The RoundHouse | 3/5/2020 10:03:00 AM
v/rv WICHITA STATE (22-7, 10-6) at MEMPHIS (20-9, 9-7)
THURSDAY, MAR. 5, 2020 | 8:05 P.M. CT
MEMPHIS, TENN./ FEDEXFORUM (18,400)
TV: ESPN (WatchESPN)
RADIO: 103.7 KEYN FM (GoShockers.com/Listen)
SERIES: Tied 12-12 (WSU is 3-8 at Memphis)
LAST: Jan. 9, 2020 in Wichita (#23 WSU 76, #21 Memphis 67)
Wichita State, and it may not feel like this, is a consistent basketball team. It largely won the games it was expected to win. According to the NCAA NET rankings, none of its losses are considered "bad."
Now is an ideal time for Wichita State to break its tendencies. The Shockers (22-7, 10-6 American Athletic Conference) play at Memphis (20-9, 9-7) on Thursday (8 p.m. ESPN) as a one-point underdog, according to Ken Pomeroy's statistics.
The Shockers won the earlier meeting 76-67 at Koch Arena in what might be the highlight of the season. Another win adds significant weight to their NCAA Tournament resume. Another win locks up a top-four finish in the American and a bye in the conference tournament.
ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Shockers one of his last four in the NCAA field (along with Cincinnati). Jerry Palm of CBSsports.com slots the Shockers a No. 11 seed.
All teams in that range need wins and, as always, teams competing for those final spots will affect Wichita State's standing. A win at Memphis could set the Shockers up in a strong position entering Sunday's home finale vs. Tulsa and the conference tournament.
Sunday's 24-point comeback at SMU and the 72-69 win over Temple should give the Shockers a boost. After struggling to win close games, they now can call on experiences from two wins in which execution proved successful. Every time freshmen and sophomore see what works, it adds to their belief and ability to follow that plan.
"We proved to ourselves we can do anything we want," center
Jaime Echenique said. "We were being clutch. We found a way to win."
Wichita State freshman guard Grant Sherfield delivered one of his best performances of the season in the win at SMU. That is great timing, after a one-game benching, because Sherfield played a key role in the early January win over Memphis.
He played 31 minutes without committing a turnover and the Shockers finished with 10 turnovers, three in the second half. Opponents average 15.3 turnovers a game vs. Memphis, although that falls to 12.8 in conference play. Handling Memphis' pressure and depriving the Tigers of easy baskets off those turnovers is key to winning.
Sherfield picked the right spots to push the ball for good shots and the right spots to play more patiently.
"You've got to stay poised and not let anybody speed us up," Sherfield said after that win. "Coach (
Gregg Marshall) does a great job of simulating that in practice, so we're well-prepared."
In Wichita, Memphis committed 18 turnovers, helping the Shockers get 11 more shots. Wichita State shot poorly (32.8 percent) against one of the nation's top defensive teams. The advantage in possessions and 24 points at the foul line carried the Shockers.
At SMU, Sherfield scored 14 points with six assists and two turnovers in the 66-62 win.
The Shockers also played strong defense on Memphis freshman Precious Achiuwa. He scored 22 points, but 11 of those came late in the game. For much of the game, Achiuwa didn't have the ball and the Tigers played into Wichita State's strategy when lesser scorers fired away.
Achiuwa, in a strong season for freshmen in the conference, averages 15.5 points and 10.4 rebounds.
Memphis largely leans on its defense, especially as injuries and defections hurt its depth. They hold teams to 37.3 percent shooting in conference play and block six shots a game. According to Pomeroy's stats, the Tigers hold teams to 40.9 percent shooting inside the arc, second nationally. Their block percentage of 15.7 ranks fourth nationally.
Finishing around rim will be crucial for the Shockers, as will gauging when to attack bigger opponents and when to work for a better shot.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
