical."
 
What about the bigs?
 
The Shockers, when healthy, aren't short-handed in the frontcourt.
 
Juniors Trajata Colbert and Asia Henderson made steady progress during their time at Wichita State, most as reserves. Henderson played in 30 games last season. Injuries limited Colbert to 16 games and three starts last season. She finished strong by averaging 12.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in her final three games.
 
Two newcomers are counted on immediately.
 
Junior transfer Asia Strong averaged 14.6 points and 9.2 rebounds at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College. Sophomore Ene Adams, a transfer from Grayson (Texas) College, is a strong rebounder.
 
Adams said Carla Budane, a freshman forward from Portugal, could join the team in December.
 
"We really like her potential," Adams said. 
 
How does the American Athletic Conference shape up?
 
UConn is gone to the Big East after dominating the AAC for seven seasons. While the conference loses one of the sport's top programs, everybody else feels like they have a chance now.
 
USF – 19-13 last season -  is the preseason favorite. The Bulls are the American's second most successful program and made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
 
Wichita State was picked sixth in voting by the 11 coaches.
 
UCF (20-10 last season) and Cincinnati (22-10) tied for second last season and their success in recent seasons positions them as challengers. UCF also finished second in 2019 and played in the NCAA Tournament.  
 
The American last put three schools in the NCAA Tournament in 2017, when USF and Temple earned at-large bids to join UConn.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.