The RoundHouse | 1/2/2021 12:48:00 PM

 
After each game, Wichita State interim coach Isaac Brown uses a few seconds to explain his agenda for the game, allowing fans to hear how he is building the Shockers, practice by practice, video session by session.
 
Even in a season notable for its disruptions, Brown is seeing his team respond to what he and his coaches emphasize. He is seeing returners lead and newcomers watch, learn and grow. 
 
The Shockers (5-2) play at Mississippi (5-2) today (5 p.m. ESPNU) in their final scheduled non-conference game. The Rebels will provide another test of Wichita State's strength on the road and steady improvement after losses to Missouri and Oklahoma State.
 
"The focus is, every day, just to get better," Brown said before Wednesday's win over NCAA Division II Newman. "I think we've gotten better in our transition defense. One thing that we're focusing on now is rebounding. We're doing a good job of guarding teams on the first possession where we can't come up, can't seem to come up with that rebound."
 
Wichita State's emphasis and improvement is easy to follow. 
 
The Shockers gave up too many easy baskets on breaks to Missouri and Oklahoma State – 15 and 17 points in those losses. Sometimes, they simply didn't retreat fast enough. Sometimes, they didn't get organized. Brown emphasized those points – and his roster filled out – and the Shockers haven't allowed more than 12 fast-break points in the four games since. They held Tulsa to four in a four-point win and USF to 12 in a five-point overtime win.
 
Meanwhile, the Shockers got few easy baskets in their early games. Brown coached the importance of helping the offense by pushing the ball when appropriate to produce open shots. Those points ease the burden on the half-court offense and the Shockers needed that help. 
 
Against USF, they totaled a season-high 24 fast-break points, helped by 18 Bulls turnovers.
 
"The game plan was coming out of halftime to try to get some stops, try to get out in transition to get some easy baskets," Brown said. "We did that and were able to get it going late in the second half."
 
The Shockers totaled fewer assists than their opponents in their first three games, an indication the ball and bodies were not moving enough to make the offense work crisply. Since then – again, a full roster and practice schedule helps – the Shockers put up a season-high in assist in each game, culminating with 21 assists on 33 baskets against Newman.
 
Wichita State is running its offense more effectively and not turning the ball over. The Shockers average 11.3 a game, lowest in the American Athletic Conference. Brown points to the skills of guard Tyson Etienne, who is the team's best shooter and plenty skilled enough to run the offense. His diversity gives Brown the luxury of playing with multiple skilled passers and dribblers.
 
"I figured we would take care of the basketball," Brown said. "That's something we did in the past and Alterique Gilbert is a seasoned guy. He was always a low turnover guy. We knew that Craig Porter Jr. would come in and give us a lot at the point guard spot also, and Tyson is doing a great job. He's like having three point guards on the floor at the same time. Anytime you can, hold your turnovers down to 12, you always got a chance to win the basketball game."
 
The Shockers aren't shooting the ball as well as Brown would like, but they're proving they can win games with other assets. The final piece of the 5-2 start is Brown's ability to give confidence to those who need it. Wichita State is a deeper team now than it was in November – after the bench scored five points against Oklahoma State, it's produced 30 or more in every game. 
 
Junior center Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler is a prime example. He scored seven points in 10 minutes in the opener against Oral Roberts. Brown made a point to recognize his effort and assure him he earned more minutes. Poor Bear-Chandler went scoreless in the two losses before scoring 10 points with five rebounds at Tulsa. He scored 11 against Newman. 
 
I would say that guy has stepped up and I think his numbers will continue to rise is Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler," Brown said. "Every day in practice, we see Isaiah make threes. He posts up, he can drive it by guys. He's a matchup problem on the perimeter because he can shoot threes and I can see him getting better and better each game."
 
Freshman Ricky Council IV doesn't appear to lack confidence and Brown moved him into the starting lineup against Newman. Brown also liked the play of freshman Chaunce Jenkins, who appears next in line to help Wichita State's depth. Jenkins scored six points against the Jets in his second appearance this season. 
 
"We were really pleased with the fact that Chauncey was out there trying to share the ball," brown said. "He practices hard every day. He's in practice guarding our leading scorer, Tyson Etienne, and that'll make him a better player. We just keep telling him to learn the system and be ready when your time comes, and he played some excellent minutes tonight."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.